Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 24, 2006 23:21:29 GMT -5
We have so many young players who are talented basketball players, but yet have been lagging in the developmental department. Its not because they aren't as good as we think they can be; its because they're not being given the playing time to assimilate the speed and quick rhythm of the NBA, or get comfortable in their roles.
If you look around the league at guys who were drafted during the time our players were drafted, who are also about the same potential level; they are much more advanced than our guys in the same amount of time they've been in the NBA. And the difference is they've gotten the playing time to adjust to the NBA game and learn from their mistakes.
Take JR Smith for example. He's not a big time talent, but he's currently a big time contributor in Denver's offense. He's helping the Nuggets reach the upper echelon in the NBA. Is he that much better than any of our young wing players? No, he's not. But he was given a lot of playing time in his 1st two years in the league, whether he was playing well or not and now in his 3rd year, he's finally putting it all together.
Same with Monta Ellis and Andres Biedrins. Under Don Nelson, these guys have been given the green light to play their games and they have rewarded him with very impressive numbers for such young guys. They were allowed to develop their games with a lot of playing time and that's the quickest way to get the nervousness out of young players.
Any one of these guys, if they were on our team, would be buried on the bench and given only 6 minutes of playing time for the 1st few years of their careers. Even a guy like Josh Smith would be sidelined, wasting away his vast talents and potential. Maybe even Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor would be far behind the level they are playing at now if they were on our team.
If Gerald Green were on the Warriors, he'd be pushing Jason Richardson. If Leon Powe or Al Jefferson were with the Lakers, they'd be the talk of the town.
Its time to give our young players the playing time they need. We are 4 - 8 right now and I'd rather have that record with Gerald and Jefferson playing a ton of minutes and Telfair and Rajon running the show. At least that way, they'll be more advanced next year and ready to take on much bigger roles and responsibilities.
If you look around the league at guys who were drafted during the time our players were drafted, who are also about the same potential level; they are much more advanced than our guys in the same amount of time they've been in the NBA. And the difference is they've gotten the playing time to adjust to the NBA game and learn from their mistakes.
Take JR Smith for example. He's not a big time talent, but he's currently a big time contributor in Denver's offense. He's helping the Nuggets reach the upper echelon in the NBA. Is he that much better than any of our young wing players? No, he's not. But he was given a lot of playing time in his 1st two years in the league, whether he was playing well or not and now in his 3rd year, he's finally putting it all together.
Same with Monta Ellis and Andres Biedrins. Under Don Nelson, these guys have been given the green light to play their games and they have rewarded him with very impressive numbers for such young guys. They were allowed to develop their games with a lot of playing time and that's the quickest way to get the nervousness out of young players.
Any one of these guys, if they were on our team, would be buried on the bench and given only 6 minutes of playing time for the 1st few years of their careers. Even a guy like Josh Smith would be sidelined, wasting away his vast talents and potential. Maybe even Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor would be far behind the level they are playing at now if they were on our team.
If Gerald Green were on the Warriors, he'd be pushing Jason Richardson. If Leon Powe or Al Jefferson were with the Lakers, they'd be the talk of the town.
Its time to give our young players the playing time they need. We are 4 - 8 right now and I'd rather have that record with Gerald and Jefferson playing a ton of minutes and Telfair and Rajon running the show. At least that way, they'll be more advanced next year and ready to take on much bigger roles and responsibilities.