Gotta say I love the way DMo has been playing lately. His post game is looking a lot more polished. The dude just keeps getting better. If this keeps up we may have a Lin/Bev situation next year with jones and DMo. Do wish he would grab more boards though
Of all the statements you have claimed to... this one by far takes the cake. If this is true than why doesn't every other professional basketball player in the NBA shoot 40%+? Learning how to do a 1040 tax return is a learned skill. Shooting 40% from 3 point range AND being a NBA sized big man is a natural gift + developed skill. If you think just any normal large human being can shoot that high of a percentage against NBA level competition you have not been around the game of basketball very long. If Reggie Miller, one of the greatest shooters OF ALL TIME, couldn't even shoot a career average over 40% from 3 point range, how the hell can you just EXPECT a 6'8" to 7' big man to work hard enough to learn how to shoot at that rate because its a "Learning Skill"? Shooting 40% from 3 in the NBA is a "Learned Skill".... lol. Thanks I needed some comic relief this Friday afternoon.
A perfect analysis of the situation. One thing I am comfortable in saying is that after Asik leaves in 2015, D-Mo will be the best backup center in the NBA. And after that? Big payday. I will be sorry to see him go. The guy really could might possibly perhaps develop into an all star.
The thing I like most about D-Mo is his quick decision-making and most of the time it's the right decision. And when it's not the best decision, the fact that he makes it so quick gives it a much better chance for success. When he gets the ball he shoots or passes before the other team has a chance to react.
D-Mo looks like he is playing cautiously out there. Both offensively and defensively. Watch him on defense. NBA defenses require players to switch often. D-Mo, when he gets switched is every second checking out where is main mark is on the court. Every second. That to me is the mark of a great defensive player in the making. On offense D-Mo seems to never put up a contested shot on the perimeter. It almost seems to be that D-Mo is choosing to pass a second to early. However, in the low post D-Mo is starting to let the wolves run. And D-Mo is a big man. Just look at him compared to Asik. I have heard TV commentators say that Asik is around 290 pounds. How far behind him is D-Mo?
Funny, how on one team two guys same age (young), play same position and while having opposite skillset are both equally good. Had Rockets Griffin playing PF position - would be too good TJ and D-Mo are more like interchangebale parts depending on matchups and game flow. That could be an asset in Rockets game.
But someone consider them being 8-10 man rotation type players. LOL Both players are playing solid. Each player bring something different to the table. Jones can handle the ball, plays above the rim, block shots and have some decent post moves. D-Mo moves his feet better on D ( taking charges), nice touch around the rim and beautiful set shot. Next season both will be better.
I dk if anyone will back me up on this, but DMo seems more reliable in big games. Jones disappears against the Clippers and Thunder. I have a feeling our Lithuanian will be vital to our playoff success.
Jones seems lost out there against the better teams running more complex and tighter offensive and defensive systems. Not as bad as D-Mo at the start of the season though. It does take a while for young players to grasp the NBA game. I think that the light will go on in his head soon.
Find me a game where D-Mo played over 20 minutes and didn't finish in the green from a +/- standpoint. By my count, there's one game. And it just so happens to be the January 24th loss to the Grizzlies where Z-Bo and Gasol shot a combined 9-24 from the field.
