You guys did make a run at Amir

[freedom&justice]

Amir is 6'9 and lighter and quicker than Peja, why can't he keep up with Peja? This doesn't make sense. With his size, Amir's a tweener that can play either small forward or PF.

It's easy to say this but where's the proof, any proof of small foward jumpshooters torching him?

According to the most recent info, Amir is 6'11, 230 now. He's still fast as heck, but he's not going to be near as effective if he's guarding people on the perimeter. He has the physical ability, certainly, but that's not his game. It wouldn't be in the Pistons' best interest, anyway, since he's perhaps their best rebounder in that starting lineup.

[Allanon]

Amir Johnson keeps on growing. Arnie Kander, Detroit's strength and conditioning coach, said the 20-year-old is 6-foot-11 1/2. He was 6-9 in 2005 when the Pistons drafted him.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.s...p_stronge.html

So you want to put a seven-footer on Peja?

Your article was dated on October 7th, the video above is one month later so yes, if that article is true, I would. Freedom&Justice, this is the same, he was 6'11 before that Laker game according to timvp's article. And if you watch that video, you see him defending Radman on the perimeter, something which timvp said he "couldn't do".

Radmanovic is 6-foot-10 himself and has played most of his career at power forward. Brian Cook has played his ENTIRE career at power forward.

@ calling Brian Cook a small forward. That'd be like calling Matt Bonner a small forward if Bonner were 20 pounds overweight.

Ramanovic on the Lakers is a small forward and the same size as Peja who also played Power Forward and Small Forward on the Kings. Peja is 6'10 fellas.

Brian Cook + Odom + Kwame means that Brian Cook is the small forward, you can see all 3 on the court at the same time in that video with #25 Amir guarding him.

[freedom&justice]

Your article was dated on October 7th, the video above is one month later so yes, if that article is true, I would. Freedom&Justice, this is the same, he was 6'11 before that Laker game.



Ramanovic on the Lakers is a small forward and the same size as Peja who also played Power Forward and Small Forward on the Kings.

Brian Cook + Odom + Kwame means that Brian Cook is the small forward, you can see all 3 on the court at the same time in that video with #25 Amir guarding him.

Bad memories, that video. Good riddance, Flip Murray. Anyway, his new weight is what's interesting there, since he's apparently the heaviest he's ever been now. Last year, Amir's true height was a bit of an issue since he was often referred to as being 6'10, as well. The recent update simply made it official.

Amir's biggest problem is fouling. On the perimeter, he tends to reach in too much from what I've seen. That could still change as he gains more experience, though, and even then, his shotblocking and rebounding ability is needed more inside, as neither Sheed nor Kwame are very good at either, and Maxiell's rebounding leaves a lot to be desired.

[timvp]

Ramanovic on the Lakers is a small forward and the same size

You can't compare Peja with Radmanovic to begin with. The Spurs defended Radmanovic with Duncan in the 2005 playoffs. That doesn't make Duncan a small forward. And besides, Peja is like 500 times more lethal from the outside than Radmanovic.

Duncan has also guarded Cook ... since Cook is a power forward.

as Peja who also played Power Forward and Small Forward on the Kings.

He rarely played PF on the Kings. He played much fewer minutes at PF in his Kings career than Radmanovic has played PF in the last three seasons.

Brian Cook + Odom + Kwame means that Brian Cook is the small forward, you can see all 3 on the court at the same time in that video with #25 Amir guarding him.

Odom would be the small forward in that lineup.

[Allanon]

You can't compare Peja with Radmanovic to begin with. The Spurs defended Radmanovic with Duncan in the 2005 playoffs. That doesn't make Duncan a small forward. And besides, Peja is like 500 times more lethal from the outside than Radmanovic.

Radman is not as good as Peja but he is the same size which is the best I could do since I can't find a Piston/Hornet game video.

You also said this to cover ALL perimeter players, not just Peja:

Any honest Piston fan would tell you how much of a disaster it would be if Amir all of a sudden was asked to guard perimeter players.

Duncan has also guarded Cook ... since Cook is a power forward.

Duncan is an all around defensive player and can guard multiple positions, much like Amir.

He rarely played PF on the Kings. He played much fewer minutes at PF in his Kings career than Radmanovic has played PF in the last three seasons.

