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Mario Chalmers named the starting point guard


magicbalala245
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Pittman isn't going to do anything in the NBA. The more weight he loses, the more he'll have to play the four...and he's a center, nothing else. He can't step out of the paint and do anything, and he's super foul prone, as in, Danny Fortson foul prone, because he doesn't have the mobility he needs. He'll pick up four fouls in two minutes having to defend PF's.

 

Bad thing about being the center is that he's 6-10, and not Ben Wallace.

 

Cut the weight, he becomes less effective, plays the four and gets crushed because he has no game outside of forcing his way under the rim...and, in the pros, it won't come as easy as it did in college.

 

The Heat need a defensive anchor. Pittman isn't even close to that, and he won't be a starting center, unless it's for a desperate team.

 

As far as Chalmers goes, good move, of course. Arroyo wants to get open mid-range jumpers all game long, and do absolutely nothing else while he's on the court. His defense is possibly the worst on the team, and that includes Eddie House. Chalmers isn't a lock-down defender at the point, but he's three times better than Arroyo.

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Pittman isn't going to do anything in the NBA. The more weight he loses, the more he'll have to play the four...and he's a center, nothing else. He can't step out of the paint and do anything, and he's super foul prone, as in, Danny Fortson foul prone, because he doesn't have the mobility he needs. He'll pick up four fouls in two minutes having to defend PF's.

 

Bad thing about being the center is that he's 6-10, and not Ben Wallace.

 

Cut the weight, he becomes less effective, plays the four and gets crushed because he has no game outside of forcing his way under the rim...and, in the pros, it won't come as easy as it did in college.

 

The Heat need a defensive anchor. Pittman isn't even close to that, and he won't be a starting center, unless it's for a desperate team.

 

I've only seen some highlights from Pittman in the D-League, but from what I hear he definitely can help the Heat at some point. He was actually measured at 6'11.5" with shoes, and even though he lost weight, he still has the build to play C on a pro-level. He can't be any worse defensively than Z is, and he offers far more size than Joel "the midget" Anthony does, along with more rebounding. He also seems to have a good, albeit very simple post game, which is something no Heat player besides Wade and occasionally Bosh possess. He is tearing it up in the D-League right now, and with the Heat's C situation being so sketchy, I do think they should give him a run (although it will never happen; the Heat are one of the worst franchises at giving young talent a chance to succeed).

 

As for the Heat needing a defensive anchor, I disagree. They just need someone servicable. Z is starting to wear down and is simply too old, and Anthony is a complete liability offensive and on the boards. Spo refuses to give Dampier minutes, even though he might be the best of both worlds (although I hear is knees have been bad for quite some time as well). None of those C's should be starting on a champioship team. Ideally all the Heat need is a C with size that has a little mobility and can finish strong around the rim when given easy opportunities. They have a defensive system and capable enough defenders where they make up for each other's weaknesses, and can dominate on that side of the ball. The bigger area of concern is on the boards.

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I just don't see that defensive system beating a championship-caliber team in a seven-game series, against a coach that knows how to adjust after playing them a couple of times. Boston could have one of the biggest frontcourts in the NBA right now, as far as depth goes, and the Lakers have three bigs (guess I'm going to include Odom because he can post up against Bosh) that can drop 20/10, and that's not even their bread and butter when the storybook closes.

 

Stick a halfway decent defensive anchor on that team, and they win it all...this season, or the next, whenever. Pittman is tearing up the D-League just like he did those college players...and, well, the D-League is basically full of college players that aren't ready for the pros yet. With very, very limited mobility, you really think he's a legit starting center for the Heat? This is the same team that looks to win it all now.

 

And Dampier isn't starting because his knees are still bothering him. I saw him limping just a bit the other night, and grabbing at them on the bench. The Heat had already declined to pick him up after a tryout around the start of the season, and the only reason why they brought him a second time was because they were rail thin at the four, Joel isn't Mutombo and Big Z is Big ZZZZZZ.

 

Pittman is a body, but so is DJ Mbenga. The Heat don't need another offensive big. Their big three scores 64% of their points, and their fourth leading scorer (not counting Haslem) is James Jones, and he's producing seven a game.

 

Guys like Howard and Horford are too mobile, and will eat his lunch. Gasol...too long for him, and will drag him clear out to the free throw line. Drew, Shaq, they are too strong and big. Pittman would have to defend all of these guys, and there's absolutely no chance of it happening. I'll definitely own up to it if I'm wrong, but this is a Tractor Traylor situation...a guy that was too short to play the five, too slow to play the four, didn't play defense, fouled way too much, couldn't pass the ball, and had no mobility. Pittman will be lighter, and he's more like Stanley Roberts than Traylor in regards to JUST the style of play...but he's not as long or strong, not as smart, and it would be a shocker to see him succeed as a starting center in the league (producing as one, not riding coattails to a championship).

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By the way, I think Chicago is the best defensive team in the league, and I'm not really sure if it's up for debate, considering what Thibodeau has done with them. Boston may be the only team that can contend with that body of work.

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I just don't see that defensive system beating a championship-caliber team in a seven-game series, against a coach that knows how to adjust after playing them a couple of times. Boston could have one of the biggest frontcourts in the NBA right now, as far as depth goes, and the Lakers have three bigs (guess I'm going to include Odom because he can post up against Bosh) that can drop 20/10, and that's not even their bread and butter when the storybook closes.

 

I certainly think it can beat a championship-caliber team in a 7-game series. If they don't win a championship, it will be because of the offense and them getting beaten on the boards. I think the Celtics and maybe Bulls have less defensive holes individually than the Heat do, but the Heat's defense is absolutely smothering. I don't know where their ranking is now, but despite their lack of frontcourt help, they were leading the league in points in the paint a few weeks ago (before the injuries to Wade/James/Bosh), and Wade and James are amazing at closing out and contesting 3pt shooters. If you defend the 2 most efficient areas on the floor as well as the Heat do when healthy, then you have a defense capable of beating anyone (and it's not like they have poor individual defenders, either).

 

With very, very limited mobility, you really think he's a legit starting center for the Heat? This is the same team that looks to win it all now.

 

He can't be any less mobile than Z or Dampier, and he offers the size that Joel lacks. I don't know if he can be a legit starting C for the Heat because I haven't seen enough of him recently to form that conclusion. However, I do think the Heat should try him out. Worst case scenario is he falls flat on his face and never resurfaces in a Heat uniform again. Best case scenario is he gives them some of the offense that Dampier and Anthony lack, some of the mobility Z lacks, and some of the size Anthony lacks. With Z breaking down and getting very little PT, and Dampier in Spo's dog-house, I see no harm in giving him a whirl. If he works out, then the Heat have a rotation C on a rookie contract, who will give them important depth once Dampier and Z are gone this summer.

 

Pittman is a body, but so is DJ Mbenga. The Heat don't need another offensive big. Their big three scores 64% of their points, and their fourth leading scorer (not counting Haslem) is James Jones, and he's producing seven a game.

 

They don't need an offensive big, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Joel can't finish at the rim and is scared to take a shot (he won't even look for passes), Z isn't getting many minutes and doesn't finish around the rim unless it's off the offensive glass, and Dampier's in the doghouse and also isn't a strong finisher. I think having a strong finisher will definitely help out Wade/James, especially come playoff time.

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I fully believe that they need a strong defensive center who can rebound and finish, but how many of then are out there? I think that in the offseason they should spend their full mle on maybe a guy like nene (if he will sign for less) or maybe a guy like Sam Dalembert? Just a couple of names but don't you think that either if those two would be good starting center for them?

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