NBA thread

[Son of JayJamJah]

Sheed's the guy I think.

I've watched Sheed very closly as he's been in Detroit the past five years and though his game has dropped off, he's the perfect fir for the Cavs. The things he does well like shooting the three, rebounding, defending the post and on help side and hitting big shots are exactly what the Cavs were missing from the four position this year. A line-up of Mo Williams, D. West, Sheed, Shaq and Lebron looks very tough to stop. Keeping Varejo would be nice though too because you need a guy to eat minutes in the season as Sheed and Shaq ideally should only play 60-65 games and 32-36 minutes a night to stay fresh for the playoffs. It also sets up nice for Gibson and Sasha as the primary perimeter bench guys going forward.

The other good fit for Wallace is San Antonio; Matt Bonner thrived there next to the greatest power forward ever and Sheed does everything except get a sunburn better then him. He'd be playing the five in name as he did in Detroit but his role would be the same in as it would in Cleveland. Hit the open shot, defend the post (The Spurs interior D would be the best since Robinson\Duncan) and provide the veteran cool down the stretch.

The one place that needs Sheed the most won't ever get him. Orlando. Dwight Howard could learn so much from Sheed and he'd be the perfect compliment there as well, stretching the floor for Howard to work the offensive glass, defending the post to keep Dwight out of foul trouble and giving the Magic an occasional post up option who can actually shoot.

People make a big deal about the techs he gets, but having watched him for five years I can tell you it never once cost the Pistons a game so he can get all the T's he wants. I make whichever of those three teams gets Rasheed Wallace the top contender to knock off the champs.

What do you guys think Proggy, Dac, anyone else.

[dac]

Originally Posted by JayJamJah

Sheed's the guy I think.

I've watched Sheed very closly as he's been in Detroit the past five years and though his game has dropped off, he's the perfect fir for the Cavs. The things he does well like shooting the three, rebounding, defending the post and on help side and hitting big shots are exactly what the Cavs were missing from the four position this year. A line-up of Mo Williams, D. West, Sheed, Shaq and Lebron looks very tough to stop. Keeping Varejo would be nice though too because you need a guy to eat minutes in the season as Sheed and Shaq ideally should only play 60-65 games and 32-36 minutes a night to stay fresh for the playoffs. It also sets up nice for Gibson and Sasha as the primary perimeter bench guys going forward.

The other good fit for Wallace is San Antonio; Matt Bonner thrived there next to the greatest power forward ever and Sheed does everything except get a sunburn better then him. He'd be playing the five in name as he did in Detroit but his role would be the same in as it would in Cleveland. Hit the open shot, defend the post (The Spurs interior D would be the best since Robinson\Duncan) and provide the veteran cool down the stretch.

The one place that needs Sheed the most won't ever get him. Orlando. Dwight Howard could learn so much from Sheed and he'd be the perfect compliment there as well, stretching the floor for Howard to work the offensive glass, defending the post to keep Dwight out of foul trouble and giving the Magic an occasional post up option who can actually shoot.

People make a big deal about the techs he gets, but having watched him for five years I can tell you it never once cost the Pistons a game so he can get all the T's he wants. I make whichever of those three teams gets Rasheed Wallace the top contender to knock off the champs.

What do you guys think Proggy, Dac, anyone else.

Sasha's gone remember, and Gibson is one of the most hot-cold players I've ever seen so the backup guards would be the week spot for the cavs for sure. The Spurs won't land Sheed simply because they aren't a team that likes to go out and spend money, and they just picked up the Jefferson contract. Orlando would be unstoppable with him, but I just don't see them spending that much money. The Cavs have shown the willingness to spend the money though, as they've had one of the top team payrolls for years now, so they're the biggest contender out of the three you mentioned. I also think with LeBron and Shaq on the team, you'd see his attitude drop WAY off. Varejao is the key though. So many intangibles, and if you've ever seen a cavs game, you'd know how well he plays with LeBron. I don't know if any PF in the league moves better without the ball.

[Son of JayJamJah]

I did not realize Pavlovic was part of that trade; I guess maybe Danny Green or the other rookie try to steal some minutes behind West and Lebron. They can't resign Sczerbiak.

Varejo would be foolish to leave, I don't know if he could score without Lebron setting him up so nice, but you're right he does understand how to find space well.

Sheeds' disposition will never change, it's always been the same. And like I said, it won't be a problem, he was the most valuable member of the team from '04-'06 when the Pistons were at their peak.

I like Gibson as a regular season bench player and situational shooter in the playoffs and his contract isn't terrible so you gotta keep him.

I wonder too what they will do with Z and Joe Smith. Will Z come off the bench and do they retain Smith or trust that J.J Hickson can stay healthy.

[debaserr]

who knows if mo williams will continue to be as good as he was last year? i wouldnt pencil anyone in as "unstoppable" this early on.

[ProggyMan]

Thoughts on the trades:
Jefferson to SA:
Pushes the Spurs past the Nuggets, if they have everyone healthy at the end of the year, the WCFs will be epic.
Carter to ORL:
Good for the Nets, they needed to unload Carter. Wait and see for the Magic. I think they needed to make a move since they knew Turk was going to opt out and probably wasn't signable so they had to do something. If this was the best deal they could get I can't fault the GM for pulling the trigger. I'm just not sure if this will pan out, especially with SVG as coach.
Shaq to Cavs:
Good move, no risk that I can see. But unless the Cavs make a big move for quality 4 who can spread the floor with their shooting I see Shaq doing nothing but clogging the middle on the wrong side of the floor. This makes them better no matter what, but can you imagine Shaq guarding Gasol?
Edit: I'll post my thoughts on each pick of the first round later.

[debaserr]

cavs gave up like NOTHING for shaq. and its last year of his contract right?

[Anthony]

It just seems to me that Shaq solves no problem for the Cavs. He might've done a slightly better job in the post against Orlando, but what they really needed was an athletic guy over 6'9 who could've given them some kind of answer for Turkoglu/Lewis. Shaq is only good in spurts now and so they're still pretty average and slow up front unless they move Lebron to the 4. That's their best bet, I think. Move Lebron to the 4 and I guess try to find a bruce bowen type or something to help out on the perimeter. Either way, if Garnett is healthy, I think the Celtics are gonna run through the East next year. And I hate the Celtics

[dac]

Originally Posted by Anthony

It just seems to me that Shaq solves no problem for the Cavs. He might've done a slightly better job in the post against Orlando, but what they really needed was an athletic guy over 6'9 who could've given them some kind of answer for Turkoglu/Lewis. Shaq is only good in spurts now and so they're still pretty average and slow up front unless they move Lebron to the 4. That's their best bet, I think. Move Lebron to the 4 and I guess try to find a bruce bowen type or something to help out on the perimeter. Either way, if Garnett is healthy, I think the Celtics are gonna run through the East next year. And I hate the Celtics

The big 3 get another year older while Dwight Howard and LeBron move closer to their prime... I've got the Celtics finishing 3rd.

[ProggyMan]

So, Pistons much? I must question putting Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton in the same backcourt...THEY COULD HAVE HAD BLAIR.

[Son of JayJamJah]

Hamilton and Gordon won't be in the same back court.

Hamilton is probably on the way out and either way Rodney Stuckey is the teams PG for better or worse, so one of the two will be off the bench if they're both here.

The big issue is why pay Gordon at least 3 million more then he's worth and Villanueva 2 million more then he's worth.

If they don't put off the Bosh trade this looks like a team in need of some serious help to avoid the dreeded 35-45 win black hole.