Sure, it's been forever since that happened but when's the last time that a team went up against the best rebounding center in the NBA with only 6'9 power forwards....none of which are all that great at rebounding? I mean, that's how crazy games like that happen.
I'll take Jones "raw" scoring (and explosive shot-blocking/rebounding) over D-mo's "finesse" scoring and only getting rebounds due to just being there (and often getting out-rebounded/out-muscled/out-hustled). D-mo has improved a ton with his low-post moves... he's just not strong enough, sure-handed enough, or smart enough to be a reliable 2nd option consistently. He's been effectively scouted since his good 2-3 week run after Dwight went out, and now he's seemingly shooting more 3's than ever because of it. Jones seemingly gets points and boards simply due to his athleticism... very raw, but still very productive. Much more room for him to grow/improve his game vs. D-mo who is limited by his physical restraints.
Was thinking the same thing. Watching Jordan, Griffin, and especially Big (Fat Ass) Baby shove him around was hard to watch. For most of the 4th quarter he ended possessions by picking himself up off the court. His post up game was completely neutralized. He started farther from the basket (they denied good post position), he couldn't back them down, and when he went to turn around them, they gave him a strong shove which sent him in a long arc, giving them time to catch up. Guy has been a real warrior this season. But i think we're seeing his ceiling for now and i cannot wait until Dwight comes back.
Jones scores, but he rarely is able to create offense himself usually relying on putbacks and transition....which is great, but given that he had a really easy matchup against a Blake Griffin that hasn't played in forever, I would have expected more from him....if I thought he was that kind of player. For example, put DMo on Blake and he'd do him like Faried to the point where the Clippers would have had to take him off the court. DMo on Blake is a huge mismatch that can be exploited over and over again by the Rockets, Jones on Blake is a solid game from Jones (with a really clutch 3 that was very unexpected). To each their own though.
Jesus Christ, some of you dont know/havent experienced overtraining. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtraining Dmo just need full recovery because he was playing out of position for the first time in his career for that long period of time without help. He will rebound much better, will have more motivation, more energy, be stronger and faster if only he will deal with onertraining. We cant compare Jones and Dmo games now because Jones is completely rested psychologically and physically. They are both good players btw.
You can't control who they put on D-mo... if he does start "dominating" the defender, scouting report will dictate to put somebody bigger/stronger on him to play him physical (like when Davis started guarding him). D-mo should be able to tower over big baby... and we saw how ineffective he was because of how much stronger Davis was at denying him great low-post position. Likewise, Griffin is stronger as well (but also doesn't like to be physical). D-mo certainly can succeed with the right matchup... but Jones is getting those hustle "raw" points regardless of matchup, and in the end he's been more consistent than D-mo since coming back (hence why I'll take my chances with that sort of production, over D-mo who requires the perfect matchup... and for the opponents to not adjust to him).
Although this game Dmo struggled again offensively and as usual on rebounds, but I think this game is huge for him and he played tougher than lots of people think. What I meant to say is mentally. He played 43 minutes, largely thanks to Doc's tactic to foul Dorsey in the last 20 seconds in the first half to wake up McHale - that Dorsey is a worthless player. He struggled most of the game, missed lots of easy shots and even got banged around by scrubs like big baby. But he still tried hard, and eventually made couple big plays in the last minute. The Rockets won't win today without him.
You can sort of dictate that if Dwight was back healthy. If they put Blake on Dwight then you abuse that all day long. Point is if Dwight was back, Griffin would have gotten bullied. I know some people prefer "hustle" point and "athletic" points to skill and that's why this conversation will never go anywhere, but hustle and athleticism based scoring is inconsistent and that's why I prefer the skilled scoring. The "perfect matchup" you talk about is simply someone that plays his position.
Dwight has proven that he's not really all that consistent if you just dump the ball into him... but he is strong enough to hold his ground against guys who try and be overly physical with him. The thing about "hustle" and "athletic" points is that those sort of players have a chance to also become "skilled" scorers. Jones is still very very raw... and has the size/length and agility to develop a complete game. D-mo, on the other hand will never be that athletic... and he's getting close to maxing out his "skilled" scoring... which is why I compared him to Scola.
Anything not bolded is actually UNDER NBA average wingspan. D-Mo's wingspan is average for a SMALL FORWARD He MAYBE has adequate standing reach for a PF since he's a legit 7 feet (Can't find D-Mo's standing reach measurement). But he doesnt have broad high shoulders, has narrow shoulders. And though he's gotten bulkier, doesnt have strength and explosive leaping ability to compensate. So he's not gonna out-jump, out-strength, out-reach any of the bolded players for boards. He might can out-position or out-box them (or do like he cleverly did to Aldridge last game, Scola-flop and work other guy into foul trouble)
Do you even watch the games jpot? Jones can certainly create his own shot. He just isn't reliant on that as his only method of scoring. He makes his own shot a couple of times a game - which is really all we want from him at the moment, surely? Sure, DMo has a superior ability to post and get to a shot, but Jones is far superior facing the basket, scoring from distance (ie, not just by shot, but by dribble penetration), and moving without the ball to get free. Does he not create his own shot by shaking his man through halfcourt movement, and getting free for the pass and layup? Does he not create his own shot by getting the rebound and putting it back in? Is it worth extra points if you do a fadeaway hook shot?? Fact: Jones on court, Rockets shoot 56.8%. Jones off, Rockets shoot 50.5%. Last year, the numbers were similar, he simply makes the offence better. Dmo, not as much. You can't just use imaginary possibilities to prove a point... 'oh yeah, for sure DMo would have torched Griffin in the post'. The one game he played as a PF against the Clippers (and Griffin) this season, the Rockets lost by 17, and DMo had 6 points on 3-9 shooting.
Duncan Gasol and KG played Center a lot in their careers and we're very effective. Dirk and LMA goes to work on whoever guards them. That's why they are elite players in this league.
This. DMo is weak and gets pushed around on both ends. That's why he's such a poor rebounder. But give him credit for trying hard on defense and in general is quite good at fundamental techniques. His stop of Griffin under the basket was a huge defensive play that saved the game as much as Ariza's taking the charge on Griffin and stopping Paul at the end.
Using Corey Brewer as reference - Raw energy and movement IS Brewer's skillset. And shown to be consistent and effective. (Whoever has watched the last 5 games and does NOT think Brewer has produced positive results, based on running ALONE, just doesnt get it.) WE credit Brewer for his game-in/game-out activity-based production, but not Terrence Jones doing the same thing? In lots of ways Jones's activity in the frontcourt is more dependable than Brewer's on the wing, cuz Brewer can be streaky where Jones will always be right there for cleanups, cutting in the lane and putbacks
D-Mo is usually good about being in the right place at the right time. His problem however is that he still gets pushed around way to much despite having bulked up since his rookie year. Part of it is a high center of gravity. The other part is his complete lack of aggressiveness. If you want to be respected as an alpha male on the team, you have to show you want it first.
