That is one damn explosive lineup, I might just start Babbit because everyone will leave him open to shoot wide open 3's with the other 4 on the court.
Nolan/Elliot Elliot/Barton Barton/babbitt Freeland Leonard would be tolerable. Shorten the rotation in the playoffs Lillard/5 mins of elliot or Nolan Wes/Elliot Batum/Wes* Aldridge/Freeland Hibbert/Meyers *If you really don't trust Babbitt for floor spacing, or Barton in the playoffs. Could even go small ball. I have no problem with spacing out the breaks to keep Nolan on the floor with at least one of Hibbert/LMA for a breather for Damian.
This is how I've always wanted them to bulid: Build with an eye on the future. Smart FA signings but also, and just as important, smart drafting. Leonard will get his chance as is a full six years younger than Hibbert.
West is pretty wide open now, you have OKC then every other team is kind of in turmoil. Clippers I guess but Paul has refused to sign an extension and it seems like there window is only open as long as Paul is there. Dallas blew it up, Lakers are old, Memphis wants to deal Randolph. There is a lot of room to be made and you have to look at your lineup in the light of "Can you beat OKC" Lillard Wes Batum LA Hibbert If Lillard is legit that lineup has a decent chance of matching up vs OKC.
Does he have the game, offensively and defensively, of a SF in the NBA? I've only seen highlights and even from seeing what he does well I doubt it.
Marc, the one that is a center... Uh, yes I do believe they would still run a balanced offense, because they have lots of talent and use that talent wisely. They space the floor, get Hibbert looks, and it's not like Hibbert is playing 35+ minutes, he isn't even playing 30+ minutes. Shit, up until this year the Lakers ran a fairly balanced offense *aside from random Kobe take over mode* and they had a REALLY good tandem in the post. Kind of like arguing how Miami isn't running there offense through Chris Bosh... When you have weapons, you utilize them and keep them happy. Granger, George, David West, Hibbert, etc.
The West is still the more competitive conference. The Lakers and Mavericks are still looking to make serious moves this offseason to remain competitors. The Lakers are looking to move Gasol for value, and the Mavericks are looking to add Deron Williams or Steve Nash. As for Zach Randolph being shopped by Memphis, those reports are from low-level sports blogs that have no actual sources. The reality is that Zach Randolph is the cornerstone of their franchise. Rudy Gay is the real player being shopped. He, and O.J. Mayo, don't really fit into the Grizzlies' long-term plans and both are addition by subtraction. If the Grizzlies could get a package of good role players (spot-up shooters and defenders) for Gay, they'll be a better team next season, in sort of an addition-by-subtraction situation. I don't want to rant about my team in the Blazers forum though...
Pretty sure Fez has me blocked, lol, but from the little I've seen of Claver is that no he is not an NBA caliber starting SF. However; in the role he would be playing, he would be more than serviceable. However, Durant would rip him a new one. I do like Fez's idea of S&T Batum for Eric Gordon. But I'd then use Wes to get us an upgrade at SF, somehow. Lillard/ Gordon/Elliot (Trade Wes + cash + Babbitt)/Claver Aldridge/Freeland Hibbert/Meyers
Your a grizz fan? Figured because of the saints logo you were a NO fan. Actually I guess thats not a true saints logo but its pretty much it.
Yeah I think if we trade Batum for Gordon, or Batum signs with a different team, we definitely need to get a SF somehow. I don't think Claver will be better than Babbitt, at least not from the get go, and Babbitt isn't very good. If we got Gordon, Williams and Barton could back him up fine, we wouldn't need Wes.
I have thicker skin than that. And yes, I think Gordon would give Portland a legitimate big-3 with LMA and Hibbert. We'll find out in two weeks if Indy matches or not. With max money going to Hibbert, the Gordon meeting this week will be interesting.
Anyway the goal of this is to make it so teams can't just double LMA every important possession like they did last year. Hibbert is another big that helps ease the pressure off of LMA which we didn't really have last year. With Hibbert as a C and restigning Batum you have a huge payroll but a solid lineup that doesn't make me cringe when talking about having to play another team in a 7 game series.
http://www.indycornrows.com/2012/6/...at-roy-hibbert-could-matching-a-max-offer-for Looks like Indy fans wouldn't want to match it; they want to keep Paul George, amongst others.
Yeah, I've been living in New Orleans for five years, but I grew up in Memphis and had season tickets since their first year in the city. The Grizzlies are definitely my team. To OregonHuskerMan, my point wasn't so much about the offense that Indiana ran with Hibbert but rather the fact that "MAX" money will be thrown at just about any above average player these days. I really don't think Hibbert could have done much more if given more freedom, and I think that if he was worth the money he's about to get paid, Indiana would have given her a more prominent role offensively.
Lillard - Probably gonna be high 30% 3pt shooter Wes - 38-40% Batum - 38-40% Aldridge - Doing work in the post Hibbert - Doing work in the post; great passer. Have fun double teaming that.
Must have glanced over your post - I agree Roy isn't a MAX contract player; however, we are the Blazers in the great pacific NW, the only way we get a player is by overpaying. In reality, no he probably isn't worth the max - but in comparison to DeAndre Jordan's contract? Tyson Chandler? paying a few million extra for youth, good D, more polished offensively than Chandler, and a very good post passer? I'll willingly accept it. Honestly, I think he could have probably done a little bit more, without Granger (who is really overrated, IMO), but I don't really expect him to if he joined the blazers, as I pointed out above, our team would be inside out, with 3 deadly 3 point shooters on the wing, with 1 of which (Lillard) most likely being able to get to the rack, and dependent on Elliot Williams, it could be very, very, interesting.
