****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

"Mrtree wrote:

I'd say Norris Cole was a good pickup.

I also wouldn't mind a Shabazz Napier this year.

I agree, but for too long we've treated the draft with only a half seriousness, unless we had a top 5 pick.

Some of that was for cap purposes which I understand, but there is no reason we can't find rotation pieces where we draft.

Napier is obviously a guy they should look at. Mitch McGary too.

"ckparrothead wrote:

This is a tough series. Getting leads on this team tonight was like pulling teeth.

Maybe I'm wrong but Tony Parker hasn't had a real Tony Parker game. And Kawhi Leonard is borderline blowing it. That's kind of what is scaring me because the big three (MIA) have been showing up but those two on the Spurs haven't and it's 1-1. Miami has room to go down and the Spurs have room to go up, so that is a bit scary. On the other hand this series will now be played in Miami, where the support shooters are more likely to make killing shots rain.

Tony Parker has been sensational in both games. Heat throwing kitchen sink at him..and it is not working.

What is happening to the Spurs with Lebron is that they switched their strategy to guard him straight up..and they are actually doubling Wade on the strong side...last year...they sagged..and played Wade straight up.

Now..the thinking on that is that Wade is a post player essentially..so they don;t want him to establish himself..and strong side doubles can induce turnovers. It is a sound strategy.

Where it fails is that you have to guard Lebron straight up, and he is WEARING Leonard OUT.

Spurs are in desperate need of an adjustment to save a game out of the two in Miami..if not..they are going back to San Antonio down 3-1.

"Desides wrote:

It's not "could be", there will definitely be big changes. Battier gone, Allen most likely gone, Haslem might be done as well. Then depth like Beasley and Lewis and Jones need to be evaluated. I'd like to see a bigger role for Jones next year if he comes back, and Beasley might be nice to retain as a regular season rotation body.

I sort of feel like the Heat have a decent chance at Melo and might have a way to fit him under the cap.

Allen is likely coming back for a swan song. Haslem will opt into his option.

Only Battier is gone for sure.

"schmolioot wrote:

Haslem has an ETO which he will not take. He's guaranteed $4.5 million. He will be back.

I imagine Allen will be back as well if he wants to keep playing. No sense going somewhere else at this point.

One page the Heat needs to start taking from San Antonio's book is valuing those late draft choices a little more and taking them more seriously. SA drafted most of their role players will late picks, in addition to grabbing developmental guys off the scrap heap (like Danny Green). Riley used to be a master at this, but we've gotten away from it. We haven't uncovered an Ike Austin or Haslem in a long time.

He still is.

Patrick Beverly was a Heat project that never developed. He then...DID.

The Heat also have this guy stored away, and he will be a rotation player soon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Ekxfz83O0

"Section126 wrote:

Allen is likely coming back for a swan song. Haslem will opt into his option.

Only Battier is gone for sure.

I think we're looking at about 5 new players and 2 new starters, though those starters are already on the roster.

BTW...Wade was great all night guarding Green. In Game 1..he blew two assignments that were killer down the stretch.

He left him ONCE..and that was trying to cheat to get a steal on an entry pass to Duncan....Lebron gave him a look and told Wade.."Don't leave him". He didn't.

Fronting Duncan has been a disaster all series.

We switch to guarding him from behind, and straight up with ball pressure...and he shot 2-8. Go figure.

This series has been a DEEP chess match between the coaches..and Spo is ........winning.

Not to forget James Ennis, who tore it up for the Perth Wildcats in Australia. Was an All-Star and Champion for them.

Edit: my bad, thought you were talking about Hamilton.

"Section126 wrote:

He still is.

Patrick Beverly was a Heat project that never developed. He then...DID.

The Heat also have this guy stored away, and he will be a rotation player soon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Ekxfz83O0

"Section126 wrote:

BTW...Wade was great all night guarding Green. In Game 1..he blew two assignments that were killer down the stretch.

He left him ONCE..and that was trying to cheat to get a steal on an entry pass to Duncan....Lebron gave him a look and told Wade.."Don't leave him". He didn't.

Fronting Duncan has been a disaster all series.

We switch to guarding him from behind, and straight up with ball pressure...and he shot 2-8. Go figure.

This series has been a DEEP chess match between the coaches..and Spo is ........winning.

They also put LeBron on Ginobili for a brief spurt IIRC. That really got him out of rhythm from what I could tell.

