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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
1 of course Anthony would have contributed more than Darko. I've not seen Darko play and i've got season tickets. At best 5 years from now something will have blossomed- again, I only give that based upon respect for Joe D's knowledge.
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Anthony will always be a better player than Darko. Darko will always have so very much potential. Hakeem had more potential than Jordan at draft time too.
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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski 2 Anthony on the Pistons would not be weak on defense. You can't walk on the court with Ben and not play solid defense. Having a solid defensive mindset is environmental.
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Agreed. And if he was having trouble, Dumars, a defensive genius, would have made a real difference. It's not like Melo can't move his feet. And when you can move your feet, defense is an attitude.
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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski 3 all I was saying is I don't see him giving the Pistons much that Prince didn't. Anthony minutes would have been Prince's. You might start spouting stats, but offensive stats for being the leading scorer on a team that barely made the playoffs do not correspond to stats for the 3rd or 4th option on the best defensive team around. Prince will come on in the next few years as a stronger offensive threat. I think he's really nervous still playing at this level.
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Prince looks shook quite often, so I agree that he's still really nervous. He really needs to build some upper body strength. Carmelo is developed and somewhat fearless (bordering on stupid at times). But imagine how his game would grow at leaps and bounds being in the Finals his first year out. That kind of experience is invaluable. The Lakers are having problems matching up now. But what do they do when Rip and 'Melo are on the floor at the same time? Moot question, I know. But Prince really hasn't done much this series. He looks like he doesn't want to be the man. And that's an attitude you can't change. Just ask Webber.
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Originally posted by Hank Chinaski 4 The thing I still don't get is how Dumars had the confidence to use the pick for a long term project when we were so close to being a finals team last year. I would have tried to trade the pick to some hopeless team with currently solid players. Portland- Randolph and Wallace for #2 pick and 2 or 3 7 foot stiffs? Something to have made the Pistons stronger this year would have been available.
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I honestly don't think Dumars thought they would win the Finals (and I recognize that they still haven't) when he was making these decisions. Getting another couple of bodies to throw at Shaq isn't going to make a difference. He knew then (as did Larry Brown) that you just have to let Shaq have his. The trick is shutting everyone else down. So, I think he was thinking about the future.
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