martin wrote:bernard wrote:I love Toney. His defense and energy are huge. But he's not ready to be a prime-time back-up point on a playoff team. He just makes too many bad decisions when he's running the point in a half-court game against good d. So I'm totally in favor going after a veteran point to play 0-15 mins a game. If Toney's got it going, our new guy will get the occasional DNP/CD. If we're in a tight game where we're having trouble pushing pace, the new vet might log as many as 15 mins.We need a Chris Duhon-type player. Only 1/2 joking. As bad as he was as a starter, he's got the right skill set for what we need in this role. Needs to be able to run the pnr. Needs to be able to can an open J in pressure situations. Needs to be team-first guy who won't whine if he goes a few games w/o burn. Needs to play decent d (okay, Dudu is out). I don't know if we get all that for Bill Walker, but if can, I'd be thrilled. Williams is looking loads better than Walker -- and when Buke comes back, Walker will be stuck on the bench for sure.
it's weird, everyone can see that Toney is not the facilitator-type PG that we would all like, but he brings the D like a champ. We would all love some more Duhon-like skills with Toney, but then having a Duhon player would reacquaint us with how awful his D is.
I am not at the point yet of giving up on Toney. His shot has been off, he doesn't see open guys and still has a prob with the shot clock. I'm frustrated with what I see but I haven't given up on the dude.
+1 Martin..I like TD too and tend to think that his lack of true PG skill/vision as some serious detriment is getting a little overblown. We're OK with TD as the backup point---as time goes on, you would hope he'll improve enough to the point where Felton can rest for longer periods..And then there's always Andy Rautins who this team drafted for that very purpose. Who says TD and Rautins could never play together? It didn't look great in SL but that was a long time ago..Things change. Players improve..
I still think adding another big man on the cheap who can contribute is more vital in the long run..Where's PF Alexander Johnson right now? Anyone know? Are the Rockets still carrying him on their 15-man?? I think they cut him awhile back right? Here's another big man with NBA experience that would come dirt cheap right now (played very well in the DL last year btw---DOMINATED THE NBDL in fact: 23 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.3 blks, 57% FG & he got to the line 12 times a game).. Johnson could come in and help the frontline as a tough rebounder/enforcer/scorer around the basket..Very Amir Johnson-like and we all saw what this guy did to us yesterday..
It behooves us to give these types of guys a look FIRST before blowing important assets &/or cap room on some middle-of-the-road player that doesn't put us over the hump. I want to see this team eventually make a deal for a guy that does put us over the top. That should be the goal when thinking trade, esp. in the NBA where managing the cap is so important..
12/6/2010 4:36 PM