[220Participant]

So the Nets are re-signing Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace, trading for Joe Johnson, signing Teletovic, and are likey to re-sign Brook Lopez. This probably gives them a lineup of:

C: Lopez

PF: Teletovic (or Evans, maybe Humphries if he re-signs)

SF: Wallace

SG: Johnson

PG: Williams.

Then Marshon Brooks and Evans off the bench along with Tyshawn Taylor and likely Gerald Green. So the Nets have a true point guard with good fits at SG, SF, and C…probably PF too is the word on Teletovic is accurate and his game translates.

Compare this group to the current Knicks without any free agent movement

C: Tyson Chandler

PF: Amare Stoudemire

SF: Carmelo Anthony

SG: Landry Fields

PG: Jeremy Lin

With Shumpert who’s out on the bench and likely bringing back JR Smith.

To me on paper the Nets seem to be a better team. The main reason is Deron Williams will keep everyone involved for the Nets while Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire haven’t figured out how to be effective together. This all could change if the Knicks get a solid pass first point guard or Lin develops into a stronger passing point which would help Melo and Amare be effective together. I also think Avery Johnson is a better coach than Mike Woodson who believes mostly in isolation offense which was seen in Atlanta and now in New York. It seems the Knicks may have been leap frogged as the best NY NBA team in just the first year of their being two.

So do you think a healthy Nets team is the best NY NBA team now?

[nousejustParticipant]

The folks at STATS gave SI.com exclusive access last week to two reports, produced for subscribing teams, that touch on this issue. The first is a report on dribble drives, tracking every time a player took the ball from an area more than 20 feet away from the basket and dribbled it to within 10 feet of the hoop. The second focuses on elbow touches — on which players receive the ball most often there, and what they do with it once they get it.

[BELLY333333Participant]

Their roster has been upgraded with the additions of Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Matt Barnes, Willie Green, Ryan Hollins and Ronny Turiaf.

[BELLY333333Participant]

Shortly after the playoffs, the Clippers picked up the option the final year of Coach Vinny Del Negro’s contract. Neil Olshey, former Vice President of Basketball Operations, left for the Portland Trail Blazers and the organization chose an in-house replacement in Gary Sacks.

[RockGAGAEWAWWParticipant]

I always felt Lee would be the type of player that would fit in seamlessly with a new team, especially a team with championship aspirations. He doesn’t always need the ball in his hands and has always been a willing defender, dating back to his days at Western Kentucky.;’opiup8987

[ZMINGSAParticipant]

Opponents still get too many easy looks at the basket, as the Cavs dont really have anyone to protect the rim outside of Tristan Thompson. Defensively, their guards are weak. If they dont make the playoffs, everyone can point to those two reasons.

[MI356Participant]

”We have a lot of young pieces that have the potential to be really, really good. I felt like seeing Damian in person and playing with him was big for me,” Aldridge said. ”I want to start building that chemistry.”

[shg32323Participant]

Of course, playing both forward spots (and even a little shooting guard) isn’t possible without being in basketball shape. Green isn’t recovering from an injury — just a health scare — but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to log 30 minutes a night.

[shg32323Participant]

“It did help me,” Smith said. “All summer, being with the team and knowing what they want from me. It’s just about knowing the system, what they want defensive-wise.”

And it’s defense that will get Smith his shot at a full-time spot on the Rockets, should they decide to keep him on beyond the preseason. That’s a major part of his approach to these exhibition games.

[shg32323Participant]

“We are all patient because we all understand that it is a process and it is going to take some time,” Scott said. “We are trying to build something special and we are trying to build it for the long haul, not a quick fix and with the draft picks that we have and the young players that we have here and their work ethic. I think we are headed in the right direction.

[shg32323Participant]

“It’s great man, it’s a family bond, everybody, everyday, just joking and talking, just enjoying each other’s company,” Waiters said. “It’s going to be a long year for us this year, as a young team we’ve got to stay together. We’ve got to play every game, every night real hard because that’s the type of team we have; we’re young. There’s going to be some games where we’re inexperienced for these type of games, you’ve seen how we can come together and got the stops when we need to, and that’s the biggest thing.”

[shg32323Participant]

As we’re speaking, I’m getting ready to put together a tape from where we were last year, and how he performed defensively, to what he’s done in training camp,” Smart said. “The guy has shown that he wants to commit to that side of the ball. He came in camp in great shape, did a great job in everything we were doing and wants to take the next step. He’s got to be consistent in his play every night. I said to him that he should be an all-defensive player.”

[shg32323Participant]

Of course, it all comes down to what the Mavericks’ physicians feel is the right choice. If they feel he can last through a tolling NBA season, then he should pass. However, if they feel the operation is in his best interest, by no means is it a blow he and the Mavericks can’t recover from. In fact, it could be one that makes them better down the line as a result.

[Author]

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