Hoops

Bogut starting to hit his straps

Hamed I hadn't heard about any back troubles for Bogut. What's your source? Certainly if Bogut is still have injury concerns behind the scenes that could change his availability for the Worlds.

I still believe that he really wants to play though and would only skip the Worlds if he felt he was risking his career.

I agree with you that the Boomers are not strong at the wings, but I don't believe it is a lost cause, or that we might somehow be better off 'resting' Bogut for the Worlds in favour of the Olympics.

I think you overestimate the importance of a 'pass first' PG at international level as well. Australia's best results ever were achieved with Shane Heal at the point after all!

In any case, I am very confident that Mills will be more than adequate as our PG. His incredible speed will be lethal to many teams, but do not underestimate his shooting. He will hurt teams from the perimeter if they collapse too much.

So I hope you are wrong about these rumours of Bogut's back problems, because I think the Boomers can be quite successful at this years Worlds if we have a healthy team that is well coached and working together.

RIKROK17, if you're talking about Noah, he has never had a 20 20 game. He's had a few games with 20 rebounds, but none with 20 points as well.

Duncan has had one this season though - 21 points, 27 rebounds (although there's a fair chance most of his 10 offensive rebounds in that game were off his own misses, since he shot 5/20 in that game)

Absolutely right Omar. Between the coaches he's had and the personnel he's been playing with, its no wonder he has taken awhile to start reaching his potential. Thank the gods for Scott Skiles and Wally Hammond!

Shhh, I don't know why you say that. Bogut has consistently shown he is committed to the Boomers with word and deed. The guy will be there at the Worlds unless he is seriously injured.

"Its hard to be that player when you have Redd and Mo Williams shooting the ball everytime."

How funny is that ay. You have a 7 footer with a strong inside presence yet you give the ball to the chuckers and wonder why your center's numbers aren't what you expected.

The Bucks have really been talking him up lately. They kept on running little snippets about him during yesterdays game, including that he'd had 5 blocks in each of his previous three games and that he's the only guy in the league to have had a 20 pt, 20 reb performance since Howard did it last season. I think they said a performance like that has only happened 9 times in the last 5 seasons.

Redd's contract is a massive impediment to them getting better next season. His and Gadz's contracts account for about $25 mill next season, ensuring they will be roughly at the cap! Other than that they have a bunch of pretty decent contracts. So basically, they'll have the MLE to pick someone up with this off-season, and their draft picks, but thats it.

They might be able to move Redd and Gadz at the trade deadline next season as expiring deals, but they'd have to take back an equivalent salary and how many $20 mill plus players that are any good do teams want to trade?

I think they will most likely have to accept treading water next season and then see if they can find the right free agent. PF looks to be their biggest weakness, but Ilyasova might cut it eventually if he bulks up and improves his consistency. His shooting is a nice complement to Bogut's inside game.

Omar, check out the Aussie NBA Watch thread, LC keeps it up to date with all the stats for Bogut, Andersen, Jawai and Mills...it's helpful, saves trawling through box scores!

http://www.hoops.com.au/forum/21637-new-post/?a=891

Bucks have better record when Redd hasn't played this year - 6-12 with him, 22-16 without.

Agree with LC. Redd's injury is a classic case of addition by subtraction. Yeah he might be capable of 20 points a game, but he has to chuck up a lot of shots to do it. Contrast with Bogut who'll has a strong inside game and is the 2nd best center in the East, and I know who I'd pick. Without the ball going to Redd, Bogut has been made the focal point of the offense and he is making the most of it.

Bogut has been hitting 'his straps' nearly all season long and is just getting better.

As for Redd, trading him is hard as nobody wants an injury riddled pie-thrower who has been unable to help his team reach the post=season and had a rediculously overpriced contract.

Who would take Redd??

He's def getting it done at the momment.