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posted By T.R., 12 August 2008 2:05:48 PM
Who was on your honorable mention team for the West? I would like to think that you would have considered a Denver Nugget? J.R. Smith or Linas Kleiza?
posted By edwin the great, 12 August 2008 3:31:42 PM
i think nene from denver and mike conley should be on this list i know they gonna have a great season nene neeed to stay healthy
posted By Mike Moreau, 12 August 2008 3:43:31 PM
T.R. - Outstanding call on Kleiza. I went right down to the wire with him, but just didn't think he would be able to expand his role enough as long as AI and Melo are Options 1 and 1A. I think he's getting the maximum production out of the minutes and opportunities he gets. If his role changes and gets more offensive consideration, then clearly he is a guy to watch.
posted By ya, 12 August 2008 3:50:48 PM
Put the whole Denver squad on the all-bloated stats team!
posted By Mike Moreau, 12 August 2008 3:56:54 PM
Edwin - you could make a very good case for Conley over Foye. I'm just not sure Conley has enough of a supporting cast to allow him to really break out. But he was good at the end of the year - excellent call. Nene just stays hurt - playing 82 games would be a breakout for him.
posted By Sunik, 12 August 2008 4:44:27 PM
Good call on Thornton, think he's going to have an amazing year. I agree that Conley and Kleiza will be great, but their teams will prevent them from having breakout seasons.
P.S. how can I apply to be a writer for HoopsWorld?
posted By Sunik, 12 August 2008 4:48:48 PM
By the way, very true on Salmons! Another San Antonio late first round steal, too bad they aren't benefiting from him, Barbossa, Udrih, and Scola
posted By Dave H, 13 August 2008 1:52:42 AM
Like your pics along with Conley and Kleiza.
I also think Aldridge will get a huge boost from Oden actually requiring an interior defender and get all-star consideration.
Ron Brewer will finally become the athletic, scoring wing the Jazz have been looking for since they pissed away Dominique Wilkins for John Drew and Freeman Williams.
Marcus Williams (provided he drops 20 pounds) will flourish in Nellie's system as soon as Ellis proves he can't run a team in preseason.
OKC Thunder/"Bennett-jerk-Arnolds" Wilcox is in a contract year and has little competition for PT.
posted By Sod, 13 August 2008 5:35:04 AM
I have to say Martell Webster is in line for a break out in a big way. People saw Outlaw last year, even though he still has some room to grow and Aldridge is on the virge of being really special, but Webster is the one I'm going to be watching this year. He's been starting for the majority of the last 2 seasons at the 3 for Portland, but he just isn't quite there. The kid scored 24 points in one quarter last year, he just needs to find that killer instinct.
posted By Mike Moreau, 13 August 2008 6:25:43 AM
Dave H - Good points about Aldridge and Oden. I left Aldridge off of this because I felt he kind of broke out last season, and almost put Oden on just because I think he will have an immediate impact. I'm not sold on Marcus Williams commitment - loved him in summer league as a rookie. Maybe Deron Williams should push the pace more to free up Brewer before Utah goes into their congested halfcourt sets. Don't know if Wilcox has just settled in as what he is - solid 13 and 7 guy. I was waiting for a Dan Roundfield/Steve Hawes reference - great comments!
posted By Mike Moreau, 13 August 2008 6:40:17 AM
Sod - nice call on Martell Webster. He has had some big games and brilliant moments. He's been very up and down, and I think we will see more consistency. Will be interesting to see Rudy Fernandez impact - could be a fight for minutes with those 2's and 3's. With their big man in the middle and all that young talent, Portland will be a fun team to follow.
posted By pdx.irish, 13 August 2008 10:25:29 AM
Just in case anyone is curious... You can see video and photos of ODEN's first open practice with the media on www.oregonlive.com/blazers. Check it out... The guy is a BEAST!
posted By WLY_29, 13 August 2008 12:18:55 PM
Doesn't anybody see Garcia being the guy to break out instead of Salmons ?
posted By Mike Moreau, 13 August 2008 1:41:02 PM
WLY - you could very well turn out to be right. Garcia is a better shooter and had a great last month of the season as well. Just may come down to who is the better player to team with Kevin Martin. I like the Salmons/Martin combo better, but hard to say how the minutes will play out, especially if Reggie Theus is fighting for his job. Garcia could end up having the better season if he shoots it like he did at the end of the year. That's why picking only 5 is tough!
posted By Masood, 13 August 2008 6:49:55 PM
You nailed this one, Moreau. I can tell you really know your stuff. I think there are some intriguing names not on the list, like Garcia, Travis Outlaw, and Jordan Farmar, and if rookies can be included, Mayo, Love, and Bayless. But the scariest omission may be none other than the former Most Improved Player himself, Monte Ellis. I have a sneaking suspicion that he's going to take a step into that Gilbert Arenas/Dwyane Wade echelon of combo guards. He is a legitimate threat to average 28, 6 and 6, and if he does, I think that would qualify as a breakout, as he would enter household name status. But good job though. I can't blame you for playing it safe.
posted By Mike Moreau, 13 August 2008 8:40:00 PM
Masood - never been accused of playing it safe! Went back and forth on Farmar. I think he will take more minutes from D Fisher, and I really liked the Lakers small lineup in the Finals with Farmar, Fisher and Kobe together. Monta could certainly go crazy - so could Kevin Martin now that Ron Ron is gone gone. I thought Martin should have been most improved that year, so maybe Kevin will beat Monta to the All-Star Game. I've been on the court with both, and both are in the upper echelon of the NBA of athleticism and explosiveness. Oden may turn out to be the biggest omission. Not sure Outlaw will be much more than he is - alot of talented young guys fighting for minutes in Portland. Good stuff, Masood - you have to replace someone to nominate someone. Who gets kicked off?
