Project the Depth Chart

[tk76-]

, with Speights having to improve his D in practice to earn time

But Jason Smith can continue to suck ass on defense?

I think Speights can become an above average defender (he has a similar build/athletisism as PJ Brown), but Smith will always be limitted defensively.  Smith can rebound and block some shots, but he will need to add a lot of strength to become even an average post defender.

[jemagee]

That was kind of my point, speights needs to 'improve' his D to surpass Smith in the depth chart but i believe he's already better defensively than Smith...though I'm beginning to sense a gross over valuation of Jason Smith...so I'll just let it go

[Skates]

Smith is not a bad help and team defender.  He, like Sammy, lacks the bulk to be an effective one-on-one defender down low, and the T-Rex arms don't help him when he defends on the perimeter.  He has a year's head-start on Speights in understanding team defense at the NBA level.  I think we will see Brand and Reggie guarding the heavier bigs with Smith and Sammy guarding the guys more their size and providing weakside help.  Speights should eventually start eating up those minutes and he has the talent to be a  good defender if he puts his heart and mind to it, but as a rookie who was not a defensive specialist in college I would expect a learning curve on D for him to start the season.  Thad was eventually a very good defender last year, but he needed to get his game up to NBA speed and there is no reason to think Speights will be any different.

As far as grossly overvaluing Smith, based on what?  The idea that a mobile young big man who can shoot and block shots has some value is wrong.  He is mobile, but not superquick.  He has good size, but he's not very powerful, although calling him flabby constantly is a complete mischaracterization.  He has good potential as a jump shooter and gets out on the break very well for a (near) seven footer.  He also has limitations that will keep him a bench player for his career.  He is a willing rebounder and has a good attitude ane some mental toughness that he displayed last year.  Considering his modest salary at this point and his strengths and weaknesses he is a valuable and economic role player. 

If you want to talk about overvaluing someone, let's talk Marcus Williams.  The guy had major red flags coming out of college, has done nothing in the pro's for a team that took a chance on him and who needed him to come through at least as a strong back-up PG.  The Nets have a PG in Harris who is more of a combo-guard, yet Williams is still in the dog-house although they need players at his position.  Yet you want to give up smith and a first rounder for a guy who probably won't have his option picked up next year if he deson't crank his game up this year.  I would absolutely take a chance at williams on the cheap, he has good skills and potential, but giving up essentially two first rounders for him is major overvaluation.

[jemagee]

3rd string center who by mid season will probably be lucky to see 10 minutes a game, can't defend most players one on one cause he's laterally slow (at least sam has lateral quickness) which makes him foul prone...Speights can probably block shots as well as Smith even now when he doesn't knwo what the hell he's doing cause he hasn't 'learned the NBA game'...

I suppose I can see how a guy like that is more valuable than trying to patch what I see as a gaping hole at point guard going forward.

[tk76-]

Smith might not be the better player compared to Speights, but I see him getting more minutes because he has more range to his jumper, and is less likely to make a mistake on defense (just due to experience.)  Spights will probably be a more high risk/high reqrd type of sub.  Given both are going to be role players, I think Mo will opt to the lower risk/reward sub in Smith while the starters are on the floor (late 1st), but might go to Speights more when more subs on on the floor (2nd quarter) where he might be used as a focal point of the offense like he was in the Summer League.

If Speights proves himself to be reliable, and not mistake prone on things like rotations or gambling for steals, then I expect Speights to take most of Smith's minutes.  Smith is lucky that he can shoot on a team with a glaring need- or else he would be hard pressed to find minutes.

This is not a bad problem.  Evans, Smith and Speights are all reasonably athletic, and able to run with most PF's and trap in the open floor.  they all fit on this team.  Even without heavy minutes, I think Speights will get an NBA education at practice against Brand and just being around hard working vets like Miller, Brand, Iguodala and even Thad and Lou- it is great that even our 20-24 year old players show such good work ethics and can be leaders on the team.  If Speights can't reach his potential working on this team, then he has serious issues.  I expect him to be cutting into Sam's minutes by next year.

[jemagee]

and is less likely to make a mistake on defense

See I don't buy this 'less likely' thing for one reason (well two words)

Sam Dalembert.

Still the most likely to make a mistake on defense out of all the major players as far as I'm concerned, and he's been in the league for a while.

