Imagine my surprise when I checked out DMo's advanced defensive metrics this year and found out they show he's still a plus defender this year, with an overall DFG% of -1.4% (which is pretty good, significantly better than Dwight actually who surprisingly has a DFG% of a minus defender).
What about the same stats from the same website that also say he also has a 117.6 drtg and a -25.9 net rating since his return? Seem pretty good.
This thread annihilates all hope I had left for a reasonable and logical clutchfans . The idea that you can even begin to use statistical analysis and advanced stats with only 5 game sample size is ridiculous . This applies to both sides of the argument . Also since all we are really left with is the eye test there will of course be differing opinions . The idea that any fan knows what kind of shape Dmo is in / how healthy / what percent he is at is also laughable . Here's the truth . Dmo is largely a skills and smarts player . Last year when he was playing well for us it was becuase his skills and intelligence helped the team play smarter more fundamentally sound basketball and in offense was able to generate some 1 on 1 scoring with post moves . He may still be able to do this , but probably not with the same efficiency . His shooting is streaky and until he proves he can consistently knock down threes in games I trust him no more than Brewer from behind the arc . It's the other little stuff that remains a question . His health . There is a minimum level of athletisicm required to play well in the NBA . Is he below that right now ? Defensive instincts , how have they been impacted ? Feel within an offense ? How long will it take for that to come around ? The fact that people think they know that he is for sure better than other options is bogus , as well as the inverse that he is not as good . He truly is a 50/50 chance at this point . Many questions and hopes , truly an x-factor .
I made sense of it. I don't agree with what I made sense of, but I got what he meant. It seems like this thread is purely an argument of what DMo is doing now (as a rusty player shaking off the bad stuff) versus what he'll be by the time the playoffs roll around (pure prospecting on expectations of significant improvement). If DMo stays healthy, I think 2 and 1/2 months is enough time to get it rolling. I personally agree with the people saying we should play him plenty. He is no savior, but he does have the ability to make us better than we are and bolster both the PF and C position. His influence on how Capella is used makes a huge difference. Having a center sized defender at the end of games that can hit FTs is huge too. I treat DMo like I do Harden, I believe they'll be better players when the stage is raised even though they're doing nothing right now to make me believe it.
X factor with the X factor stat line tonight Zeroes (0's) across the board except for 1 rebound and 3 PF. Plenty of box out rebounds and hockey assists though (maybe a double double there ) :grin: 1. DMo is just not there physically 2. This system doesn't really help him. He doesn't get to post up and Rockets don't play to his strengths
Did well boxing out his man and moving the ball around I thought. 2 more months and he'll be back up to speed. Give him time.
Not a good matchup for him against philly. Athletic active bigs. He just doesn't match up well against that
Lol I get what your saying but that might be the first time in three years anyone in the has said that the Sixers are not a good matchup for them. (I get that they are essentially a small ball team with Okafor out)
Stop it. Don't defend him. Yea, the sample size is small of 5 or 6 games, but we are grading him on the base of those 5 or 6 games. He has been bad. The only reason posters in this thread had to bring up those statistics is because there were posters already making up the false narrative that Motiejunas has been playing good basketball or already superior basketball compared to the other guys at his position. You don't have to explain what Motiejunas did last season. We all saw what he did last season. How about you explain what he's doing this season since his return? I love Motiejunas. I didn't like the fact that people were parading that he was going to be the savior of this team or going to greatly improve the team with his return. That is way too much pressure and uncertainty for one player. I keep on preaching this. It is going to take time and patience to see where Motiejunas is at. Look at all these posters saying, "wow, Dmo had a bad game." Just look at them. No patience whatsoever. They want results now. They'll probably want results by April, and if HousTon makes it into the playoffs they will want results there. They have no sense of patience. You just don't rush back with 20 or so games left into the same to get back to who you are. Like I said earlier, I hope he makes the miraculous 180 before season ends, but let's be realistic. He's been playing bad and hasn't given any reason to show that he will suddenly improve his play greatly. We need to give him time and "by the end of the season" or "by the playoffs where he can do his damage" isn't nearly enough time. Well, it might be enough time but I'm not going to put a time table on when Dmo starts playing like he used to. If he ever does. Time and patience.
