"True" PG or Combo Guard?

[WitnessLBJ]

I've watched Douby since H.S. with him being from Brooklyn and am a true fan of his, but lets not hype him up to be more than he is.

 

[beauf5]

I just want someone that can score, play D, and create plays with the rock. If thats Douby then take him.

 

[LyXo]

I truly believe that the Cavs... and LeBron.. need a true PG. One that can run the offense full time, that can allow LeBron to be a threat off the ball. It may sound silly to take the ball out of LeBron's hands, but it would really benefit him if the offense was run correctly.

Take Kevin Garnett as an example. He's best with the ball in his hands, and much of the offense ran through him. But he played with Stephon Marbury.. and got nowhere. But once Garnett got Sam Cassell, a PG that could run the offense instead of destroy it, voila... Western Conference Finals.

The impact of the arrival of a 7+ assist PG will be interesting. Mike James is not the answer, I don't think. Too many question marks surround him. Getting a guy like Chris Duhon might be the precise move the Cavs need to make this offseason. Many bash him, but he really just knows how to run an offense and play defense, and knock down 3's here and there... pretty much what we need. 10 points, 6 assists, 35% from 3. And another plus? Duhon will be 24 when the seasons starts, just a couple years from his prime.

 

[Wine and Gold]

I truly believe that the Cavs... and LeBron.. need a true PG. One that can run the offense full time, that can allow LeBron to be a threat off the ball. It may sound silly to take the ball out of LeBron's hands, but it would really benefit him if the offense was run correctly.

Getting a true point, will help in getting players like Drew, Z and Hughes more involved in a coordinated 'team' offensive scheme. Rather than basically working off pick and rolls, or with Lebron basically pounding the ball while four guys stand and watch, then with six seconds on the clock either try and get to the hoop, or hope an offbalance fade away lands ...

That type basketball, even with an immense talent like Lebron, will only get you so far. Talented teams with a strong defensive structure, will suffocate that format.

You need only look at the Detroit series to see a synopsis of what is entailed on a positive and negative scale.

I think with our coaches we will continue our slow growth defensively, and with the right point guard we will begin the process of finding the best ways to actively involve Laryy Hughes, Drew Gooden, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas into our offensive scheme.

But, I'd still like to see us bring in some help for this staff in spurring on some needed growth and understanding on the offensive side of the ball ....a point guard will help, but, I'd like to see an offensive mentor present for Mike Brown.

Doesn't look to be happening though.

As for the specific type point guard ...I'd prefer a pure point quite frankly, because we already have a few guys on the team that pretty much can serve in the 'combo' capacity if needed.

What we completely lack on our roster is a pure point, and I really can't think of another team in the NBA that has not one true point guard on their entire roster....

 

[The George]

isnt Eric a "pure point"????

sure he is bad offensivly but isnt what we commend him for fall into the category of being a pure point????

he for sure is not a combo guard

 

[PIP]

There is no substitute for putting the ball in the basket...It's more than obvious the way this team it's constructed, it needs a consistent scorer from the PG spot..

Hughes/Gooden/Z are inconsistent performers..

 

[The George]

i agree which is why I like a Mike James or Baron Davis type PG (of course without all of the bagage) or a Jason Terry

 

[Wine and Gold]

No, I don't consider Snow to be a true point at all. He's never had a strength as a pure point. In Philly he worked perfect because he was teamed with Iverson in the backcourt, and wasn't called on to initiate the offense ...here, he is not depended on to initiate the offense much at all, simply because he isn't very good at it. That's why we're beng forced to use our small forward in that capacity.

Eric Snow is a guard that was born to share the backcourt with Allen Iverson. That role just fit him perfectly, and is really the only great fit I see for him as a starting NBA player. Because he didn't need to assume point guard duties, except in spot situations ..and could work off his stengths ...his weaknesses basically nullified because Iverson took all the offensive pressure away from him.

I don't know that you can classify Eric Snow as a point uard or shooting guard ...he's just a compliment guard that works perfect with basically an Allen Iverson.

 

[LyXo]

The thing is, we already have an arsenal of scorers that are here for sure next season: LeBron James, Larry Hughes, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The rest of the starters need only be role players... one that can rebound, and the other to knock down open shots.

Does he need to create his own offense? In my opinion, no. Only as much as Eric Snow did.

Does he need to hit open shots? Yes, and from 3 point range. Mid range from Snow was nice, but stretching the defense further to the arc is much more beneficial.

But his #1 concern on offense is making life easier for other players. Having Hughes on one side, LeBron on the other, and Z in the middle should make any PG feel like a kid in a candy store. Just having an arsenal of being able to test the defense with penetration is sufficient. That's one thing that Eric Snow lacked, was a decent drive and dish. He just didn't get respect, as seen from the wide open layups he gets in overtime. On the flipside, players like Terry, Davis, and James would detract the ball from our triple threat too much, take too many of their own shots, and make the offense more jammed. We don't need an extra option on offense, we need someone to bring our options together, and complement them.

