Donatas Motiejūnas: "I want to play, rather than sit on the bench"

gfab-babyboi · Apr 13, 2014

RocketStream said: ↑

I'm all for giving Dmo more minutes along side Howard and Asik in the right situations. His size will be important for getting rebounds in the playoffs especially against the bigger and lengthier teams. He will just need to foul the ball harder in the playoffs.
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DMO and Rebound should never ever everrrr be mentioned together

mfastx · Apr 13, 2014

There was a few week period where he was decent this year.

Other than that, he's been pretty awful. I wish Smith was healthy.

JBar · Apr 13, 2014

dobro1229 said: ↑

The 3 point shot(wont be a big part of his game in the future), the mid-range(non-existent in the Rox offense), and the blown dunks (he's an obvious below the rim scorer) shouldn't really concern anyone.

These aren't the attributes that are going to keep him in the league anyways. What teams (and the Rockets) need more than anything is for a 7 footer to do 7 footer things.

When coming into the draft most peoples expectations were that he was incredibly skilled offensively, could stretch the floor, but was going to have issues with his defense, and his motivation & character were in question by some folks that watched him play growing up.

D-Mo tossed those expectations out the window this season both in a good way and a not so good way. His work ethic has been noted by numerous people in the organization as one of the hardest working players on the team, and his defense (despite having a few lapses every once in awhile) is miles improved from where it was, and some might even be willing to say that he's actually good on defense, especially from the PF spot.

What has dropped off, is the expectations that he would be this great offensive talent, and be more of a Toni Kukoc type of big. He's not that, and maybe never will be, but that doesn't mean what he is bringing regardless has any less value both now and in the future.

I still think D-Mo's body has yet to mature fully from a strength standpoint, and the improved coordination he should get to in the next few years should really help with the details that make you shake your head now (missing easy bunnies around the rim, and bad aim on his shot).

Even if D-Mo never fixes his shot, or gets better at finishing, he still has the ability to keep filling out, and be a very serviceable backup big. Something the Rockets are going to need desperately over the next few years behind Dwight and Jones when they lose Asik.

What they are getting now from a late 1st round pick big in year 2 is still very, very good value, and he still has a ton of upside to pursue on both ends.
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I don't think anyone thought he would be a Toni Kukoc, who was originally signed by the Bulls with the idea that he would run the show as a big point guard (say a Magic lite). I think the hope was that D-Mo would develop good post moves and become a McHale lite.

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Donatas Motiejūnas: "I want to play, rather than sit on the bench"

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Donatas Motiejūnas: "I want to play, rather than sit on the bench"

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