2014 Off-Season Thread

[The 24th Letter]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Don't have to worry about the Spurs getting Allen...I literally can't remember the last guy we "made a push for" and got...

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

The Spurs would have nothing to be ashamed of if Allen chose them but Allen..

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Lol what would be wrong with him joining the Spurs?

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Lol what would be wrong with him joining the Spurs?

Lol jumping to the team he just played in the finals two years in a row?

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

On the shooting guard topic, I think we all agree as of right now Harden is the number 1 guy?..

Wade- he was still 19ppg (5th amongst SGs), on 55% shooting last year. The closest player to matching his efficiency is Lance at 49%, though he was 22nd in PPG. This based on the top 40 shooting guards in PPG. Wade is still the most well rounded SG in the league. He's a top scorer, the most efficient scorer, he gives the playmaking Monta and Harden give, he still plays solid defense, he's among the top rebounding SGs, and gives all this despite often playing behind LeBron and Bosh.

His defense definitely isn't what it was, and he was exposed against the Spurs.. But where someone like Klay is better suited at defending quicker players, Wade is still stronger, a better help defender, and better in the passing lanes. Also worth a mention that Wade only played 32mpg last year, his per 36 numbers are 21ppg, 5R, 5A. He hasn't fallen off just yet..

Dragic - I definitely do not rate him as a shooting guard. He's been in the league like 7-8 years now, the only times he's been labeled a "shooting guard" was this past season.. And even then according to basketball reference he spent more time playing point guard than he did shooting guard.. Sure he's capable of playing off ball, and does part of the time, but so does Steph Curry.

Joe Johnson - IMO Joe is ahead of Klay or any of these other young guys that get mentioned.. His numbers took a hit playing with Deron, Lopez, Pierce, KG, etc.. But I think he's a much much much more well rounded scorer than Klay, or the majority of other guards are, and really showed his true colors this past season once the playoffs started. He was probably the best SG in the post season.

Kevin Martin - is he just the forgotten player since he's been doing it for so long now? Proven primary scorer, proven secondary scorer, proven as a 6th man.. Scores in multiple ways, can shoot well from outside, gets himself into to paint at will, draws more fouls than the majority of shooting guards. The only thing he's missing is being a good defensive player, which I don't consider him necessarily garbage at that end anyways. 19ppg last year, 22 per 36.

Klay Thompson - probably the only player in the league that OS will overrate because of defense, usually it's at the other end players are overrated.. Klay is a good defender, but we need to stop acting like he's some defensive player of the year caliber defender.. The way some people talk Klay up on here I'm surprised that we are even allowed to call harden the best SG, and surprised Jimmy Butler and Aaron Afflalo aren't in everyone's top 4 or 5.

So ranking them:

1.) Harden
2.) I need to see Wade play this year before I can place him anywhere.. If he's missing 30 games again I cannot rate him at number two. But Wade on the court is ahead of the other guys IMO... Kobe in the same boat, I need to see if either of these guys can play the majority of their games, and starters minutes before I can rank them.
3.) Joe Johnson and DeMar DeRozan
4.) Monta, Beal, Klay, Martin
5.) Hayward, Afflalo, Crawford, Waiters
6.) Butler, Wes, Gordon

Lance Stephenson and Victor Oladipo, I didn't rank either of them because I expect them both to make some big leaps this next year. Lance is already a really complete player, if he takes on a bigger role and becomes consistent with it he could make a push pretty high up on my list. Oladipo I don't know what to expect, I think he'll have a pretty big second year, especially with Afflalo and Nelson gone. He's bound to become their "go to" guy sooner rather than later.

Manu - still showed he's about as good as anybody once the playoffs started. But his role becomes smaller and smaller each year. I can't really place him above guys now that he's down to about 20 minutes per game.

Waiters- I really believe he's around the level Klay and Beal are at, I think his biggest obstacle was the situation he was in. It's a shame we won't really get to see him "take off" if he was capable of it, because now he's stuck behind LeBron, Kyrie, Love.

Obviously that list could dramatically change depending on just how much the young guys improve.. For example, DeRozan and Beal both had some pretty huge playoff runs. I could see them taking some pretty large leaps in their games this season, thus moving their way up my list. We'll see.




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[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Bro, you typed all that out on your iPhone?

[iLLosophy]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

How is his OVR still 0, i'm pretty sure he's typed way more than I have and I joined in 2005.

Just messing with you oj....

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Bro, you typed all that out on your iPhone?

I visiting at my parents right now and literally had nothing better to do lol.


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[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

You got some dedication. When I'm on my phone I keep it to like 4 sentences max lol

[JazzMan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Yeah, I never did understand all of the love that Klay was getting during those GSW/Love trade talks. He's a good player, great shooter, and a good defender as well, but from what I've seen, he's not as proven as some of the other guys when it comes to creating his own shot. Besides, some of ya'll are talking about his defensive skills like he's Tony Allen.

Harden is essentially the best SG in the league by default. He is clearly the most talented of the bunch, and has a pretty nice all-around game. The past two years in Houston his defense has been awful, but he looked great in OKC and is looking pretty sharp defensively for Team USA this summer. Hopefully it translates to his 2014-2015 campaign.

If Wade hadn't have fallen off defensively as much as he did, he'd be my #1. He's incredibly efficient?, and as long as he's healthy, him and Bosh should be a scary duo this season since they're motivated.

Monta is nothing more than a scorer. Can't stretch to SF because he's too small, and he can't play PG because that's not his game. He needs strong defending and shooting surrounding him to succeed.

K -Mart is very proven as a SG offensively. Nothing he can't so on that side of the court. But he has some big problems on defense.

If I had to make a list, I'd go:

1. Harden
2. Wade
3. Beal
4. DeRozan
5. Johnson
6. Klay
7. Hayward
8. Stephenson
9. Martin
10. Monta

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Only thing is, Wade isn't healthy and never will be. So that point is moot.

Not saying where I rank Wade, just making that point.

[AC]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

1. Harden
2. Beal
3. Derozan
4. Wade
5. Klay
6. Johnson
7. Stephenson
8. Heyward
9. Monta
10. Martin

Imo. Just off the top of my head. I love Wade but I can't rank him too high.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Only thing is, Wade isn't healthy and never will be. So that point is moot.



Not saying where I rank Wade, just making that point.

Definitely.. But even so an "unhealthy" Wade was probably the most well rounded and efficient shooting guard in the league last season. While still being a top 5 scorer, top 3 when given comparable minutes.

Which is why I said I need to see where he's at next year. He's never going to be the same as he was and regain what he's already lost, and he will always be battling knee issues.. And if he only plays 50 something games again next year I can't put him above all those other guys.. But if he plays 80-85% of his games or so, at the same level he's been playing at, maybe even better number wise with LeBron gone, then I can definitely justify him being ranked highly.

He's not someone I would pick to build a team around, or someone I would risk picking if I needed to be assured of playing a full season. But I still think he's "better" when on the court than most of those other guys.. The only question is how much will he actually be on the court.


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[cabra1]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Don't have to worry about the Spurs getting Allen...I literally can't remember the last guy we "made a push for" and got...

Richard Jefferson?

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2014 Off-Season Thread

Beal's a top 2-3 SG after one year already? Let's pump the brakes a little bit on that one.