NBA off-season action

So the Pistons didn't wait long to fire Flip Saunders and Joe Dumars promised big changes to the team during the off-season.

I think firing Saunders was a mistake. Chauncey Billups' hamstring was the only reason they didn't beat an excellent Celtics team and make the finals. If Billups had been healthy, he'd have schooled Rondo and we'd be watching a Pistons-Lakers final. Saunders could have led the team to the championship next year, but Dumars got impatient.

I also think Rasheed is gone from the Pistons and I think this would also be a mistake. Although there seems to be some internal strife involving Rasheed's showing respect to KG before the series ended, Rasheed has unique skills and can't be replaced.

I don't know enough about Eastern Conference teams. But, being a Mavericks fan, I'd like to get rid of Josh Howard or Jason Terry and try and get someone like Carmelo Anthony. These past few years has been painful for Mavericks fans and most people don't want to wait for a Championship.

It'll be interesting to see if the entire Western conference will remain as stacked as it is now.

I fear thread change. Plus, i don't think i have the energy to type in two threads at once.

Originally Posted by chronoaug

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I fear thread change. Plus, i don't think i have the energy to type in two threads at once.

Staaay calm. The playoffs will soon be over and then you'll need some way to get a basketball fix....the NBA draft perhaps? What does your team need?

TUspiv, I'm not a big fan of 'Melo. All he does is score, albeit very well. I like Josh Howard's defense and think he'll keep improving...if he doesn't talk (or toke) himself out of the league. The Mavs need him for the ounce of toughness he provides.

I am interested in seeing how the Knicks will manage to lose during the off-season. It will be harder without Isaiah, but they can do it.

Originally Posted by thinman

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Staaay calm. The playoffs will soon be over and then you'll need some way to get a basketball fix....the NBA draft perhaps? What does your team need?

I'm not sure you understand---we already have an NBA thread.

Originally Posted by Brian278

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I'm not sure you understand---we already have an NBA thread.

Which we already established would be used until the year 2012.

Originally Posted by thinman

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So the Pistons didn't wait long to fire Flip Saunders and Joe Dumars promised big changes to the team during the off-season.

I think firing Saunders was a mistake. Chauncey Billups' hamstring was the only reason they didn't beat an excellent Celtics team and make the finals. If Billups had been healthy, he'd have schooled Rondo and we'd be watching a Pistons-Lakers final. Saunders could have led the team to the championship next year, but Dumars got impatient.

I also think Rasheed is gone from the Pistons and I think this would also be a mistake. Although there seems to be some internal strife involving Rasheed's showing respect to KG before the series ended, Rasheed has unique skills and can't be replaced.

As much I like the Pistons, Flip & Sheed has to go. I was never a fan of Flip when they brought him here. He never got the Wolves to the promised land and he wouldn't with the Pistons. Three straight C. Finals and you are beaten by 3 different teams. He doesn't make enough adjustments. Why wasn't Maxiel playing more? I really don't understand the concept of shortening the rotation. Why develop the "Zoo Crew" during the regular season and then they never get out the cage in the playoffs.

Sheed, what can I say? One tech away from a suspension in the playoffs and he continues to jaw with the ref. The man is 34 years old...STFU...you are costing your team. He sometimes plays lazy defense and settles too much. Why does he have to get mad just to perform. People pay ticket prices, parking, $4 a gallon in gas, concessions, etc...to watch you play. I'm not even upset if you lose, just play hard. Game 3 was an absolute joke.

Billups & Rip stays IMO. Maxiel starts. Dice goes back to the bench, which was his preference but Flip was determined to start him. Would love someone like Elton Brand, but that doesn't solve our center problem. I've heard Emeka Okafor's name being floated, but I don't know. His back worries me.

Rudy Fernandez (Manu Ginobli 2.0) - Or so we Blazers fans desperately hope.

In general, I'm hoping Kevin Pritchard (Portland's GM) pulls another miracle offseason like he has the last few years.

As for the Pistons, if they do blow up the team, they're going to have a few bad years while waiting for their young guys (Stuckey, Maxiell, etc.) to mature, unless he manages to get a superstar. I don't think there's any huge names on the market though, outside of Arenas.

Originally Posted by 76classic

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As much I like the Pistons, Flip & Sheed has to go. I was never a fan of Flip when they brought him here.
I disagree insofar as I think they can keep Sheed for one or two more years, depending on how they want to handle their transition to a new roster. The same with Chauncey, although I think Joe Dumars has to set a time line for moving Billups out and moving to Stuckey. Two, maybe three years? I think Rip has another three or so good years in him, even if they get new back-court talent he's got a Reggie style of play that can see him as a useful tool well into his late 30s, and Tayshaun is going to be a pretty good player for a while. They can use Sheed until they can get fresh front line talent, and they can consider picking up another back court presence over time. I'm not so sure that the Pistons really need a true center, since a true center is very difficult to get. Plenty of teams have gotten around this with a talented PF, and sometimes length at the SF spot (Lamar Odom is a big benefit for the Lakers on defense even if he's not playing well offensively). How many true, first/second team centers are there in the NBA at all? I can only count three: Howard, Ming and Duncan. Oden and Bynum have potential, but there aren't any guarantees. A good center is great and all, but there's no point bankrupting yourself for one position.

