Spurs trying to get Raja Bell?

[MaNu4Tres]

way to take a sentence out of context.


Any team relying on Bell to play 20 MPG would be a team with major problems.

Yet Lakers want to sign him for roughly the same role...

[ElNono]

Again, when i say the Spurs aren't forced to go with him, that obviously applies to both ends of the floor. Matt hustles, has good footwork and plays fundamental D. He struggles when he's forces to guard highly athletic players - Marion with Dallas, Amare with the Suns - the Spurs couldn't play McDyess 40 min and were many times forced to go with Bonner. This shouldn't be the issue any more. His defense isn't changing, so if he's hitting from the outside he's a great asset. If he's not, the Spurs don't have to give him minutes, especially if he's facing unfavorable defensive matchups.

"Give the ball to whoever Bonner is guarding"... should tell you all you need to know about his defense. Career 4 rebounds per game? That's Matty! A lot of players hustle, that doesn't mean they're talented or should be getting minutes over more talented players. As Marcus said, there's always hope that he won't see the floor due to the other bigs being more talented and evolving into better players. But when you're actually hoping a player is not going to see the floor, what does that tell you about that player?

And as I told Marcus, you're going to have to excuse my skepticism. If he was getting 20 mpg last season, and now he was re-signed with a raise nonetheless, I don't really see his minutes going down. I certainly hope to be wrong about that.

[Man In Black]

None of those kids are surviving ref calls though, especially in the playoffs. A vet already knows what they can get away with, and against who (I'm talking refs here, not just players). They know much better tendencies, and simply have a much more experience being out there.

I like Hairston/Anderson/Temple to develop and make them part of the future, but right now, if we're really aiming at number 5, it's not going to be those guys (except if the vet is glaringly bad, such as the centerpiece).

Agreed...all of that athleticism won't mean since the refs control the flow of the game. With Bell comes a modi of respect and an understanding that he's going to play physical and get the levity needed for the Spurs to leave him on an island. All of HAT combined don't carry the cachet that Bell has. It sucks I know, but going into the playoffs, I am much more comfortable knowing that there is a Bowen-type player who will be allowed to play that type of D, even if it's not as formidable as it once was. It worked for Artest, I'm thinking it could work that way for Bell as well.

[jag]

Yet Lakers want to sign him for roughly the same role...

As their premier perimeter defensive stopper? No, that's not the role he would play in LA. He'd ride the bench and guard the opposing team's second unit SG or SF. If the Spurs want a guy to guard second unit SG/SF then they already have one with Hairston. If you think Hairston has questionable handles, then you're going to lose your mind watching Bell try to dribble in the half-court. Hairston can create offense and run the fast break...Bell can't do either.

IF the Spurs sign RJ, they will have no need for Bell...not for anything over the vet min, anyway. If he takes the vet min, cool, sign him up.

[ElNono]

IF the Spurs sign RJ, they will have no need for Bell...not for anything over the vet min, anyway. If he takes the vet min, cool, sign him up.

How you figure that? It's not like RJ was closing games for us... Hill was, because he was allegedly the better defender and shooter...

[Man In Black]

Do any of those HAT guys have enough game that the refs will let them play it?

[MaNu4Tres]

As their premier perimeter defensive stopper? No, that's not the role he would play in LA. He'd ride the bench and guard the opposing team's second unit SG or SF. .

Bell would play roughly 20 minutes a night in both situations. Essentially the same role, yes.

[jag]

Bell would play roughly 20 minutes a night in both situations. Essentially the same role, yes.

I wouldn't say he's lost a lot of lateral quickness. He may have lost a small step, but he still would be our best perimeter defender.

With the lakers he would be the 3rd or 4th best perimeter defender. With the Spurs you would consider him the best perimeter defender. You think those two players have the same roles on their respective teams?

[TJastal]

As their premier perimeter defensive stopper? No, that's not the role he would play in LA. He'd ride the bench and guard the opposing team's second unit SG or SF. If the Spurs want a guy to guard second unit SG/SF then they already have one with Hairston. If you think Hairston has questionable handles, then you're going to lose your mind watching Bell try to dribble in the half-court. Hairston can create offense and run the fast break...Bell can't do either.

