LMA, 11th best PF

Ah, I just remembered Boston. I like Perkins a lot. He might be around 14th best in some quarters. Maybe more. And I think the difference in quality between a Ray Allen and Batum is negligible. So that's a good comparison.

I'm not sure what I'm describing is "depth", though, since I mostly associate that with guys coming off the bench. (Portland does have decent depth too, though.) I'm not really sure there is a term for it--completeness?

So often a team beats another team because there's a ridiculous matchup that just can't be overcome. Tim Duncan vs Jamaal Magloire, Kobe Bryant vs Martel Webster, practically anybody vs Damon Stoudamire. This team is going to be a lot harder to game plan against. Assuming our starters are healthy, there just isn't going to be a ridiculous matchup against any of our guys any night. (Well, there will be against the Heat. But that's a problem for everybody.)

 

When I read that, the first thing that came to mind was the absurd mismatch of Tim Duncan vs. Greg Oden last year and how Duncan playing out of position at center against a 100% Oden was almost painful to Duncan's resume (or for those that idolize Duncan as some future hall-of-famer). That was very embarassing and single-handed was the reason the Spurs had no chance to beat Portland with that matchup on the floor.

 

The Heat may have the #1 SG, #1 SF, and top 5 PF. Who cares what the rest of the team is?

 

Strangely enough... http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=WTfJP ... Martell is 6-5 in that matchup.

 

Oden on talent/potential: 3rd or 4th best in the league
Oden on production/health: unrankable

I'll be curious to see what Dwyer comes up with.

 

We sure have a lot of talent. Still can't get out of the first round. Maybe it's coaching?

 

"Plateaued" vs dependable. We only have three years of stats. He's improved his outside shooting %.

 

I would not even put Oden in the top 15. Not even close. A player who actually contributes and IS on the floor must weigh for something....

IF, and that's a big IF, he all of a sudden overcomes a five year pattern of injuries that have occurred ALL over his body for which it seems to take prolonged periods of time to heal, then sure - top 5. In my mind, Oden isn't anywhere near where Noah is for value, simply based on dependability and contribution to team.

 

A serious trade that I think we should look at;

LMA for Carl Landry and Beno Udrih.

 

More importantly, look who's # 10.

 

To all those who say LMA will never improve... after 8 seasons, Z-Bo has finally learned to stop pump-faking when he gets the ball!