Finally! A thread that not only doesn't ignore Boki when it comes to players that can help the team and have something to offer next season, but also speaks positively over him. I agree, lack of confidence on these two players have hindered their progress. Boki having to sit out an entire year due to his coach publicly stating, "Next year will be his real rookie season". The guy wasn't at all coached, instructed, helped or given any type of attention that year. Completely forgotten as the Rocket's second first round pick. That's why I consider him and think those who shun him, should consider, him only having 1 yr of NBA experience rather than 2. Same thing for Gaines, his first season, he was barely given playing minutes on a horrible team. The playing time he did receive was quickly taken as soon as he made a mistake. He didn't seem like he had received any coaching or instruction aswell. Gaines should be receiving actual coaching and instruction next season. I've no doubt he'll have the same patience and re-enforcing, positive tutoring Boki got from JVG off the court his second year. Boki's already been progressing pretty quickly, considering the lack of playing time, in one year. What'd be best for his progress to flourish further, is by having more experience ON the court, more play time to increase his production and on the field knowledge. Not to mention, to give JJ more of a breather. All in all, I agree with everyone here, it is FAR too early to write off both of these players as mere "scrubs". Or tradeable commodities. They've only had one ACTUAL year each, of the NBA experience. Give them time, and most importantly give them playing time.
Point well taken, Crash. Ellis went for the immortal Al Wood. The others brought little back. I am in Boki's corner -- I hope he earns, gets, and thrives with playing time next season. Reece? I know nada. I hope for the best -- why not, he is a Roxite!
no way people round here reap praise on players all time and are an extremely patient mob, they never make early and reactive judgements
Until they prove that they are not scrubs, they are the scrubs, and we fans have the rights to say so.
Yeah, Yao in his first month was a scrub and so is Darko Malicic in his first year. Come on, a little patience doesn't hurt.
Boki and Gaines would be nice if either/both pan out, but neither are being counted on for the short term, at least.
I really liked the energy Boki showed in the playoffs Also he has shown a fearlessness both shooting when open and driving the lane. All he needs is confidence, playing time and consistancy. But that is true for almost every young player. Let's hope he gets some playing time in the rotation early (pre season) and he has some success to develop confidence JVG will not let him on the court if he doesn't bring the defensive intensity. I hope he gives some more of those hard fouls out
Walton and Rush got to play because of injuries to Malone, Fox and Grant. A good coach should get his team to win games. Last year if we had lost 2-3 games just to play young players, we would have been out of the playoffs. Guys need to learn how to play in practice and shouldn't see any floor time unless they are going to HELP the team win games, not COST them 2 or 3 games . j
I hope Boki & Gaines get their pt this year. Whatever happens to Boki, I'll always remember him for his rejection of Karla's layup attempt in the playoffs. That by itself is enough to get his jersey hung from the rafters!!
I think Boki will eventually move on and ba really good player on some other team. He's just not a JVG-type player. With the type of defense and effort JVG is looking for, Boki loses his legs 5 minutes into the game, and that affects his finishing at the basket. Look at his stats, he's almost the same inside and outside the arc, which means that he's not finishing inside. Boki is the type of player that would flourish on the Bucks, Nuggets, Wolves, Hornets, etc... Teams that have mobile big men, and focus on lots of motion offense. However, I do hold out hope that Boki gets into tremendous shape to be able to sustain the amount of effort he needs to put forth enough so that it doesn't affect his shot. As for Gaines, I don't know. From what I've read, he has a lot of wrinkles in his game that he just wouldn't fix last year. The way he dribbles, his shot mechanics, etc... I'm hoping we could fix this, because I would LOVE to have a 6'6 PG who can distribute, score, and play defense next to a 6'8 T-Mac.
And as you know, stats don't always tell the FULL tale. Boki did struggle in the beginning, but made positive strides nearing the end of last season including the playoffs. If anything, him making such strides through a lack of playing time and a proper amount of in game experience, showed he IS a JVG type player. He had no trouble finishing his automatic drives, and they are automatic in entry, at the latter of last season. As for his shooting, it is highly unfair to judge this aspect of his game so immaturely. The fans made him out to be a shooting prospect, some sort of shooting, especially 3pt shooting specialist. Do take account that on his first season, he wasn't coached at all let alone knowledgeably touched by anyone. He was just a quick unknown slasher at the end of the bench. His second year, he barely get's worked on and other aspects of his game not really known start to flourish, such as hustle, defense and the ability to learn, plus of course that ever needed finish to his instant drives. His shooting however wasn't approached as much, I fully believe that will be addressed next season more, now that other sides of his game have started to emerge and grow. And we really should not discount his playoff play as just taking a foul from a bully and standing up to him in response. He showed more than just that, he showed courage admist pressure, or "heart", mental focus to do what he is asked to do no matter the circumstance or opponent (playoff atmosphere and pressure). And most importantly desire to do anything possible to help a team, like Francis, however more capable of actually fullfilling those desires with little trouble. All that from a ONE year rookie, with ONE year of coaching. Call me crazy, but isn't it quick to jump the gun, calling a ONE year rookie, already a non fit to this team when showing improvement?
