Posted by McK1:
I really don't feel D'Antoni sees the game this way.
As far as matching up or creating mismatches I doubt Curry is an option to MDA at all. He didn't like slowing the game down for Shaq and he can run alot more than Curry can.
If Hill or Gallo (i'd be shocked if you see them on the floor together much; MDA is about winning with speed not size) is getting toasted because they don't have the ability to guard on the perimeter, I believe MDA will go even smaller and move whichever is in the game to center. The paint will never look more friendlier.
On the other end, i don't see Hill being able to beat guys with that robotic post game. He doesn't have quick feet, isn't quick off the ground, and doesn't extend on the shot. People are gonna sit on that turnaround and swat it. His saving grace will be a face up shot...IMO we drafted Kurt Thomas with the 8
All D'Antoni and Walsh have talked about for the past year is that this team needs more versatility to avoid mismatches. Your opinion of Hill is your opinion of Hill. My opinion of Hill is that we don't know what we have until we see him play for a couple years in the NBA. That being said regardless of whether D'antoni goes small or large the point doesn't change. D'Antoni is not going to have Hill guarding a perimeter guy like Daye. He'd be more apt to play Al at center if that was the case.
As for Curry, I think you are wrong. If Eddie is in shape he is going to play. When Shaq was in Phoenix under D'Antonio I agree D didn't like having him becasue he was too slow but there are a couple things to consider:
1.) Shaq still played close to 44 minutes a game(actually 29, but since I'm rounding up I thought 44 sounded better) which was right in line with his numbers before and since.
2.) Shaq scored 13 a game. My guess is that since we established that D'Antonio did not like using him, when he did use him I'm pretty sure he took advantage of mismatches
3.) An inshape Curry is more nimble than shaq was in Phoenix
4.) take Curry out of the equation and Hill still won't be guarding a guy like Daye, which was the original conversation.
[Edited by - bippity10 on 17-07-2009 4:04 PM]
7/17/2009 4:16 PM