Yeah. I'm not down on James and I do think he had a completey green light to shoot in the Mav's series (I think JVG knew Sura and Wesley were injured/out of gas). But every time I hear him open his mouth I shudder. I really see him being JVG's biggest challenge this season. He's playing for a contract and he's also playing the position that's the weak link on this team. Sura is creaky (poor at the post-entry pass), Head's a rook, V-Span is pulling down 3 mil. in Greece and Mooch and Ward are done. If I'm DA right now I'd be thinking that my game is going to give this team what it needs and if James wants to be like "the microwave" (though Johnson was a good passer) I'll be starting immediately at the 1. That is not ideal, but I do think DA has the game that could surpass Sura's intangibles/rebounding and I'd like James to actually be competitive in earning a starting spot and not a contract. Maybe Mike needs a publicist to remind him to talk about what the team needs from him and how the team comes first. Then I could stomach even the thought of him being our starting pg.
Actually he didn't say "in their thirties". He said "at age thirty". Big difference. He then went on to say he and Derek Anderson were his examples of being in their prime at 30-31.
I love this guy's attitude! He brings fire and intensity to the team. These are the kind of things that Sam Cassell would say and people loved Sam. James is a lot like Sam in that regard, unfortunately he shoots to much like Sam despite being a quality passer (like Sam). He has a championship like Sam as well so James has been around the block. If he would pass more and shoot les he would be the ideal PG for us. He has the talent and the instinct, he just has to change his mindset.
While watching game 2 of the Dallas series, I noticed James is much faster than Sura, a better defender, and better going to the rack. Although he's not much of a playmaker, he's no slouch either. Remember, Sura isn't a natural PG either, but more of a distributor of the ball that often struggles against on ball defenses with his lack of footspeed and handle. I don't see any dropoff if James has to start, and might actually help him become a better PG with JVG watching him closely every game and critiquing his plays. I think if James could learn to pass and rebound like Sura, he could easily become the starter.
Sura is not a natural point guard, but he walked in and said, "What do I need to do?". James is a natural point guard and says, "We do it my way.". For the point guard position, I prefer a team player.
I'd give him the chance to start. He adds so much electricity to the team. JVG can pull the plug on him if he needs to. But when you look at the team we look explosive out there so he fits right in. I'm all for seeing what he can do. He's been around long enough to make this work.
I'd go as far to suggest MJ throws a better post-entry pass than any guard we had last year. But he is not, and will not be a playmaker for anyone. The one thing Sura has over him in the playmaking area is that he seems to have better overall court vision - and he knows where T-Mac is period. I won't say Sura is superior as a pg, but I do think MJ exposes our overall weakness there when I watch him on the court.
seeing as how james didn't appear to disrupt any chemistry last year, and was actually a good part of it, i take his comments with a grain of salt. i'm glad we have him as he's a valuable scorer off the bench, i just wish he didn't always come across as a me- first basketball player.
Rox does not need a PG to create. The player Rox needs is the one who is tall, can bring the ball to the front court and pass the ball to T-mac, defend and shoot the 3. M. James does not fit the team as a starter if he wants to shoot. This team is set for Phil Jackson right now. But right now it is up to JVG to bring the team to the NBA final. I think Rox can beat the Spurs with a tall and tough defender on the PG position to take out Parker. This Rox team fought hard with the Spurs last season, there is no reason why they can't beat the Spurs.
I'd love for Head to be able to start in place of Sura, and keep James coming off the bench. And when Sura is healthy he could come back to the starting role, if he's healthy enough. This year's training camp will be crucial for the frontcourt as well as the backcourt. But I believe with guys like Swift, Yao, and T-Mac in the lineup and able to create their own shot, constant doubleteams will make it crucial for the PG to be able to hit the outside shot. Head has the talent, it's just a matter of learning JVG's system and getting him comfortable on the court. Afterall, that is the plan.
