Playing to Strengths

Apparently, Golden State signed Corey Maggette who happens to play the same position as the Warriors top two players, Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. While many Warriors' fans have clamored for more rebounding and interior defense, this move is smart.

Phoenix, in its attempts to win a championship, nullified its competitive advantage by attacking its weaknesses, which moved it closer to the rest of the pack. Like most teams, Steve Kerr wanted to address his teams weaknesses. However, a better move is to bolster one's strengths.

I think the Quentin Richardson for Kurt Thomas trade signaled the end of the Suns' brief era. Now, most hardly notice a change because Nash and D'Antoni ran the show for two more years, but the trade started the Suns on a road toward the middle, rather than playing at the fringes.

With Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash, the Suns were never going to be a great defensive team. However, rather than bolster its strengths, the Q for Thomas trade attempted to address its weaknesses. However, it weakened its strengths (spread court, spacing, shooting) and had little effect on its weaknesses. Trading James Jones and signing Grant Hill was a similar move: Phoenix did not need another playmaker, with Nash and Diaw, it needed another shooter to space the floor. Drafting Alondo Tucker was another curious decision, especially when they drafted and traded or sold Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez and Nate Robinson, four players who fit the Suns' need and style better than Tucker.

Back to Golden State. Last year, I said trading Jason Richardson for Brandon Wright was a mistake. Like the Suns, they moved away from their strength. Playing a "normal" line-up, the Warriors are a far below average team. However, by playing a small line-up and playing fast, they create match-up problems in their favor. Sure, they also create disadvantages, but the battle becomes who can use their strengths and create the tempo they want. When the Warriors were playing hard and shooting well with four smalls on the court, they used their competitive advantages to beat the Mavericks. By trading Richardson for Wright and attempting to become more conventional, they moved closer toward average.

Signing Maggette is a good move because he bolsters their strengths. While I still think they could use a PG, try defending a line-up with Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson and Maggette. They are going to shoot 30+ free throws a game without a post presence.

If the Warriors have money left over, they should make a run at Sasha Vujacic. he'd be a great back court complement to Ellis as a starter or off the bench. Other alternatives would be to gamble on Shaun Livingston or maybe even Jamal Tinsley when Indiana eventually cuts him or Carlos Arroyo. None is perfect, but they need an additional PG to play with and back-up Ellis. They need the versatility to go small and play Maggette and Jackson at forward with Ellis and another guard in the back court so they can create real match-up problems. Vujacic is the real deal and would be a great complement as a shooter, facilitator and defender.

That is their competitive advantage. If they try to play a conventional game, they'll be exposed because Ellis isn't a true PG and Wright isn't ready to be an NBA big guy. But, if they continue to build around their strengths, they have a chance to compete for the play-offs because of their unconventional style of play.

As for the Clippers, now that they lost their inside game, they may have to make the big gamble and relieve the Knicks of Zach Randolph. I can't think of another inside player with the potential to offer anything close to Brand's production who would be available. Otherwise, the Clippers might have to go small too, which wouldn't be a terrible proposition with BDiddy, Thornton and Eric Gordon.