I wouldn't be surprised if Pau or Gasol *more likely* will be broken up, their twin towers a great, except vs the new breed of the elite in OKC.
They have to get more athletic and gain speed, especially with an aging Bryant. As good as he is, he isn't the same player defensively that he once was.
Without giving up much, they added 3 solid players to their big three, core, with
l
Jordan Hill - solid double double with a pair of blocks and steals, with limited minutes of the bench, and some decent defense. He is a RFA, Lakers could lock him up for long term, at a decent price this off season. In the area of 5mill, it would be a nice offer with the new CBA.
Josh McRoberts who I think deserves some playing time, he probably can start for many teams, and would be much more solid than Amare has been for us.
Ramon Sessions is a great player, very under rated. However, he lacks the play off experience, and is slightly intimidated by feeding Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol, rather then trying to take over at times, which would open up the game for him and the team. He added a 3point shot to his game, and with his age, penetration, could be a MLE candidate.
Lakers have the ability to target Ray Allen, Terry, Billups, Kidd, Nash, or some other players that would fall to the MLE.
I am just saying, like last summer, all the players that we think are attracted to come play in New York, are only attracted by the $.
The way we played ISO ball, with our lack of ball movement, with all the negative attention when we lose, make coming to New York very unattractive.
We have horrible defense, outside of Tyson Chandler, and the don't play team basketball. Melo and Amare are always out to try to get their's and lets face it, not much is left after.
For players, looking for the opportunity to generate stats for their next contract, it makes it less attractive to come over.
This is where I really want to trade Amare, I don't think he meshes with Tyson Chandler, or Melo, which both are suited for half court games.
It is never going to work, if our Center and PF, both aren't post options, and are not good shooters to spread the floor.
Amare is constantly getting exploited defensiveley, where Tyson Chandler has to help and guard multiple positions.
We just don't have the ability to acquire the players that Amare needs with 2 players making MAX.
For Amare to be "great" he is suited to play Center, with the right players to space him out, and with a running game, with athleticism, speed, and ball movement.
He will be exploited on many plays, but if we are constantly running, he will get the opportunity to use his speed and athleticism.
Needing players to space the floor, with players that are long, goood rebounders, good defenders, and great all round games.
It is a total different philosophy, from the defense, that Tyson Chandler, and many of us want to Knicks to play.
It's constantly running, that will tear down the centers, not the 20-25 minutes that a 6th man could use.
He isn't a ball hog like Melo, but he only know's how to be a good player when he is the alpha dog.
Where the offense is run through his ability to roll and take advantage of a Center defending him.
We are not in the same caliber as
OKC
Miami
Chicago
Spurs
Lakers
the players that we want to come at a discount, can get the same offer to play with these franchises.
And for teams like
Memphis
Dallas
Denver
Indiana
Philly
Boston
they are probably even more attractive before us.
5/19/2012 3:43 AM