IF the Spurs sign RJ, they will have no need for Bell...not for anything over the vet min, anyway. If he takes the vet min, cool, sign him up.

Raja Bell will karate-chop his opponents into ribbons!! He doesn't need lateral quickness he'll just chop them like as they blow by him!! And the refs will let him go Bruce Lee on his opponents because, like, he's Raja Bell n

[jag]

Raja Bell will karate-chop his opponents into ribbons!! He doesn't need lateral quickness he'll just chop them like as they blow by him!! And the refs will let him go Bruce Lee on his opponents because, like, he's Raja Bell n

The referees apparently have some kind of weird respect for the guy that i've yet to see.

[MaNu4Tres]

With the lakers he would be the 3rd or 4th best perimeter defender. With the Spurs you would consider him the best perimeter defender. You think those two players have the same roles on their respective teams?

Artest is better used against bigger wings, who have to change their gears off the dribble and use their girth to create shots from the post.

Bell would be used against smaller wings that are quicker off the dribble, relieving Bryant of the duty 20 minutes a night.

Even though Bell would be the Spurs' best perimeter defender, that doesn't mean Bell will have to play 35 minutes a night on the best offensive player. That wouldn't be his role.

His role would be to provide perimeter defense and 3 point shooting in 20 minutes a night, same as it would with the Lakers.

Where he ranks defensively on his own team is irrelevant.

[jag]

Artest is better used against bigger wings, who have to change their gears off the dribble and use their girth to create shots from the post.

Bell would be used against smaller wings that are quicker off the dribble, relieving Bryant of the duty 20 minutes a night.

I'm not sure what it's going to take to convince you that you don't want Raja guarding small, quick guards and/or wings. If Suns fan can't convince you, and if watching him during the 2008 playoffs didn't convince you, then i guess you can keep your 2003-2006 opinion on the guy.

Even though Bell would be the Spurs' best perimeter defender, that doesn't mean Bell will have to play 35 minutes a night on the best offensive player. That wouldn't be his role.

So why not just use Hairston, who's younger, quicker, more athletic and has a better offensive game? Where's the appeal in having a supposed "defensive stopper" if he isn't going to be used to stop anyone?

Where he ranks defensively on his own team is irrelevant.

Roger Mason and Michael Finley disagree.

[TJastal]

Artest is better used against bigger wings, who have to change their gears off the dribble and use their girth to create shots from the post.

Bell would be used against smaller wings that are quicker off the dribble, relieving Bryant of the duty 20 minutes a night.

Even though Bell would be the Spurs' best perimeter defender, that doesn't mean Bell will have to play 35 minutes a night on the best offensive player. That wouldn't be his role.

His role would be to provide perimeter defense and 3 point shooting in 20 minutes a night, same as it would with the Lakers.

Where he ranks defensively on his own team is irrelevant.

Why don't we just actually play Garret Temple since he's the same size as Bell, with similar skillset, and is virtually almost on the roster already and will be cheaper?

[MaNu4Tres]

Please where in my post did I say, I rather have Bell than Hairston.

or Hairston is a scrub...

All I'm arguing is Bell would have the same role on the Spurs and the Lakers.

[jag]

Please where in my post did I say, I rather have Bell than Hairston.

or Hairston is a scrub...

Please, where in my post did i accuse you of saying that? I offered Hairston as an alternative for that role because he's a better option.

All I'm arguing is Bell would have the same role on the Spurs and the Lakers.

Bell would be used against smaller wings that are quicker off the dribble, relieving Bryant of the duty 20 minutes a night.

So he can use his quickness and foot speed to slow those guys down. k

[MaNu4Tres]

So he can use his quickness and foot speed to slow those guys down. k

He's not Bruce Bowen, but Raja Bell is similar in his work ethic and with his build.

If Bowen can do it for 32 minutes a night at the age of 34, surely Bell can for 20 minutes a night. Which is why the Lakers are after him.

[ElNono]

Raja Bell will karate-chop his opponents into ribbons!! He doesn't need lateral quickness he'll just chop them like as they blow by him!! And the refs will let him go Bruce Lee on his opponents because, like, he's Raja Bell n

The referees apparently have some kind of weird respect for the guy that i've yet to see.

Reputation calls or non-calls don't exist on the NBA anymore?

