What's needed to win? Well we need to be in the top 5 in both Offense and Defense. Nate is a defensive minded coach but we have mostly offensive minded players.

Offensive players are : Roy, Aldridge, Outlaw, Webster, Bayless, Blake, Fernandez

Defensive players are: Przybilla, Oden, Batum

Both Oden and Batum are inexperienced. Both have the potential to be great defenders but will they improve quickly enough? Its bound to take them a couple of seasons to develop the necessary tricks to defend the league's premier players such as James, Wade and Bryant. By 'tricks' I mean all the uncalled-for holding and tripping that players like Bowen, Posey, Ariza and Battier do all the time. It takes time to establish a familiarity with the referees to pull off those obvious fouls and not get called for them. So if we want to win now, we need a 'veteran' defensive player to take the pressure off of Batum and Oden so they are free to develop their all around game. A veteran defensive player will also be able to help Batum and Oden learn the 'tricks'.

Where our team needs to improve defensively are in 1) Protecting the paint 2) Opposistion fg%3) Creating turnovers 4) Opposistion 3pt%

Last season we were pretty much awfull in all 4 categories. We won't win in the Playoffs, nevermind the title if we don't make it in at least the top 10 in those categories. I believe that the teams goal should be to finish the regular season in the top 5 in overall defense.

How to make it happen? It has been suggested that Houston would be a great trade partner what with having one of the best defensive players in the league. But I would really hate to not only give up our very own Vanilla Gorilla but to then see him at a rival Western Conference team. I am not sure giving up Joel for Battier is our best option. I'd rather offer them a 1st round pick but I know the Rockets are desperately in need of a Center. Perhaps a 3 team trade would be best.A sign and trade with Atlanta's Pachulia would be good for them. Personally I'd rather trade Rudy for Battier and a protected 1st round pick from Houston. Webster can shift over to back up Roy and Batum would backup Shane. We will never be able to keep Rudy for that long anyways, plus his trade value could go down if we don't trade him this summer.  

The next move that I'd make would be to get Millsap to sign an offer sheet. Paul is already I really good defender and rebounder. His versatilaty allows him to defend not only Power Fowards but certain Centers(backups) and certain Small Forwards. Wouldn't it be nice to see Millsap guard Artest and Battier guarding Bryant? Roy wanted a physical team and with Battier and Millsap, we'd have one!