Hopefully after reading all the threads I can, I have learned enough to make a good one, so here goes nothing. Neil Olshey seems to think a defensive rim protector type player is what we are so sorely missing, and he's not wrong, I think we are missing out on another very important piece, and that is inside scoring. We have players that can shoot, and that can create a bit for themselves, but I don't believe we have a player that you can throw the ball down to and pound away at the defense. LaMarcus has a nice post game, but doesn't like to be down there, especially in the playoffs where he gets roughed up. I am starting to think a player like Nicola Pekovic would be the best fit. Someone who has a very good low post game as well as a player who has drawn a lot of FT attempts (5.2 per game). I put together a list of low post/centers with at least 4.0 FTA per game, and here is what I come up with. Howard Cousins B Lopez Pekovic Monroe nene Bosh M. Gasol Obviously not all of those players are available, but some of them are. Per 36 minutes, and playing a reasonable amount of minutes, you can add players like Amare Favors Splitter Derrick Williams (This surprised me) Blatche (5.0) Henson Ivan Johnson Aldridge is right here at 4.5 per 36 minutes Jordan Valanciunus Asik Chandler After that it starts to get a little iffy. Ideally I'd like to have someone who gets over 5 per 36 minutes. That would be from Andre Blatche up. Is there a low post player I listed that people would be happy with?
I think Cousins is more available than you think. But out of your list, I would have Monroe as my first choice. Unfortunately, I think it's never going to happen. They would want way too much for Monroe, IMO.
Nice post. I agree and kinda voice that for what we need to be very competitive our outlook is not so bright for what is available. If Pek was a little bit better of a defensive presence I would say him
I'm not opposed to Nene, especially if the Wiz are willing to give him up for very little due to their cap situation. Splitter would be great, but he's going to be well paid this summer.
Aldridge is the best low post scorer available. If our coach can't get him to play in the post, fire the coach. Simple as that. If your coach can't get your team's overall best player to play to his strength, then he isn't worth keeping. Dunleavy got the best offensive production out of Sheed of any coach Sheed ever had. Sheed hated him, but he was a successful player. Aldridge is a follower, and like everybody he gravitates to what's easier. It's a lot easier to drift to the elbow and play Dirkball than it is to bang in the post, getting shoved around by 7 footers. But if you show him the advanced stats that clearly show the team is better when he plays in the post (and you show those stats to Lillard and the rest of the team) he'll buy in. We need a defensive center because last year Aldridge was the only one over 6'9 worth a damn on defense. If LMA knows that somebody else is battling for boards and defensive position, it makes it a lot more palatable for him to log 36 mpg playing in the post on offense. Duncan, Robinson, Shaq, Sheed, Z-Bo....pretty much every successful big man wants somebody else big next to him to pull some of the lunch pale duties. Pekovic would be a waste. You hire somebody else to do what Aldridge should be doing, while ignoring the whole "defense" issue? Yuck. We have precious few assets as it is. We don't need to double up on what we've already got.
If you'd read all the threads you could, you'd know not to make one until you have 1,000 posts, FAMS!
Lillard is the key. His first year numbers are incredible. If he can improve his decision-making, he'll be the second All-Star this team needs, and hopefully franchise player. As long as Durant and James are around, though, it's always going to be tough to get in the MVP conversation for the next 3-4 years, barring injury by those two.
Tanya Harding briefly was my grandparents' neighbor. He was her boy toy right after the Kerrigan scandal. Before she got so big. And ugly.
I have a friend that worked with him, when he was Jeff Stone. I guess he was a super nice guy, and said they did it for money and Tonya knew everything. He said the only thing he was bitter about was that she got her boob job after they broke up. Hahahahahahahaha
Wait I thought I was mixum? Could it be that "mixum" has become the poster who disagrees with the cool kids? That's what this forum is, a place where egos coincide admist blazer talk. And if u don't agree with cool kids or the mods then u get run out. Sadly it's true.
