Why does every one think that just because your athletic you will be great.

Are you being sarcastic or what?

Eddie Griffin can't dribble.
He can't shoot.
He can't defend "properly".

What fundamentals?!?

He travels all the time...

No fundamentals at all....

But I am willing to wait.....in a couple of years...I believe he can become a star...like Peja Stojakovic is right now. He could be good.....like Jermaine O'Neal. But most likely...if he ever becomes a star....it will not be on the Rockets.

 

pound for pound (like in boxing categories based on weight), Iverson is also the best player in the world.

oh, and I agree with SLA. It reads like you were being sarcastic about Griffin possibly heading down the road of Mr Fundamental. He's so far down the other road of getting along on athleticism alone, it makes me wince.

 

I do agree about the atheletic part. You look at Rasheed who has hall of fame talent, but its duncan who's inching his way there. Thats what really made Hakeem so good was he had both. If Duncan had Wallace explosion along with his fundamentals, he would be redefining the power forward position. Eddie could look at Duncan as an example, but I see him being more of a Donyell Marshall type. At the apex of his game, Griffin will be 15pts 10rebs and 2-3 blks. The thing that he's natural at is weakside blks and rebounding, but he''l never be a good scorer because he doesn't get fouled or draw fouls.

 

The conventional wisdom is that you can't teach athleticism. The rest of the stuff can be learned later. The problem is, athleticism, while an important part of being good, is not the most important. Fundamental skills are more important. Smart is more important.

You can compensate your lack of athleticism with good fundamentals and smart. (Larry Bird is the epitome case.) But you usually cannot compensate your lack of fundamentals and smart with athleticism. In other words, you can be a very good player with fundamentals and smart alone but you cannot be a very good player with just athleticism.

Fundamentals can be learned. Smart can be improved a little with experience but not much. That's why some very athletic but low IQ players never get to the elite level.

 

Great points Easy. A smart, non athletic player will always have better longevity in the league versus the opposite.

 

Pretty much. I can't see Francis being as good as Payton at the same age. Once his above the rim moves leaves, he will be very,very avg like Tim Hardaway was after his knee surgeries.

 

Griff is not leaning on athletic ability. He's leaning on his body type. He's long, lean, and has a wide wing span. He does have a quick jump too. He's not a ball handler. But that's not his job. He's a PF in a SF body. That's his problem. He needs to bulk up.

Remember Horry? He was the same. An uncoordinated PF/SF. But a great defender because of his length/width.

The difference between Horry and Griff, is that Griff actually has some decent fundamental post moves. He's just so thin that he gets pushed around.

On a bad note. I'm not sure that Griff actually *likes* banging in the post. I think he dislikes contact.

We'll see.

 

Griffin could score if he just put a little arc in his shot and attack the basket and he would get fouled!!! I can just see it now he's hanging around the 3 pt line (Isnt this unusual)LOL) and cuts to the basket and gives sombody a facial and a dunk! And Calvin Murphy screaming and WON!!!! Yeah RIGHT!! Ah how good is it to dream!

 

He does have potential...he will never be as good as Jermaine O'Neal or Rasheed Wallace or anyone that is better than them. But I think he can become a star...or very very good role player...once he gets his personal problems fixed and gets stronger and continues to work on his shooting. If he stays here...hopefully the coaches will get him more involved in the offense efficiently..so like he can shoot 3's and make open jumpers and cut and get wide open dunks and do all the simple things. If we trade him, I think if he goes to ther right team, he could become a star....

Unless his brain has been permanantly damanged from smoking pot...

 

Because men have sinned!

 

I had a dream about a week ago we traded Griffen to the Mavs and he averaged 17ppg, 11.2rpg, and 2.0bpg that season.

 

It's not a dream. Nelly would make it happen.

 

The other difference is that Horry can dribble very well and doesn't mind banging or hitting someone in the nuts if he has to.

 

Two words: Roderick Rhodes.

 

or twice, in the case of the admiral. and it wasnt a "hit" as much it twas an open-handed slap-pretty punk either way though.