re: Another Discussion/Questions About the 3 and the 5

Regardless how well he is shooting or whatever, hes 1 of the better 3andD SFs in the NBA.

Its ironic, but hes the exact type of SF that we need.

Isnt DeMarre Carroll on the back end of his contract? Hed be a great fit as well.

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Without changes, his offense would be wasted here.

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We don't need much scoring from the SF position, just keeping the defense honest so everyone else can score. Ariza nailing wide open jumpers (unlike Aminu) and being a lock down defender on the perimeter would be a huge improvement. Ariza also has enough slashing ability that you wouldn't want to switch a PF onto him so you can put a SF on Ryno. Maybe being the 5th option is somewhat of a waste of Ariza's talent, but that's what's going to happen to any SF that's good enough to make a difference. Now can you get a similar level of performance from a guy like Sefolosha for half the price? That's a valid question.

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Scott Brooks and Monty are neither of those things.

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Probably the two biggest knocks on both of those guys. Hey, at least we have one thing in common with the Thunder.

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This goes back to coherence for me. Monty complains about not having shooters, yet I don't see them actively working to get those shots. Shots you want don't happen just because. It's clear after a few years that these shots either aren't important to the staff (most likely) or they don't know how to generate them.

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Stemming the article ESPN had on Morey yesterday, should we be bringing in guys to "fit the system" currently in place? Or should we grab someone at a position of need and adjust to our new strengths? I don't think it's impossible for our roster to manufacture corner 3s. Do we right now? No. Don't have the stat, but most of our three point shooters are guards who seem to shoot threes from the wings / in front of the basket. If Aminu could hit the corner 3 at 45%, I think we'd see more corner threes this year.

Maybe Dell knows Monty struggles with adaption and evolution, so he doesn't/won't push the issue.

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The fact that there is no post presence on this team to generate doubles and pass out is a stumbling block.

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Kind of hard when we don't have a legit 5 and AD is running PnR at the three point line.

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You're way too soft on the team.

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I wasn't trying to be soft on the team, I was trying to figure out how you generate wide open 3s, because Morrow and Anderson are the only ones willing/authorized to create their own and shoot contested shots. A player that can draw a double in the post is something that this team is lacking and would generate more 3 point shots. I honestly don't expect them to fill that void with anyone but AD, so it will probably continue to be a problem for a few more years. The team is screwed if Anderson has any long term problems because of his injury.

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should we be bringing in guys to "fit the system" currently in place? Or should we grab someone at a position of need and adjust to our new strengths?

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It's a legit question. Davis is so good, he can play next to almost anyone with a pulse. Lots of options.

But I just don't think Monty and Dell have the same ideas on who they want to be.

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I don't think it's impossible for our roster to manufacture corner 3s. Do we right now? No. Don't have the stat, but most of our three point shooters are guards who seem to shoot threes from the wings / in front of the basket.

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That's fair and I think Anderson is certainly that way and it's a good thing. Would you rather run high PnR w/ him or have him sitting in the corner?

For me, it's a design thing. They have guys that can shoot. It's more about making it an emphasis. They just don't want it. Morrow hit 46% on 76 (1/g) corner 3s. Ariza was around the same % on about 2.5/g.

Certainly Wall is very good. But how much better than Holiday or Evans? And does Wall have a guy like Davis patrolling the paint that demands defensive attention the way he does?

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generate wide open

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This is a stumbling block. We saw more pump fakes on open 3s than I care to remember. If guys can only shoot wide open 3s, then there's no point in having this discussion about the team.

But just in general for 3s, two teams with similar profiles are PHX and PDX. PHX is all Dragic/Bledsoe attacking with no post up big. In September, if we could have switched out the Pels wing rotation with the Suns, most responses are "frick no."

PDX features a skilled big in the high post surrounded by versatile perimeter talent.

And I love watching the Hawks. Very extreme because they have shooting at every position, but they are fascinating to me even with all the injuries. I would dump Monty for Budenholzer in a heartbeat.

I sometimes wonder if the Pels shouldn't have gone after Milsap this summer.

Waiting for Asik for 2015 is a reasonable option, but if the Pelicans could find a way to traded for him this offseason, I think it would be a better investment. That is of course assuming Houston throws in some significant cash considerations. I think if they met half way between his cap hit and actual salary, it would be reasonable.

Asik+$3 Million in cash for whatever the Pelicans can offer (say Babbit or sign and trade with Smith), and I'd be fine with it assuming New Orleans has the space for it with the new cap.

Realistically, I think Small forward isn't as drastic a need as some may think. I honestly think playing Evans there and bringing in either another defensive minded 2 to rotate with Gordon or evan just starting Morrow at the 2, would be a decent rotation. Gordon may do well coming off the bench with Anderson and be a better Ginobli-like player than Evans if that is the idea.

In the end, under Monty all of this is meaningless. I don't think most have any faith in him getting rotations right, and I am personally against getting players at this point just to fit his system, when he should be gone now, much less after next season.

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PDX

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Who?

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Is it really the scheme that's the problem, or the rotation?

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Certainly both.

Fisher had a great read earlier in the season on how Monty creates roles for players. One guy gets to be the "shooter" and takes most of the 3s. Other guys, even if capable, appear to have 3PA tampered. Really fascinating look over the years.

Watching the Thunder play offense is so sad and seems like a preview if the Pels get to the playoffs without changes. Brooks has done nothing because he has had Durant, Westbrook, and Harden who just did shite. Now, they play stout defenses that can gameplan for their basic sets and they can be stifled.

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PDX

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Portland