Good game finally!! I like Zaza an Bogans very much, they both work hard. Gooden has been MIA in the last 2 games, what's up with that??

Gooden didnt really play bad. He went 4/6 from the field but he just didnt get the minutes for some reason. 0 rebounds is also a cause for concern. J. Howard came out of nowhere. 19 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. I have noticed that he has been more focused these past games and I hope he keeps it up. Bogans is an awesome defender which we all new already. I love to see more then anything players playing with intensity, and thats what he does. He doesnt block shots but he gets in their face and makes it tough for them to shoot. I cant help but scream along with the crowd when Zaza comes into the game. He is rapidly growing on me and he should gets these kind of minutes for the rest of the season. Maybe he can start a game or two. Dirty Work Declercq proves again his value. He isnt going to score but he does everything else. Well, I agree with the rod strickland thing but he shouldn't be starting. We need his veteran leadership but Lue is the young and offensively consistent one, not to mention a better defender. Also lue has been dishing the ball well lately. That leaves SHammond Williams out and thats where he should be. They should get Gaines off the IL and put Williams on.

Lue is, and probably always be, a serviceable backup PG. He does NOT dish the ball well and he does NOT see the court worth a shit. If you make the arguement of a offensively consistent - then Shammond fits the role better than Lue does. I say trade Lue/Hunter/Giricek for whatever we can get and bring Gaines off the IL. The problem with Gooden and why he didn;t have many minutes - no defense. When you are playing power forward along side a player like Tracy McGrady - your job is to play defense and rebound the ball. 0 rebounds is not acceptable - and that is why he is on the bench sitting next to Steven Hunter. While I am on the subject - the last two games I attended - Gooden was sitting on the bench during introductions instead of greeting his teammates on the floor. So, I would have to say his attitude is the current factor in limiting his minutes.

If thats the case Gooden best change his attitude. I honestly think he could be one of the top bigs in the east but not if he doesnt even greet his teamates. Hes got the body to rebound and block well. I dont think Shammond WIlliams is offensively consistent at all. He is shooting I believe in the low 30% range and thats pathetic. Lue is doing much better in the offensive department. One thing is that they both play defense well. Gaines should be getting some damn minutes and he may have been starting by now. And just to clarify, I said Lue was passing the ball well LATELY for I remember 2 games recently he reached double figures in assists. Ok I am not trying to change your mind on Hunter TJ but let me say this; If they trade him he is going to do great for the other team. Ill give you an example; BEN WALLACE. All he could do is block shots like Hunter now, but we got rid of Wallace and now hes the best rebounder and defender in this league. All Hunter can do is block shots and thats partly our coaching staffs fault. They arent giving him the proper minutes like Reece Gaines to develop into a better player. Sam Dalembert on 76ers was never suppose to be good, now he is a shot blocker and rebounder because they developed him. I bet if Doc Rivers was still coach Hunter would still be playing and getting close to 2 blocks a game. Oh and let me give a shout to Kenyon Martin, the most intense player in the NBA.

I seriously doubt Hunter is going to be any better than what he is. He has been around for 3 years now and has hardly improved his game. He has not put on enough size to play well in the center position. He does not play defense at all (other than weak side blocks) and he does not put a body on defensive players when rebounding or when setting screens. It could possibly be in part to our coaching staff - but look at 19 year old Zaza. I wasn't saying that Shammond is any better than Lue - but just that we could trade Lue and some dead weight and not miss much. Biggest point is - Lue is a backup PG - just like Armstrong. The team will go nowhere without a good PG and a decent big man that can start. Then we can bring guys like Zaza/Declercq and Lue/Gaines off the bench.

I wouldnt object to a Lue trade as long as we get a decent player back. I personally think if they develop Gaines he would be a great starting PG. He has the ballhandling and he is 6-6 and would be tough to guard. Lue is very good but his lack of size gives us a problem when he has to guard Kidd, Marbury, Davis and other PG's. I think it is the coaching staff, but for Zaza he is a natural competitor. He lays it out there every night and thats why he is so good. Hunter doesnt really have that fight in him so he needs to be tought and he could be a decent backup F/C. When you think about it he should play PF instead of C. Your right he doesnt have enough size and at PF he would be guarding shorter players. He could draw comparisons to Tyson Chandler who is skinny 7-1 and plays PF effectively. As for a decent center, we are in the eastern conference and all we need is decent forwards. The critics predicted that Orlando would have a formidable front court with Gooden and Howard because we are in eastern. They were dead wrong but they still predicted it. In any case what this team needs is for every player to take it to the next level.

Well, I guess I have to disagree one more time. =). Heehee. We DO need a good center. Even the best Eastern team will have to play a Western team in the Finals. If an eastern ever expects to beat a team out west - they will need a decent, serviceable big man. Not another Shaq or Duncan (though that would be nice) - but someone that can at least get a few good minutes and keep them off the glass.