Rarely doesn't mean he hasn't. He has played Power Forward and he is power forward/small forward size. One of his unique attributes.

When Radmanovic starts with Odom and Pau/Kwame, he is the small forward and it's been like this for 2 years. Radman only starts at PF if Odom is injured. Like it or not, he's a Laker Small Forward, I can make some screen caps of 2007/2008 games with the starting lineups showing he's small forward if you like.

Odom would be the small forward in that lineup.

Odom cannot shoot 3's, but Cook can. So when the Kwame, Odom, Cook/Radman were on the court Odom plays PF in the low post and Brian Cook plays SF spotting up on the perimeter.

He has the physical ability, certainly, but that's not his game. It wouldn't be in the Pistons' best interest, anyway, since he's perhaps their best rebounder in that starting lineup.

I agree that it may not be the best use for him to guard the perimeter but he can, and HAS done it, something that both timvp and bruno say he can't do.

[timvp]

You also said this to cover ALL perimeter players, not just Peja:

Which is true. You think Amir is capable of guarding small forward full time? He can do it in spot matchups but to ask him to turn into a perimeter defender overnight would be disastrous.

Duncan is an all around defensive player and can guard multiple positions, much like Amir.

So Duncan was the long three we've been looking for? Should have told us sooner.

When Radmanovic starts with Odom and Pau/Kwame, he is the small forward and it's been like this for 2 years. Radman only starts at PF if Odom is injured. Like it or not, he's a Laker Small Forward, I can make some screen caps of 2007/2008 games with the starting lineups showing he's small forward if you like.

I said Radmanovic has played most of his career at power forward. Most of his career he was with the Sonics, not the Lakers. He was obviously the starting small forward last year.

Odom cannot shoot 3's, but Cook can. So when the Kwame, Odom, Radman were on the court Odom plays PF in the low post and Brian Cook plays SF spotting up on the perimeter.

By this logic, Tony Parker was the Spurs power forward when Robert Horry was in the game. Positions are more defined on who they can defend. Who defended small forwards, Odom or Cook?

I agree that it may not be the best use for him to guard the perimeter but he can, and HAS done it, something that both timvp and bruno say he can't do.

He can't do it successfully over the long haul. Again, he can do it when the matchups are right. But he'd get light up by Peja, who was your original example.

[Allanon]

Which is true. You think Amir is capable of guarding small forward full time? He can do it in spot matchups but to ask him to turn into a perimeter defender overnight would be disastrous.

What are you talking about? Against the Lakers, he was constantly guarding the Lakers SF on the perimeter and help on the interior. I think he'd be a very good defender on the perimeter and help when needed because he's quick enough.

So Duncan was the long three we've been looking for? Should have told us sooner.

No, I said Amir would have been the long 3, it's in my first post of the thread which Bruno thought was impossible.

I said Radmanovic has played most of his career at power forward. Most of his career he was with the Sonics, not the Lakers. He was obviously the starting small forward last year.

You said "He played much fewer minutes at PF in his Kings career than Radmanovic has played PF in the last three seasons."
Raman has been with the Lakers for the last 3 seasons playing Small Forward and rarely played PF because Odom plays 35+ minutes a game and his PF backup was Ronny.

By this logic, Tony Parker was the Spurs power forward when Robert Horry was in the game. Positions are more defined on who they can defend. Who defended small forwards, Odom or Cook?

Cook guarded the big small forwards like Peja, Odom took on the smaller small forwards like Josh Howard.

He can't do it successfully over the long haul. Again, he can do it when the matchups are right. But he'd get light up by Peja, who was your original example.

Where is the proof of this? I've seen him play almost an entire game against small forward perimeter guys. Bruno says "he can't" and you said it would be a disaster. The video shows he can do fine on the perimeter.

You added this in to not cover just Peja, so I showed you Radmanovic, a perimeter player in the video. And Amir did a fine job on Radman and Cook, both perimeter players.

Any honest Piston fan would tell you how much of a disaster it would be if Amir all of a sudden was asked to guard perimeter players.

I've showed you proof of him doing a pretty good job on the perimeter, you and Bruno only say he can't but can't come up with any proof/vids of him getting torched on the perimeter.

