<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 08:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>From what I have seen Blake seems to run the offense pretty proficiantly, now on defense he is a huge liability. I wouldn't try running your offense through AI unless you want him to be your #1 scorer; I think thats a huge problem of Denvers right now is when they run it through AI. that also seems to be like when their opponent goes on a run. Melo won't play D, he's a one dimentional player and always has been.</div>Melo can learn to play D he is very young. If AI is actually playing D again at 31 sure a young Melo can learn.And AI always passes down low to Melo there be no problem running it thru him. He actually pass to much now and should shoot more. It be better if AI ran it, and it be better if JR was in not Blake.
AI has always played D, so it's not suprising he is still doing it. He's always been a great theif inside the passing lanes, but Melo just seems lazy.
I think that they would lose to either the Suns or the Mavs for sure in the playoffs, and they would have a 7 game series against the Spurs. They always play pretty dang well against the Spurs....I think they are a good team, but they are obviously a cut below Phoenix and Dallas, and they are even below the Spurs. IMO, they are on the same level as a healthy Houston team....They can make it past the first round IMO, but it is going to be tough after that. The west is stacked. If they were in the eastern conference, I honestly think that they would make it to the finals.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 07:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>AI has always played D, so it's not suprising he is still doing it. He's always been a great theif inside the passing lanes, but Melo just seems lazy.</div>True, but he has been horrendous and lacked effort playing man-to-man defense these past few years, but in Denver that is a thing of the past. His effort in trying to contain his man reminds me of 2001. Sadly for Denver, when AI stepped his defensive intensity up, Camby dropped his... When I watch Denver play, it just seems like Camby is frustrated that Nene is breaking out... you see Nene going after boards, but Camby doesn't, he just waits for them to come to him.I think Karl has done a questionable job integrating the parts and getting this team to respond, but considering what he's going through right now with his son and all of that, I think he deserves some slack for now.EDIT: As for Utah, it depends on who they play in the first round, but they have been a hell of a team this year. I think they'll make it to the second round at best, but we'll see. Jerry Sloan deserves a COY award, but I don't know if he'll get one this year.
Utah stands a better chance against the Suns than the Spurs. the Jazz have won all three meetings against the Suns this year, including two in Phoenix; and I think utah has won 7 of the last 12 between the two. the Spurs on the otherhand, the Jazz have only beaten 13 times since Tim Duncan came into the league, 4 of those victories came in the 98 playoffs. the Spurs have absolulty dominated the Jazz recently; so they scare me more than any team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (redneck @ Apr 2 2007, 08:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>AI has always played D, so it's not suprising he is still doing it. He's always been a great theif inside the passing lanes, but Melo just seems lazy.</div>Melo has no always played D. Sure he played the passing lanes always does that mean how ever that he ALWAYS played D man.Yes Melo looks lazy AI will get him to start trying there also. I see him hustle just a tad more lately.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Apr 2 2007, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I was on the Jazz bandwagon and said they would win the division as well.</div>Self-praising threads are awesome. :happy0144:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Apr 3 2007, 03:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Melo has no always played D. Sure he played the passing lanes always does that mean how ever that he ALWAYS played D man.Yes Melo looks lazy AI will get him to start trying there also. I see him hustle just a tad more lately.</div>AI can't be a great defensive perimeter stopper becuase of his size, sure he can cut off passsing lanes but really doesn't have the size to matchup against the bigger guards in the NBA. You seriousely think that AI is responsible for you noticing that Melo hustles a tad more.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 3 2007, 05:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>AI can't be a great defensive perimeter stopper becuase of his size, sure he can cut off passsing lanes but really doesn't have the size to matchup against the bigger guards in the NBA. You seriousely think that AI is responsible for you noticing that Melo hustles a tad more. </div>He is really trying on D you can clearly see that when you watch now not just passing lanes like before. And yes I think AI did say something, and now Melo is trying harder and hustles more. Everyone says how AI been a leader no one thought he is like that when they traded for him. I think Karl made said some were that AI pushes Melo or something of that sort for get.
