Comments on: Questions and answers with Sam Presti

By: mike

mike — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:48:39 +0000

Great questions Royce, you asked some of the same things I had wanted to, but of course would never get the chance. Please try to do a couple of follow up interviews during the season. say after the first 25 games and then maybe before the All Star break. Keep up the great work.

By: justin

justin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:00:24 +0000

Jeff Green will never be a starting quality power forward, he’s too small. His standing reach is below average for even a small forward, he’s got Tyranasaurus arms. He was a horrible defender last year, he’s going to have to put on some weight or something if he hopes to guard PF’s in the NBA unless his arms grow a few inches. A top defensive center would alleviate these problems (as it does in Orlando for the most part with Rashard at PF), but how many of those are available any time soon?

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:03:20 +0000

Andy I didn’t mind the dialog. Give and take is fine. I can say and be many things that need a response.

Nobody is really pushing me out (not even Brian).

See ya later.

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:53:27 +0000

I agree with your second paragraph.
“Green can beat his man in a lot of different ways, he just needs to buy into the role of a POWER forward.” He’ll probably pick up the D and rebounding another notch though it would be good if it was several. And he hopefully will drive on at least the backup PFs more. I probably should have congratulated him mor efor his 3 pt improvement.

On the sim team, ultimately it fell short because my superstar wasn’t quite as good as some others. If I had gotten KG for real (as it appeared I had) my strategy might have been a bit more successful in part for his strong defense but also everything. Gotta have a top quality big most of the time; nice ones aren’t usually enough. I borrowed from the best teams including Detroit on the big strategy.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:39:51 +0000

This is why I like reading this blog every day. I appreciate a great sports conversation, even if I’m not in on it. I don’t want to keep people from commenting, that’s kinda the point.

I’m out!

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:47:59 +0000

@Crow
Well, it won’t be the same without you, but do what you have to do. I will say that I didn’t realize your team was for two years ago, but I’m not sure I’d change my opinion. Wallace and McDyess are good defenders, but not game altering. Z is a liability on D against quicker bigs. Landry is good on the boards but not an 82 game threat against starters. One of the things to note is that Wallace and McDyess played on a guard-oriented team that took a ton of pressure off them, Z had Lebron doing everything. Landry was next to possibly the top center in the league.

But I digress. The team has a long way to go, but I’m hopeful that a lot of our problems can be worked out with more development. Russell can be a better PG, and can hit shots when he’s not forcing them. Green can beat his man in a lot of different ways, he just needs to buy into the role of a POWER forward. Durant needs to make a Lebron-like leap in defense. All these things can happen. Whether they do or not will show up over 82 games next year.

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:39:47 +0000

I’ll add that though I can get impatient with what he says and doesn’t say and disagree a fair amount on details, Sam Presti presents himself well and surely is a nice person and a hardworker and smart. I test his decisions but he’ll probably prove to be at least an above average GM.

My feedback was on a lot of stuff Royce brought up but perhaps I should have held off for a different thread. Alas, it just flowed out. My apologies if that bugged you.

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:33:51 +0000

Presti and I sort of agree conceptually on wings who do several things on offense (more so with the add of Harden and hopefully Durant’s passing increases) but I used PF more for rebounding, defense and / or high percentage shooting than Green provides so far.

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:26:46 +0000

Keith I’ll be back at least once more but maybe a pause is in order. Yeah it probably is or overdue. I haven’t been able to cold turkey, so I’ll try a specific pause.

There are plenty of strong posters here including you to carry the dialog along. If I have stifled or demotivated any, my apologies for that aspect.

This thread slipped too much into me but I was trying it as part of asserting what I’d do differently instead of just giving critique, as some requested.

By: Crow

Crow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:20:15 +0000

Nick:

“But it’s hard to deny at least that Presti has put together a talented roster with the potential to be very good, and the flexibility to improve the roster even more.”

I can agree to that.
And thanks.