You wanna argue semantics with me, fine. You go do that.


My point was, and still is, that our only chance at cracking the playoffs lies in spots 7 and 8 (most likely). Does that mean we will be mediocre? No, with Larry on board we'll probably fight hard. But fighting hard when you don't have the ammunition doesn't usually work out...

Posted by bobs3304:

You wanna argue semantics with me, fine. You go do that.


My point was, and still is, that our only chance at cracking the playoffs lies in spots 7 and 8 (most likely). Does that mean we will be mediocre? No, with Larry on board we'll probably fight hard. But fighting hard when you don't have the ammunition doesn't usually work out...

I don't think your assessment is far off, but its a bit on the low side. For one thing, this team is much more balanced than last years team, deeper than last year and more talented, than last year. I feel they underachieved last year, even given tthat the team was flawed. Now take into account the increase in talent and versatility, maturity of returning young players and the biggest thing of all if we add LB to the equation and I think we're talking about a HUGE win swing.

Its easy to forget just how dynamic the team was at times with just Steph & JC. We just couldn't stop anybody. Right now we have WAY more explosive scoring potential and if LB can get them to play D, which we didn't do at all last year, this team will be a serious threat to win the Atlantic. Yeah NJ, Boston & Philly are going to be very good and improved as well. But we are deeper than NJ & Philly and Boston hasn't convinced me that they have really turned the corner yet. Its been more of the same with Walker & Pierce, the other guys on the team are good, but not dominant. LB will make up a lot of the difference between us and the other teams.

Our high energy guys off the bench will be tough for teams to deal with. N8, JC, Ariza, JYD, Rose, Lee are all good defensive players and are all VERY FAST. They will be able to play as a high pressure unit and change the pace drastically. Its all about having a great Coach who knows how to use players to maximize their potential.

I don't think its completely fair to call all our players except those ones BELOW average defenders. They may not be great defenders, but they aren't bad ones and certainly many of them are young enough to become better defenders. I can understand that a player that has many troubles scoring will not become a scoring machine working gard on his offense or shot, but it can happen. Now, defense IS something that you can teach, especially to youn players willing to learn and work hard.

You can't turn a BAD defensive player into a good one? Thats far from the truth. If the player is willing to work hard on it, he can become a good one. Its just a matter of effort.

MArbury is A Below AVerAge defender. I cAn see Brown turning him into an aVERage to ABove average defender, but not A greAT ONE, like Iverson or Billups -- and yes, they are greAT Defenders for their position.

I'll agree with you about our younger players being influenced the most by Brown. But generALLY, as good as a coach is, you cant turn a poor-below averAGE DEFENDER into a greAT ONE. If it wASN'T in them to begin with, it won't mirACULOUSLY surfACE now thAT Brown is coACHING us.

This is def. swin or sink time for Marbury, Crawford, AND Timmy...

defense is gonna be a huge problem, Brown or no Brown.

Jerome JAMES is the only guy that mirrors defensive ability for us. Look at Detroit BEFORE Brown showed up - Rip, Billups, Sheed, Ben, and Prince.

At least 4/5 of those guys were known as above average defenders BEFORE Brown showed up in Detroit.

Now look at our lineup - Mabury, Craw, Timmy, Sweets, James. 1/5 of those are considered above average defenders. That's a problem.

I still believe we need to bring in a defensive oriented PF thAT Can post up. There are only so many guys in the league thAT fit that MO. Elton Brand is one, Sheed is another. Marion AND AK47 are, for the most part, SF's. K-Mart fits the MO, but his post up game isn't as polished as Brand's or Sheed's. Jermaine O'neAL and Chris Bosh would obviously be ideAL, but they're not going anywhere. I think you get my point though...