perk

[steve knight]

great point about perk. move him and we don't even get to the lakers. other than a backup point, the only think i think we're really missing is a young, long player, a la travis outlaw or gs's randolph, someone who can complement our davis/sheldon combo. 

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:30:18 -0500
From: <Patrick.Ryan at dobbins.af.mil>
Subject: RE: The Stuff Of Nightmares: Lakers Discussing Bosh Trade
To: <jlyell at verizon.net>, <celtics at igtc.com>
Message-ID: <201001111530.o0BFUMiX019863 at ares.afrc.af.mil>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

If all you're in love with is "offensive" firepower you can be "Loyola-Marymount, the Hank Gathers years" sure. I continue to despise fantasy league thought processes used to judge actual GMs. There is more to a team than offense. Unless you're the current NFL under the "Peyton Rules"(Rule#1: thou shalt not touch a receiver or QB at any time); defense still means more in the post-season.  

Teams have an identity. It often takes a few months to establish said identity. If you are to actually look at the Lakers, they have moved away from simply outscoring opponents to defending them now as well (the Artest signing and Bynum healthy being the two biggest keys to that; Artest's presence allowing Kobe to simply "go for steals" and double off the weakest offensive player on the other team while Bynum hides Gasol's defensive flaws rather well). Would Bosh upset that balance? Against a "tougher" team I think it would. Bosh is not a great post defender. This would likely move the Lakers back to an "outscore everyone" mindset - which they would have significant ability to do, but there's a reason shooting percentages are what they are - the ball doesn't always go through the hoop.

Move Perk and we don't get through Orlando or Cleveland. Period. None of the other teams in the East can single Howard and Shaq without a second thought. The Celtics can. You build for the foes in your division and conference. What good is worrying about the Lakers if you can't get to them? Until the Hawks prove otherwise (and while close they're not there yet) - those foes are Cleveland and Orlando. 

The Celtics defensive advantages continue to be overlooked for "more offense". Fantasy league mindset run amok.