Originally Posted by
Starter
At risk of being a lightning rod, as I usually am when I contribute to these conversations: Cook is the key to the team next year. I thought last year's team didn't have any dynamic elements with the exception of Rivers in isolation, which is why I typically had no problem when he'd be assertive in those spots. Basically, if he didn't score, I didn't really have faith anybody else would consistently with the exception of Mason, who was nonetheless out of his comfort zone in the post. I've always wanted to see Mason play more like Amar'e Stoudemire (the pre-back injury, non-fire-extinguisher punching version) as an explosive, face-up scorer.
Which gets to why Cook is so important -- he's the only guy on the team I see with the ability to facilitate and make things easier for everyone around him. (I reserve the right to add Sulaimon to that very short list; I just haven't seen him play live yet.) The offense when Cook wasn't on the court last year was stagnant, at least to me. Cook has the unique ability to push the tempo, break down defenses and create offense for himself and others. That much was evident, even in the limited time that he played. I still remember how fluid Mason looked during those eight glorious games before Kyrie messed up his foot. That's the element that I would hope resurfaces if he plays with someone like Cook, at least if he's what I think he is.
Honestly, I thought Cook could have grown into last year's version of Eliot Williams or Duhon, someone who emerges over time to change the atmosphere and tempo. When Ryan Kelly, our best halfcourt facilitator, went down, I was hoping Cook would be implemented more so as to benefit from the change of pace he provides. For whatever reason, that didn't happen, but the reports I'm hearing about him just 3-4 months after he was said to have been limited to whatever extent by a balky knee, bode well going forward, especially since I thought him to be a very good basketball player most of the times I saw him play last season. This is a true lead guard with pedigree, talent and respect from his peers around the AAU circuit. If he emerges and grows on both sides of the ball, and I see literally no reason other than health that he can't, then we're talking about a team with the ability to go places. Otherwise, they'll still obviously be a very talented team, but much like last season, their ceiling athletically and results-wise will probably be lower than we'd all like it to be.