Weakest Position Debate

[magnifier661]

I honestly think that the SF is our weakest position now. Not because our players aren't good, but because of their inexperience. Honestly, it's not a huge issue, IMO since we aren't looking for "too much" at that position as far as scoring.

I will be extremely happy if our 3 position is great on help defense, running the break, Occasional outside shooting and ability to rebound. I think the "lack of experience" isn't as much of a necessity since Miller, Roy and Fernandez are going to be the savvy players settling us down.

 

[Natebishop3]

Batum should start. Web should come off the bench!

 

[BrianFromWA]

PF. In terms of "what happens if starter gets injured for 20 games", I feel OK with Blake, Rudy, Webs/Batum, and Joel starting. I don't think Travis (as good as he is off the bench) has ever shown a propensity to work well as a starter. That leaves Howard, DC, and ????

 

[Natebishop3]

PF. In terms of "what happens if starter gets injured for 20 games", I feel OK with Blake, Rudy, Webs/Batum, and Joel starting. I don't think Travis (as good as he is off the bench) has ever shown a propensity to work well as a starter. That leaves Howard, DC, and ????

I'm really hoping Howard still has some juice left in the tanks. He looked solid last night, but that's just preseason against the Kings. If he can continue to put up solid numbers, I would say he is the perfect backup power forward for us.

 

[BlazersBlood]

PF. In terms of "what happens if starter gets injured for 20 games", I feel OK with Blake, Rudy, Webs/Batum, and Joel starting. I don't think Travis (as good as he is off the bench) has ever shown a propensity to work well as a starter. That leaves Howard, DC, and ????

Good point. Our depth at PF is bar far the thinnest.

Our SF only has to be the glue guy. Play good D, hit the open J. Whoever is playing that spot is option #5 on the floor.

 

[magnifier661]

PF. In terms of "what happens if starter gets injured for 20 games", I feel OK with Blake, Rudy, Webs/Batum, and Joel starting. I don't think Travis (as good as he is off the bench) has ever shown a propensity to work well as a starter. That leaves Howard, DC, and ????

Ahhhhh very good point. But in all honesty, I am looking at the strength of the position as a whole, keeping in mind that Aldridge will be healthy.

 

[BenDavis503]

PF. In terms of "what happens if starter gets injured for 20 games", I feel OK with Blake, Rudy, Webs/Batum, and Joel starting. I don't think Travis (as good as he is off the bench) has ever shown a propensity to work well as a starter. That leaves Howard, DC, and ????

I almost agree with this. But I think Howard can start still if he needed to for an extended amount of time. He still has gas in the tank.

It is between PF and SF for me.

 

[hasoos]

Batum should start. Web should come off the bench!

Honestly it's like splitting hairs at this point. Neither of them is scoring. Both are good defenders. I am hoping one of them starts to pick up their offensive game soon.

 

[magnifier661]

Honestly it's like splitting hairs at this point. Neither of them is scoring. Both are good defenders. I am hoping one of them starts to pick up their offensive game soon.

Yeah I'm not too concerned with who starts at SF as much as PG and Center. As far as I'm concerned, Webster and Batum are similar "quality" players. My opinion may change during the season, but for now, that's what I think.

 

[STOMP]

There is little question that Batum is not yet at the level of the other projected starters. It's reasonable to expect him to have both improved from last season but still substantially trail the other starters. But after the minutes shake out, I expect his main backup to be Roy so as to give Rudy plenty of burn. Brandon does a decent enough job guarding most 3's and of course he's a nightmare for anyone on the other end.

A team is doing pretty well if those two are to get a majority of minutes at SF and thats the still their weakest spot

STOMP

 

[Wizard Mentor]

There is little question that Batum is not yet at the level of the other projected starters. It's reasonable to expect him to have both improved from last season but still substantially trail the other starters. But after the minutes shake out, I expect his main backup to be Roy so as to give Rudy plenty of burn. Brandon does a decent enough job guarding most 3's and of course he's a nightmare for anyone on the other end.

A team is doing pretty well if those two are to get a majority of minutes at SF and thats the still their weakest spot

STOMP

Brandon has lost weight, he's definitely a 2-1 now.

If defense ability is given the same credit offensive ability is, then PG is by far our weakest position. Brandon and Nate have said that Batum is the best wing defender on the team.

So, the question really is "how important is defense?"

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

I honestly think that the SF is our weakest position now. Not because our players aren't good, but because of their inexperience. Honestly, it's not a huge issue, IMO since we aren't looking for "too much" at that position as far as scoring.

