Really? He was 4-8 against Portland and 3-3 against the Warriors in very limited minutes. He needs real time on the floor to find rhythm.
He hasn't made a positive contribution in a sense that it was significantly USEFUL to us. And I didn't say we would be well under 500 when McGrady returns - I said that if we WERE well under 500 then why bother rushing Tracy back....it was a discussion about TMac, not the Rockets.
This isn't true bc you never used the word IF. I clearly remember you discounting the Rockets. I would look it up but I haven't been given contributing member status
Sorry about the double post but he didn't make a useful contribution against the Warriors? In 8 mins, he scored 6 pts and had 1 steal/block. You know the game that we only won by 1 point?
I'd try him as a 4 who can spread the floor. In other words, I'd give him some backup 4/5 minutes. In other news: why hasn't Pops played?
Why should anyone be dissapointed? The Aussies on the board were sounding the alarm all offseason and saying we should not expect too much. Just like anyone else new to the NBA I think he needs a little more time before you can pass judgement on him.
Cook was brought in for that one foul shot. I guess Adelman trusted Cook's rebounding more than Andersen's, but for playing time, coach is still going with Andersen. I don't buy into the idea that Andersen's limited minutes is proof that Adelman doesn't trust him. I think it has to do with playing matchups and the fact that he's a rookie more than anything else. That said, Andersen had a tough time defending the physical play of Bynum. Really struggled with it. .
Give him some time, after all wasn't he signed by DM, the GM many consider a genius? I certainly don't consider DM that but I am willing to wait and see what happens at season's end.
I don't think you can lose patience with a rookie after 5 games. If this were the case Yao and Scola and many others would never have become who they are.
It was a little surprising to see Cook brought out, but he does have the most "veteran" experience out those eligible to play so it did make sense. To the OP, I don't think they have lost patience. They may be limiting his minutes because of fouls but it's hard to tell. I wish DA would have taken a few more of those shots when he was out by the three pt line, he certainly has the ability to hit them. Or he could have stepped in nailed a long two. I think right now, as a veteran player of the international league his confidence is what is holding him back mostly, as he probably has to grapple with the notion if he is good enough to play at this level. I personally, believe he can contribute 8-11 PPG by the end of this season and make our bench very potent. He just needs to remember he can shot the ball well and learn/get the experience of how the NBA is played. I trust our team's judgment in picking him.
Exactly. How good was Yao 5 games into his first NBA season. True, DA is an internatl. pro with experience, but so was Yao (internatl. Pro). I know you really can't compare the 2, for other reasons like DA does not have the pressure of being a # 1 pick with lots of media hype and all.....but Yao was called a failure b4 during and immediately after his first few months as a pro.
As has been mentioned, DA has barely gotten any minutes...but that's because we've been playing playoff teams like the Lakers, Jazz and Blazers. Wait until we play the Kings, Clippers and Timberwolves of the league so he can get some more minutes and hopefully some confidence. I think the reason RA brought in he whose name shall not be mentioned instead of DA late against the Lakers is because he whose name shall not be mentioned is a better 3pt shooter than DA, which may have been required to spread the floor at that stage of the game (no BB anymore). DA seems to shoot most efficiently up to 18ft. I don't have huge expectations for DA, but I think he can score 10ppg and draw his defender away from the ring. If he sticks his arms straight up like he did against the Blazers at some stages, it should be enough to worry some shots, although hes never going to be a shot blocker or good low post defender. The other thing you guys have to remember is to take aussie rocket's comments with a grain of salt. Being Australian, I know if there's one thing more Australian than loving our sporting heroes, it's kicking them when they don't perform (Look at the Australian cricket team when they don't win every Ashes series).
Yao was BIG. He had that going for him, and an amazing shot. David Anderson is soft, a weak rebounder, as slow as Yao, doesn't have nearly the shot Yao does, and isn't all that big (not compared to 7'6"). He'll definitely get his chance - he'll get the whole year...but he might be Morey's Stromile Swift signing. We'll see, I'll keep an open mind, but I think he's been downright awful. Hopefully he is at least mentally tough - because he's going to need that.
Without having read through all the posts in this thread, I will say that Andersen needs to be given at LEAST half a season before he can be fairly evaluated. Even Scola didn't "get it" until halfway through his rookie year, constantly fouling his way out of meaningful playing time earlier in the year. I will say that, while I was very disappointed in Andersen's reluctance to take the open shot from the top of the key in the Lakers game (Bynum was just GIVING it to him, and he's capable from hitting that shot half a step inside the three point line), I will say that Andersen got jobbed by the officials on two occasions in which he came over, stood straight up and attempted to draw the charge. On both occasions, they called him for a blocking foul. I though both times, he did a great job getting his feet set and was the victim of a bad call. I think had it been Battier doing the exact same thing, the officials would have called the charge. Andersen's still a rookie and will not get the benefit of any calls in his favor this year. Bottom line: Andersen needs to shoot the ball when he's open. His failure to do so makes his performance (at least in the Lakers game) disappointing. That's why Adelman puts him in the game in the first place. But he was seriously screwed on some calls. Had the officials called those charges, I think Andersen would have gained some confidence to maybe take some shots on the other end. P.S. I think the only reason Adelman put Brian Cook in over Andersen for that millisecond at the end of the fourth quarter was simply because Rick trusted Brian Cook (slightly) more to block out on the free throw. I'm guessing it was not so much a compliment to Cook as it is an indictment of how far Andersen has to go when it comes to blocking out.
LOL. Hilarious that people pass judgement after only 5 games. It took Scola 50+ to get acclimated to the new league, what makes Anderson any different. Patience is a virtue.
