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I understand that wingspan is great and all but line of sight is also important. Keep your eye on the ball or something like that....hard to do when you're looking into a guys back.
I can understand 1 under-sized player at a time, that's normal. But I have not seen any sucessful teams running both an under-sized PF and SG.
Both Blair and Hill have impressive wingspans but when posted up, they can't see beyond their defender and that leads to backcuts and alleyoops. Two undersized guards are OK as they are usually on opposite sides of the court. But a PF usually works with his SG in tandem for an inside out game.
With an undersized post and perimeter player, an opposing PF can block off Blair's view in the post and the perimeter SG can see over GHill's head with no issues. That usually leads to bad things.
I can't think of any good team that uses both an under-sized PF and SG at the same time, can you guys think of any?
I understand that wingspan is great and all but line of sight is also important. Keep your eye on the ball or something like that....hard to do when you're looking into a guys back.
Standing reach is different to wingspan. A 7 foot wingspan is no good for a 6'9" guy for contesting shots if he only has a 8'7" standing reach.
The Cavs would use West at SG with Wally playing PF in small ball line-ups at some points last year.
Your right, being able to see can have an effect on a defenders ability to read cuts, but it isnt anywhere near as important as having length of arm to rebound, contest shots, or shoot over defenders.
That's fine too; I don't disagree.
My point is 6'6 with a 10 foot standing reach still only has a 6'6 line of sight. If he's defending a 6'10 guy in the post, he's going to be looking at the dude's numbers instead of seeing play calls, cuts, eye contact and ball movement.
And when you compound that disadvantage by having a 6'2 guard that all the other shooting guards can see over the top of, there's going to be alot of dunks, alley oops, backdoor cuts and give 'n go's.
I think it's extremely difficult to play both at the same time and my guess is it will be very rare seeing BOTH Blair and Hill on the court at the same time; outside of garbaage time.
As you say, they only used it at some points...if I'm reading you correctly, that wasn't a regular rotation..maybe 2% of the regular team rotation? It was rare wasn't it?
McDyess offensive game is basically based on high-post and mid-range jump-shots popping out of ballscreens or curling to catch and shoot. Not even 10% of his shots come off operating in the blocks.
I don't think Blair will start, but I'm 100% sure he won't be finishing games (except blowouts).
The line-up of Gibson-West-James-Wally-Varejao was 4th in total minutes and the Gibson-Williams-James-Wally-Varejao was 8th in total minutes.
That line-up however was used to create space for James inside by surrounding him with 3 shooters.
The Spurs could use Blair and Hill in a line-up together for sure.
Gibson-West-James-Wally-Varejao
There's only 1 undersized player in that lineup and that's West.
Gibson 6'2
West 6'2
James 6'8
Wally 6'7
Verajao 6'11?
Gibson-Williams-James-Wally-Varejao
Again, there's only 1 under-sized player in this lineup, Mo Williams.
Gibson 6'2
Mo Williams 6'1
James 6'8
Wally 6'7
Verajao 6'11
LeBron is plenty big for a PF...6'8 and 270 pounds, that's almost Karl Malone size.
Did the Cavs run any lineups with 2 under-sized players?
Last edited by Allanon; 10-04-2009 at 03:51 AM.
that will be a shocker
but i will compromise and concede to you that he may end up getting more PT than McDyess
James played small forward and Wally was the guy on the inside. Blair can easily hold his own at PF especially with his frame and determination on the inside. Not every team trots out 6'11 PF's off the bench along with their 6'6 shooting guards.
You said yourself the Cavs wanted to put 3 shooters around James so they would be on the outside and James playing the inside like a PF would. Cavs still had plenty of size.
Those two quotes are contradictory to one another...I know LeBron is good and all but even he can't be on the inside and outside at the same time
The 2 lineups you mentioned still only had 1 under-sized player which is normal in the NBA.
Now if it was something like Mo, West, Pavlovic, Sczerbiak and Verajao, THAT would be a 2 undersized player lineup, but I don't believe that happened.
Last edited by Allanon; 10-04-2009 at 12:10 PM.
If Blair is gonna repeat in next games performances like the rocket's one, there will be a serious dilemma if starting him...
Everybody, also in the spurs team, keeps considering him someone helping from the bench a la Millsapp but is beginning to be clear that the only player that, by now, could give to the team a stronger contribuition at PF (consuidering Tim the real center) than Blair, is Mc Dyess...that, imho, should see his minutes limited to preserve his health...
He had his chance tonight.
And I think he might have blown it.
McDyess is the one that should be starting alongside Duncan, he has the perfect game (jumper and defense) to complement TD's game.
Wow, this thread was made in early September. Great call dude.
I am pretty bummed that blair f-ed it up. Anyone notice why he was not rebounding? And what his problem was on defense? It looks like he scored, but we didnt' really need that.
Good game for Blair against Knicks. Looking like he is getting better each month. Wondering what the rotation will be when Bonner is healthy enough to play. McDyess looks to be at his best when not starting.
Could have been posted in many other threads. But I guess its understood you want to be applauded for your OP.
So here it is...
i still think this is just temporary from bonner, pop haets rookies
because then the 2nd unit wouldn't have a big man that can hit the pick and pop jumper or space the floor offensively.
Blair starting is not ideal. He and Duncan occupy the same space. This won't last.
saving for playoffs
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