Some might call that progress. From 20-75 to 33-60. AB shoots very well when he isn't hesitant. He hasn't been as hesitant this series and really since after that game 5 where the team and Aaron got straight what they wanted him to accomplish. Some people might even point to that point after game 5 as a major change in him. His numbers(and play in general) before and his numbers (and play in general) afterwards seem to indicate this. Look at Tony Parker's first play-off series and look for that consistency. He was all over the place as well. This doesnt mean that Brooks has the ceiling of Parker(I dont think he does) but geez, nitpicking consistency from a point guard starting his 40somethingth NBA game is a self fulfilling critique. Of COURSE he is going to be inconsistent. He is playing the toughest position in the NBA and has had very little experience at doing it. Critiquing his inconsistency after starting 100 or 200 games is a little more fair. And finally, when Aaron shoots a 3 pointer off the catch or screen are you moaning like you did when Rafer shoots it? Heck no, you are surprised when it misses. That's what happens when good 3 point shooters shoot the ball. I can't vouch for his eventual court awareness or vision or whatever, but I absolutely expect Aaron to become a very deadly shooter next season. If he shoots under 44% from the field next year, I honestly will be disappointed.
I completely agree that Brooks has a lot of time to get better. I just don't know how much longer we can wait on that. The fact that his shooting percentage went down from his rookie year to this year doesn't really make me believe it will jump to 44% next yeary but it might and I hope it does. All I know is right now he doesn't shoot that well on a consistent basis, doesn't pass that well, and because of his size isn't all that great of a defensive player. I hope you are right though that next year as a full time starter he lights it up.
Actually after the Alston trade, Morey said he would start Lowry over Brooks but it was Adelman's call. I don't know if his opinion has changed since then.
I'll keep bumping up this thread till Brooks shoots us out of the playoffs. He's useless when he couldn't hit the balls.
LOL at people thinking the 40 point loss was on Brooks...the team missed wide open shot after wide open shot. Win as a team, lose as a team. DD
Not much wide open shots until game is out of reach. But I agree this game is not on Brooks, Lakers made adjustment, even left Hayes open to double Brooks in 1st half. AB is a role player, there is only that much he can do, beating double team is not what he's supposed to do.
Whenever Brooks shot well and won, he was a great PG as you guys predicted. But whenever he played horrible and we lost, it was a team loss? LOL
I miss Yao... Do you DD? Yao is painful to watch while being fronted, but while he's on his game, he's simply most efficient paint dominator... Wide open shot might be exciting for watch, but I prefer Yao's easy turn around or hook... God...Beat LA!
Who didn't see AB not being a factor in the game after last game? He hasn't put back to back games together yet. With that being said, this team never ran the offense. Artests wouldn't let em.
Kawins, Brooks can struggle, but please realize that the entire team is struggling at times....and that there is another team on the floor trying to force them to struggle. Why do you think it is all one guys fault? DD
Shane didn't put back to back games, Ron didn't.....heck most of the team has been up and down this post season. The most consistent player has been Luis...no one else has even come close. DD
Every one had a bad game 5 for the Rockets. For the most part I thought Brooks actually had one of his better passing games in a while despite some bad turn overs early on. This really was a case where no one could score off the wide open shots they were given. The missing story in all this has been the horrible shooting of Lowry during the playoffs. Lowry's 35.4% from the field and 18.2% from 3 pt range for the play offs makes Rafer look like Reggie Miller in his prime.
Without Yao, Brooks is only player who can create a shot. All team played badly, and Brooks actually played ok last night. Some people may think he is going to get 30 plus points again, that is just a dream. We need a good post player to win, but we do not run this kind of play very much, do not know why.
Agree! He played ok overall. We cannot ask more for a second year rookie. What he did is already more than expected. If he can improve his shoot selections and passing skills, I am confident for him to have a bright future although I have been bashing his incapability to pass the ball to Yao. Give him some patience and time. I believe he and Lowry will be our big weapons next season.
Shane has been terrible on the road. I know role players struggle away, but being a vet, he has sucked big time.
It's not reasonable to blame anyone other than Brooks. With Yao out, Aaron is the only one who can open things up for others, he chose to staying on the perimeter last night, which made it tough for all other players to have any open opportunity. I know I'm asking a lot from Aaron, after all, he is still very young, inexperienced, but this team can only go as far as he can take them, he has to grow up real quick, maybe overnight, or the Rockets can end the season tomorrow.
He wasn't choosing to stay out on the perimeter. When he tried to make a move to get past his defender, another Laker stepped out to double him. The Lakers paid a lot of attention to Brooks all night.
