Are you kidding? Starting Gaines at PG? Now that is desperate. Gaines is not ready to get more than 10 min. a game. If he starts we are going to get killed night in and night out. Just how bad was Gaines last year? He would make Boki look like Dirk. The guy shot under 30% (I couldn't think of a second player in the NBA who did that). When a first-round pick couldn't get any playing time in a developing and rebuilding situation, there was a problem. Think about it. How many teams give up on a first-round pick after one season? I'm not saying that Gaines is hopeless. He may benefit greatly from a change of scenery and start to develop into the player that people hope that he will be. However, I'm not ready to hand our starting PG job to someone who has little experience and just came off an awful rookie season. At this point Lue is by far a better player than Gaines.
don't hold it against him because he played for the Tra-gic. GOoden is a good player too, and looks like a lost cause on that train wreck franchise. I think that lue, Howard, and T-mac are all BETTER than
Dont you think these players need to be fostered? given a chance? I say we focus on getting a C and starting PG but use Gaines primarily as the backup PG since Lue may be a FA next year anyways. that way we develop Gaines into the starting PG .. not this year but maybe 2 years from now. J
maybe Gaines just needs more NBA level coaching to get his game together. I wouldn't be suprised if he had only a little coaching from being with Orlando. I say let JVG work with him through the season and hope he comes out a gem.
Though not always the case, players selected in the first round generally have a better chance of starting than 2nd, 3rd, etc... What did Gaines do so wrong in Orlando. Perhaps it was what Orlando did so wrong with Gaines. I truly hope that Gaines turns out to be a diamond in the rough.
good point.... or to out it another way Johnny Davis (O-town) coach, has a career average of 21 wins per season (one season in O, one in Phily)... he is NOT going to challeging Hube, RUdy T, LVG, or Larry Brown for coach of the year anytime soon
Why can't Gaines start? Why can't Pike start? Why can't Boki start? Why can't we bring in Dan Langhi and have him start? Because there are better options. Much better options.
I do not think he is a starter by any means, but I agree with the people who want him to get a chance to get some minutes here. O-town is a train wreck franchise last season - they have bad ownership, a sleezy GM, and a bad coach... how can you judge a rookie with that going against him that being said, if he comes here and fails, then he could end up just another college star that washed out in the pros (just don't tell Dickie V !!)
it is hard to make a decision about a guy who has potential, but played on the worst team in the nba during his rookie year. played in less than half of the games and under ten minutes a game. This doesn't even bring up the possibility that maybe the Magic organization didn't know how to develop the kid. In a year or two this could turn out to be quite a score. Time will tell...
I agree there are better options, but let's not be silly with Dan Langhi in that line up. Dan langhi was given every opportunity to try and shine, but he would always choked. Pike had an injury. Boki was ignored his first year, was coached his second year and given a bit more pt which he showed good promise in.
I have been very pleased that Gaines was included in the trade, and I am optimistic that he will be our point guard of the future. However, as I have said in all my posts regarding Gaines, I believe he will require at least half of one season and probably the whole season before he can run JVG's system the way JVG wants it run. That is why I really do not want to invest much in another PG unless that PG is someone really special like Jason Kidd (provided he comes back on healthy wheels).
All you need is more playing time and a coach who will develope you. That's what everyone says about Boki and Gaines, I don't see why you wouldn't have a shot too. j
Look at every #15 pick for the last 10 years. Then tell me how much the spot that someone is drafted along means about their talent.
ludicrous suggestion. gaines hasn't done didlly. he may yet, but he has not done didly. you do not trust a nobody to feed yao in the post, hit a open jump shot, not turn over the ball. Againl, he may yet become something and i am optimistic about his potential. but that's all he is. potential. and you do not hand over the starting pg position on a team that is supposed to compete for home court advantage to potential.
I'm sure Gaines will be given time to blossom,achieving his potential,whatever that is.He has talent,pedigree,etc.,but he is raw.Seeing him work into a solid rotation player first would make me happy. Remember,Ron Harper used to be an All Star,before his knee injuries.He is a guy of character who worked his butt off to not only overcome that,but a speech impediment(I believe).Ron was the consumate pro who became a role player.I mean,he had mad game. My point is that Gaines has a long ways to go,and he might turn into a stud,but lets give him time.Bring in another hybrid 1/2 for now,a veteran.
Who is "we", that doesn't want to give Lue too much time at PG? If you mean the Rocket's organization, according to CD, they have a lot of confidence in Lue and the probabilities of productivity from him this comming season . If it's the fans, well, half don't want Lue to have much time at PG and label him a "useless scrub" soley based on his height, and alleged "horrible defense". And the other half, which is the side I'm in , thinks Lue will surprise a lot of people in a positive way next year. And the complaint over his height isn't worth ignoring his compitent offensive and ball handling skills, that are already an improvement over our PG position of last year. He's D while not great, isn't as bad as Francis' , and under JVG I have a lot of confidence in his mobility, hustle and speed that his defense won't be an issue nor 'excellent' next season.
