Dmo just isn't a grinder down low. The big boys just throw him around like a rag doll and take rebounds away from him. He's a very weak 7 foot presence for a big man down low. His gutless effort to start off the 4th went a long way in helping the Rox lose this game. I see him struggling against all the front lines in the playoffs except maybe Dallas if they don't get anymore additions for their front line.
This is a big BIG BIG concern going into playoffs. A big part of the success this season has been the play of DMo. However, my gut feeling says that he will be overpowered in the playoffs. Weak at rebounding, weak at defending the low block, and weak finisher around the rim. Thats a recipe for disaster for a big man. We really need him to toughen up. I sincerely hope I am wrong because we really need him to be productive.
Shoot me for saying this, but I really don't see DMo being soft affecting us at all in the playoffs... It's just that he won't play much. Playoff big man rotations will be 3 man, and (at the moment) DMo won't be in the 3, he'll be the one who plays 8-10 minutes in case of foul trouble. Of course, if Howard doesn't make it back for the playoffs, DMo's softness will affect us - but without D12 the chances of us doing something significant in the playoffs is minimal. Sure, we could win a round, but I doubt more than that.
He just doesn't appear to have it in him to go up strong or to be a strong presence down low in general, that's what I mean by being a grinder.
DMo is not center, and barely a PF at times. Ppl underestimate the luxury of having a legit big that plays big. Ppl call McGee dumb but the Rockets could use him even when Howard gets back. DMo has been hurting us defensively since the Miami game
DMo had a bad game but he'll be fine. Regarding mins once dwight returns. Dwight's mins will probably limited to 30 mins per game. I think DMo will get the remaining 18 mins. Jones and smith split the PF mins. 28 mins for jones and 20 mins for smith.
DMo has proven he can defend Zach. Did it last season. He can't check Marc by himself. Really, nobody can check Gasol by themselves all game long. He's one of the best big men in the world. Terrence can defend either Zach or Gasol for a few minutes. But if he gets iso'd multiple times they're gonna clean his clock. He's actually a better defender against Gasol than Zach because Zach is more of a power player that just grinds Terrence into the hardwood. And Gasol is the crafty outside-in guy that Terrence has an easier time with than just straight power. DMo is tired. He's dragging around every center in the league every night. And he's not a center. He's a power forward/backup center. We're reaching the tipping point with DMo/Terrence. They're giving us all they got. But they just don't have enough. Especially with DMo playing out of position. Need Dwight back. And yes, this is a preview of what the playoffs are going to look like. Except the playoffs are going to be even more physical.
If true, then he will forever be a liability against top level big men. The finesse post game works at times, and his ability to hit the 3 definitely helps, but if you can't hang on to the ball and go up strong down low, it's impossible to reach that next level. He's definitely skilled enough, but if he can't hang down low when he needs to, his effectiveness is limited.
I think you're confusing DMo and Jones? DMo defensively: Nov: Opponent FG% 31.3 (-14.3% on the average - this is when we were all 'WOW - DMo rox socks [which he did]) Dec: Opponent FG% 46.1 (-0.3% on the average. Woah, he regressed to marginally better than average?) Jan: Opponent FG% 46.5 (+0.8% on the average. Ok, so now he is marginally worse than average?) Feb: Opponent FG% 49.6 (+2.5 on the average. I don't like where this is headed) Mar: Opponent FG% 64.9 (+16% on average - ouch) He is struggling defensively as a C (of course he is), but he has been regressing all season long on the defensive side of the ball. I have no clue why, but the trend line is terrifying. What we can certainly say as of right now is that he is nothing at all like D12 defensively. [[Jones is the one with the 34% defensive FG on the season(!)]]
Dmo is actually steadily regressing and tj is actually looking better and better after missing months
He is improving, and he will continue to improve. This is a good experience for him. First season as a starter people... He isn't perfect.
Agree with the bolded. We need dwight back ASAP so we can figure out if a 4 man big man rotation will work.
With every passing game the more I think that McHale will go with Jones as the starting PF when Howard returns. DMo will be very good in a bench role too.
DMo is playing out of position. Put Jones in at center for 2 months and he will get worse and worse too. Because they're simply outsized in the post. We're playing a whole pack of power forwards and the only real center we got is 6'7" Joey Dorsey. DMo/Terrence/Smoove are 4's that can spot minutes against backup 5's. But when we started playing the heavyweights like we did tonight....none of those guys are going to be able to last playing double mammoth bigs like we faced tonight. We need Dwight back at the 5 and the rest of the guys playing 4 and backup 5.