Unfortunately, I am off to bed now, my work shift is over. Keep posting, I promise I'll respond tonight when I get back into work

[timvp]

What are you talking about? Against the Lakers, he was constantly guarding the Lakers SF on the perimeter and help on the interior. I think he'd be a very good defender on the perimeter and help when needed because he's quick enough.

The Lakers run some huge small forwards. You can't use the modern day Lakers as an example of how he'd fair against most of the NBA. The Lakers are the biggest team in the league ... by far. Radmanovic, Odom and Walton would be power forwards on most teams ... but they are small forwards on the Lakers.

How do you think Amir would do going against the likes of Pierce, LeBron, Redd and all the other multidimensional small forwards in the league?

No, I said Amir would have been the long 3, it's in my first post of the thread which Bruno thought was impossible.

You've only provided proof of two players Amir can guard ... both of whom can also be guarded by Duncan. Until this point, you haven't proven Amir is any more of a long three than Duncan.

You said "He played much fewer minutes at PF in his Kings career than Radmanovic has played PF in the last three seasons."

Actually I said: "Radmanovic is 6-foot-10 himself and has played most of his career at power forward."

Raman has been with the Lakers for the last 3 seasons playing Small Forward

Really? You might want to count that one again . . .

and rarely played PF because Odom plays 35+ minutes a game and his PF backup was Ronny.

More like rarely because he's on the biggest team in the NBA.

Cook guarded the big small forwards like Peja, Odom took on the smaller small forwards like Josh Howard.

I call major BS on Cook guarding Peja. Major BS.

Where is the proof of this? I've seen him play almost an entire game against small forward perimeter guys. Bruno says "he can't" and you said it would be a disaster. The video shows he can do fine on the perimeter.

The video proves he can guard quasi power forwards. Congrats.

I've showed you proof of him doing a pretty good job on the perimeter, you and Bruno only say he can't but can't come up with any proof/vids of him getting torched on the perimeter.

That's because a coach would get fired if he put Amir on Peja. Or Cook on Peja, for that matter.

[mrspurs]

probably because timvp mixes in about 85% positive takes,unlike your always negative ass.

i tell the truth and everyone knows it. if you dont like it ignore it just like im gonna ignore you number 117. i dont call people names like most of yall playbabies, i simple tell it like it is. you have no clue

[mrspurs]

Bruno is actually dead right. Peja would set the all-time three-pointers made in a game if he was guarded by Amir Johnson. I actually really like Amir and I think he should have gotten more time, especially last year. But he's strictly a bigman defender. And he's not even very good at that ... he tends to float and not always keep track of his man. Luckily he makes up for it in the interior because he's a very good athlete with quick feet and a quick jump.

But you put him out on the perimeter and he'd get destroyed. You can't put a perimeter roamer on Peja (as the Spurs found out last year when they tried to put Manu on him), you especially can't put an interior roamer on Peja. Amir would constantly get sucked into the middle and Peja would go wild.

Amir is athletic but he's definitely a four or five. Any honest Piston fan would tell you how much of a disaster it would be if Amir all of a sudden was asked to guard perimeter players. Especially one like Peja who demands a guy in his face constantly.

Bruno is right on the money. Anyone who thinks differently has no clue.

[Big P]

[JamStone]

Amir can defend the perimeter about as well as he can defend the low post, which is, not very well for either position. But, it's not for lack of agility or lack of lateral quickness that he can't defend the small forward position. It's lack of experience and the fact his aggressiveness would lead to overplaying a small forward, meaning he could easily be juked by ball fakes, head fakes, pump fakes, and other techniques a savvy veteran small forward may have at his disposal of skills.

With experience, patience, development, and the proper coaching, Amir Johnson definitely has the athletic ability, specifically the quickness, to defend the small forward position.

Amir also has his share of problems defending big men. So far in his career, he has been too weak to adequately defend a big man in the low post because his core strength and upper body strength were lacking. He's gotten by on pure athleticism and quickness. But, he fouls too much as he goes for the shot block all the time.

See, it's not something physical with Amir as it pertains to his ability to defend either position. It's simply practical experience and knowing how to defend each position from a mental standpoint.

As for his size and height, I question him being 6'11" even now. They were claiming he was 6'10 1/2" last season and he was clearly at least 2 maybe 3 inches shorter than Rasheed still. So unless Rasheed has been lying his whole career and is really 7'2", Amir is probably still close to 6'9". But, if it's true he's around 230 lbs., that's definitely a plus for him facing starting caliber power forwards in the league.

