Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 30, 2011 15:20:26 GMT -5
Hole of an issue: Eastern Conference
Every playoff team has a perceived roster hole. But who's actually in trouble?
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6
By Tom Haberstroh
ESPN Insider
Archive
US Presswire
Gilbert Arenas and Joel Anthony would not do well on "The Weakest Link."
With the playoffs on the horizon, teams have no choice but to go with what they have. Whether it's due to injury or a thin roster, each team has its holes. To win the title, it may come down to who successfully covers those holes down the stretch. Where are those holes? Let's break it down, for each of the 16 likely playoff squads, describing the size of each hole as either gaping, noticeable or overrstated.
Eastern Conference | Western Conference
Chicago Bulls -- Shooting guard
Most people would say: Keith Bogans, end of discussion. But this has been exaggerated. Yes, it stings the senses that Bogans has started every game for a potentially 60-win team, but the starter label is nothing more than a designation. Coach Tom Thibodeau platoons Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver at shooting guard during crunch time depending on what the team needs. In fact, Bogans hasn't even played fourth-quarter minutes in the team's past seven games. There's no denying the Bulls could use an upgrade at the 2, but Brewer and Korver offer a sufficient package of dueling talents.
Size of hole: Overstated
Boston Celtics -- Center
Employing a Big Four suggests there's also a Little One. It's not so little. When Kendrick Perkins was dealt to the Thunder at the deadline, it was assumed that the defense would suffer -- except when we look at the data, the Celtics haven't seen a drop-off with newcomer Nenad Krstic. The Celtics posted a 95.1 defensive efficiency with Perkins on the floor before he was traded away. Boston's defensive efficiency with Krstic on the court? 94.7. With Kevin Garnett and the principles of former assistant Thibodeau still very much in the fold, the Celtics' defense is still a machine.
Size of hole: Overstated
Miami Heat -- Center
The ultimate spackle roster. Consider the players who have started alongside the Big Three this season: two players bought out by lottery teams (Erick Dampier and Mike Bibby), two players signed to the bare minimum (Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Arroyo -- whom they disposed of after starting 42 games) and a player who averages 1.9 points per game (Joel Anthony). Yes, the Heat have holes, but none deeper than the one at the rebound-starved 5 slot. Dampier, the Heat's current placeholder there, has a lower rebound rate (12.4 percent) than Mike Miller (12.7). For the Heat, Udonis Haslem's return can't come soon enough.
Size of hole: Gaping
Orlando Magic -- Point guard
You could probably make a case that the presence of Dwight Howard makes every other position look like a hole, but none are more poisonous than the failed Gilbert Arenas experiment. The $18 million man is shooting a paltry 34 percent from the floor (26 percent on 3s), and when he's on the floor, he shoots more often than any other Magic player -- and that includes Howard. But the thing is, the Magic don't have a better alternative. They can't depend on Chris Duhon, who is more turnover-prone than a Belgian waffle maker.
Size of hole: Noticeable
Atlanta Hawks -- Center
The Hawks are going nowhere, and with that paralytic Joe Johnson contract, they're going nowhere fast. Their best solution? Flaunt Josh Smith to net a legitimate center. Doing so would slide their best player, 6-foot-10 Al Horford, to his natural position and eliminate any excuse to play Jason Collins, who makes Joel Anthony look like Hakeem Olajuwon on the block. The Hawks certainly have issues at point guard and small forward, but getting an impact center should be the tallest priority on the list.
Size of hole: Noticeable
Philadelphia 76ers -- Center
The decision to draft Evan Turner? Bad. Passing up the chance to draft DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors or Greg Monroe? Even worse. The Sixers are one injury away from starting Tony Battie and, really, that says everything you need to know.
Size of hole: Gaping
New York Knicks -- Center
The latest example of how desperate the Knicks are for a center: They opted to have Shawne Williams guard Dwight Howard instead of Amare Stoudemire on Monday night. And the saddest part is that it was probably the right call. The Knicks have the depth of a puddle at the center position, and that's not going to be an easy position to fill, especially if they plan to throw their spare change at Chris Paul.
Size of hole: Gaping
Indiana Pacers -- Power forward
Tyler Hansbrough is a serviceable backup but woefully under-qualified to start at power forward in this league. If the Pacers play their cards right this summer, they can put Hansbrough in his rightful place as a reserve. The front office will have about $30 million coming off the books after the season and could target potential free agents Zach Randolph, David West or Carl Landry to shore up that void. It won't turn the franchise around, but Indiana is one of the few teams that can make a big splash this summer.
