Gordon is NOT to blame for Jrue's stuggles

[RaisingTheBar]

he was certainly used as a decoy at times, and I was just responding to the statement about the saints offense suffering after he left, it didnt

I don't like the term decoy in football. If a DB and a LB jump in the flat to cover a fast RB, and that leaves a TE open over the middle (exact same thing that happened w/ Sproles and Graham in the Tampa game) to me that is a well executed play design, not using the RB as a decoy. If the LB doesn't jump then the RB would have been 1 on 1 which is ideal in open field.

The 1 and only reason the offense didn't suffer was because we signed the only FA who could fill the speed void we had. Statistically your claim may be correct, but let's not act like it wasn't a big hole to fill. If Sproles would have signed to another team our offense would have had a pretty big problem.

[JJackisangry]

he was certainly used as a decoy at times, and I was just responding to the statement about the saints offense suffering after he left, it didnt

Bush was a stronger reciever and redzone threat than Sproles, Sproles has the edge in rushing. If I had to pick I would pick Bush every time; we are too clogged in the running game. Maybe its just me, but I think Sproles is a tad overrated at times.

[nolaslim213]

Time was emphasized before the season but now that the season is upon us, we don't want to wait for our dessert, we want to eat it now! It is not just this, it seems like a lot of us on this board are being impatient when it comes to a lot of things regarding this team. Patience people! Patience!!!!

Everything changed when we gave up this year's 1st rounder for Holiday. If we had the team right now along with this year's pick, nobody would be complaining. We'd chalk it up to being young and needing time to grow and gel. But that's not reality. Reality is that we don't have a 1st, and if we lose this year, there is no top pick waiting for us at the end of the season, so people want it NOW. It's tough...

[Sovereign]

Bush was a stronger reciever and redzone threat than Sproles, Sproles has the edge in rushing. If I had to pick I would pick Bush every time; we are too clogged in the running game. Maybe its just me, but I think Sproles is a tad overrated at times.

We need more Ingram

#ThingsYouNeverThoughtYouWouldHear

[PelicanFever]

Everything changed when we gave up this year's 1st rounder for Holiday. If we had the team right now along with this year's pick, nobody would be complaining. We'd chalk it up to being young and needing time to grow and gel. But that's not reality. Reality is that we don't have a 1st, and if we lose this year, there is no top pick waiting for us at the end of the season, so people want it NOW. It's tough...

there is a thing called "internal growth" that people don't necessarily believe in...these guys are "young vets" who haven't entered their prime years yet..their IQ will get better, chemistry will get better, and overall will get better...a pick between 10-13 historically doesn't move the needle but people love the unknown because it could be anything...austin rivers sure looks like he can change this franchise around, doesn't he?

[nolaslim213]

there is a thing called "internal growth" that people don't necessarily believe in...these guys are "young vets" who haven't entered their prime years yet..their IQ will get better, chemistry will get better, and overall will get better...a pick between 10-13 historically doesn't move the needle but people love the unknown because it could be anything...austin rivers sure looks like he can change this franchise around, doesn't he?

I agree, but I'd also add that Rivers has certainly shows glimpses, and as a 21 year old kid, he should get the benefit of the doubt of that "internal growth" you're talking about.

[PelicanFever]

sadly, I truly think Ryno drives everything for this team...Jrue started to take off when Ryno was back and he took off even more when Ryno started and got more playing time with him...now Reke is back to struggling without Ryno spacing the floor...I truly think that is the most important variable in this discussion and not gordon...losing Ryno was a killer and a season-ender ughhhhh

[MichaelMcNamara]

Ryno is the most important offensive cog. I don't think that is even debatable.

AD is the most important overall player, but the way this team is built, Ryno is the one irreplaceable offensive player

[Mythrol]

Ryno is the most important offensive cog. I don't think that is even debatable.

AD is the most important overall player, but the way this team is built, Ryno is the one irreplaceable offensive player

But but but but. Bu. . .he's only our 5th best player.

