I'm sick of talking about the Spurs and Lakers in the NBA forum, so it's time to stop that and go back to Rockets basketball. Lately, I've read a lot of threads hyping up Caron Butler, Chris Wilcox, and lots of other underclassmen... but I really haven't seen all that many people talking about Dunleavy. IMO, in our current system, this is the guy we need most out of this draft. I'm not all that interested in a post presence unless it's Ming, and we have the top pick. There's not really another true center out there, and though there are some potentially good power forwards who could play some 5, there's no reason we can't do that with a couple of the already good power forwards we have. What hurt this team last year, more than anything (besides injuries), was the stagnation in our offense at inopportune times. What's going to fix that? A big, perimeter forward with a superb outside touch, ball handling skills, and great basketball sense. After watching the Kings today, it's never been more apparent how much we (and other teams) need smart players in the basketball sense. We need someone to be able and ready to step up and take the charge on the break. We need someone with the leadership and court intelligence to help calm our players down, without wasting timeouts like we did so often this year. We need someone to move without the basketball, to look for other players moving without the basketball, and to promote movement in general. That's one thing that actually helps him out on the defensive end. While he may not have the quickness to come across as a stopper, he has that rare ability to keep his man in front of him, and also the ability to make the quick move in front of the player and draw the charge. We do need perimeter defense, and while on the surface Dunleavy doesn't appear to bring that, he can make up for his less than stellar athleticism with smarts. Yeah, offensively, we need big men that can score, but we'll have some help in that area with Mo's return and Eddie's continued development down low. This offense, as much as we criticize it, has the potential to look great if we can get some consistent perimeter shooting and ball movement. There's not that much that Dunleavy can't do. Leave him open, and he can consistently hit the three. Run out to him, and he can dribble in and shoot the midrange jumper with the effectiveness of a Wally Z. Assume he'll stick to the three point line, and he'll move toward the basket (without the ball). Mike has the offensive ability of a Wally Szczerbiak, coupled with the attitude and basketball smarts of someone like Shane Battier. If Ming is off the board, this is the guy I want, provided Woods or Tskiti doesn't absolutely blow away the Rockets in workouts. Personally, I just think Mike suffers from the "slow white guy with a perimeter jumper" stereotype, when in actuality he brings a lot more to the table. I wouldn't mind him on my team at all, and I think he's perfect for our current makeup.
I don't necessarily disagree with you about Dunleavy, but where have you been? I'd say Dunleavy's been getting the most talk around here the past couple days, at least in the Rockets/Draft forums. That Dunleavy thread's one of the best I've read lately.
Okay, correction. I'd say Dunleavy got a lot talk up until a couple days ago. Here check this out, in case you missed it.
Really? I must've missed it... I've been in the NBA forum too much. The last couple of days have been the first time in a while that I've really paid attention to the other forums. Edit: Thanks for the link.
Where were you when Desert Scar and Haypee took turns pimp slappin me like a two dollar ho on this very subject?
Crash, nothing personal. I have been the posterboy for laying out Dunleavy's weaknesses or more aptly, at least popping opinions that equate him with Larry Bird or such greatness for last 9 months or so--I guess you caught the end of it. Seriously Cat, do a search on Dunleavy over the last week.
Nothing personal you say!! !! Then why do I have bruises and (desart) scars all over me from the ass whuppin you put on me? I think I am about done talken about Dunleavy....maybe.
The main beef that people have with Dunleavy, is that he's "soft" and "weak". What people don't realize is that Dunleavy played the 4 for Duke, because they didn't have enough big men, to allow Dunleavy to play his natural position, the 2 or 3. When a SF is having to play down low, of course he will look "weak". Besides, isn't being "weak" one of Rashard Lewis' MANY flaws? Yet, that gets overlooked by some Rockets fans, and it gets pointed out with Dunleavy... Not to mention that Dunleavy is considered a poor defender, but what about Rashard? Odom? Dunleavy has the most ball skills of any SG/SF in the draft. Maybe Qyntel Woods is the real deal, maybe he's not. Dunleavy would bring one key intangible that we lack, an instinctive player. The Rockets basketball IQ has to be among the lowest in the league. It'd be nice to have a player who is solid on fundamentals and knows the game. Dunleavy would also be one of our best passers. Something that most 6 ft 9 guys cannot do. This would help tremendously against full court presses and traps. Not to mention that it would help if we had guys cutting to the hoop. Dunleavy is a good athlete, not a great one. However, he has potential to be a very good one, once his body grows into the 6 ft 9 frame. He came to Duke as a 6 ft 5 PG/SG combo player. And now leaves as a 6 ft 9 SF/PF. There aren't too many guys who go to college and 3 years later grow 4 inches, and end up as a guard to PF. To me, Dunleavy's main flaw, strength, is only a hindrance if he's playing PF, something that he won't be doing in the NBA. This is comparable to b****ing that Walt Williams didn't dominate inside defensively.
Does a "natural 2 or 3" shoot 37% from the college 3 point line and 68% from the FT line? That's my main beef with Dunleavy Jr.
Then I guess Jason Williams isn't a nautral guard because he's such a poor FT shooter? Baron Davis too I guess? Duke's offense revolved around firing 3s, whether they were contested or not. I would venture to say that Mike hit about 45% of his 3s when he was wide open. And made only like 25% or so from when the shot clock was going down. Stats like this is very skewed, since Dunleavy takes many of his 3 pointers off the dribble, which is a lower % obviously than spot-up 3s. Stats are useful if only you are able to see how they come about. In Dunleavy's case, it's "only" 37% because he takes many of his shots off the dribble. 37% overall is very good considering the shots he had to take. There is no stat for Dunleavy's smart play, great handling, passing and dribbling skills. He would be the first multi-dimensional SF the Rockets have had since God knows how long.
I don't think free throw shooting can be skewed by anything. And as for Jason Williams and Baron Davis, no, I do not think they are natural shooters, which is what Dunleavy would have to be in the system that the Rockets run. Davis is not a great shooter. I don't think of Jason Williams as a great shooter. Both are good-great point guards with other skills, so they have value. Dunleavy, playing small forward for the Rockets, would not be able to do much for us if he couldn't hit at least 40% from 3 point range. Also, how many 3 pointers a game does Dunleavy take off the dribble? I can't imagine (and didn't see from my observations) him taking that many. And shots he took off the dribble were usually in the 3 point arc, so that wouldn't skew his 3 point percentage. Also, he had Jason Williams drawing the defense, so he probably got a lot of wide open 3's.
the Cat has clawed, very deftly and now it's my turn; as I look into the crystal ball and predict - lean, mean, young and tall. A trade or two - possibly up and down both, with some aged fat thrown it. Look abroad not once, but twice. Take five off those worried minds and check back with me after mid June. We won already.
I'm a Dunleavy fan. I really feel he could fit in our system well. But really, how does he compare to say, Keith Van Horn, a #2 pick by the Nets who has not really been able to get over the hump, into the realm of NBA stardom? Would Dunleavy be the same kind of high pick on a mediocre type talent, or would he be able to put up the big numbers consistently in the categories the Rockets desperately need?
What sets Dunleavy apart from Van Horn is that he has a much better handle. This will allow him to create some seperation from defenders. Moreover, he's a very good passer. He has the total package, offensively. Great mid-range jumper too.
One thing I don't htink you can disagree with is, that Dunleavy took a ton of "NBA" 3 pointers. So, he shouldn't have that hard of a time adjusting to the NBA 3.
