If Kenny Smith would have asked Michael Jordan the same exact question, he would have called him a powerless forward.
WOW, this thread is full of hate. Did I miss something? Been watching every game and haven't noticed what D-Mo is doing worse than he did when you all were loving him. Like 3 games ago... Haters gonna hate, in the name of hate D-Mo doesn't go into paint much because that's what he is told to do. Be a stretch 4. Don't compliment Smith for fighting for off rebounds, he's doing it because he can't do anything else.
He just needs to find his way, he will naturally get a little bigger, but will never be a big bulky type that is ok, neither was Kareem or KG.....Dmo just needs to get lower, hold his ground and use his natual height and quickness. At 22 years old - he is a bit of a project, but so are just about everyone on the Rockets these days. patience and milder expectations are what is needed, the guy can play. BTW - 4 rebounds in 9 minutes last night. DD
Anyone that has paid the slightest attention to Dirk's progress and the failures of other similar players with similar body types/talents, knows Motiejunas needs to bulk up and while him having a outside shot is great, if he is going to succeed in this league he will need to have a post game.
Honestly, I think DMo himself thinks of himself as a 3-4 in the style of Gallinari - except he doesn't have the range (above the arc) and has a nifty post game. But the thing is - DMo might be mobile for a 7 footer but he's just not very graceful or agile enough to play on the perimeter much.
i don't think someone can develop a post game like that at 22 if he thinks of himself as Gallinar, he had to work hard on it.
anyway, as a DOF i feel i have to blame McFail somehow but i can't think of anything at the moment. i'll get back on that later.
DMo has tweeted, and I think said in an interview, that he doesn't want to get bigger if it means he loses his speed.
He has the silky smooth jumper of Dirk Nowitzki...the low post prowess of a young Kevin Garnett...and the cerebral dominance of prime Tim Duncan.
I trust Greg Smith way more than D-Mo. I'd trust T-Jones over Beemo. The guy simply cannot bang with most PF's in the NBA. Way too skinny
He's not a power forward. He's a finesse forward. He has to play the four because of his size. He can't guard small forwards. He'll improve enough to be able to be passable on defense on 4's, but he's not going to be a "power" forward in the mold of a Charles Barkley.
The starting pf should be strong physical rebounder and post defender... high Bball IQ and can pass "THATS ME"
McHale hates Lithuanians. Told his friends they can't ball. After seeing DMo dominate in practice he now knows he was wrong, but he doesn't want to look like a fool to his friends so he's sabotaging DMo's career.
DMo is a PF, but not the way McHale wants him to play PF. His strength is in the post on offense. He can hit a 3 but hes nothing special from behind the 3pt line, yet McHale wants him to camp out around the 3pt line. As a stretch 4 he hardly even deserves to be in the rotation, as a low post 4 he can be one of our very best players. Would like to see McHale keep Greg Smith in the starting lineup and have DMo coming in with the 2nd unit and playing the 5.