[MichaelMcNamara]

But but but but. Bu. . .he's only our 5th best player.

He's probably 4th, but offensively, the way THIS team is built, he is the most important offensive cog.

Question is: Should a GM build a team that is so dependent on one guy? I don't blame Dell because Ryno's injury history doesn't lead you to think this worst case scenario can happen, but it is a legit question to ask

[RekeHavoc]

Ryno is the most important offensive cog. I don't think that is even debatable.

AD is the most important overall player, but the way this team is built, Ryno is the one irreplaceable offensive player

And even though I love Ryno, you can't have that. You need more outside shooting, you can't spend 40 mil a year on a backcourt while having one of the best young players in the league and then proceed to play this terribly on offense when one of your guys goes down. I total understand why the offense suffers this much when RA is out, but honestly that's a huge problem.

[PelicanFever]

Ryno is the most important offensive cog. I don't think that is even debatable.

AD is the most important overall player, but the way this team is built, Ryno is the one irreplaceable offensive player

yup...and Aminu is somewhat passable as a starting SF with Ryno playing...but without him, we have no shooting at all...another thing to factor when making a decision about Aminu's future...can't put all your eggs in one basket with Ryno...Aminu is a good small ball 4 on the bench but nothing more..I would welcome him back for that role

[RekeHavoc]

He's probably 4th, but offensively, the way THIS team is built, he is the most important offensive cog.

Question is: Should a GM build a team that is so dependent on one guy? I don't blame Dell because Ryno's injury history doesn't lead you to think this worst case scenario can happen, but it is a legit question to ask

I think you have to have a back up plan or plans, while not being as effective still being able to get along in the meantime with all the other talent on our team healthy...

[PelicanFever]

And even though I love Ryno, you can't have that. You need more outside shooting, you can't spend 40 mil a year on a backcourt while having one of the best young players in the league and then proceed to play this terribly on offense when one of your guys goes down. I total understand why the offense suffers this much when RA is out, but honestly that's a huge problem.

part of it is because we have a SF who teams don't respect at all from the outside

[MichaelMcNamara]

Seriously, I want you to try and imagine coming up with an offensive scheme with Aminu and Ajinca on the court. Just pause for a second and then come up with a strategy. I would hide in the coaches office personally.

Oh, but then you can swap out Ajinca for a guy with one skill - a mid-range jumper (worst shot in the game) and/or a guy who is even more of a black hole offensively in Stiemsma.

I honestly would ask the league to get rid of the shot clock and go back to the old days of 16-15 final scores. Would be my only chance.

[Mythrol]

He's probably 4th, but offensively, the way THIS team is built, he is the most important offensive cog.

Question is: Should a GM build a team that is so dependent on one guy? I don't blame Dell because Ryno's injury history doesn't lead you to think this worst case scenario can happen, but it is a legit question to ask

I think the team was built this way for early success until AD develops. It might not be the best idea but one I totally understand. We got pieces that you hope will develop over time and you have a glue guy in Anderson that offers the potential to make them good right away.

Given our options this offseason after the Tyreke trade, it was an ok plan. Especially when Anderson has been pretty healthy his entire career and odds are he'd be playing if not for one freak play.

[Mythrol]

Seriously, I want you to try and imagine coming up with an offensive scheme with Aminu and Ajinca on the court. Just pause for a second and then come up with a strategy. I would hide in the coaches office personally.

Oh, but then you can swap out Ajinca for a guy with one skill - a mid-range jumper (worst shot in the game) and/or a guy who is even more of a black hole offensively in Stiemsma.

I honestly would ask the league to get rid of the shot clock and go back to the old days of 16-15 final scores. Would be my only chance.

The one thing this SERIOUSLY tells me is we MUST address the bench depth this offseason. At all costs, we have to get more depth.

[UptownFuz504]

Ryno is the most important offensive cog. I don't think that is even debatable.

