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Jones and Motiejunas prefer playing in DLeague to sitting on bench in the NBA

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Carl Herrera, Feb 4, 2013.

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Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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Before Donatas Motiejunas headed to McAllen for his most recent NBA Development League assignment — or it might have been the one before, with far too many in the books to keep track — he asked to go.

With no playing time with the Rockets, Motiejunas, a 7-0 center-forward, wanted to play somewhere and sought his second — unless it was his third — assignment to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

He has since returned to the Rockets, gone back to the Vipers and returned to the Rockets again, depending on how many round trips ago he sought D-League playing time.

“I asked to be sent,” Motiejunas, 26, said. “In my station, I don’t play a lot. I felt I lost completely the game, the feeling of the game and the rhythm of the game. It’s tough to sit on the bench. For me, it’s painful. But you have to go through this.”

Motiejunas has been assigned to and recalled from the D-League three times since mid-November. Terrence Jones made the round trip four times — once in a span of 48 hours — before he went back again Friday in time to fly to Maine for a game Saturday.

Jones, a 6-9 forward, scored 27 points with seven rebounds in the Vipers’ rout. With his most recent assignment, Jones is eligible for a spot on the D-League All-Star roster to be announced Monday.

“It’s gone both ways, rushing back up and being here for a day and rushing back down,” Jones, 21, said. “Whatever I can get better at is what I’ll have to do.”

The Rockets had planned to send their third rookie power forward, Royce White, 21, to the Development League twice, and he is scheduled to join the Vipers on Feb. 11 with games the following two days.

Chance to stay sharp

Jones (averaging 19.7 points and 9.6 rebounds) and Motiejunas (20.3 points and 9.7 rebounds) said they prefer playing in the D-League than watching in the NBA.

But the assignments are not about their enjoyment. For each, the D-League time offered a chance to stay sharp but also to improve in the areas that have contributed to their inability to crack the rotation.

“If you’re not playing and there are no practices, there is a way to enhance that development,” Rockets executive vice president Gersson Rosas said. “For us, the best place for that to happen is in the D-League in games.

“Right now, T. Jones has an opportunity to get five games in 10 days (beginning with Saturday’s game). We have to take advantage of that. Over those 10 days, there’s one or two practices here in Houston.

“For us, the best thing was to go down and work on things the coaches want them to work on here. For Terrence, it’s consistency in terms of defensive coverages, pick-and-roll coverages, schemes, where to be at the right time. You can only do that in game situations.

“Offensively, Terrence is pretty talented. For D-Mo, a lot of it is similar. For him, it’s more dealing with post defenses. He does a good job with pick-and-roll coverages. Rotations are tough for guys to pick up.”

Even with limited practice time, player development coaches and strength coaches can work on skills and fitness. Becoming reliable in team defenses, a must for big men, cannot come working with almost no one else on the court.

Ingrained in the system

“For the most part, it’s a collaborative effort,” Rosas said. “It’s a process that actually starts as early as draft interviews. We tell prospective players we really believe in the D-League. We believe in player development through playing games. We work through it together.”

For White, the D-League assignment is designed to begin the process of making up for lost time. Jones and Motiejunas said they have given little thought to White’s reluctance to report to the D-League and did not know the issues he and the Rockets had worked through.

“Royce White is not my concern,” Motiejunas said. “Looking at his station, he’d have to go. He didn’t play for half a season. I don’t see what other option he can do. I’m here the whole season, and I’m still not playing. Over there is only place to get playing time. I think it will be good for him, and he’s supposed to be happy to have a chance, as I am. Every time I get playing time I’m happy.”

Right frame of mind

That attitude, Jones said, is the key.

“It’s really how much you care about getting better and what you put into it,” Jones said. “It’s different for different players. Some go down with the attitude they don’t want to be there. Some people take advantage of it. I don’t know too much about (White’s) situation. I just know I felt I could get better by going.”

That is the plan. But beyond that, Motiejunas and Jones agree that playing is better than sitting.

“I’m open to go back if I’m not going to get a chance to play anymore,” Motiejunas said. “I’m not in love to sit on the bench. It hurts me from inside, because I love basketball.”
Click to expand...

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...gue-than-sitting-on-rockets-bench/#more-13744

#1 Carl Herrera, Feb 4, 2013

daywalker02 Member

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Where is Waldo.....er.... Royce?

#2 daywalker02, Feb 4, 2013
heypartner Contributing Member

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Sounds like Jones, DMo and Royce are going to be back in Vegas for the Summer League.

I'm so there.

DMo is going to destroy the new flock of rookie competition.