Stat: 2014 Season NBA Forward-Centers/Centers/Center-Forwards that shoot 40% and more on 3's (with over 20 total three point attempts) ONLY ONE player is 6'10" and over (Spencer Hawes) http://www.basketball-reference.com...c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=fg3_pct Code: Rk Player Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA 2P 2PA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 2P% 3P% FT% 1 Boris Diaw 2013-14 31 SAS NBA 65 19 1625 259 470 221 383 38 87 60 81 60 201 261 169 37 30 96 115 616 .551 .577 .437 .741 2 Anthony Tolliver2013-14 28 CHA NBA 57 9 1201 115 275 26 56 89 219 30 37 31 115 146 35 18 15 21 74 349 .418 .464 .406 .811 3 [B]Spencer Hawes[/B] 2013-14 25 TOT NBA 67 65 2135 348 764 239 495 109 269 106 135 111 463 574 207 35 81 147 205 911 .455 .483 .405 .785 2014 Season, Adjusting for Players 6'9" and Over http://www.basketball-reference.com...c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=fg3_pct Code: Rk Player Ht Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA 2P 2PA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 2P% 3P% FT% 1 [B]Jon Leuer[/B] 6-10 2013-14 24 MEM NBA 42 0 605 115 232 92 185 23 47 37 47 36 112 148 20 17 13 27 60 290 .496 .497 .489 .787 2 [B]Darrell Arthur[/B] 6-9 2013-14 25 DEN NBA 57 1 953 135 324 123 299 12 25 41 47 43 129 172 55 27 37 44 156 323 .417 .411 .480 .872 3 Steve Novak 6-10 2013-14 30 TOR NBA 44 1 445 49 118 5 19 44 99 5 5 6 42 48 11 8 3 4 34 147 .415 .263 .444 1.000 4 Hedo Turkoglu 6-10 2013-14 34 LAC NBA 27 0 280 23 64 11 37 12 27 6 13 9 57 66 30 15 7 15 33 64 .359 .297 .444 .462 5 [B]Michael Beasley[/B] 6-9 2013-14 25 MIA NBA 47 2 743 156 314 135 264 21 50 55 73 29 126 155 36 21 17 51 89 388 .497 .511 .420 .753 6 Matt Bonner 6-10 2013-14 33 SAS NBA 57 0 634 65 146 27 55 38 91 9 12 15 104 119 28 15 10 16 46 177 .445 .491 .418 .750 7 Ryan Anderson 6-10 2013-14 25 NOP NBA 22 14 795 155 354 88 190 67 164 59 62 66 76 142 17 10 7 20 47 436 .438 .463 .409 .952 8 Kevin Durant 6-9 2013-14 25 OKC NBA 68 68 2623 713 1406 550 1007 163 399 598 689 49 477 526 378 90 53 241 155 2187 .507 .546 .409 .868 9 [B]Spencer Hawes[/B] 7-0 2013-14 25 TOT NBA 67 65 2135 348 764 239 495 109 269 106 135 111 463 574 207 35 81 147 205 911 .455 .483 .405 .785 Out of this small list, maybe 4 of them (bolded) "developed" a shot. Half of those have a small sample size. Motiejunas is 7 feet. He would be in THE RAREST OF AIR just him and one other person 7 feet in the ENTIRE NBA if he shoots 40% and more from 3pt Dirk Nowitzki is THE 1 ONLY 7 FOOTER EVER to do it MORE THAN ONCE. Even Andrea Bargnani as a 7 footer has only done it ONCE in his entire career. (over 20 attempts). Yes I think that is a VERY HIGH BAR set for Motiejunas to validate himself as a contributor
I don't know about you all, but I, as a fan, am feeling very comfortable with D-Mo out there at the 4 or the 5. I am not constantly worried that he is going to do something stupid on the court, either offensively or defensively. He seems to err on the side of caution. He seems to be playing within himself and his big 7 foot 260+ pound body. As Asik has proved to us all if you are a hefty 7 footer you do not have to do anything but play smart. And D-Mo is much more athletic than Asik could ever hope to become. I am so proud ...
Does the Rockets future look as bright to you as it does to me? The team has good depth at the PF spot, with situational match ups that McHale can exploit. The center position is realistically 3 deep, so if Howard or Asik get hurt the Rockets are not in a world of hurt. Canaan and Covington are gaining seasoning and may be ready for limited minutes next season. Do the Rockets even need to make a trade, or will roster maturation push them to the top of the list of contenders? Perhaps. I do not know.
D-Mo has a lot of potential. I was impressed with his play last night. His post game and defense has improved. Is he really 7 feet?
