Around the League: Week 3 11/10-11/16

[TOO]

I was convinced draft night Bledsoe was done here after we selected Ennis. Now we're stuck with Bledsoe for the time being unless ol BronBron tells the Cavs to go get hin because he cant co-exist with Irving. Bah, depressing.

On a positive not I still have sky high hopes for Len, Warren, and Ennis (though i'm probably the only big Ennis fan.)

[Ring_Wanted]

One other question, for the end of the week. Does anyone think we ought to consider changing our style? Maybe not this year or even next, but with Tyler and Warren I'd think we could put together an excellent half-court offense. I'd think Alex would be well-suited to a half-court style. And then you look at our current roster and wonder, why do we run? The two point guards thing? Or are we running away from bigger players because we're small at the 2, 4 and 5 spots?

I think Len can handle a running style. He has the speed and mobility to do so, it's just a matter of conditioning.

Warren, by the way, is totally a fastbreak player (I so want to see him spend time at the 4). He is usually the first one to run it even to a fault, allegedly, as he tends to ignore defensive rebounding.

On the other hand, the twins are running much less than last season, and IT3 is not a fastbreak guard given how he actually slows down instead of going one higher gear when he approaches the three point line in transition. Bledsoe falls in between Dragic and Thomas.

Yet despite all that we are #2 in fastbreak points so far. I say we have to run as much as we can. We absolutely have the personnel for it.

[Ring_Wanted]

About the 2PG system, my problem so far this year is the half court indeed. Too inconsistent to overcome the defensive and rebounding flaws.

It's too much one on one, or a simple screen with the sole purpose of liberating the ballhandler for a penetration, which is not working too well. There's no reliable two man game and of course no fluid ball movement, which makes everything harder including shooting threes. The Atlanta Hawks are a perfect example of the opposite.

This is what needs to change in my opinion, but the composition of the roster makes it really difficult. I don't have a problem with the two PG system after what I saw last year, basically because Dragic is better than 90% of the shooting guards in the L but without the decoy, everything is so stagnant.

Kieff can make a three but it's a matter of respect. No PF/C is going to go out of his way to defend a pick and pop where the shooter is expected to miss 2 out of 3 times, and his screns are not exactly ideal either. On the other hand, players said last season that the scouting report on Frye was to not let him open by any means.

The shame, to me, is that the team has created a problem where there was already a solution. Maybe the moral of the story is that sometimes on the court performance has to weight more than value on the books.

Although I am sure others will have a much different read.

[Superbone]

The Lakers could want Bledsoe, but what would they give up.

It's more of a question of "could" than "would." Their cupboard is so bare. Ultimately they could only offer some combo of Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash, Ed Davis, or Jordan Hill.

Sacramento? Would Malone want him?

Probably not. It would be a waste of resources for them. Collison is sufficient; they'd be better served trying to bring in more perimeter shooting and a legit power forward.

Miami?

I forgot to mention them. Yes, I believe they would be interested. But I think (hope) it would be a 3-team deal. I've looked at scenarios involving Phoenix, Miami, and Brooklyn or Charlotte.

Work your magic, INF!

[Mori Chu]

Cleveland might do a deal involving Bledsoe and a pick for Kyrie, if they continue to struggle. But I doubt it.

[OE32]

I didn't realize Brandon Knight was playing so well. I didn't check. Guess I just didn't think it was possible.

... How about the Knicks? They're in a spot similar to the Pacers.

[ShelC]

Bledsoe might've been a candidate in recent years but NY wants to preserve cap space. Plus, I don't think he'd fit into the triangle. Last year with Melo and Chandler and a traditional offense? Sure.

[SwingMan]

On a positive not I still have sky high hopes for Len, Warren, and Ennis (though i'm probably the only big Ennis fan.)

No you aren't.

I thought Ennis made absolutely no sense here, but I think he could steady the bench nicely while grooming to replace one of Dragic or Bledsoe (Dragic due to inevitable aging, Bledsoe due to leaving via trade or at the end of his current deal). I personally would rather Ennis see minutes over Thomas at this point).

[Dan H]

I think it's maybe a little early to pull the pin on Bledsoe but I do think this team, if possible, does need to consolidate talent to ensure that players are getting consistent minutes. A 2- or 3-for-1 deal that brings back rebounding would be just what the doctor ordered.

[ShelC]

Easier said than done.

I think unless things get sorted out (and not necessarily by trade) there's going to be some chirping and we could be in danger of imploding.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

The shame, to me, is that the team has created a problem where there was already a solution. Maybe the moral of the story is that sometimes on the court performance has to weight more than value on the books.

Although I am sure others will have a much different read.

Blasphemy!!!

This is all about harvesting assets, imaging rosters on thin air with prospects full of untapped talent and bogus future drafts picks so we can spend the summer drooling over scouting reports and discusing the ceiling and potential of teenagers and one-and-done college players, so everybody knows how smart we are!!!

