Ainge's bargaining position is far stronger during a win streak or uptick of the team rather than during a losing streak like our West coast debacle.
We still need a big.
If we still believe that the road to the Finals goes through South Beach, the best way to beat the cHeat is not trying to beat them at their own game of "smalball", but rather to outmuscle them and beat them up inside.
The cHeat are a poor rebounding team. Bosh is averaging 5 rebounds per game in January as their starting center and 7 for the year. Against the Jazz last night, they kept getting pounded in the post.
That's how you beat the cHeat. Don't let our recent successes fool you. (I'm sure it doesn't Danny): WE NEED ANOTHER BIG.
You're not going to beat the Heat with any big man that may be available in free agency or trade.
Actually, the fact that the Heat do not have a dominant big makes our need for a more backup center all the less glaring.
Well, the one exception MAY be Cousins. He is capable of dominating a basketball game, if he focussed, and the Heat wouldn't have an answer for him.
Of course, focus is the issue. And its also a question of what you would have to give up to get him.
Gasol also has the potential to be that type of big man, but I don't think he is a realistic option for the C's.
Big Al just dropped 23 and 11 on 57% shooting against Miami last night. Might be able to get him for Green, Bass and a 1st or Melo?
Would hate to lose Green, but it's tempting if I am Danny..
Obviously we would need to find a new backup SF,but the upgrade at the big man position might be worth it.
add nene to the list too
....and Okafur, and Gortat, and Dalembert.
So now we have at least 5 bigs (AlJeff, Nene, Okafur, Gortat and Dalembert)who would help our rebounding tremendously and give us a better chance againstthe cHeat.
+1 for the open mind and the viable suggestions, rondohondo
Now, I think you may have taken it a little far. I would say that guys like Okafor and Dalembert, and perhaps Gortat wouldn't actually cause problems for the Heat.
Okafor looks completely cooked. He just has not been the player he used to be (and even then, he wasn't the type of player that you needed to worry too much about offensively). He would be pretty easy to cover with single coverage, with pretty much any of the Heat's big men, without a problem.
Dalembert may not even get on the floor for the C's, and would be a disaster against the Heat. He is just a terrible team defender, and when you play Lebron, you need the team defense to be clicking perfectly to stop the pick and rolls. And offensively, he is not a threat for anything other than the occasional alley-oop. Not someone they would worry about.
Gortat is a bit different. Its so hard to tell with him on that Phoenix team, but I actually think he would be a solid enough defense, and his ability to score on the pick and roll offensively would actually cause a problem for the Heat. He is not the kind of low post scorer that can really hurt them the way someone like Gasol, Cousins, or Jefferson could, but he would keep the Heat honest, and open up the floor for the C's shooters.