I will be extremely happy if our 3 position is great on help defense, running the break, Occasional outside shooting and ability to rebound. I think the "lack of experience" isn't as much of a necessity since Miller, Roy and Fernandez are going to be the savvy players settling us down.

Agree. Lots of "unrealized" talent at the three position.

 

[Natebishop3]

Brandon has lost weight, he's definitely a 2-1 now.

If defense ability is given the same credit offensive ability is, then PG is by far our weakest position. Brandon and Nate have said that Batum is the best wing defender on the team.

So, the question really is "how important is defense?"

I would say it's supremely important, but it's a balance. A quality offensive team can afford to have a defensive dynamo. The Spurs with Bowen were a perfect example.

 

[PapaG]

SG

We don't know how Roy will adapt to Miller's style of play.

 

[magnifier661]

SG

We don't know how Roy will adapt to Miller's style of play.

Hahahahahaha

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Honestly it's like splitting hairs at this point. Neither of them is scoring. Both are good defenders. I am hoping one of them starts to pick up their offensive game soon.

What do you mean "neither of them is scoring"? Are we talking about the two preseason games, one of which Batum didn't play in, and the other of which he played a grand total of 9 minutes?

 

[Natebishop3]

SG

We don't know how Roy will adapt to Miller's style of play.

 

[Foulzilla]

Definitely SF in my mind... not that they're terrible. Just relative to the other positions. I don't actually agree that our PF depth is that bad. I know it's popular to hate on Travis here, but how many backup PFs don't have comparable holes in their games? There's a reason they are all backups. And Aldridge is such a big strength at that position to make up the difference.

 

[STOMP]

Brandon has lost weight, he's definitely a 2-1 now.

When BR did the predraft he weighed in at 207... now according to him he's going to start the season between 205-210. I can definitely recall him guarding 3s his rookie year so sorry if I think your assessment of him definitely being a 2-1 now as not holding water. Are you aware how many teams swing their starting 2 to the 3 spot for extended stretches every game? Hell, Josh Howard has been an All Star 3 with a reported playing weight around 200 lbs.

Please list a few backup 3's that you think should be too much for him to handle.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Honestly it's like splitting hairs at this point. Neither of them is scoring. Both are good defenders. I am hoping one of them starts to pick up their offensive game soon.

since when has Martell been an okay let alone good defender? In 2007-8 nearly every single KP interview he'd point to the club's need of adding a quality wing defender and then he traded up to draft Nic siting his ability to defend perimeter players. Connect those dots and you have management's assessment of Webster's D. I'm in full agreement with them that it wasn't what you'd want. Few steals, few blocks, and his man typically scores a lot. I'd rate it right there with Outlaw's... subpar.

STOMP

 

[RR7]

When BR did the predraft he weighed in at 207... now according to him he's going to start the season between 205-210. I can definitely recall him guarding 3s his rookie year so sorry if I think your assessment of him definitely being a 2-1 now as not holding water. Are you aware how many teams swing their starting 2 to the 3 spot for extended stretches every game? Hell, Josh Howard has been an All Star 3 with a reported playing weight around 200 lbs.

Please list a few backup 3's that you think should be too much for him to handle.

STOMP

+1. Not just backups. What starters are "too much" for him to handle? Lebron, but really who can handle him? You go team by team, and who is he really going to struggle against if he for whatever reason started at the SF slot for us?

Rudy Gay? No. Julian Wright? No. Josh Howard? No. Richard Jefferson? No. Trevor Ariza? No. Francisco Garcia? Al Thornton? Grant Hill? Stephen jackson? Ron Artest? Kevin Durant? Corey Brewer? Carmelo Anthony? I'm just gonna stop after the WC, but I don't get why people think the extra 20 pounds SOME SFs might have is immediately going to drain Roy, as if the player is sitting on his shoulders.

 

[e_blazer]

Personally, I find the missionary position to be kind of weak.

 

[MARIS61]

PF, we only have LaMarcus still.

Then PG, especially long term.

We're knee-deep in the other spots.

 

[MARIS61]

Personally, I find the missionary position to be kind of weak.

Maybe you're just not doing it right?

 

[Natebishop3]

PF, we only have LaMarcus still.

Then PG, especially long term.

We're knee-deep in the other spots.

If you think Blake is an OK point guard, why do you think Bayless won't work at that position? I think he could easily slide into that role and replace Blake long term.