Will KJ McDaniels ever crack the rotation here in Houston?

Had his shot and blew it. Enough has been said about KJ in other threads.
At this stage, I'd rather see Wiltjer get some minutes here and there.

 

The problem with KJ (compared to Brewer) is KJ just looks lost out there. He just doesn't know where to be. The times he was out there he looked really hesitant. I agree those times on the court with Harden looked promising. But clearly the "totality of his game" wasn't enough to supplant Brewer from MDA's rotation.

Look at Harrell and Dekker. They got time and they meshed. KJ just couldn't bring it all together. His days with the Rockets are pretty much done.

 

Yea....after the trade deadline

 

brewer is better... no shame in saying it

 

I know it might seem like this is true, but Brewer is shooting 2s at 58% this year. He's having his best year ever from non-3 shot attempts.

 

Brewers field goal percentage around the basket is better than most would probably guess. 61.6% for his career with several seasons much higher than that. 62.5% so far this season.

Getting out on the break and finishing around the basket are his biggest strengths, but likely things KJ could at the very least match him in.

Gotta think it's just as simple as knowing what's going on and where they are supposed to be. One knows the other doesn't.

 

We are trying to win games. Dekker was given more minutes when he was clicking earlier in the season. Now he sees his minutes reduced. So it's performance based. We are not in the mode to develop a young player. Anyone that wants to play more has to earn the minutes by showing he can be a positive on the court. Harrel has done it. As bad as Brewer has been offensively, the guy is a veteran, plays hard all the time, does bring intangibles to the court, and play within the flow of the system. So far McDaniels hasn't shown it. He always hung his head whenever he was sent on court as if he was too good to play garbage time. But when he does play, he plays absolutely poorly. He has to fix his attitude first.

Injuries can always happen. But he needs to stay ready. Yes, he has some abilities that we can use. I feel it's up to him first.

 

But also check out his demeanor on the side. The kid seems to be so concerned with his minutes and doesn't look happy at all. That's the attitude. That translates into everything. He needs to fix that. One step at a time. Injuries can happen. I feel he will one more opportunity before the season ends if he stay ready. It's up to him.

 

With Boogie off the market, maybe, but he has to perform the dutites coach wanted him to do from the beginning, shoot well from outside, defend well on and off-ball, plus bring consistent energy and play. If he could perform these tasks on the court during garbage time and practice and whenever he gets PT in the future, he will be in the rotation, maybe over Brewer. Plus, he has to gain coach's trust just like Harrell.

 

He will crack it if finances dictate it in a few years.

 

I thought he already cracked the rotation early in the year. He just got un-cracked.

 

people need to get over the fact that brewer isn't the brewer of 14-15 and get used to the fact that although his production is often lacking and sometimes even cringe-worthy, his hustle and experience are clearly valued by MDA tremendously. Truth be told, it's probably valued by his teammates as well. to think that people want to bench him for KJ bottles the mind - not just because of the above but also because KJ has looked even worse in his limited minutes.

folks need to trust MDA more - he has no problem playing dekker and harrell tons of minutes. if KJ can't crack the rotation it's because he probably sees next to nothing in his game that makes him worth disrupting the chemistry and hustle that brewer is bringing.

 

I was rooting for KJ as much as anyone, but at this point it's clear he's trade bait. I wouldn't be surprised to see him sent to a non-contending team at the deadline for a wily vet in the Pablo Prigioni mold. Not a 2nd round pick though, because we're in contention and the time is now...

 

KJ's defense also sucks. He's a bad player.

 

other than running the fast break he can do anything brewer can do at the same level or better. he's also young so he has potential to grow which i believe he would 've if he got a fair chance to prove himself, which he never has, or maybe he did early in the season but they prefer brewer's vet experience.

 

So you are saying he is a better defender than brewer? Plays with more hustle/energy than brewer? Plays with a higher IQ than brewer? Understands his role more than brewer? Has played in more high stress situations than brewer?