Lakers OFF-SEASON IS A WRAP

MoonMan818 said:

 plan on getting KD next season?

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PMatic said:

So is there any competition for Koufos? I can't think of any other teams that need to spend money on a starting center now.

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MoonMan818 said:

Is Tobias even that necessary if we plan on getting KD next season?

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Kal-El-8 said:

 
Deandre likely heading to the mavs, hello Roy Hibbert?

What asset could Indiana even send us?

I guess a first round pick is good enough. 

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Essential1 said:

If we were to trade Nick Young, Ryan Kelly & Tarik Black for Roy HIbbert, hold off on signing Anthony Brown.

We'd be $800K- $1mil away from a Tobias Harris max.

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Essential1 said:

If we were to trade Nick Young, Ryan Kelly & Tarik Black for Roy HIbbert, hold off on signing Anthony Brown.

We'd be $800K- $1mil away from a Tobias Harris max.

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How Bismack Biyombo Helped Turn Around The Hornets Season
Posted by Matthew WayDate: February 04, 2015in: Team Breakdowns

With the recent news of Kemba Walker’s knee surgery, the Charlotte Hornets’ already tough start to the season worsened. Outside of the playoffs already, Walker’s injury seemingly ended any realistic chance the Hornets had at making the playoff in the weak East.

The Hornets’ struggles have been particularly disappointing given their success last season. In 2013-2014, the then-Charlotte Bobcats posted a 43-39 record and grabbed the 7th seed in the East, and despite being swept by the Miami Heat in the first round, this playoff appearance was a big step forward for a franchise who had little recent success. This past summer, the franchise looked to capitalize on last year’s success by signing Lance Stephenson and changing the franchise’s name back to the Hornets.

Unfortunately, 2014-2015 has not been successful. Through 46 games, the Hornets have gone just 18-28. While the Hornets’ good defensive efficiency has remained steady, their offense has become even worse.

The Hornets’ one stretch of real success this season came when starters Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson were out with injuries. During Jefferson’s absence, the Hornets put up an 8-3 record, including wins against the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, all coming on the strength of their defense. The offense continued to struggle, putting up an Offensive Rating of 101.5 over those eleven games. The defense, however, improved dramatically, stifling opposing offense to the tune of a 95.2 Defensive Rating.

The biggest reason for the Hornets’ defensive success over that 11 game stretch was the increased minutes for Bismack Biyombo. While Jefferson has given up a terrible 55.2% field goal percentage to opposing players at the rim this year, Biyombo has held opponents to a 47.8% shooting percentage in the same system. And that difference in rim protection translates to the entire team’s efficiency. When Jefferson is on the court this year, the Hornets defensive rating is 103.9., but when Biyombo is on the court, the Hornets defensive rating plummets to 96.5.

Biyombo’s quickness allows him to affect shots that the slower-footed Jefferson simply cannot affect. Those shots come in all forms, including in transition.





Against the Milwaukee Bucks here, Biyombo shows off his athletic advantage over Jefferson in transition. The Hornets turn the ball over in the half court, and the Bucks get out quickly in transition. Khris Middleton gets the ball just past mid-court when Biyombo is turning around to follow the ball, and Middleton has forward momentum while Biyombo has to accelerate after changing directions. Yet Biyombo keeps up with Middleton and shows good footwork in blocking Middleton’s shot at the rim. This is a play that Jefferson simply cannot make due to his physical limitations. And it is not an isolated occurence.



Following a turnover against the Orlando Magic, Biyombo again runs the floor well to get back defensively. Willie Green gets the ball near the three point line with Biyombo trailing him, but Biyombo uses his speed to catch up as Green is slowed down by other Hornets’ defenders. He again shows good footwork and blocks Green’s attempt near the rim, preventing an otherwise easy transition shot.

Biyombo also shows off his athleticism in the half court. His quickness allows him to defend pick-and-rolls extremely effectively.



Here against the San Antonio Spurs, Biyombo is able to play five feet off of Tim Duncan because he has the quickness and length to close out and contest a jumper. Duncan hands the ball off to Cory Joseph and sets a good screen on Kemba Walker. Joseph is able to turn the corner on Walker, who basically gives up on defending the Joseph drive. Biyombo then recognizes Joseph’s open path to the basket and shuffles his feet well towards the rim. Biyombo jumps when Joseph begins to leave his feet, and blocks what otherwise would have been an easy layup.

However, Biyombo does more than just defend in the open court, around the basket and in the pick-and-roll. His recovery defense is also terrific, as seen in the next clip.



Again against the Spurs, Biyombo here follows Tony Parker in a pseudo pick-and-roll where Duncan doesn’t make any contact as the screener. Parker recognizes that both Hornets defenders followed him and makes a good pass to Duncan, who is open just past the elbow. Biyombo shows good close out speed initially, but over-pursues and Duncan drives past him. Biyombo, though, stops and pivots immediately, shows good recovery speed, and blocks Duncan’s floater attempt.

With both of these plays against the Spurs, Biyombo shows why he is such a dangerous and versatile defender. He shows excellent closing speed in the second play which is why he is able to play so far off the screener as he does with Duncan in the first play. And, when he does close out a bit recklessly, he can clean up his own mistakes with remarkable ease.

When Al Jefferson is on the court in favor of Biyombo, the Hornets simply do not have a big man that can create such havoc and clean up mistakes. Biyombo not only plays great defense in his own right, but he allows the Hornets other players to become more aggressive in their own defense knowing that they have an athletic big man to correct their mistakes. Jefferson is a very big body in the paint, but he just doesn’t have the athleticism to defend and affect plays like Biyombo.

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bright nikes said:

If we don't look at Tobias at least take a look at Derrick Williams.

Gotta get something going, this is weird.

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Essential1 said:

We'll never chase a guy like this, but would be nice to start him for a year, then make him a backup.

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duck dodgers said:

Essential1 said:

We'll never chase a guy like this, but would be nice to start him for a year, then make him a backup.

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Ben Wallace 2.0

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CP1708 said:

Dirk takes 10 million.

Mavs land Chandler Parsons, Wes Mathews and DeAndre Jordan.

Duncan takes 10 mil.

Helps them land Diaw, Danny Green and keep Splitter. They win title.



48.5, age 36 and 37.

Not a factor tho.

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CP1708 said:

Dirk takes 10 million.

Mavs land Chandler Parsons, Wes Mathews and DeAndre Jordan.

Duncan takes 10 mil.

Helps them land Diaw, Danny Green and keep Splitter. They win title.



48.5, age 36 and 37.

Not a factor tho.

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Kal-El-8 said:

Hibbert
Randle
Tobias
Kobe
Russell

Clarkson
Nance
Brown
Black
Upshaw

23-26 wins. I'll take it.

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junglejim said:

CP1708 said:

Dirk takes 10 million.


Mavs land Chandler Parsons, Wes Mathews and DeAndre Jordan.


Duncan takes 10 mil.


Helps them land Diaw, Danny Green and keep Splitter. They win title.




48.5, age 36 and 37.


Not a factor tho.

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We had 25+ Million in cap room and didn't land a soul.  What the hell were we going to do with another 20?  Overpay for Robin Lopez?  Possibly had Melo last year?  What would we have done with the extra cash that we aren't trying/failing to do now?

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