[Marcus Bryant]

Hairston is the second coming, but concluding that the Spurs screwed up with Mahinmi is absurd. The conventional wisdom on this board is amusing.

[Man In Black]

So why not just use Hairston, who's younger, quicker, more athletic and has a better offensive game? Where's the appeal in having a supposed "defensive stopper" if he isn't going to be used to stop anyone?

Now, from Raja Bell to James Posey, from Trevor Ariza to Jamario Moon, every alleged contender needs someone like Bowen if it expects to be taken seriously.

So if you use HAT(Hairston, Anderson, Temple) could any of those guys be players that can be taken seriously?

NBA front-office sources say that Bell continues to draw interest from a variety of playoff teams, such as Miami, Dallas and San Antonio. One source said signing with the Heat has essentially been ruled out because of Miami's financial constraints after signing LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller to flank the re-signed Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem. But the Suns are also weighing the prospect of trying to bring Bell back.

Bryant, though, has not abandoned his pursuit and continues to press Bell to join the Lakers, who have only $1.8 million of their mid-level exception left to offer Bell next season after signing Steve Blake.

One source close to the situation said memories of Bell's takedown, which earned him a suspension for Game 6 of the series -- the Suns, down 3-2, won the game at Staples Center without him -- are actually one reason why Bryant sees Bell as such an ideal teammate. The premise? Anyone with the gumption to hit Bryant that hard is someone he wants on his team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=5375672

Again...None of those HAT guys have that kind of respect. Perceived Ref respect, granted...but Kobe's respect? Do ented!

[jag]

He's not Bruce Bowen, but Raja Bell is similar in his work ethic and with his build.

If Bowen can do it for 32 minutes a night at the age of 34, surely Bell can for 20 minutes a night. Which is why the Lakers are after him.

Bowen and Bell played different styles of defense. Too many people are grasping for another Bruce Bowen "type" of guy. I'd love to have Bruce back too, but i'm not going to place his label on a guy that you can declare has Bruce-like qualities. I don't care what kind of tough mindset Raja has, he doesn't have the physical ability to be a perimeter stopper anymore. If the Spurs go into a playoff series and i hear that Manu is going to be matched up against Raja i'm going to be very excited.

[MaNu4Tres]

People should just forget Bell, he obviously just turned 44 years old and can't move anymore. What do Mitch Kupchick, Phil Jackson, Greg Popovich, R.C Buford, Pat Riley know anyway?

[MaNu4Tres]

What else is out there in free agency for 2.4 million that is Bowen-like then Jag?

[Marcus Bryant]

So Bell might not be a 35 mpg starter, but rather a 15 mpg reserve who can come in, play aggressive D, and knock down a couple momentum shifting 3s. I'll take that, instead of Roger "Money" Mase or whatever remaining dog the Spurs would have instead on the bench.

[bigzak25]

I'd love Raja Bell for what is left of the MLE. He has slowed down and isn't an elite defender but he'd still be the best perimeter defender on the team. Even though he's only 6-foot-5, his toughness would allow him to play small forward in San Antonio's system. On offense, he's a very good three-point shooter.

He's the closest thing to a Bruce Bowen or Mario Elie that is still on the market. Add in the fact that he's not afraid to rough up Kobe and Bell is far and away the best the Spurs could get with their remaining cash.

Co-signed.

I wanted our Spurs to trade RJ to Golden State for Maggette and Raja last year...even though Raja wouldn't have played and would have had to be re-signed anyway. I'm sure Golden State wanted nothing to do with it though.

Getting a well rested Bell who should be ready to play ball and eager to win a ring would be awesome. And he's another vet for the rookie to learn from.

I hope it happens.

[jag]

Reputation calls or non-calls don't exist on the NBA anymore?

It doesn't matter if bell is unable to keep up with quality SG's and SF's. He's going to get reputation calls. Ok bro

Hairston is the second coming, but concluding that the Spurs screwed up with Mahinmi is absurd. The conventional wisdom on this board is amusing.

Try not to clump me into the group of morons that wanted RJ gone and Hairston to start at SF. I think Hairston is better than Raja Bell...that's not saying much. I think the Spurs put too much work into Mahinmi to let him go the way they did...but that has nothing to do with this so i'm not sure why it's relevant.