I love what Sheed brings, but sometimes I'm begging to the TV for him to just shut up. It's like Manny being Manny, but Manny actually goes out there and performs. On nights when he brings it, he brings it. More and more, he is starting to take nights off. He constantly left Dice in the middle while we got pounded on the boards. That happens when your big man is floating around the perimeter with the guards. They don't have to go bankrupt, but they can find a big man of service that fight hold down the middle. I know he got a bad rap while he was here, but I think Nazr Mohammed should not have been let go. I was always for him. Yeah, a little soft, but he was asked to step in for Big Ben and that was unfair. He was a tough offensive rebounder and had a little above average offensive skills. It's funny how they would force feed the ball to Big Ben, knowing damn well the man had NO ball handling skills or low post presence; yet Nazr and Maxiel would work hard in the post and rarely saw the ball.

Do you have a license for this thread?

Originally Posted by 76classic

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They don't have to go bankrupt, but they can find a big man of service that fight hold down the middle.
Every team tries this (GS, Dallas, PHX before Shaq when they got some crappy big men) and every team fails. You've got to focus on other areas and try and get some length across the roster. A great center is going to be impossible to guard regardless of whether you have a mediocre big man or no real big man--you isolate him, you accept that he's going to get his stats, and you lock down on everyone else (which Detroit can do). The Pistons should take Sheed for whatever he's worth until they can get a relatively talented PF/big SF, because getting a talented C is going to be too hard. If Dumars thinks moving Sheed to the bench or playing him less is going to turn him into a cancer, then he's got to cut him. It's about getting what he has left. Chauncey Billups is still a great player, but you've got to start thinking about Stuckey replacing him in the next few years. The Pistons have a nucleus of new blood (Stuckey and Maxiell) and veterans (Rip and soon Tayshaun) that could carry them for several more years if they do things right.

Originally Posted by Brian278

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I'm not sure you understand---we already have an NBA thread.

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

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Do you have a license for this thread?

I now see that the thread "The 2007 NBA Playoffs" starts with the Sauceman writing: "Alright, official thread for discussing the NBA Playoffs until someone's crowned." and continues by referring to the Miami Heat (who, I seem to recall, didn't make this year's playoffs, but have the second choice in the upcoming draft). Although I originally thought the thread title was a typo and didn't realize that the thread actually was started to discuss the 2007 playoffs, I now realize it was intended to capture exclusive rights to all things NBA, in perpetuity. Sorry, but I don't think a license is required to start a thread, nor do I believe the forum is allowed only one thread per sports league. I'll gladly contribute my opinions, such as they are, to your thread regarding the 2008 playoffs, but I believe there's room for more than one NBA-related thread. So I hope you and your followers will also decide to contribute your basketball opinions here. eidolon, I agree with your analysis of the Pistons. They just need some fine-tuning. Stuckey will be a fantastic replacement for Billups and the team should transition toward flip-flopping their roles, with Billups eventually coming off the bench. Rasheed has a few good years left and McDyess was really impressive in the playoffs. Hamilton is good for about 3 more years, Prince has untapped skills, and the young frontcourt players are solid. They just need a center along the lines of Oberto in San Antonio (Okafor would be a great addition, in the Pistons tradition) and a young power forward-in-waiting and they'll be competitive for the championship for the next 3 years.

Originally Posted by thinman

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I now see that the thread "The 2007 NBA Playoffs" starts with the Sauceman writing: "Alright, official thread for discussing the NBA Playoffs until someone's crowned." and continues by referring to the Miami Heat (who, I seem to recall, didn't make this year's playoffs, but have the second choice in the upcoming draft). Although I originally thought the thread title was a typo and didn't realize that the thread actually was started to discuss the 2007 playoffs, I now realize it was intended to capture exclusive rights to all things NBA, in perpetuity. Sorry, but I don't think a license is required to start a thread, nor do I believe the forum is allowed only one thread per sports league. I'll gladly contribute my opinions, such as they are, to your thread regarding the 2008 playoffs, but I believe there's room for more than one NBA-related thread. So I hope you and your followers will also decide to contribute your basketball opinions here.
I was 100% joking, don't worry. Ain't no thang. I can't add much to draft discussions, unfortunately, because I don't watch much college ball and therefore know little beyond what ESPN tells me... which is not really very much.