Size of hole: Noticeable
Every playoff team has a perceived roster hole. But who's actually in trouble?
EmailPrintComments
6
By Tom Haberstroh
ESPN Insider
Archive
US Presswire
Gilbert Arenas and Joel Anthony would not do well on "The Weakest Link."
With the playoffs on the horizon, teams have no choice but to go with what they have. Whether it's due to injury or a thin roster, each team has its holes. To win the title, it may come down to who successfully covers those holes down the stretch. Where are those holes? Let's break it down, for each of the 16 likely playoff squads, describing the size of each hole as either gaping, noticeable or overrstated.
Eastern Conference | Western Conference
Chicago Bulls -- Shooting guard
Most people would say: Keith Bogans, end of discussion. But this has been exaggerated. Yes, it stings the senses that Bogans has started every game for a potentially 60-win team, but the starter label is nothing more than a designation. Coach Tom Thibodeau platoons Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver at shooting guard during crunch time depending on what the team needs. In fact, Bogans hasn't even played fourth-quarter minutes in the team's past seven games. There's no denying the Bulls could use an upgrade at the 2, but Brewer and Korver offer a sufficient package of dueling talents.
Size of hole: Overstated
Boston Celtics -- Center
Employing a Big Four suggests there's also a Little One. It's not so little. When Kendrick Perkins was dealt to the Thunder at the deadline, it was assumed that the defense would suffer -- except when we look at the data, the Celtics haven't seen a drop-off with newcomer Nenad Krstic. The Celtics posted a 95.1 defensive efficiency with Perkins on the floor before he was traded away. Boston's defensive efficiency with Krstic on the court? 94.7. With Kevin Garnett and the principles of former assistant Thibodeau still very much in the fold, the Celtics' defense is still a machine.
Size of hole: Overstated
Miami Heat -- Center
The ultimate spackle roster. Consider the players who have started alongside the Big Three this season: two players bought out by lottery teams (Erick Dampier and Mike Bibby), two players signed to the bare minimum (Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Arroyo -- whom they disposed of after starting 42 games) and a player who averages 1.9 points per game (Joel Anthony). Yes, the Heat have holes, but none deeper than the one at the rebound-starved 5 slot. Dampier, the Heat's current placeholder there, has a lower rebound rate (12.4 percent) than Mike Miller (12.7). For the Heat, Udonis Haslem's return can't come soon enough.
Size of hole: Gaping
Orlando Magic -- Point guard
You could probably make a case that the presence of Dwight Howard makes every other position look like a hole, but none are more poisonous than the failed Gilbert Arenas experiment. The $18 million man is shooting a paltry 34 percent from the floor (26 percent on 3s), and when he's on the floor, he shoots more often than any other Magic player -- and that includes Howard. But the thing is, the Magic don't have a better alternative. They can't depend on Chris Duhon, who is more turnover-prone than a Belgian waffle maker.
Size of hole: Noticeable
Atlanta Hawks -- Center
The Hawks are going nowhere, and with that paralytic Joe Johnson contract, they're going nowhere fast. Their best solution? Flaunt Josh Smith to net a legitimate center. Doing so would slide their best player, 6-foot-10 Al Horford, to his natural position and eliminate any excuse to play Jason Collins, who makes Joel Anthony look like Hakeem Olajuwon on the block. The Hawks certainly have issues at point guard and small forward, but getting an impact center should be the tallest priority on the list.
Size of hole: Noticeable
Philadelphia 76ers -- Center
The decision to draft Evan Turner? Bad. Passing up the chance to draft DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors or Greg Monroe? Even worse. The Sixers are one injury away from starting Tony Battie and, really, that says everything you need to know.
Size of hole: Gaping
New York Knicks -- Center
The latest example of how desperate the Knicks are for a center: They opted to have Shawne Williams guard Dwight Howard instead of Amare Stoudemire on Monday night. And the saddest part is that it was probably the right call. The Knicks have the depth of a puddle at the center position, and that's not going to be an easy position to fill, especially if they plan to throw their spare change at Chris Paul.
Size of hole: Gaping
Indiana Pacers -- Power forward
Tyler Hansbrough is a serviceable backup but woefully under-qualified to start at power forward in this league. If the Pacers play their cards right this summer, they can put Hansbrough in his rightful place as a reserve. The front office will have about $30 million coming off the books after the season and could target potential free agents Zach Randolph, David West or Carl Landry to shore up that void. It won't turn the franchise around, but Indiana is one of the few teams that can make a big splash this summer.
Size of hole: Noticeable
