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Post by meltinjohn on Nov 9, 2005 20:46:19 GMT -5
I'm sorry I even started this.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 10, 2005 0:48:45 GMT -5
Back to the topic at hand, let me share with you my updated observations on Delonte West, whom I'm now refering to as "Del". He's either got to be our starting PG or be traded. And by saying traded, I don't mean because I don't like this kid. I absolutely think this kid is wonderful and he is all about winning. He'd probably give up his arm to win a game. But I just don't see his game translating as a backup PG. He's got to either be a starting PG or nothing at all. He needs to be on the floor a lot because that's when his true value surfaces. His overall impact on the team shows up over a length of time. He's got the intangibles I love and he makes things happen. Comes up with big steals, big blocks, and at times, big points. Really is unselfish with the ball and could care less about scoring if he can help others to hit buckets.
As a backup who only plays 15 minutes a game, Del would be non existent and of no value. He needs to start of be traded, and lucky for us, he looks like he can turn out to be a very valuable starting PG for us. Maybe he won't make any All-Star appearances, but he'll definitely be a big winner in our eyes if he keeps playing the way he is.
Now, there are some things I want to see Del improve on--primarily looking to score more and also using his right hand when dribbling. Delonte is so unselfish that he often moves the ball when he should take the shot. Case in point occurs when the ball swings around the court and there aren't anyone who has a good look at the basket. If the ball gets passed around more than 4 times, Delonte should be looking to shoot the ball when it comes to him. He needs to help bail out the offense when the shot clock is winding down.
He also needs to work on dribbling with his right hand (something he worked hard on this summer, but still needs to be polished). Almost every possession ends up on the left side of the court and hardly any penetrations come on the right side. As teams begin to strategize against us, they may start to force us to use the right side of the court more.
Delonte also seems to be suseptible to ball pressure, so he needs to be sure to protect the ball better.
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Post by ferbo on Nov 10, 2005 12:50:15 GMT -5
IMHO those skills would help the second unit improve its offense.
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Post by meltinjohn on Nov 10, 2005 14:01:57 GMT -5
If Delontes skills are only as a starting pg, still keep him anyways even if he wouldn't be good off the bench. Maybe you mentioned this Derren because Banks and Greene will be sitting otherwise? It does seem like Delonte takes most of the pg minutes. If Delonte is our future pg, I don't see a place for Banks here in the future or Orien perhaps.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 10, 2005 22:28:31 GMT -5
IMHO those skills would help the second unit improve its offense. No, I don't think he'll be a good fit with the second unit. Our second unit should be a tempo pushing squad, much like last year. And Delonte is not this type of PG. His style is more halfcourt oriented. The reason I bring this conversation up is because I was looking ahead into the future and was thinking if we'd be a better team if we had a star PG (like Baron Davis, or TJ Ford, etc.). And when I thought of Delonte on the bench, it didn't really make much sense because as we are seeing, Delonte's true value comes over a period of time. He's not a sudden impact player like Ricky D or Banks, who steps onto the court and instantly gets things started. Del picks and chooses his spots to attack and goes for the kill when its there for the taking. So either we nuruture and develop our offensive system so that Delonte is the absolute perfect fit at PG and no one else is needed (like Baron or TJ), or we go for a higher caliber PG and move Delonte. And I seriously may cry if we trade Delonte because I think he's the epitome of old school Celtics basketball. But at the same time, he'd have little value as a backup PG who plays 15 minutes a game. |
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Post by BCHISTORIAN on Nov 10, 2005 23:32:28 GMT -5
personally i think that delonte is a good back-up as well. but all the second unit should be clicking in order to play it out so. that is not to say that i don't want kirk hinrich on this team...  |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 11, 2005 0:09:58 GMT -5
It may just be me, but Delonte does not seem to be the type of guy who produces in limited minutes. He's not an instant producing player.
Take a look at spring training and preseason. He didn't show that he was the clear cut best PG on the team, and the reason, IMO, was because he was having to split his minutes between Orien Greene and Dan Dickau. He looked nothing like the PG he is showing us he is right now. And the reason is because he's now getting a lot of minutes, which allows his game to evolve throughout all 4 quarters.
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Post by meltinjohn on Nov 11, 2005 3:13:11 GMT -5
The reason Delonte is not an instant producing player is because hes not high on offense even in big minutes. Hes too unselfish to be on the bench really. For his defense though, I wouldn't trade him. Bad idea people. I predicted before and I think I should say this again. Delonte in big minutes is our Tom Brady. Maybe never a finals mvp or reg season mvp but hes surely our equivalent to what Tom Brady is on the pats. He blocks big guys for christs sakes.
You trade him, you'll be sorry. Unless its for Chris Paul, Deron Williams or someone like that. But still, why make trades if you got something good going with the guy?
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Nov 11, 2005 9:22:02 GMT -5
The reason Delonte is not an instant producing player is because hes not high on offense even in big minutes. Hes too unselfish to be on the bench really. Delonte in big minutes is our Tom Brady.
Yep, right along the lines of what I was thinking.
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