Can Motiejunas have a Rubio-like impact?

BetterThanEver · Jan 21, 2012

roslolian said: ↑

How many wins are they on pace now?

With Rubio, he has the fans excited but the truth is the results aren't good enough to get them to the playoffs, which is the one thing they want to do (as they don't have their pick). The fans are excited because Minny has been the laughingstock of the league for a very long time, they are looking for any sliver of hope which presents itself.

Love is just as important, if not more important than Rubio. He gives them an overwhelming advantage in rebs, which is one of the keys to winning games. He's also a really good passer, so its not like he can't create for the team.
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They are 1 game below 0.500 and on pace to win 40 games in an 82 game season. Its more than double the 15 and 17 game for the last 2 seasons. It's the first time in years, they have come within a game of 0.500.

aeolus13 · Jan 21, 2012

dobro1229 said: ↑

D-Mo is an outside passing big man who can shoot pretty well and create off the dribble if need-be. The high post corner sets would have been a great look for D-Mo. Im sure McHale will do just fine with him over time, and he actually might make him get his hands dirty in the paint.
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I'm not sure this is accurate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFqK-YXlsHs&feature=related

Granted, these are only highlights, but he appears to be doing most of his damage from the low and mid-post. He's got a great collection of moves and can score left or right. It's too early to tell how his game will shake out in the NBA, but I don't think we have to worry about him turning into Brian Cook.

clos4life · Jan 21, 2012

He'll be good from the start. He ain't gonna be Rubio good at first though. He will definitely have more impact than Hill I think.

SeabrookMiglla · Jan 21, 2012

plutoblue11 said: ↑

If Motiejunas turns out to be at best serviceable, then he would be a success, as far as I'm concerned. This board simply has a tendency to hype players up and give them a ceiling that's comparable to perennial NBA all-stars or even borderline HOF players. It's kind of ridiculous, yet funny at the same time. If it's a player, like Yao or Steve Francis, I could understand more, but not a guy who was drafted after top 15, or someone who was taken later in a very weak draft.

Example: Marcus Morris is a great example. Some posters do not realize how good Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, and Glenn Robinson was coming out of college. All three were instant go-to players in their first NBA seasons. It is somewhat fair to compare the games, but you cannot disregard the production. At this present moment, I cannot see any of those players as rookies coming on to this year's Rockets and not starting immediately. Chase Budinger or Chandler Parsons being ahead of Pierce or Robinson in their rookie season. The coach would be fired, or the team is intentionally trying to tank games. From what I've seen in early games and D-League games, it's not there, he might can become a fairly decent option off the bench or maybe a starter on the right team. He is not in same class with those players coming from the amateur ranks.

Thabeet is a 7,3 260 pound monster of a man . . . who Memphis practically gave away for almost peanut shells. Who gives away even the most average of centers, unless there is a contract dispute, a very good player on the other side of a trade, or he is some kind of malcontent (or a complete stiff). If Thabeet transformed into a Marcus Camby type player, then that would be extraordinary. If he could turn into a Samuel Dalembert player, then that would fine. Even coming out of college, Thabeet was no Bogut or Camby, along with Greg Oden who only played one small year in college. Seriously, the teams had to be enamored with size to draft him. If Thabeet were projected as low as (or drafted) in the same spot as Fab Melo or Festus Ezeli, he wouldn't have been such bust. What makes this scenario even more calamitous for the Grizzlies (slightly for the Rockets), which is they could easily draft one of those players, both are projected in the low 1st round to mid 2nd round.

Rubio played on 3 National teams (1 Olympics and 2 FIBAs), those player teams are composed of the most competitive Spanish players in fact not including Rubio or Llull. Their national team featured 6 NBA players. Moreover, Rubio simply had more potential to succeed in the NBA than Motiejunas. With Rubio, he had some nice games, even with a not too impressive stat-line. Though, you could tell he could certainly be at worst a slightly above average point guard in the NBA, since he had very good court vision and could play not too bad defense. In fact, NBA players were already talking about Rubio four years ago, that is saying something about his hype. Most of all, I've yet to see one fan or analyst question his work ethic. Obviously, he has "IT."

