Asik, Jermaine O'Neal?, and Jordan are all 7 footers. Milsap and Leonard both showed excellent NBA awareness immediately. Jones shows no physical tools, or skills to suggest he will even be anything special.
In addition, why does the bar have to be elite or bust for an 18th pick? We don't need to have 2 elite PF's to win the ring. It is amazes me that fans want to have elite players in each position ( even if it just for a backup role).
Is that a serious question? His defense is excellent, I didn't realize there were still people that doubt this. His rebounding is sub par, but he does a great job of boxing out for others.
I think he is a good but not great defender. He's not build as a great defender. Good fundamentals to defend in the post and at the perimeter for pick-and-rolls. In the last a few games, he has been quite focus on block-out and pulling down defensive boards too.
I guess the experts disagree with you. If he joined the draft one year early, he was projected to be top 6 lottery. His stock dropped because of Davis joking the team which minimized his role. So why did other 7 footers in the league turned did not turn out To be elite if that is the only requirement ten for success? Show me articles which predicted Milsap and Kawhi being elite ( non homer articles). You are just pulling stuff out of the air now.
Yeah exactly. Those guys are huge and thus have a niche that isn't easily replicated. Obviously no one can know anything for certain, but all the players he mentioned are elite at something. Jones is elite at nothing and likely will never be. Jones is an athletic, skinny 6"8 PF that relies on athleticism. Excuse me for not thinking he'll develop into something awesome. And it's not about having "stars" at every position. You can't keep both D-Mo and Jones on the team without sacrificing elsewhere. I'd rather see Jones eventually used in a package to upgrade the PG position. Jones is easily replaceable.
Just because you are a 7 footer is a guarantee of nothing, but is extremely valuable and unteachable. Kawhi Leonard broke into the starting lineup of the mighty Spurs as a 20 year old rookie, and Milsapp was an excellent rebounder and defensive player immediately. Jones has shown nothing, mentally or physically, in 2 years that isn't extremely common. He isn't garbage, he just has nothing special to offer.
You understand that TJ has the same or better standing reach than Dmo? Height is an old antiquated measurement. TJ was in the starting lineup when he was 21 yrs old. It is probably best that I stop now as the thread has been derailed. I have no claims as to what TJ will become in the future. You are certainly free to think that he won't be anything worthy just how folks looked at Lowry and Gogi when we got them.
You can't really compare big men to PG's in an analogy. It doesn't make sense. Morey has made a living drafting undersized athletic PF's who turn out to be good players. Jones is easily replaceable and likely won't become an elite player. So the prospect of losing him isn't that hard to swallow.
Could you list the other 22 yr old PFs in the league over 6'9 with a 9' standing reach who are 14ppg 8rpg and 43% from downtown this year? Ok, so he only played a few games, but if you look at his career the numbers are a natural progression (one might expect 3% to be sub 35 - but getting near that number isnt inconceivable). I think we have seen enough to think he MIGHT be quite good. Personally i am quite pleased we have 2 young talents as PF prospects, and that they have complimentary games. DMo is a defender and post player. Jones is an elite finisher at the rim, with an improving shot and the ability to get to the hoop off the dribble (where he finishes well). DMo is a great man defender, Jones is poor on man, but provides a shot blocking presence on help D, and is an above average rebounder to DMos mere average. Hope we keep both.
Opponents FG% at the rim (min 5 attempts per game) http://stats.nba.com/tracking/#!/player/defense/?sort=FGP_DEFEND_RIM&dir=-1&CF=FGA_DEFEND_RIM*G*5
I believe DMo is currently #5 among rim protectors in the entire league (who have defended at least 5 or more shots there per game): Spoiler TOP10 rim protectors in the entire league who averaged at least 20mpg and defended at least 5 FG attempts at the rim per game: Then there are also the OPP FG% differentials. Let's take a look at those, anything with a plus sign in front of it is BAD, and anything with a minus sign is considered very good: Spoiler Andre Drummond: +1.2% Jonas Valanciunas: +1.9% Dirk Nowitzki: +2.8% Carmelo Anthony: +2.9% ... Luke Babbitt: +5.4% ... Kyrie Irving: +2.7% Mike Miller: +3.8% Kevin Love: +2.8% Timofey Mozgov: +1.3% LeBron James: -0.6% ... Tim Duncan: -5.3% Joakim Noah: -4.6% Donatas Motiejunas: -5.3% Draymond Green: -5.4% Anthony Davis: -4.6% Marc Gasol: -3.6% Andre Iguodala: -3.4% Kawhi Leonard: -2.7% ------ Closer look at D-MO's OPP FG% differentials this season: Overall: -5.8% 3 Pointers: -6.3% 2 Pointers: -5.1% Less than 6ft: -9.6% Less than 10ft: -6.3% Greater than 15ft: -6.7% DMo is a great perimeter/PnR defender this season as well as an ELITE defender in the paint. Those are Noah/Davis/Duncan type of numbers.
I'm like 10 yrs older than this guy, but I hope he's at least mature enough to know he's got a safe spot on the Rox and not worry about being traded.
Our defense was elite before we signed Smith though, offense is our biggest need, Jones is miles ahead of Smith on that end. IF he gets back to the level he was at before he was injured, I have a hard time seeing Smith getting playing time over him. Unfortunately, he's been out for too long IMO, I doubt he reaches that level again this season, which is a shame.
I wouldn't say Jones is "miles ahead" of Smith offensively. Honestly they bring the same tools to the table, only Jones has fewer bad habits than Smith does. Think about it, what is Jones good at? Rebounding - So is Smith Finishing at the rim/dunking - So is Smith Scoring in transition - So is Smith Honestly the only thing Jones brings over Smith is the good sense not to jack up long 2's and 3's as often.
lol Most average defenders would when they are playing alongside the DPOY. Also Dmo couldn't handle the double team when Howard was out. Dmo will never make a DPOY.
