Another tough question

[ohara831]

Have you noticed that since Crash went down with the concussion, and then out at the end of the season with the hammy, that we have played better as a "team". I mean, J-Rich is kicking ass, Okafor seems to have awaken from his mostly season long slumber, and Ray has stepped it up as a good PG. Finally, we have gotten tremendous play from our Bench guys in Carroll, Dudley, Nazr and even Hollins and Boykins.

Is Crash being in there an issue of "chemistry" for the team? Are we actually better without him? Would it be wisest to consider what has been discussed on this site recently - trading him to Lakers and get Farmar and Odom and LA's 1st in return? Both give us greatly needed additions to this team, and eliminate the need for finding things missing, like a high quality PG to back up Ray and even push him for the starting position. Odom brings high basketball IQ and seems to do a bit of everything needed such as passing, rebounding, scoring and playing Defense. Then, we use 2 1st round picks to add the depth we need to become serious contenders.

I love Crash on our team. He is the heart and soul of the Bobcats. But going to Lakerland would be good for him as he can shine and be on a team to contend for the Title the next few years. It would not be like sending him to Siberia. For the Bobcats, gaining two quality players and a 1st round pick can improve our team chemistry, and push us to the point of contenders as well.

I dont know the answer to this question. It likely does not have a right or wrong answer. It will likely bring on different opinions, which is what it should do. I just want to know if my fellow Bobcat fans are seeing this issue of team chemisty without Crash much the same way I see it. Let me know.

[dnbman]

I don't think Wallace is the kind of player that creates bad chemistry. However, his style of play needs to be corralled somewhat. A quality coach could get all of these guys to play together. So, no, I don't think we're necessarily a better team without Wallace. However, given the coaching this season, we are more effective in some ways without Wallace.

As far as trading him, I'd be o.k. with it we got the kind of starter that would make us a clear contender in the East. Odom (and a player and/or pick) might be that guy. I'd have to think long and hard before trading him though.

[ziggy]

Ohara, I've been having those same thoughts concerning Crash. It is odd that when Crash has been out this season that the Bobcats have played better.
Its happened a little too much to be a coincidence.

Whats our record this season with and without Gerald in the lineup?

[Mustachio]

i really really really hate that i agree with some of this.

i think we are all starting to go a little crazy with this season. maybe we should wait a couple days till after the season to talk haha.

[ohara831]

Dnbman: I was not hinting at Crash's attitude leading to bad chemistry. Not at all. It is more a matter of the match ups we create as far as chemistry. Maybe the flow of the game as others are shooting and moving the ball and Crash is not in there to take his 20 shots. I'm not quite sure exactly why it seems to be working out like this, and I cannot put my finger on it exactly, but as Ziggy said above, it happens a bit too much to be a coincidence.

We lost tonight, but should not have. We fell apart in the 2nd half with poor FG %. This should have been another road victory. This 2nd half has seen more wins and more road victories by far than the 1st half of the season. This is the time we were without Crash. Again, I do not cherish the thought of trading away the man who exemplifies our heart and soul on the team, but if it makes us a contender, and he goes to another high quality team who is competing for a title, then it works out good for everyone involved.

To make the deal work that I mentioned above, we have to add someone with Crash, like either Carroll, Ammo or May to make the $ work out right. For my $, I'd send Carroll - it only to get out of that long term expensive Contract we so foolishly entered into this offseason. And Odom is only a 1 or 2 yr Contract so when his Contract expires, that would be #13 mil coming off the books. Yes, it has to be Carroll, for the Contract and also because I still like Ammo's upside, and May, well, I'll reserve judgment for the time being.

Spectre: You always have very interesting thoughts on possible trades and such. They are thoughtful and well argued. What is your opinion on this matter?

[TheBeagle]

Whats our record this season with and without Gerald in the lineup?
With: 23-36 Without: 8-14 If my math is right we win 39% of the time when GW starts; we win 36% of the time when he's hurt. As a GW fan, to the point of being a homer, I was happy to see that those numbers don't back up the theory that they're better when he doesn't play. Also, please don't forget that Gerald was our MVP the first half of the season, before his foot injury against Golden State. JRich was struggling, McInnis was still starting, Raymond was at SG....it was just ugly, and GW was the only thing going in our favor during those first months of the season.

As you can tell, I couldn't be more against trading GW; outside of JRich he's our best player, and the two of them are our absolute core with Raymond and Mek trying to join them. Just give us an offensive post threat and a very solid backup PG, and our personnel is playoff ready, I think. Think of it, how many offensive rebounds and putback could we get if we have that post player; I can picture Crash and Mek swooping in from the weak side and slamming in put backs all night long. The problem is, I just don't know how we can get that kind of 4/5 player.

[tamburello]

I don't think Wallace is the kind of player that creates bad chemistry. However, his style of play needs to be corralled somewhat. A quality coach could get all of these guys to play together. So, no, I don't think we're necessarily a better team without Wallace. However, given the coaching this season, we are more effective in some ways without Wallace.

As far as trading him, I'd be o.k. with it we got the kind of starter that would make us a clear contender in the East. Odom (and a player and/or pick) might be that guy. I'd have to think long and hard before trading him though.

Exactly what I am thinking of. By no means he creates bad chemistry, but if you want to use him as a main scorer on offense, you have to play very static, old-fashioned and one-sided sets. If he can be happy with less shoots, only with open 3's or layups after offensive rebounds, he would be sensetional for our team. But that requires a real coach.

But I'm against trading Wallace. We need to trade for a coach who can use the players where they can help the team maximum.

[spectre]

Spectre: You always have very interesting thoughts on possible trades and such. They are thoughtful and well argued. What is your opinion on this matter?

So far as the subject I still firmly believe almost all "issues" end up at the coach's doorstep. Crash played around 42% (read that somewhere) at PF where in earlier years it was much less. He's been hurt a lot, and even though he usually comes back pretty quickly it always takes him a few games to get his MOJO back. This season it seemed they overlapped more.

I also don't put it past the idiot to be telling Crash to go one on one whenever he gets the ball.

I'm totally against trading Crash unless OJ Mayo or someone just like him is coming in; that was my premise for the Odom trade in another thread. Just a generic swap I wouldn't be for.