Honestly, the original J-Mac was perfect for our offense.. He could penetrate with his floater, he hit his 3's, but gave the ball to Z and LeBron enough to make everyone happy and the offense fluid. But he didn't play defense, and that was his downfall. We can't make the same mistake, and Mike James is lingering as a possible defensive liability.

 

[Wine and Gold]

The classification of what type point guard is best is really debateable, but all that aside ...we need the guy that comes in here, to have as a strength on his resume', the ability to initiate an offense in the half court, and control the tempo of the game.

To me, that's more readily found in a pure point type guy, but, a Jason Terry would be great. But, any type player with those strengths that also has the ability to shoot well from the outside, isn't around for the MLE.

I mean ...I don't see a Baron Davis type that is a 'look for my shot' point ...is ever going to happen here. Lebeon is always going to get his touches, and that will be guaranteed. Ultimately, our outside looks come off penetration from Hughes, Lebron and the point.

Andre Miller would be great. Chris Duhon would fit nice. Bringing Jay Williams and seeing if he can work ihis way into an NBA role would be agreeable ...

Our point guard position is so horrid that numerous opportunities exist both in the pure and combo guard classifications. In a nutshell ....it will be really hard NOT to improve our PG situation significantly this coming season.

 

[The George]

all good points.....just not sold on handing the reigns to Duhon to help lead us to a title.....I like Duhon but I want to contend...adn damnit I want to contend now


I would absolutly feel more comfortable with him over Snow that is for sure

as W&G said....basically any 1 we get is an upgrade so we can only go up from here hopefully

 

[Kypus]

Honestly, the original J-Mac was perfect for our offense.. He could penetrate with his floater, he hit his 3's, but gave the ball to Z and LeBron enough to make everyone happy and the offense fluid. But he didn't play defense, and that was his downfall.

Hear, hear! JMac would have worked well with Hughes on offense. To the good offensive points I would add: ran the fast break well, and build on giving the ball to Z in that they could actually play 2-man in the post (they posted, kicked out, reposted several times in a possesion, Snow cannot)

However he would barely see the court under Mike Brown because of his matador defense.

Back OT- JMac was a pure point in every sense of the term, but with no D. For anyone into player comparisons, which draftees are closest to JMac offensively? And can they play decent defense, or does he at least have the tools to learn? (JMac's attitude was not his only downer, his wispy thin build always worked against him)

 

[Kypus]

it is always interesting to read projections on players that these draft sites put out. I always wonder how much of what they write is actually what NBA scouts and GM's think?

I guess you never actually know until that player steps on the floor against NBA level players.

You know Tru, this post made me laugh because it's so true. I read these "strengths" and "weaknesses" but they all make the guy look like the next coming of Jason Kidd :chuckles:

My theory is this: If freakin' Nintendo and Playstation can come up with tangible bar graphs to all their player stats, why can't these draft sites? I mean, I don't want to know if a guy is considered a "great" passer, I want to see if he's a 7 or 8 out of 10. "Great" tells me nothing! Maybe there are draft sites with better GUIs but I haven't seen them.

And I mean, @$!%, I read these "Player Comparisons" for the PGs, and half of them say Steve Nash or Chauncey Billups. :chuckles: Get real! Hrm...a lot of Steve Nashes running around...he's only one of the most unique players in the league. It's like that AOL Broadband commercial with the little kid swimming as fast as the Olympic swimmers- "we think everybody should be fast!"

At least on DraftExpress they put a "Best Case Scenario" guy and a "Worst Case" to compare them to. (Yeah, Rafer Alston is the most common Worst Case guy LMFAO)

So yeah, I hope I don't blow the Rockets' pick in the mock draft

 

[The George]

I think there are alot of knowledgeable dudes (your's truely included) that could come up with better stuff than some fot he so called "experts"

I think the basketball IQ of this site is higher than almost everyone in the Knicks organization but alot of the analysts and what not as well

 

[NarlCavs]

There really are very few "pure" PG's anymore. Many are combo G's or scoring PG's. Looking at the top prospects projected to be PG's in this draft you really see very few who could be classified as pure PG's.

I'm not sure the classic pure PG is needed for the Cavs. I do want a PG who can create and run an offense but the Cavs really don't need a PG who has to do that fulltime.
The offensive scheme should be created to best use the ability of LeBron and Hughes who should be here for a long time. Both of those players have the ability to create. It does seem a system with more motion and ball movement would suit the skills of the Cavs key young players who they should be building around.

Things should improve with a quicker PG who can provide a more consistent perimeter threat and an improved offensive system. You add that type of PG along with LeBron and Hughes I have to think the Cavs would be fine. I don't think a PG has to be narrowly defined or fit an exact profile.