AD is the most important overall player, but the way this team is built, Ryno is the one irreplaceable offensive player

Herein lies the problem. Ryno as your most important offensive player is a recipe for annual lottery drawings. Monty has to go away from the Spurs blueprint. You have a dynamic PG, a pure scorer at SG, a super athletic SF & PF, and a serviceable set of C's, the Pels should be the reincarnation of Loyola Marymount or those Phoenix and Denver teams. The defensive scheme doesn't work and the offensive sets are anemic. It's time for Monty to be a little bit more flexible in his coaching style.

[Mythrol]

Herein lies the problem. Ryno as your most important offensive player is a recipe for annual lottery drawings

Yeah building your offense around a dude that was averaging 20-7 this year while shooting 41% from 3pt and leading the league in FT % and only missing one game last year is a recipe for disaster.

[UptownFuz504]

Yeah building your offense around a dude that was averaging 20-7 this year while shooting 41% from 3pt and leading the league in FT % and only missing one game last year is a recipe for disaster.

You're right. We were awesome while he was playing. Also, you don't build your team around a role player. That's lunacy. It would be equivalent to the Heat building the team around Mike Miller when he was there. It makes no sense.

[MichaelMcNamara]

3-9 w/o Ryno.

12-10 with him (and several of those games were w/o AD and Tyreke)

Somebody saying Ryno is a "role player" and comparing them to Mike Miller is one of the most insane things I have read in a long time.

[RaisingTheBar]

Do I think Ryno is important? Yes I think he is the 2nd most important player on the team, but is his absence strictly the results of the team going 3-9?

Ryno's absence affects this team offensively 1st and foremost, he is by no stretch a good defender. The question I would ask is the team that is 3-9 without Ryno, what was done different coaching wise on the offensive end in those game? Were any changes made at all? I'm not always trying to turn this around on Monty but let's not act like Ryan Anderson gives you 20 points a game every game. There are times where he will shoot 1-10 and we will still win, and that is perfectly acceptable because he is a shooter and shooters go through slumps, it's inevitable.

[da ThRONe]

Seriously, I want you to try and imagine coming up with an offensive scheme with Aminu and Ajinca on the court. Just pause for a second and then come up with a strategy. I would hide in the coaches office personally.

Oh, but then you can swap out Ajinca for a guy with one skill - a mid-range jumper (worst shot in the game) and/or a guy who is even more of a black hole offensively in Stiemsma.

I honestly would ask the league to get rid of the shot clock and go back to the old days of 16-15 final scores. Would be my only chance.

We are hampered with the salaries on this team. How do we get better as is with Gordon/Holiday/Evans accounting for around 40M's of cap space. This is why is stress building through the draft the way the current NBA CBA is structured. Trying to improve greatly bringing in high salary guys is almost impossible with max contracts if you are a non-glamour team. Even after Gordon contracts expires, both Davis and Anderson will be looking at new deals.

So when Gordon/Holiday/Evans is taking up half the salary where is the depth going to come from? If we are going to have playoff success we will need all 3 of those guys playing at a much higher level consistently. I don't think we get that and we are fighting for the 6th-9th spot for the next few years getting knock out in the 1st round the years we do make it.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Personally, my comparison for Ryan Anderson is Jimmy Graham. I think he changes the way defenses have to play us. Could we be a little bit more creative w/o him? Maybe. Can the defense step up and hold teams to fewer points so that we don't have to score as many? Possibly. But losing him limits what you want to do on offense by such an incredible amount, that you won't be able to have a high level of sustained success without him. Both guys really do change the team that much IMO.

[durun]

MM it is what you don't report that questions your credibility. You never mentioned that Evans scoring efficiency is 33% while playing with Holiday.
Evans scoring efficiency is slightly higher with Gordon. Yes, Evans improves with Gordon. But what it actually shows is that the total best scoring efficiency combination is EG and JH. Holiday/Gordon combo is best according to scoring efficiency combo.