Let's play the first installment of The Rocket's Advocate and place my opinion of several opinions that are a little too snappy.
First, I don't see why everyone outside of NYC is trashing Isiah for the Zach Randolph trade. People look at the Spurs and the Pistons and figure the blueprint to winning is find a good coach and finding players to fit the system in place. How about giving Isiah props for conning Kevin Pritchard out of at least a top 10 power forward. They add a needed rebounder and this will finally release Eddy Curry from this fantasy that everyone has for him. The one where he plays defense or rebounds anthing that doesn't just fall down from the rim into his hands. Dickau can run the point a little and give Lil Nate competition. Now if he could just get rid of Starbury
I must place a disclamer in front of this. I love Michael Jordan. Absolute man-crush. But my first memory of basketball is ,like anyyone around my age, of Mike. Jason Richardson fills a need at the 2 with 20 pts and a adequate defense. J-Rich is also a plus athlete which makes him the abosolute foil of Adam "Cry Me A River" Morrison. Brandon Wright I'm not entirely sold on. A less athletic Tyrus Thomas. Has to add size and shooting range to contribute, then has to be coached into a superstar four. He's like KG but he's not like KG. Kevin Garnett was born for this. Brandon Wright probably not. Adding Jason puts another shooter on the bench so that Adam can come into his own and maximize whatever NBA level skills he has because he is working for worst 3 pick ever!
Rashard Lewis....
Can't defend it. Nobody can. Otis can't. Stan can't. Whatever yahoos on the Magic can't. There is no player on this roster thats an all world player. Futhermore they are #### for the next six years because the fans will get fed up with 2nd round loses and they won't be able to make a move. When you look at the bad moves the Magic match up with almost any team in the NBA. Hill, Lewis, Redick, Fran Vasquez (the spainish player that didn't even come over), the Donovan fiasco, I'll dare someone to match that, T'Wolves not withstanding. I'll say this; Nelson, Lewis, Redick, Turkoglu will make for decent 3 point bets to show up on youtube hopefully.
This is absolutely the largest problem with the NBA. Its become a fiscal game instead of a talent game. The reason there aren't any absolutely dominant teams anymore is because the structure of the cap allows home teams to keep their players. I'll be surprised if Mo Williams leaves Wisconsin for godforsaken South Beach and a chance to be number 3 on a title contender next year for a few more million. (Few more million and i'm struggling to pay for school next year. Funny) It would actually have been funny had a player like Chauncey Billups took the midlevel from the Lakers or something to be number 2 to Kobe and go to the Finals next year. He'd rather dwell in Detroit and be out in the semis for the next 2 years before being out in the first round before being in the lottery. But I digress
What the hell is Jeff Green and Kevin Durant going to do with each other!? You have two 3's one that actually looks like he'll be ineffective against any agressive defender and "Play Patty Cake during the Final Four" Green. No 2 guard, an undersized 1 and a lot of raw 5's. What's the plan? Durant will be McGrady or Dirk. Not Michael, Larry, or the Logo. He won't be one of those " I don't care if my teammates suck. VICTORY WILL BE MINE!" type of players. So you can't have him and pick up game scrubs and attempt to get to the Finals.
What the hell is Ray Allen and Paul Pierce going to do with each other?! Now Boston is overstocked with scorers and are missing some defenders somewhere in there. The sad part is they'll make the playoffs and believe they accomplished something.