[tk76-]

and is less likely to make a mistake on defense

See I don't buy this 'less likely' thing for one reason (well two words)

Sam Dalembert.

Still the most likely to make a mistake on defense out of all the major players as far as I'm concerned, and he's been in the league for a while.

Sam was for several years the Sixers only decent rebounder and interior presence.  If Speights follows up on his impressive SL showing, and shows he can have a similar impact in NBA games then Mo will not be able to keep him off the floor.  He will get all of Evans minutes.  i just don't expect Speights to be able to step right in and have that kind of impact- but I hope I am wrong- he did have an amazing SL, showing post skills, a smooth jumper and the ability to rebound and block shots.  I doubt this will even be a discussion next year, and we will insted be debating whether Speights should be replacing Sam.  This could even become a Thome/Howard type situation in a couple of years (but fortunately, they probably could start next to each other at PF/C.)

[jemagee]

he did have an amazing SL, showing post skills, a smooth jumper and the ability to rebound and block shots.

And as far as I can tell, he out played Jason Smith in almost every aspect of the game...the perimeter shooting skills of a guy who is playing PF/C is low on my list of things to care about in general, I don't see how after both players are playing in the same league against the same competition Speights isn't ahead of Smith.

Hopefully the sixers won't handle the thome howard situation as badly as the phillies did...and Sam Dalembert being your only rebounding and interior presence doesn't make him less stupidly foul prone or say much for the GM who built the team if sam is the best option you have.

[tk76-]

Entering 2007 Post players:
Sam
Evans
Smith
Booth
Shav
Hill
(Thad was not considered an option at PF entering the season)

Entering 2008
Brand
Sam
Evans
Speights
Smith
Thad

As much as I miss Hill, I'd say the roster has been upgraded a bit.
Looking at that list, Ed should get exec of the year consideration.

[jemagee]

Yeah, I miss hill too, he was a key contributor last year.

And you forgot lou

[tk76-]

I think Louis Amundason had the most dominant performance I have ever seen by a big man (in the Summer League.)  He is the real Shaq of the Thomas Mac (he also played at UNLV).  I think both UNLV and the Vegas SL should put his jersey to the rafters up there next to Grand Mama, JR Rider, Plasticman and Gerald Patio.

[Skates]

When Speights starts to develop, and if he and Brand both have the mid-range jumpers as advertised, I actually think Speights and Evans may be a better reserve duo than Speights and Smith.  Reggie is the best defender in the group and the best offensive rebounder.  He balances Brand and Speights who are good offensive players and good defensive rebounders (put Reggie on the weakside offensively to clean up the misses, just no shots from more tha three feet away) and Sammy who is a good defensive rebounder.  Reggie also does the dirty work, sometimes literally dirty, that needs to be done.

Smith will be overpaid by someone in a few years, but his skills, size and contract will make him trade worthy at the deadline this year.  He will probably have more value enhancing a deal that includes Miller than being traded on his own.  If he can be converted to a role player of equal value at a position of greater need that would be fine by me.

[phillychuck]

I don't think Young will get 30 minutes a game next year...I think you'll see Miller/Green/AI2/Brand/Sam as a combo more often than many would like.  The Sixers really like Green's defense.

[jemagee]

I think you'll see Miller/Green/AI2/Brand/Sam as a combo more often than many would like.  The Sixers really like Green's defense.

Wow, that's logic that doesn't make sense

Willie Green defending the two and Iguodala defending the three
OR
Iguodala defending the two and Thaddeus Young defending the three

Where is this proof they like Greens defense, cause personally, i think his defense blows cunks, and Iguodala/Young is a better defensive set than Green/Iguodala

[sixers hoops]

I think you'll see Miller/Green/AI2/Brand/Sam as a combo more often than many would like.  The Sixers really like Green's defense.

Wow, that's logic that doesn't make sense

Willie Green defending the two and Iguodala defending the three
OR
Iguodala defending the two and Thaddeus Young defending the three

Where is this proof they like Greens defense, cause personally, i think his defense blows cunks

I thought he was a very good defender earlier in his career when he was defending players his size. However, since they determined he can't play point guard, he has been getting abused by guys bigger than him.

Despite his Eric Snow-like size, he can't defend bigger guards.