"Desides wrote:

I think we're looking at about 5 new players and 2 new starters, though those starters are already on the roster.

That is about right.

Don't rule out Greg Oden.

If fans knew what they are doing with him behind the scenes, they would be really optimistic about his future.

The team will likely look like this:

PG Mario Chalmers (He has destroyed his value in FA)
PG Norris Cole
SG Dwyane Wade
SG Ray Allen
SF Lebron James
SF James Ennis
SF Michael Beasley
SF James Jones
C Chris Bosh
C Birdman
C Udonis Haslem
C Greg Oden
G- 1st Rd. Draft Pick
PF- Free Agent
PF- Free Agent

Sect, so you think Ennis is getting a roster spot next year? Interesting.

"TiP54 wrote:

Sect, so you think Ennis is getting a roster spot next year? Interesting.

I am sure of it.

So Birdman takes the payday, eh.

What type of player is Ennis going to be in the NBA? Everything I've heard is about him tearing it up. Anyone he compares to currently?

"lmeister3 wrote:

So Birdman takes the payday, eh.

revised the roster...I gotta think they pony up...I forgot that Denver picked up some money this year.

SO Bird comes back for 2 years, 8 Mil.

If you do some simple numbers.....

The FA pickups have to be a Mini-MLE and a Min. Contract.

So Ariza and Morrow is the best we can do...and that would be....AWESOME.

"Section126 wrote:

That is about right.

Don't rule out Greg Oden.

If fans knew what they are doing with him behind the scenes, they would be really optimistic about his future.

The team will likely look like this:

PG Mario Chalmers (He has destroyed his value in FA)
PG Norris Cole
SG Dwyane Wade
SG Ray Allen
SF Lebron James
SF James Ennis
SF Michael Beasley
SF James Jones
C Chris Bosh
C Birdman
C Udonis Haslem
C Greg Oden
G- 1st Rd. Draft Pick
PF- Free Agent
PF- Free Agent

I actually said a few pages back I thought the plan with Oden was to get him some time this year to test that knee, then get him ready for next year with a full offseason program aimed at getting him comfortable in out system for next season.

Am I close?

Deng would be awesome, but no way he's gonna take a mini mid level IMO

"TiP54 wrote:

Deng would be awesome, but no way he's gonna take a mini mid level IMO

Not unless he wants to win a title very very very badly.

Sec, no spot for Hamilton?

"Silverphin wrote:

Sec, no spot for Hamilton?

I doubt it. He is slow footed.

"TiP54 wrote:

Deng would be awesome, but no way he's gonna take a mini mid level IMO

Truth be told..it is gonna be tough to get Ariza on the Mini-MLE as well.

I am not giving up on Oden at all.

We accomplished the first goal, get him on and off a basketball court healthy for an entire season.

Now, he can actually work on being a basketball player again. In the times he played you could see glimpses of the old instincts and natural ability there, he just couldn't physically execute them. If we can get him moving faster, with confidence, he cans till be a player.

"Section126 wrote:

Truth be told..it is gonna be tough to get Ariza on the Mini-MLE as well.

I think Washington almost has to re-sign Ariza and Gortat.

I think they might be content to be the new Atlanta Hawks for now, making the playoffs every year, if not being a championship contender. Then if Wall and Beal develop into true superstars, maybe then make a move for another top shelf guy.

"Section126 wrote:

That is about right.

Don't rule out Greg Oden.

If fans knew what they are doing with him behind the scenes, they would be really optimistic about his future.

The team will likely look like this:

PG Mario Chalmers (He has destroyed his value in FA)
PG Norris Cole
SG Dwyane Wade
SG Ray Allen
SF Lebron James
SF James Ennis
SF Michael Beasley
SF James Jones
C Chris Bosh
C Birdman
C Udonis Haslem
C Greg Oden
G- 1st Rd. Draft Pick
PF- Free Agent
PF- Free Agent

Could you elaborate on Oden?

Also, there was speculation that the Big 3 could take even less to get some more help. Is that a possibility as well?

"Mrtree wrote:

I'd say Norris Cole was a good pickup.

I also wouldn't mind a Shabazz Napier this year.

Or Jordan Clarkson. I think both of those guys have the chance to be solid to good players. With as deep as this draft is, I really hope the Heat don't trade their pick unless they're getting back a relatively young player that will contribute. They need to get younger and this draft will provide a good opportunity to do that.