|
djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
|
Notable players in new places
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
The wheelings and dealings began on July 1, but the official NBA imprimatur was delayed until the ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement last Saturday.
Even so, most of the trades and free agents signings that have already been announced are most likely irrevocable and should eventually be rubber-stamped on Tuesday, when moves can be made official.
So let's take a close look at who's changed uniforms and what their new employers can expect:
Jerome James, Knicks
Knicks fans are cautioned not to get overly excited about the addition of James. Sure, he fills the gaping hole in the middle, he's strong, agile, and he can also run the floor. In the early rounds of last season's playoffs, J.J. also showed an aptitude for scoring in the pivot with a somewhat sloppy assortment of jump hooks and turn-around jumpers. This, after a rather desultory career so far.
BUT he's always in foul trouble. And the accepted wisdom around the league is that his sudden effectiveness had everything to do with his being in his contract year.
Look for James to wilt under the extraordinary pressure and scrutiny of playing in New York. And watch him lose his edge as the season progresses.
Quentin Richardson, Knicks
This guy is a powerhouse guard who can do everything — shoot from the outskirts, rise, drive and finish, post, rebound, move without the ball, make satisfactory passes, and play more than adequate defense. At the same time, he can be lazy (settling for quick treys) and selfish.
Indeed, Q has approached his full potential only when he's been the primary focus of his team's offense. That's why Richardson and Stephon Marbury do not constitute a well-balanced, functional backcourt.
Larry Hughes, Cavaliers
Here's why Larry Hughes is the wrong player to pair with LeBron James: He's an erratic perimeter shooter (like LeBron). He looks to drive and pull (like LeBron); or drive and finish (like LeBron); or drive and pass (like LeBron, only not as well). He gambles on defense (like LeBron, only with better results), and he's not a very good man-to-man defender (like LeBron).
What the Cavs really need is a dead-eye shooter who can create his own scoring opportunities in emergencies, while playing sound defense. Someone to complement LeBron's game, not duplicate it.
Stromile Swift, Rockets
Swift is one of the most athletic big men in the league. He has range (18 to 20 feet) on his jumpers and can shoot accurately after taking one dribble and pulling up. He likes to drive left, but can also go right — and can execute a nifty crossover in both directions. In the pivot, S.S. shows a right-handed jump hook, a turn-around jumper, plus a variety of pump fakes, and up-and-under moves. He can also rebound, block shots and run the floor. In fact, when Swift is on his game he's an extremely active and energetic player.
Here's your chance to fire back at Charley Rosen. Got a question or a comment? Submit it below and Charley will respond to the best ones in regular mailbag features.
Subject:
Too bad he can't/won't work hard all of the time — in games as well as in practice. In NBA lingo, Swift is a "dog."
However, if Jeff Van Gundy was able to prod/provoke/threaten/cajole Kelvin Cato into earning his salary, perhaps he can motivate Swift to do the same.
Maybe yes. Probably not.
By Christmas, the Rockets will wish that Swift had landed elsewhere.
Brian Scalabrine, Celtics
He's thick-bodied and possesses only average speed and quickness. Veal is highly competitive, however, and his incredible court awareness makes him one of the league's premier passing big men. He rarely misses open shots, has legitimate 3-point range, and is especially effective in the clutch.
Scalabrine plays near-perfect position defense but lacks the quickness to keep up with spins, pull-ups, reverses, and other speedy moves. Because he's slow off the floor he's not an effective rebounder in a crowd.
Moreover, he has no inside game and his handle usually gets him nowhere.
Scalabrine is also a hale and hearty presence both on the bench and in the locker room. He is a likeable, enthusiastic teammate who promotes harmony — something the Celtics sorely lack.
In sum, he's a light-white shadow of Paul Pierce, who, if used in judicious matchups will do more good than harm.
Kurt Thomas, Suns
At 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, Thomas has spent much of the last several seasons playing center for the Knicks. He's an accomplished rebounder, especially on offense, and an aggressive defender. He will take and make jumpers up to 18 feet from the hole, and is an exceptional screen-and-pop shooter from 15 feet.
All of these attributes make him a perfect fit for the Suns — whether working in tandem with Steve Nash, or being a force on offense while allowing Amare Stoudemire space to operate in the low post.
There are several negatives, however: On defense, Thomas uses his hands around the ball too much and is therefore foul prone. Also, his playing out of position against bigger, stronger players for so long has simply worn Thomas down.
The questions are: How to keep Thomas on the court? And just how long can his body parts hold together? If these problems are resolved in a positive fashion, look for Thomas to help make the Suns tougher and more defense-minded.
Raja Bell, Suns
A quick, athletic, active defender who will pressure and overplay his man — a tactic which leaves him susceptible to ball reversal and basket cuts. Bell can also run and rebound.
For a defensive specialist, however, Bell has a yearning to score —his shooting has greatly improved in recent years, and he's become a dangerous 3-ball threat.
Bell's usefulness in Phoenix depends entirely on what the Suns do with Joe Johnson.
