JaVale McGee

[PlusTheHarm]

Re: JaVale McGee

I hear ya, dude has the potential to be something else. Seriously. Top 5 center ish. But dude almost seems like a chump ... almost like a dude you DON'T want on your team.

I remember a game where the Bulls were winning and dude had a slam to complete his trip-dub and he was hyping while everyone was running back down. It was like it didn't matter he was losing ... now, without the line in front of me I can't say for certain if the Wiz just weren't playing good (I recall him having a bunch of blocks, he played well) but dude was just fronting. Clown material.

Dude's ceiling is up there though. Without a doubt.

[DukeC]

Re: JaVale McGee

I know it's not Lamar Odom's job, but if they were at a Team USA camp together, then why not show the guy some simple drills or techniques or something that would help increase his IQ? I mean, you can't necessarily blame McGee if all he had to do was athletically dominate guys coming up to be successful.

Not saying it's an excuse for low Basketball IQ, but it's in the same lane as a guy never being properly taught defense, and thus they never invest time in defense period. I mean, it's probably a lot of guys in the NBA who don't know how to properly shuffle their feet to stay in front of a defender, because they were never really taught.

Any scorer who's ever been relied on to score the majority of the points for his team(s) growing up.

Jimmer Fredette is a current example. Steph Curry used to not be able to play defense. He's still bad at it though, and it's never going to be his strength. Nash is also in this conversation.

Melo is flat out terrible. The man tries, he really does...but he sucks. Contrast him with Amare who can play defense but chooses not to.

[Outcast]

Re: JaVale McGee

Any scorer who's ever been relied on to score the majority of the points for his team(s) growing up.

Jimmer Fredette is a current example. Steph Curry used to not be able to play defense. He's still bad at it though, and it's never going to be his strength. Nash is also in this conversation.

Melo is flat out terrible. The man tries, he really does...but he sucks. Contrast him with Amare who can play defense but chooses not to.

I would say exactly the opposite, 'Melo is a very capable defender, he just doesn't try or care. When he does try he is a great defender. I remember when he decided to defend Kobe in the WCF, he was very decent.
If you watch his defensive mistakes, it's due to lack of dedication & not lack of skill.

[DukeC]

Re: JaVale McGee

I would say exactly the opposite, 'Melo is a very capable defender, he just doesn't try or care. When he does try he is a great defender. I remember when he decided to defend Kobe in the WCF, he was very decent.
If you watch his defensive mistakes, it's due to lack of dedication & not lack of skill.

Consider me corrected then. What would everyone consider the top 5 worst defenders in the league (in terms of effort)?

[JaySmooov]

Re: JaVale McGee

I would say exactly the opposite, 'Melo is a very capable defender, he just doesn't try or care. When he does try he is a great defender. I remember when he decided to defend Kobe in the WCF, he was very decent.
If you watch his defensive mistakes, it's due to lack of dedication & not lack of skill.

Exactly. Depending on the type of coaches you have (and a lot of times, where you come up/learn the game), you're gonna develop your game a certain way. A lot of coaches don't teach defense at all, whereas sometimes the first thing you learn from a coach (or a camp) is defense - one of the first things I learned when I went to a basketball camp was how to shuffle to stay in front of a defender, and it's much harder than it seems. That's why I brought it up.

But the point is, JaVale McGee needs someone to teach him some techniques and help him refine his game. He's always gonna be an athletic center, so he'll be able to do things most centers can't. But he needs at LEAST ONE go-to move, because throwing shots up isn't gonna cut it long-term. Athletic centers are coming a dime a dozen nowadays.

[Colts18]

Re: JaVale McGee

Why do people keep saying he has the potential to do anything other than jump, run, dunk, and block shots? Top 5 this and that, why do you feel that way?

[madjax]

Re: JaVale McGee

because a man with his length and his athleticism is something special. You cannot teach the natural gifts he has, but you can teach him how to use him. With the right coaching and mindset he could be scary really scary

[iAM-IncReDiBLe-]

because a man with his length and his athleticism is something special. You cannot teach the natural gifts he has, but you can teach him how to use him. With the right coaching and mindset he could be scary really scary

He's never ever going to be scary. He's always going to be a big guy who can only dunk an block shots. All he cares about is getting his an he's just all around stupid.

