I thought Patterson looked better as the season went on so I would chalk it up as being rushed back from injury too soon (Rockets did admit too that), No real offseason, entirely new offense. Year 3 is make or break for Patterson. I don't believe year one was a fluke.
2-3 years. On Patterson, I hope that article about him wanting to be better is legit, because he is starting at least early in the season and if he doesn't at least TRY to help Asik with the rebounds or do something in the post against other actual PFs or Cs, he should be traded before the start of the 2013-2014 season. Especially if Motiejunas, Jones and White are able to develop their defense and Asik is as defensively strong as people hype him to be.
I disagree with you about Patterson now showing a desire to play in the post. McHale often tried to have Patterson iso in the post. He wasn't very good, but he showed that he's been working on a hook shot. If McHale can get Patterson to improve in that area, he'd be a very solid role player and could probably start on teams with good players elsewhere.
If at the trade deadline they are not performing they are gone or cut next summer. Deadwood. There is no place for that.
Sean Elliot was asked one time about when to break up a team or go in a different direction, or some such topic. He felt as long as progress is being made, give it a chance. Obviously rate of progress has to be considered, but overall I think that is a pretty reasonable position.
Pat deserves another year to prove himself, and I'm cautiously optimistic. As far as I'm concerned, Morris has to show me something this year or that looks like a wasted pick. Parsons needs to improve his shooting if he wants to live up to the clutchfans hype; he's a good young player.
I wonder if the big problem with Morris is not playing with his twin brother. Sure, it sounds ludicrous, but it wouldn't surprise me if he improved if traded to the Suns. Perhaps we could make that happen and get a future 2nd rounder. (anyone think the Suns would buy that?)
and maybe Wesley Johnson's problem is that's he's not home in Texas. Lets make a Morris-Johnson trade happen and see the magic happen!
I think Pat has earned his 3rd year because of his defense and his outside shot. If nothing else Pat has proven he is an NBA player, maybe just an end of the bench player but still a player. But, in this situation when you have 3 rookeis that play your postition and all of them appear to have more upside than you, then you better start showing something more and you better start showing it quick or one or more of those three rookies are going to take all of your playing time and you will be gone next summer. The power forward position is clearly open for compitition in trainning camp so we will see what he shows vs. what one of the rookies show. DMo is already more polished in the post than Pat plus DMo is aggresive as hell where you sometimes forget Pat is on the floor. A 7 foot power forward with great post moves, good defense and is always chasing the ball all the way into the basket is going to be very tempting for McHale. Royce is already a better rebounder than Pat and he has skills that Pat can not dublicate. Plus Royce has a mans body right now. TJones is bigger (6'9" 250 lbs vs. 6'9" 233 lbs) and stronger than Pat.
No, Morris issue can be traced to him not having a camp to work out playing as a SF and the lack of playing time to help him transition out of playing like a PF. Time will tell if he is a success or not, but the coaches are going to have to give him some playing time in order to work on the kinks and there should be no reason this season especially that they don't make time.
I am admittedly a little bias about our young players like Donatus, Jones, and Lamb particularly. So my general feeling is they wont need any of this talk about how long they need to be given to show they have potential. My feeling is if they get playing time someone is gonna show true potential.
Exactly as long as McHale gives them. After that they are trade filler. I kid you naught. Once the first coach gives up on them, they are garbage.
I think three years ( barring injury) is enough for a rookie to learn the ins and outs of the league. A lot can be learned in 246+ games.
