This is the first time since Terrence was handed the starting 4 slot last season that he has missed significant time. So up until now we could make the case that Terrence was irreplaceable in our starting lineup. Don't think we can do that anymore. We're replacing him with Tarik Black and winning at a .750 clip. And that's without Dwight next to Black.
again 20 games..... small sample size perhaps? Stop overreacting or just stop reacting or concluding as if the season were over..... The playoffs are months away
Motiejunas is beginning to play in many ways a lot like Kevin McHale used to play. Not that this is because McHale has been working closely with D-Mo, but this just appears to be where the progression of his game has naturally evolved to. I wonder how much Donatas Motiejunas reminds Kevin McHale of himself when he watches him play?
D-Mo reminds me of McHale a lot also. Neither had the elite athleticism that the Dream or Wilt displayed, but they sure could play a melody down in the low post. It is becoming pretty obvious to me that D-Mo in a couple of years will be bringing a post up game of the like fans have not seen in a couple of decades. He is at times just embarrassing good defenders out there. IMHO
Imagine if he stays on the Rockets and coaching staff actually makes an effort to feature him in the post and work with him on that (McHale+Hakeem)... He could really take the most out of those guys, since their teaching really require good footwork, which Dwight doesn't really posess. Not in term of post-game anyway.
I get angry every time Harden and D-Mo are on the bench at the same time. If Harden sits we should just dump the ball in the low post to D-Mo (first learn how to actually make an entry pass, and know which angles to use, it frustrates me to no end, when our players use the wrong angles and cannot get the ball to D-Mo). It is a thing of beauty to see D-Mo back down and make his post move.
A light bulb went off in Mchale's head less then two weeks ago. I do think he'll continue to feed Dmo post touches even once DHo returns. Before DMo didn't even get post touches when dwight was out.
I understand your frustration. But the mechanics of the NBA player rotation are beyond me. I just have to trust the coaching staff because I do not know enough to criticize.
We will see. There is the very big problem of Howard's ego out there. Managing huge egos of the best athletes on the planet seems like it would be an incredibly difficult task. I do not envy McHale right now.
Yes, I made this point last season that the playoffs were coming and everything would be exposed then. And....it was. And it will happen again.
do you agree with this statement? We didn't win at a .750 clip last year when Terrence, Patrick, and Dwight were in there. They're not difference makers.
So you predicted Beverley would be sick requiring Lin to play most of the minutes? That Harden would shoot 29% from 3? That the NBA would admit not one, but 2 refereeing decisions altered the outcomes of games? No, you said, Jones would struggle, which he did to no end in the regular season against Aldridge (geez who would have seen that coming?), and without the things above being drastically different would have ended with the same outcomes. The two specific players that killed us at that spot, we've played 1 of them, Blake, and guess what? he killed us even worse than usual.
I don't like the Jermaine O'Neal comparison. Quite different players to be honest. DM'o doesn't have the extreme athletic/physical tools O'Neal possessed. DMo is more of a finesse player.
I recall Morey drafting undersized PF's, but I don't recall Morey drafting 5 PF's of Terrence Jones' mold (combination of length & athleticism)? When was the last time we had a shot blocking PF? Eddie Griffin?? I actually detest having Jones at the PF spot (b/c of his pathetic showing guarding LMA in the playoffs), but saying Morey can conjure up a Terrence Jones at will is inaccurate.
We all knew that Dmo had the most upside and bust potential when he was drafted. Dmo is unique in his skill set. Only Big Al is close in terms of post up skills. The question for Dmo has always around strength and speed of the NBA. Obviously all that working out the last few years has helped him get to where he is now. The only thing that really surprises be is the defense. Dmo's is almost Asik like in his defensive effectiveness. His free agency is going to be real interesting because I can definitely see him getting the max offer from someone which could mean a lot of money with the new TV contract.
Poor D-Mo will be thrown to the wolves again at some point. On the other hand he is not afraid of those.
Are you prescient in some way? Do you have some inside knowledge into Jones' injury? As far as Jones is concerned, we can hope for the best, but we need to prepare for the WORST. Any talk of getting any value for him is ridiculously premature at this point. From everything I've heard about this injury, this could be career threatening, man. I don't know much about this kind of injury, but I'm just not counting on anything from T Jones.