#3 heypartner, Feb 4, 2013
DudeWah Member

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This article is a solid read.

It clarifies a lot of things...

1) It dispels the sentiment that the d-leauge is not helping player development

2) We hear from Jones and Donuts that they don't feel discouraged by being sent to the d-league and are using it as a chance to improve while knowing this is something that rookies go through.

3) Motiejunas loves and breathes basketball. The guy wants it more than anything. He will become a solid player soon enough.

4) I love how blunt Donuts is. Especially about Royce White. Terrence Jones is a humble hard working guy. Both of them have immense upside.

5) The article highlights exact areas that Jones and Motiejunas have to work on and how playing for the Vipers (run same offense/defense) is helping them address their weak points.

#4 DudeWah, Feb 4, 2013
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If we could trade Morris/Cole/ for picks...
TJones and Donut could have some playing time..

#5 hahachui, Feb 4, 2013
heypartner Contributing Member

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btw: RGV is playing the Texas Legends on Feb 15th just outside of Dallas...one of Royce's first games. Sounds like DMo will be there, too.

Luther Head will be playing for the Legends! I can wear my Head jersey.

#6 heypartner, Feb 4, 2013
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I feel like Dmo's personality is really similar to that of scola's

#7 wtfamonkey, Feb 4, 2013

gah Member

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Rockets are going to pay Feigen a huge bonus for those quotes he extracted from the rookies but credit to them for having the right mindset.

If only D-Mo had the once reported weight of 240 he would be our back-up center right now because Greg Smith is showing the same deficiencies on defense.

#8 gah, Feb 4, 2013
Rodman23 .GIF

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“I asked to be sent,” Motiejunas, 26, said."
Click to expand...

Damn, the D-league is like the hyperbolic time chamber, 4 years experience in a matter of weeks.

#9 Rodman23, Feb 4, 2013

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Good kids. I hope that they'll have their defenses up to par, cuz it's not about the offense with us.

#10 raskol, Feb 4, 2013
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Rodman23 said: ↑

Damn, the D-league is like the hyperbolic time chamber, 4 years experience in a matter of weeks.
Click to expand...

Probably a Morey tactic to fool other GMs.

#11 crimmy88, Feb 4, 2013
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crimmy88 said: ↑

Probably a Morey tactic to fool other GMs.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps D-Mo is related to D-Mu(tumbo)

#12 BreakYoSelfFool, Feb 4, 2013
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We need to be patient with D-Mo and T. Jones, it's going to take time to develop them into reliable NBA rotation players.
D-Mo has a good grasp of the game, and can score with jumpers and hookshots ... but he's not physically strong enough to defend or rebound against NBA centers.
T. Jones is super athletic, and strong in the post, but he makes a lot of rookie mistakes and doesn't see the court very well.

Montiejunas isn't going to grow 20 lbs of muscle in 3 weeks. And Jones isn't going to develop into a complete post player in just a few D-League games.

Some other team's rookies are just further along in development than the rookie Rockets, because they came into the league that way.

#13 Benchwarmer, Feb 4, 2013

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I'd be surprised if both Morris and Pat are still here after deadline. Lack of rebounding, alone, is almost enough of a reason to move either.

Remember this from last year?

"Donatas Motiejunas - Euroleague. Promising young ... Motiejunas became just the 3rd player ever to post over 20 rebounds in a single contest."
Click to expand...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KERQgZJcE2M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#14 jocar, Feb 4, 2013
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heypartner said: ↑

Sounds like Jones, DMo and Royce are going to be back in Vegas for the Summer League.

I'm so there.

DMo is going to destroy the new flock of rookie competition.
Click to expand...

As far I can tell there is much better competition will be this summer for DMo - FIBA EuroBasket 2013.

#15 Normalus, Feb 4, 2013
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I think the article makes a fair point that there are certain aspects of the game that can only be improved via in-game situations and practice, such as defensive rotations and coverage. It's not like spot-up shooting where you can just stand there by yourself jacking up shots over and over again in the gym to refine your form. Team game elements (whether it's defensive coverage and coordinating help defense or switching, or running point where you can't practice unless you have a team to run) can only be learned and improved via actual game play and not solo practice in the off-season.

#16 Skyhoop, Feb 4, 2013
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He is not 26 years old article is wrong

#17 Rudyc281, Feb 4, 2013
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Whoa, D-Mo ain't 26!!!

#18 RedDynasty, Feb 4, 2013

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All the other teams play their rookies while ours sits on the bench and don't get playing time

#19 mr. 13 in 33, Feb 4, 2013
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Station.

#20 hooroo, Feb 4, 2013

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