If there's a comparison to be made with Amir in terms of size and athletic ability, I would say Darius Miles before his injuries.

[timvp]

Lakers didnt make the playoffs in 05.

Radmanovic wasn't on the Lakers in '05.

Allanon thinks Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last three years. lakaluva apparently thinks Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last four years. In reality, Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last two seasons.

Perhaps they are confusing him with Luke Walton?

[IronMexican]

2 years of Space Cadet and I am sick of him. Whyyy mitch! you could have voided it That money could be in Ronny's hand right now.

[JamStone]

Bruno is actually dead right. Peja would set the all-time three-pointers made in a game if he was guarded by Amir Johnson. I actually really like Amir and I think he should have gotten more time, especially last year. But he's strictly a bigman defender. And he's not even very good at that ... he tends to float and not always keep track of his man. Luckily he makes up for it in the interior because he's a very good athlete with quick feet and a quick jump.

But you put him out on the perimeter and he'd get destroyed. You can't put a perimeter roamer on Peja (as the Spurs found out last year when they tried to put Manu on him), you especially can't put an interior roamer on Peja. Amir would constantly get sucked into the middle and Peja would go wild.

Amir is athletic but he's definitely a four or five. Any honest Piston fan would tell you how much of a disaster it would be if Amir all of a sudden was asked to guard perimeter players. Especially one like Peja who demands a guy in his face constantly.

As I mentioned above in my earlier post, it's not for lack of quickness or athleticism. With the right coaching, patience, and development, Amir Johnson could guard the small forward position adequately. He can't do anything that well on the court for lack of practical experience in real and meaningful playing time in games. He doesn't have the game experience to remain disciplined on a guy like Peja. But, he has the athleticism and quickness to defend Peja. As I mentioned and you mentioned, he gets killed inside as well, because of his lack of strength and lack of discipline. An up-and-under move by a post player gets him like 90% of the time.

Now, it remains to be seen how much he has improved not only physically but from a mental approach standpoint this year. I would put Amir on a guy like Peja before I would put him on David West. Amir is going to take his lumps at whatever position he plays this season because it's been suggested that he's going to play meaningful minutes this year. Any, veteran player, regardless of position, will be able to outwit Amir often. But, that goes with the territory in developing the kid. He needs the practical game experience in order to get a better feel for the game and understanding of how players think and play.

[ChumpDumper]

Radmanovic wasn't on the Lakers in '05.

Allanon thinks Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last three years. lakaluva apparently thinks Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last four years. In reality, Radmanovic has been on the Lakers the last two seasons.

Perhaps they are confusing him with Luke Walton?

The people who know the least about the Lakers are their fans.

[Allanon]

The Lakers run some huge small forwards. You can't use the modern day Lakers as an example of how he'd fair against most of the NBA. The Lakers are the biggest team in the league ... by far. Radmanovic, Odom and Walton would be power forwards on most teams ... but they are small forwards on the Lakers.

This goes back to my original post which you and Bruno disagreed with. I specifically stated huge 3s in the Western Conference.

The Hornets run a huge small forward too, his name is Peja.

How do you think Amir would do going against the likes of Pierce, LeBron, Redd and all the other multidimensional small forwards in the league?

I specifically named long 3s in the West in my first post, why are you bringing in other guys into the convesation? Where do I mention Pierce, LeBron, Redd?

You've only provided proof of two players Amir can guard ... both of whom can also be guarded by Duncan. Until this point, you haven't proven Amir is any more of a long three than Duncan.

Has Duncan ever guarded Peja?

Actually I said: "Radmanovic is 6-foot-10 himself and has played most of his career at power forward."

The video proves he can guard quasi power forwards. Congrats.

Uhm, o? Peja is a quasi-power forward ... 6'10, 230 pounds. As we both know, Peja played Power Forward in Sacramento.

That's because a coach would get fired if he put Amir on Peja. Or Cook on Peja, for that matter.

Again, just more speculation.

Any honest Piston fan would tell you how much of a disaster it would be if Amir all of a sudden was asked to guard perimeter players.

That video proved you wrong...Amir was not a disaster covering Ramanovic on the perimeter. Are you denying such an event ever happened?