LMFAO. It's kind of hard to take lots of shots when you have played 8mins in the last 4 games (only played in one game). So how has he been playing better? I don't see how Mike James has been playing better when he has rarely played.
He has played more within the confines of the team game, I noticed it too, instead of just looking for his own shot he has been setting up teamates and moving without the ball. DD
My thinking with James is...if he's not getting enough minutes...then he's not going to perform. I would expect a hell of a lot more from him if he were getting 20 or 25+ minutes a game. As it stands now, he's lucky to even get 5 to 10 minutes...if he even gets in the game at all. It's hard to expect a lot from Mike James the way he is being used. Before the season started, I thought he would be getting consistent minutes and playing every game. It certainly hasn't worked out that way. Of course, the same could be said about other bench players in regards to minutes as well. I don't think James is a totally washed up, bad player. I just think he can't find a groove in the minutes he has been dealt. I blame Rick for not utilizing him correctly and enough. Mike seems like he is lost on this team. He may just not be a good fit for this offense. I dunno...just another frustrating aspect of this team. We all expected a lot more from him based on his past play.
He's too good to not even get in the game. I think he'll start working his way back in the rotation at some point.
I seem to remember Mike James being a lot more productive for us the first time around. What happened to him?
He was also playing for a new contract at the time. His contract expired in a year and a half at that point, he put up huge numbers in Toronto after he was traded from Houston, and then got some pretty good money from Minnesota. I think he's just gotten fat and happy. But of course, that's just my observation/opinion.
MJ at the two hasn't worked. Maybe let him play PG. For a guy who gets criticized for his selfish play he's able to get Yao the ball.
Yes, because everytime a player underperforms, it's always the coach's fault for not utilizing his players' strengths. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
MJ got moved TO the 2 because he was so bad at his role responsibilities playing the 1. Maybe he gets it now, but I'm not holding my breath. Evan
His +/- numbers are unbelievably bad, both on offense and defense. He's a huge negative with almost everybody except (strangely) when he is paired with Francis running the point. The sample size on that is probably too small to make any deductions. I don't know what exactly his problem was earlier in the season, but he just looked utterly disconnected out there on the court. Ball movement always ended in his hands, he was extremely lazy getting back in transition defense, and his "defense" consisted entirely of matador moves and horrible, inopportune fouls. He was probably the biggest reason we lost to Sacramento earlier despite T-Mac coming on and having a huge game -- he made their scrub guards look like superstars (I think Beeno ended up dropping a career night on us). He's really nothing more than a waste of roster space at this point. I can't even believe people are still comparing him to Luther right now -- Luther makes bonehead mistakes and bad passes sometimes, but at least he seems to actually be part of the team, runs the offense, can score and gives all the effort he can on defense. As of this moment, comparing James to Luther is like comparing Isiah Thomas to Rick Adelman.
It's crazy how bad he has fallen off. He's either in a bad bad slump or he really is just happy as **** about his contract right now. I suspect it's the latter and we got Tim Thomased. I was a big fan of the MJ we had 2 years ago, but I'd probly sell him off for an expiring contract right now if we could.
He got consistent minutes earlier on. But he played like crap except for the first two games. (I still think SamFisher jinxed him after that two games with a stupid thread raving his shooting and assist numbers. ) I am really disappointed in him. The most disappointing is his defense. Before the season began, I thought he was the best defender among all our PGs. Now he looks like he is the worst. Even Brooks is better than him. What a let down.
I wonder if he and Francis are suffering from the same syndrome. They have their money in the bank, they got a free ride home, James has his new home (near Gessner somewhere, is it?) and Francis and his better half just had a baby (I think). Plus the guard situation was way up in the air, they thought they would have a free pass and were outdueled by Rafer (and TMac might have had some pull there) as they sat around, lethargic and content.
I agree with the other posters who said last time MJ hit the court, he seemed to be actually trying to fit into the offense. He actually moved the bball instead of grabbing it and going right into his own move. I just can't hardly believe the guy has completely lost his ability to shoot over one offseason. I have to think it has been he has been slow to pick up the offense. In my opinion, if his shot comes back (a big if), then he is a better Luther with the ability to distribute a little bit and finish at the rim a whole lot better than Luther. I think MJ is a much better player than Luther when his jump shot gets fixed. However, somebody is gonna have to go. MJ, SF, and Luther in my opinion are all too repetitive with minor differences in their games. I still think Stevie is the best pure talent of the three. I'd like to see us move at least one of them, along with Snyder, and possibly even two of them to pick up a nice player.
As I will keep repeating about MJ, the first time he was with the Rockets he put up more shots/minute than Yao. Who does he think he is? Cuttino Mobley?