How dare you to call for actually assembling a competitive roster for THIS year? You are killing our lottery chances just by advocating for it, you ignorant, unsophisticated and pedestrian basketball fan!!!

Frye was done, Nash was done, Hill was done, God forbid if we let them retire with us, because we would lose the chance to flip them over as assets, so send them to the glue factory and bring over the next batch of meat, errr assets that will make us proud 3-5 years down the road, until we decide to flip them over and start a rebuilding within the rebuilding.

And then a rebuilding, within the rebuilding, within the rebuilding... The more layers you add, the deeper you go, it would make you lost track of time and actual games being played to WIN TODAY. But you would look smarter by killing others people simple joy for the game.

[INFORMER]

How dare you to call for actually assembling a competitive roster for THIS year?

Honestly, that's what Ryan was doing. Handing out those contracts to Bledsoe and the Morris Twins were not rebuilding moves. Waving around the 40-game record with Bledsoe and dropping the word elite multiple times in the same breath is thinking about competing now.

So your sarcasm seems a bit off target.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Yeah, because a roster full of scoring guards, with no real punch, neither consistent production, nor depth in the froncourt is the recipe for a competitive roster. It worries me that you see it that tway.

They are banking on a big leap from Morris and Len to hold the front court, instead of getting an aging veteran to share the load as they develop without compromising the team.

Yeah, they drafted Ennis, then signed Thomas and finally throwed the big-but-"eventually"-not-so-big offer at Bledsoe to field a balanced backcourt this year, is that what you said?

But above all, my target was not McD, it was the snobish atmosphere that sometimes takes over this board, obssesing with the future instead of living the present. Am I off target in that too?

[Cap]

But above all, my target was not McD, it was the snobish atmosphere that sometimes takes over this board, obssesing with the future instead of living the present. Am I off target in that too?

Such rudeness isn't necessary.

We're humans. We like to discuss those subjects which give us enthusiasm. The prospect of a possible championship in a few years is more exciting to discuss than the prospect of a competitive first-round series this year. That's not snobbishness. Looking down your nose at it is.

[INFORMER]

Yeah, because a roster full of scoring guards, with no real punch, neither consistent production, nor depth in the froncourt is the recipe for a competitive roster. It worries me that you see it that tway.

It's not perception. And just because I said Ryan was trying to put a competitive team together doesn't mean I approve of the job he did. I am speaking about his intent, not the result.

Yeah, they drafted Ennis, then signed Thomas and finally throwed the big-but-"eventually"-not-so-big offer at Bledsoe to field a balanced backcourt this year, is that what you said?

What?

[SDC]

wow, any rondo fans here? the guy had his nick anderson moment there.

[Cap]

It's not a Nick Anderson moment unless it's the NBA Finals. Nobody's going to remember missed free throws in a meaningless November game.

Anderson's four missed free throws ruined his career. He was never the same afterwards. I think Rondo may have trouble sleeping tonight, but he'll get over it.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

It's not perception. And just because I said Ryan was trying to put a competitive team together doesn't mean I approve of the job he did. I am speaking about his intent, not the result.

I stand corrected, you are indeed very vocal about your feelings on McD's recent record. But still, as I said, I was not talking about him.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

But above all, my target was not McD, it was the snobish atmosphere that sometimes takes over this board, obssesing with the future instead of living the present. Am I off target in that too?

Such rudeness isn't necessary.

We're humans. We like to discuss those subjects which give us enthusiasm. The prospect of a possible championship in a few years is more exciting to discuss than the prospect of a competitive first-round series this year. That's not snobbishness. Looking down your nose at it is.

As for my rudeness, I was not talking about any particular poster, and as much as somebody can enjoy keep dreaming about winning championships with players still on elementary school, many people enjoy to go for the win every night, even if it is with an old player on the floor and they do not get this kind of respect for their way to enjoy the game. Granted, sometimes wears out to keep hearing about how Departed player X was key to our current struggling, but in my case, I also get tired to read overfixations on that "rebuilding" stuff.

And I'm not talking about Frye at his current price tag, but any time I read something like

"He is getting old"
"He is past his prime"
"He won't keep this level for the time we are ready to contend"
"We have to flip him over for prospects"
"He is taking away time for developing our foundational players"
"If he retires as a Sun, we are letting expire an asset for nothing"

As savvy as it sounds, beyond some point is delusional to only keep thinking three years down the road. So, for as much ranting that goes around here for a single bad game, for a veteran struggling to perform, for a recently extended player failing to inmediately live up to the increased expectations, it turns out that I'm the one being rude?

Maybe it's because I'm talking about people actually reading this thing?
That's the deal? To only offend absent people?

[INFORMER]

for a recently extended player failing to inmediately live up to the increased expectations

Well

1. Many times, it's not matter of increased expectations. It's usually a situation of a player below the performance that landed him the contract.

2. You want to get what you pay for. If you have to wait for a player to live up to a contract, you probably shouldn't have signed him to that contract in the first place.