I somewhat agree with this. How many of these late draft picks actually pan out, 4% maybe? So you're using up limited roster spots to try and hit a home run on a mediocre prospect. Then if you're finally lucky enough to get the prospect to develope, by the time they're actually ready to fully contribute you'll have to pay them big money as a restricted free agent. If we can send out two more future firsts and get another Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline I think this team should seriously consider it.
I think it has more to do with the overall "feel" of this team. The defense isn't stellar statistically, but seeing it first hand leads you to believe it is. Our defensive rebounding is much improved as well; something that we've lacked for some time. Denver is one of the top rebounding teams in the league, yet we out-rebounded them by 20. That says a lot to me. Offensively, we aren't there yet; which also they may have took into consideration. Because if the D holds up and all players play to their career averages; this team could be very very scary.
Is this the most talent? I don't think so. However, I think the pieces fit better than they have in years past ... it also helps that Nate seems to have had an epiphany about loosening the reins on Wallace, LMA, Felton, Crawchuck (couldn't resist ) and Nicolas ... and I think it also helps them knowing that they can move forward from the uncertainty surrounding Roy and the drama that his "will he, won't he?" routine caused (a small affect, but an affect all the same).
AGREED... I would like to add another angle to your opinion as well. New York is a perfect example of having a lot of talent, yet not being successful because you don't have the right mix of players. Hell the Jordan/Pippen Bulls didn't have a considerable amount of offensive talent, but they found the perfect pieces to compliment the two stars. Yes we aren't the Bulls of 90's; just using them as a reference.
Well since you enjoyed that, I'll expand it. Of our top 9 players, the least experienced are Matthews (3rd year) and Batum (4th year). But most of their time in the league has been as starters, so they're more experienced than they seem. C Marcus Camby Kurt Thomas F LaMarcus Aldridge Gerald Wallace Nicolas Batum Craig Smith G Raymond Felton Wesley Matthews Jamal Crawford It's easy to "fit the pieces together" when the pieces have years of experience. Instead of saying that these guys fit together, it's simpler to say that they are experienced veterans. Compatibility usually follows, at least more so than the youth with which Pritchard saddled McMillan.