Beyond on basketball, I see the same thing with Tebow. It's like certain fans are trying to hype up a player who needs alot of improvement and consistency to remain at a professional level. It's weird to see that a team has to change its entire offensive strategy or system to fit the need of one player who may not even be amongst the top half of the players at his position. It's weird, because most good players or the most talented players coming into the league. A team can put them in any sort of system and they would succeed, especially Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and any top 10 QB. You could put them on the worst (or mediocre) teams in the league, and that team somehow makes the playoffs. Indy was a perfect example of the impact of losing a really good player.

As far as running QBs go, look at the receivers Vick, Cunningham (with Eagles), McNair, Flutie, and McNabb made the playoffs with. The more talented QBs can bring out the best in their teammates, which is why dislike how running QBs are blindly thrown into one category, because their passing skills are all on different level, while Tebow doesn't compare to any of the players above. Most of players above, except Brady, Flutie, and Cunningham (the stereotype were still very present at the time for him), were highly touted coming out of college, top 1st round picks for a reason . . . high potential.

For Tebow, he is somewhere in the middle, not exceptional, but not quite awful, though not as a great as his supporters make him out to be, especially when you are comparing him to Steve Young or John Elway. It's the fault of the fans, sometimes for creating these unbelievable high expectations for these players and makes it even worse or harder for that player. Though, I can understand Lebron, Dwight Howard, or the Manning Brothers. An almost unfairly talented player, 1st pick in the draft, and mega contracts and commercials. They can have those high expectations thrown on them, because those players are literally given the keys to a cruise ship and expect to become the best one on the planet.
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Cool story bro

plutoblue11 · Jan 21, 2012

BetterThanEver said: ↑

They are 1 game below 0.500 and on pace to win 40 games in an 82 game season. Its more than double the 15 and 17 game for the last 2 seasons. It's the first time in years, they have come within a game of 0.500.
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I actually think Minnesota is the one who might sneak into playoffs. Having Love and Rubio is a big reason, while Adelman is on their sideline with an ok supporting staff. It's a team that you can really feel confident about right now and in the future.

plutoblue11 · Jan 21, 2012

SeabrookMiglla said: ↑

Cool story sis
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*fixed*, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand.

Half Nelson · Jan 21, 2012

I am really high on Motiejunas. He's got the potential. He's got the body. He's got the youth. He'll also be working under McHale. I think the kid's got a lot going for him.

But I don't think he's going to make an impact like Rubio. Not immediately. Maybe one year of typical rookie progress before really taking off just because big men seem to take longer adjusting and developing.

plutoblue11 · Jan 21, 2012

plutoblue11 said: ↑

*fixed*, but I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand.
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A serious basketball post.

BetterThanEver · Jan 21, 2012

plutoblue11 said: ↑

I actually think Minnesota is the one who might sneak into playoffs. Having Love and Rubio is a big reason, while Adelman is on their sideline with an ok supporting staff. It's a team that you can really feel confident about right now and in the future.
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agreed. They were 3-7 with Rubio off the bench. With Rubio as starter, they are 4-1. They could end up with a record slightly about 0.500.

Rivers · Jan 21, 2012

Yes, he's going to be Dirk mixed with Paul Gasol

Rivers · Jan 21, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdfhROSwhoI

Rivers · Jan 21, 2012

Rubio euroleague stats: 6.5 PPG 3.5 APG 9.6 EFF
Motiejunas euroleague stats: 12.5 PPG 7.9 RPG 14 EFF
Motiejunas is 2 times better

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Can Motiejunas have a Rubio-like impact?

Can Motiejunas have a Rubio-like impact?

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