posted By Masood, 13 August 2008 9:05:41 PM
The Lakers' starting point guard job should belong to Farmar after what Tony Parker and Rajon Rondo did against Fisher. Fisher's a sparkplug at this point, not a starter on a championship caliber team. You ask who I'd take off, and it's easily Salmons. His age and pay grade make it easy for a team to ignore him in favor of developing younger guys with more potential, like Garcia and Donte Green. I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Salmons get traded to a contender before the season is over. As far as Outlaw is concerned, I may be a little biased, because as a Hawks season ticket holder, I witnessed him carry his team offensively in the 4th quarter and overtime in a MLK day win over the Hawks, and match Joe Johnson dagger for dagger in the clutch, including the game-winning pull up 20 footer that was well defended by Josh Smith. With his ability to hit the longball, put it on the floor, create off the dribble, and make the big shot, he has all the tools to be a go-to offensive player already, and his ceiling is sky high. He is definitely a better player and prospect than Martell Webster, who is going to lose a significant amount of responsibility with the arrival of Bayless while Outlaw starts every game. Good point about Martin being capable of going to another level. I'm just not sure about Reggie Theus' plan for him. He doesn't seem to be sold on him as the go to guy like Nellie undoubtedly is about Monta in Golden State.
posted By Tai Chi, 14 August 2008 12:32:28 AM
Farmar will get there, Masood, but you omit mention of the trouble he had against the stronger Deron Williams, who Fisher guarded as well as anyone.
I imagine that Farmar will have spent some more time in the weight room this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how that affects his game.
posted By sod, 14 August 2008 12:47:14 AM
I love how much love Outlaw is getting Masood, but the problem is that when he plays the 3, in a starting role, he faulters defensively. He's not quite fast enough to keep up with other starting 3's. That's why Outlaw played so much at the 4 off the bench this year, and obviously was able to prosper due to the fact that he was way quicker than most of the guys he guarded. Webster is still going to start, even though I like Outlaw's game a lot more, McMillan likes him on the second unit providing that all important spark. I just can believe how much fun it has been to watch him develop. It's been a long time since we had such a tandem of clutch players in Portland as we do in Roy and Outlaw. BTW...Roy is scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow to repair a tear in his left meniscus. I think he'll be fine, but you just never know.
posted By sod, 14 August 2008 12:49:17 AM
Ooops...meant to say "I just can't believe how much fun it has been...." my bad
posted By Masood, 14 August 2008 1:11:43 AM
I know Farmar isn't near the peak of his development yet, Tai Chi, you're right. But name one point guard that doesn't have a problem guarding Deron Williams, and I'll stop posting forever. Of course he has his shortcomings, I just don't believe he has as many as Fisher does at this stage of his career. As you said, Farmar will add muscle, and playing meaningful minutes in the NBA Finals is invaluable experience that should expedite his arrival as a steady PG that Phil Jackson can and will trust with the keys to the triangle. Sod - you're absolutely correct about Outlaw not starting. he does finish games though. I thought about that right after I clicked submit. The point is, Outlaw is the better player between himself and Webster. I don't think he's too slow to guard SFs, he's just a high school kid without proper training. With his athleticism, he can learn. Having Oden behind him now should help him and every other Blazer look much better defensively this year, and it will effectively end the Outlaw playing power forward era as well.
posted By sod, 14 August 2008 1:19:05 PM
McMillan has said a couple of times that they plan on playing Outlaw solely at the 3 this year. I think, obviously, part of the reason he didn't last year was due to Oden being out, causing Frye to play out of position at the 5 with the second unit. This will be a big year for all of those guys, if everyone can stay healthy. Outlaw is by far one of my favorite players on the team, but his place on the team will depend on if he's able to transition into a more stable SF role, and not a hybrid 3-4. I know that in the past, he hasn't taken summer workouts very seriously at all, but this summer he has. He and Webster are both trying to up their games to challenge for that starting spot. With Fernandez and Batum coming in, it's conceivable that the minutes there will go down for someone. I guess, what I'm really trying to say is, I've got my fingers crossed that Outlaw can land the starting spot. If that happens, I think Martell will be dealt or allowed to walk. At this point Outlaw is poised for a much more manageable contract down the road. Webster, at least at this point, isn't qualified enough to warrant a "franchise" tag after next season; but he's going to try and prove that he is. So, I'm with ya, I enjoy talking to somebody outside of Oregon who recognizes our talent. It'll be a fun year.
posted By Clips fan, 14 August 2008 11:20:38 PM
As a long-time Clips fan, I'm glad to see that Thornton is geeting some well-deserved recognition this off-season. After watching him closely last season, my prediction is that he'll quickly provide most - if not all - of Maggette's productivity, but without picking up offensive fouls on every other possession like CM does. Thornton is just a solid guy (on and off the court) who I can't wait to watch develop this year.
OK, enough promotion. Thanks for the solid analysis.
posted By Tai Chi, 14 August 2008 11:34:02 PM
My point wasn't that Farmar shouldn't start because he has trouble with Deron. Rather it was that, just as Fish has trouble with some of the smaller, quicker points, so too Farmar has his own troubles with bigger, stronger guards. So, the defensive troubles of each don't really push us toward starting one in particular over the other.
That said, I expect that you're right - even if Fisher was slightly better, the Lakers lose very little by starting Farmar instead, and for the sake of their future, they should do so.
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