With J.J. in the fold, Bell becomes a terrific backup at both wing positions. Sans J.J., Bell becomes a starter whose lack of offensive creativity will be oppressive.
Bobby Simmons, Bucks
A solid player who makes things happen on offense, Simmons is a good open shooter (preferring baseline shots and corner 3s), and an effective post-player (pump fakes, jump hooks and turn-around jumpers are his interior weapons).
Simmons' defense is ordinary, however, and he'd rather shoot than pass.
With the addition of the highly touted Andrew Bogut, and the return of T.J. Ford, the Bucks are the NBA's mystery team. Yet there's one holdover question from last season's disaster — who's going to play defense? Certainly not Simmons.
Cuttino Mobley, Clippers
Strictly a one-on-one player who can provide instant offense. Mobley is a streaky outside shooter who'd rather drive left than right and can be stymied by aggressive hand-pressure on defense. Quickness and outstanding athleticism are his main tools. He'll pass only under duress, and his defense is awful.
Mobley would make an outstanding go-to scorer for some team's second unit. He'll undoubtedly be a starter for the Clips and continue their shameful tradition of selfish, offensive-minded players whose games are less than meets the eye.
Kwame Brown, Lakers
Brown's upside is considerable — he can run, board, exhibit several rudimentary yet effective post-up moves, and he has extraordinarily quick feet for his size.
Unfortunately, his downside likewise looms large: His immaturity is somewhat understandable given that he was a 19-year-old rookie when he was the NBA's top draft pick back in 2001. Too young to hang with his teammates at clubs and bars. Too far away from his family and friends. Choosing to spend too many lonely hours playing video games by himself.
Michael Jordan's public castigations of Brown's effort and abilities certainly did nothing to bring the youngster out of his seclusion.
The NBA culture is prone to retarding all of its inhabitants' psychological and emotional maturation anyway, and Brown is living proof.
Kwame Brown will try to re-build his image in Los Angeles. It won't be easy. (Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
No surprise, then, that Brown plays with indecision and makes bad decisions both on and off the court. His biggest physical failings? His iron hands and limited handle.
Will a change of scenery, plus the nurturing presence of Phil Jackson, help Brown evolve into an NBA-ready man? Next to Kobe's overall attitude, this is the Lakers' most pivotal question.
The estimate hereabouts is that Brown will indeed grow up and be productive — but not until next season.
Caron Butler, Wizards
A terrific set-shooter who lacks 3-point range, Butler drives both ways but prefers going left (with a right-to-left crossover) and features an effective step-back move to unleash his jumper. In the post, he favors a turn-around jumper both ways, along with a right handed jump hook and various turn-and-face-up maneuvers.
He doesn't rebound much, is a merely adequate defender, and a reluctant passer, but Butler will find a way to score. A much more reliable scorer than Eddie Jones, Butler fits in nicely with Shaq and Wade. Without an active shot-blocker behind him, though, Butler's defensive deficiencies will be noticeable.
A very good pickup for the Wiz if he plays behind Antawn Jamison. Should Butler be pushed into a starting role, Washington will be slower than last year and Gilbert Arenas will be their only penetrator.
Chucky Atkins, Wizards
Chucky is aptly named as his mantra is this: "When in doubt, air it out." A point guard with a scorer's mentality, Atkins can pull up either way (especially to launch 3-balls), also looks to penetrate to the ring and toss floaters over the bigs. In addition, Atkins is an effective screen/roll scorer, and wants to go coast-to-coast in any broken field situations.
Passing? That's how his teammates keep Chucky in business.
Defense? He'll pressure the ball and gamble for steals only because when successful he'll wind up with unimpeded layups.
Atkins is the kind of player best suited to come off the bench. Let him go until he misses three shots in a row, then return him to the pine until his next rotation in the second half.
Donyell Marshall, Cavs
A catch-and-shoot scorer with a good step-back move and excellent 3-point range. Has a crossover both ways but doesn't like to drive and doesn't like to drive left. Marshall can also operate effectively on the left block (right hand jump hook and a drop step), and on the high post (always drives right). Attacks the offensive boards, and can still run his way into open looks in transition.
Otherwise, Marshall doesn't pass well and his subpar defense can be attacked for profit in the pivot or out on the floor.
Should be a solid bench scorer for the Cavs, but contributes to the team's highly vulnerable defense.
Antonio Daniels, Wizards
An active scorer who can play the point, Daniels is much better suited to the shooting-guard position because under pressure he's apt to make mistakes with the ball. Shows a pull-up jumper both ways and a step-back move going left. Would rather drive right — when driving left, he wants to spin back to his right. Will drive and dish. An excellent stand-still shooter from beyond the arc. Aside from his quick reactions into passing lanes, Daniels' defense is questionable.
He's another high-energy, point-minded backup guard vying for limited playing time. With Daniels, Atkins, Arenas, and the savvy but slow-footed Steve Blake, the Wizards still lack a bonafide pass-first point guard.
|
8/2/2005 2:56 PM
