No one has said he is better - FFS - learn to read. Cam has potential - the sooner he gets a chance to get comfortable with consistent minutes we can figure out what Cam will be, right now his aggression as a scorer is unique to this team and something that we should be able to leverage. DD
Cam needs to go play on a bad team where he can just play free for big minutes every night. It's never going to happen here. Hopefully somebody falls in love with his game and sends us an FRP for him or something.
7/13 of Cam's makes and 21/34 points were from 3s against the Lakers. I'll repeat what I've been saying since last year: Cam's ticket to a long, productive NBA career is his long range shooting being a weapon. The dunks are fine and dandy, but busting defenses over the top are way more important for him.
That, and actually playing the defense, better shot selection. (He will never be a big assist guy but he needs to at least keep the ball moving when the shot/driving lane aren't there.) His scoring talent is real, but he has got to play smarter and exhibit more focus on other things.
Yes, this is true because Ime is in a "NOW" moment rather than a "Get to championship" contender faster moment. I believe the sooner we get to championship contender the better. Got to move out old players for the young ones. DD
The shot selection problems happen when Cam dribbles towards the basket. Hopefully one of these years he realizes his limitations on trying to finish at the rim in traffic. I think his hands are nifty near the rim and he absorbs contact well, but he far overestimates his vertical ability vs. NBA defenders. Along with the attitude and bball IQ issues, I question if Cam will ever have the mentality to play good defense. 100% of his pride is on the offensive side. Regardless, legit 3-point marksmen are a valuable commodity in the league and whatever he becomes beyond that is gravy IMO.
As per Cam and Reed - - I would love to know what the belief is in them, the plan moving forward. Reed seems more accepting of the status quo; Cam looks closer to breaking out. I Shirley don’t want them dumped.
I'm reminded of Zach Levine. Dude can jump out of the building but his 3 point shot is what eventually made him into a viable player. I like Cam's game, but it's apparent that he's not a fit for the culture of this team going forward. I would definitely take a FRP for him this year (or even a higher FRP for a future year).
He is better. It’s funny how nobody criticizes Jalen for being a ball hog, taking bad shots, not to mention his inefficiency. That seems to only apply to cam. For some reason, we don’t hold Jalen to the same standard.
Anyone wanting to trade Cam for a first round pick that isn't top 3 is misguided. Cam has real potential and performs well when given minutes. His "attitude issues" are overblown. All of those "issues" are just because he is wrong and doesn't get any playing time. Give him solid playing time and those things improve. Like fake questions about "defense" "team play" "IQ" etc.
Jalen goes 3/10 and 2/7 last two games - "He's not playing hard because these games don't matter." Cam goes 6/12 and 13/19 - "He needs to play defense better. He doesn't care about others on offense." He shot 13-19! Who do you want him to pass to when he's shooting 68%?
I wasn't surprised by Cam at all; he could've scored 40 points last night if he wanted. I don't post much, but if you look at my post from a couple of months ago in this same thread; I explained why Cam will be a Star, it is written in the stars, literally. Tom Brady, CJ Stroud, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Damian Lillard, Yordan Alvarez and Cam Whitmore all share a common trait; all 7 of them are Aries Moons. Aries Moons are driven by a strong desire to compete and succeed, making them natural contenders in sports. Their fiery and active nature allows them to push their bodies to the limit and thrive in physically demanding sports. Aries Moons are often natural leaders, able to inspire and motivate their teammates. They are fearless and unafraid to take risks, making them well-suited for sports that require courage and bravery.
Cam is 20 years old and damn nearly dropped 40 on the Lakers in LA. He's every ounce as talented as he is immature. But we all knew that already. When Cam grows up mentally and matures, he's probably a perennial all star. Unfortunately I just don't think that's going to happen in Houston.
