[Stein] Rockets Latest DMo offer "multiyear starts at a fully guaranteed $7m in Yr 1"

What Motiejunas had at one time was an elite post game. A skill that maybe 10-15 guys in the entire NBA have.

If we don't plan on using it in this system, I would rather us move on for our sakes and Donut's.

 

Hogwash.

We wanted Horford to replace Dwight at the 5. Anderson is strictly a 4. Horford and DMo would have been like Vlade/Webber with their passing/shooting ability and blending of the 4/5 spots between them. You don't know what you're talking about.

 

Donuts is a smart guy. He can probably play in any system, but If D'Antoni refuses to give him the ball on the block consistently, I will be annoyed.

(Especially in 4th quarters when our offense inevitably bogs down)

 

And how does that disprove that DMo would have had minutes playing with Anderson on the Rockets teams in this reality?

 

It pretty easy to neutralize an elite post-player in today's NBA... even more-so if that player has awkward clumsiness and lacks natural basketball instincts.

Its not that NBA players forgot how to play/excel in the low-post. Its that it became infinitely easier to neutralize, thus big men largely abandoned that part of their game.

Its why guys like Gasol, Davis and KAT now would rather shoot 3's than go down low.

 

That's mostly true for the regular season.

I still maintain that a post option fully integrated into an offense when the postseason rolls around is invaluable.

 

Versatility is invaluable... but come playoff time, its more about execution of what you do best.

Over a 7 game series, teams learn pretty much everything about each other to the point that it all comes down to who executes when it matters most. There are no surprises.

If a player's best (or in this case, only) option is the low-post game, teams will do their darnedest to take that away.

The thing about D-Mo is that he's never had to be game-planned against because he was always an inconsistent force. If he eventually had gotten established as a legitmate/cosnsistent weapon, teams would invariably scout him more, adjust to counter his strengths, and force him to do something else.

To this day, I have no idea if D-Mo has a counter to his low-post game. He's a poor long-range shooter, he's a mediocre passer/rebounder/finisher, and I've always questioned whether or not he has the stamina to play heavy minutes (and this was prior to his health problems).

He certainly can still be a valuable role player on a loaded team... but only in spurts. As soon as a team commits to stopping him, he's largely neutralized.

 

Without Anderson, and with Horford, your starters are Horford and DMo with Capela coming off the bench.

You can't start DMo and Anderson together. That's two subpar defenders with DMo having to play 5 full time. With Horford both he and DMo can switch on and off defensive assignments and share the defensive paint responsibilities.

Just a ton of gobbly gook in this post. Not going to waste another second on it. Keep on misquoting, misstating, misinterpreting, etc.

 

An individual that has an in depth knowledge of the post game is either going to score, or create a double team. It's a simple game. Very, very few have this aspect of basketball mastered. Donatas has multiple hooks at his disposal with either hand. When the double team comes, I DO think he has the ability to make the correct read, but maybe he doesn't.

The game has become drive and kick because it is much easier to teach, and at many levels it is mostly more efficient. Youth basketball is ALL read and react/drive and kick basketball. Young players grow up in this sort of system, and to put it simply, post guys haven't had enough touches in the post, and guards are not used to entering the ball into the post, and correctly spacing the play. That is the NBA we live in.

But at the highest level, the post/mid-post still prevails in intense environments. Sure, the Warriors and the Cavs don't run this sort of system, and everyone is copying these teams, but I think you are dead wrong to count out the post game when the pressure is on. All it takes is a player with the required skills.

 

I disagree entirely. They have forgotten. How many post ups do you see in a youth basketball game? High School? College? The players have gotten worse in the post.

The skyhook did not become infinitely easier to neutralize. Lamarcus Aldridge's turnaround jumper was not at all easy to neutralize in the playoffs and the jump hook is still one of the best shots in basketball in a tough, intense game.

If it did became easier to neutralize, it is for different reasons

 

I never thought about DMo that way but it all true. He is a 3rd or 4th option at best.

 

The rockets have no shortage of squandering key picks for nothing. Gotta give them that.

 

A healthy Dmo would make Capela expendable and allows us to trade him +1 for a upgrade at a needed position but he is not and the bridge it seems has been burned. Plus Capela is playing great.

 

They are not about to trade Anderson. Other than that tad bit you were spot on.

 

This is insane. Capela is our second most untouchable player.

 

DMo would do really well in this offense. Maybe not as many (ok, a lot less) post-up opportunities, but DMo playing the Amare pivot would be brutal. With his shot, ballhandling and court vision he could easily do it. He would thrive in this offense. I hope he signs.

 

I actually think D.Mo would be great in this offense

Spoiler

if healty