Just because we do not know a player's potential with nearly 100% certainty doesn't mean that we (or more specifically, the coaches and people who watch him daily) do not know a significant amount about him and it certainly doesn't mean that a team should not trade a player with this level of knowledge.
I am constantly shocked when people are suprised that DMO is a 3-4 year project at the NBA level. He might not be ready NEXT year. Onlly blame you can put on the ORG is that when Motiejunas was in the game we really didn't play to his strength (posting him up) too often Motiejunas will need to be in a system with a brute defender next to him. As well as a coach that commits to dumping it into him. Motiejunas is a crafty and above average passer. Pretty sure he will figure out how to play well from the post. But it will be 2-4 more years.
A guy like dmo needs consistent minutes off the bench or be in the d league, because he should be still developing. He should not be a 3 rd string forward. Save that for peaked veterans like Garcia. Coaching wise, I haven't seen him progress in his game, so McHale is either incompetent or dmo is obtuse like you said. However, his offensive game looks too polished to be a guy that can't be coached. The only thing he needs coaching on is defense and rebounds. It's not like he's physically weak that limits him either. Last year he looked like a bean pole, but this year I've seen him power through in the paint. He needs a lower posture when boxing out. However the biggest problem is he plays too far from the rim on offense and defense. It's a waste to plant him on the corner 3 with his post skills. Dmo would be perfect when we play small ball as a floor running 5. These are simple corrections that I can't believe that dmo would not understand, but something McHale is failing to correct.
D-Mo doesnt' have development time here which is a shame, because Howard/Asik are ideal 5s to play next to. Too bad he doesn't get post touches like he needs here.
You're right about the coaching staff, but at this moment we (fans) can only speculate. If Morey does indeed trade Donatas, I only hope he gets consistent playing time with his new team and those post touches so we can see what he's truly capable of. Time will tell. I pray that the DD curse isn't strong with this one. It's important to mention, Motiejunas grabbed 21 rebounds (18 defensive) in a Euroleague game two years ago and thus set a single game defensive rebounds record and tied the 3rd best rebounding performance ever in Euroleague. He's a good rebounder, but as you mentioned, he plays too far away from the basket with the Rockets.
Surely DMo could find a spot on one of these teams if Morey gets an acceptable offer... Seven players waived, 20 spots open
Seriously you are putting your trust in this head coach? That is an egregious error in your judgement. DD
I wonder if trade for Aminu together with Brewer might work out for us. I'm liking someone that can defend and not need to have the rock in his hands to perform? We've already got a bunch of shooters that he can be paired with otherwise he's offering more on the plate now than both Brewer and Dmo combined. Any thoughts?
I think Dmo has defended pretty well in the playing time he has had this year, and his rebounding numbers have been good. Everything would improve with playing time. I'm not trying to make any conspiracy crap up, but it does seem like Mchale has players that he doesn't care for and I think that hurts the Rockets. He can act like it's not true but the way he has treated Lowry, Lin, and Dmo sure makes me think that he has issues.
DMo got first dibs on the starting job last season after Patterson and Morris got traded. I hardly think that this is a sign that McHale is biased against him or doesn't care for him. In fact, before the deadline McHale spoke about how he liked DMo's performance in practice and thought they should try to find minutes for him (I think he was referring to trading one, but not both, of the PFs in the rotation). He's had as many opportunities as any of the other young bigs on the roster to earn a rotation spot. These other guys just have been more ready to take advantage of their chances.
You may be right about him liking Dmo ( I also remember that exact interview where he said Dmo was playing very well in practice and he was telling him to hold on his time will come), I was just speculating because it seems weird that he can't get any consistent playing time to show what he can do. Dmo outplayed Jones in the preseason, but Jones got the nod before Dmo to play. Jones has done well and I'm happy for that, but I think Dmo should get some backup minutes to Jones and some backup at the 5 while Asik is out. He has shown he can play good, but he needs to get back his rhythm and timing because his offensive game is more finesse than Jones, or Smith.
I haven't followed this particular conversation, but I'm trying to figure out if your being serious or just throwing out schtick.
You were too sensitive when Daryl Morey didn't make the moves you thought he should make and now you are upset with Kevin McHale because he does not play the perticular young players you want him to play. Kevin has been outstanding at nurturing along and developing our young players. Better than that, he does not give young players a since of intitlement just based on their draft position or their fame. He started Chandler in his rookie season while Mook (a lottery pick) was sitting on the bench. He put another rookie in the rotation last season (Patrick Beverely) who is now the starter over Jeremy Lin. Kevin's willingness to give Daryl Morey's direction a very real and scincere try (when Rick Adelman was not and stated so in an interview) was a huge factor in the Rockets making the play-offs last season and acquiring D12 this season. I used to enjoy most of your posts and defended your point of view on many occassions but since RA was fired and Chase Budinger was traded you have turned into a bitter, jilted Rockets fan.
Very true, DD isn't able to view the Rockets objectively because of the man crushes he gets with members of the team.
That has nothing to do with my disdain for him as a coach, it is his lack of attention to detail and holding players accountable for their mistakes or in particular lack of defense that I have issues with, that and not being able to design decent plays out of time outs - I like him as a person, but he is the worst coach we have had in a long while. Well that is your take, I am hardly bitter, I just have very high expectations for this particular group of players - and I think they are underachieving due to poor coaching. Varying opinions about things is what makes this place great - if you think McHale has done a great job - that's cool - it is just not my op. DD
Well, that's always been true. AB. Vasilinus Spoogalotuckus. Et al. Oh my dear Lord. Yes, to an extent. If the player fits the mold. Tall, shoots 3 pointers? Keep. Doesn't shoot 3 pointers? Pinch; wipe; flush. (Unless injuries absolutely force his, uh, hand.) McHale has also allowed others to languish. To be fair, Morey sometimes trades away players faster than McHale can play them. Not to give Lin's Legions any fodder, but McHale also keeps Jeremy on a short short leash, while you could have hanged every outlaw in the Old West with the amount of rope he gives to other players. Work for the Rockets organization? We made the playoffs in spite of McHale, not because of him. Didn't we bungle the last three games of the regular season in 2012-13? OOPS, fell from 6th to 8th. Never heard a "that's on me" from KMcH. Didn't we drop seven of our last nine in 2011-12 and miss the playoffs? Sure, we had some injury problems, but with McHale's teams, the discipline sinks in about as well as it does from parents with their kids running amok at Food Town: You tell them again, and again, and again, and again.... McHale? Nice guy. Placeholder coach.
I don't think anyone is arguing that McHale has done a great job. He is simply an average coach, or more precisely said, he makes little difference in our W/L record at the end of the day. 80% of coaches fall in this category, with maybe 3 great coaches and 3 terrible coaches. It would be great if we could find one of the few plus coaches that have existed in the NBA over the past couple of decades, but I don't see any available alternative that would be a difference maker. Fans of other teams make the same complaints, but in the end it doesn't make a difference. The players on the floor are 90% of the result. Morey's game plan is probably the rest.