Sent from Jesus EVO

[JaySmooov]

Re: JaVale McGee

He's never ever going to be scary. He's always going to be a big guy who can only dunk an block shots. All he cares about is getting his an he's just all around stupid.

Sent from Jesus EVO

Well if your on a team that is routinely getting beat by everyone, I doubt anyone on the team is really gonna put the team first. Everyone on that team is out to get theirs, because they all probably plan on leaving.

JaVale McGee is just about the same guy as DeAndre Jordan. The only difference is, Jordan probably has a WAY better coach, someone who actually teaches him SOMETHING.

I don't know if McGee will be top 10, but the dude can be good because of his natural gifts alone. He needs to be in the right environment, which is the case for the average NBA player ANYWAY.

There aren't too many LeBron's who can produce anywhere you put 'em.

[nyqua]

Re: JaVale McGee

McGee added this tonight:

http://twitpic.com/8gp27i

He has absolutely no court awareness. Also lol @ John Wall's reaction.

[BlueNGold]

Re: JaVale McGee

McGee added this tonight:

http://twitpic.com/8gp27i

He has absolutely no court awareness. Also lol @ John Wall's reaction.

JaVale did exactly what John Wall wants to do - run from Washington.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: JaVale McGee

JaVale did exactly what John Wall wants to do - run from Washington.

It must have been the

[iAM-IncReDiBLe-]

Well if your on a team that is routinely getting beat by everyone, I doubt anyone on the team is really gonna put the team first. Everyone on that team is out to get theirs, because they all probably plan on leaving.

JaVale McGee is just about the same guy as DeAndre Jordan. The only difference is, Jordan probably has a WAY better coach, someone who actually teaches him SOMETHING.

I don't know if McGee will be top 10, but the dude can be good because of his natural gifts alone. He needs to be in the right environment, which is the case for the average NBA player ANYWAY.

There aren't too many LeBron's who can produce anywhere you put 'em.

Sure they are essentially the same player but I feel its blatantly obvious that DeAndre Jordan is much smarter on the court then McGee.

Sent from Jesus EVO

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: JaVale McGee

Sure they are essentially the same player but I feel its blatantly obvious that DeAndre Jordan is much smarter on the court then McGee.

Sent from Jesus EVO

Not only that I'm going to guess (and I could be completely wrong) but I would assume that Jordan probably has a better work ethic than McGee.

Even if McGee were to have a great big man coach he needs to want it and he doesn't strike me as a guy who spends his free time in the gym trying to improve.

[JaySmooov]

Re: JaVale McGee

Not only that I'm going to guess (and I could be completely wrong) but I would assume that Jordan probably has a better work ethic than McGee.

Even if McGee were to have a great big man coach he needs to want it and he doesn't strike me as a guy who spends his free time in the gym trying to improve.

Again, look at the environment he's in.

For example, I can guarantee in LA, there is no slacking in practice when Kobe is on the court. Otherwise, dudes would end up like Smush Parker, getting repeatedly blasted by him.

Now, look at Washington. They've been pure losers for a long time. Everyone there is basically looking over the horizon. Nick Young wanted out. Rashard Lewis is counting checks. Hell, has John Wall gotten ANY better? It's kinda hard to work hard when you know your coaches really suck, to put it blatantly.

I mean, even the interim HC wasn't excited to have to take the job when he was introduced. You think a lot of these guys haven't checked out by now?

Basically, it's the culture around there. Attitudes are contagious; that's how the saying "One bad apple spoils the bunch" comes into play. The minute you get one selfish guy who doesn't work hard, then some scrub doesn't wanna work hard. Then maybe two more bench warmers don't wanna work. Then once they start losing, everything in practice is light-hearted, no serious, no drive to get better and win. Trust me, I've seen this happen personally, so I know the effect it can have.