Comments on: PER, PAWS, NBA EFF etc. http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:12:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5941 Joe Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:53:59 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5941 I think the short answer is that he left his roots. When he was in training camp with the Sonics back in the day as an undrafted FA, his dad and him had a chat with then coach Nate McMillan and asked him what would Damien need to do to make the team. The answer from McMillan was essentially to be a scrapper, defensive stopper, hustle, energy guy every second on the court. Damien did those things enough to make the team and he was an okay backup to Ray and Rashard, along with Flip Murray. McMillan left to coach the Blazers, and DW got a 5 year contract and from my perspective, he stopped being that guy. He instead was best friends with Ray Allen. He modeled his game after Ray. It is apparent. He uses so many of the same moves as Ray. The problem is that Ray isn't a defensive scrapper, stopper or energy guy. He is a smooth shooting wizard who uses his great basketball IQ and decent atheleticism to get open shots and get to the rim occasionally. DW isn't that guy. But don't tell him that, because he wants to play like Ray, and he's just not in that league. That's just my impression. He left his roots and tries desperately to play to strengths that he just doesn't have. He could be a Maurice Evans type of player that changes a game with his good defense and key shooting, but instead he's just another guy who doesn't play defense and jacks up shot after shot. He doesn't look for his teammates at all. I think the short answer is that he left his roots. When he was in training camp with the Sonics back in the day as an undrafted FA, his dad and him had a chat with then coach Nate McMillan and asked him what would Damien need to do to make the team. The answer from McMillan was essentially to be a scrapper, defensive stopper, hustle, energy guy every second on the court.

Damien did those things enough to make the team and he was an okay backup to Ray and Rashard, along with Flip Murray.

McMillan left to coach the Blazers, and DW got a 5 year contract and from my perspective, he stopped being that guy. He instead was best friends with Ray Allen. He modeled his game after Ray. It is apparent. He uses so many of the same moves as Ray. The problem is that Ray isn’t a defensive scrapper, stopper or energy guy. He is a smooth shooting wizard who uses his great basketball IQ and decent atheleticism to get open shots and get to the rim occasionally. DW isn’t that guy. But don’t tell him that, because he wants to play like Ray, and he’s just not in that league.

That’s just my impression. He left his roots and tries desperately to play to strengths that he just doesn’t have.

He could be a Maurice Evans type of player that changes a game with his good defense and key shooting, but instead he’s just another guy who doesn’t play defense and jacks up shot after shot. He doesn’t look for his teammates at all.

]]> By: rich in sacramento http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5929 rich in sacramento Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:25:48 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5929 Looking over these stats raises a question that possibly someone here can answer. What exactly is wrong with Wilkins? He's a reasonably good athlete and has perhaps the most impressive pedigree of any player in the history of the NBA. Yet he hasn't improved one iota since his second year. In fact, if there was a "least improved player" award. He'd be a strong candidate. I vaguely recall him having problems back at NC State that forced him to transfer. Looking over these stats raises a question that possibly someone here can answer. What exactly is wrong with Wilkins? He’s a reasonably good athlete and has perhaps the most impressive pedigree of any player in the history of the NBA. Yet he hasn’t improved one iota since his second year. In fact, if there was a “least improved player” award. He’d be a strong candidate. I vaguely recall him having problems back at NC State that forced him to transfer.

]]> By: Kev http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5922 Kev Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:03:37 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5922 We will have to disagree on Green, however, I will change my mind IF Brooks can now assert more authority and get Jeff to play defense . . . We will have to disagree on Green, however, I will change my mind IF Brooks can now assert more authority and get Jeff to play defense . . .

]]> By: MartzMimic http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5916 MartzMimic Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:08:11 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5916 While I agree that a veteran presence is important on a young team, I'll take Malik or Dez (if we could re-sign them to the vet. min of $3.1 million) any day of the week - and twice on Sundays - over Chucky. I'm not advocating that the Thunder should trade Uncle Jeff, but it does seem that power forward is probably the deepest position in the league. Think about how many starting centers there are that are better suited to playing the 4. So if you ever have to use one of the Big Three as trade bait, Green would be the most logical choice. I have to say that having both Joe and Royce has made the season that much better. Joe has followed this franchise for years, so I guess he's the veteran presence here. I appreciate that while he has his favorite player rating index, he doesn't ignore the others. And with Royce, I find myself saying, "Yeah, that's what it felt like to me too." They're both the kind of guys that make the people around them better. Well, maybe not Tebow-ish better, but I digress... While I agree that a veteran presence is important on a young team, I’ll take Malik or Dez (if we could re-sign them to the vet. min of $3.1 million) any day of the week – and twice on Sundays – over Chucky.

I’m not advocating that the Thunder should trade Uncle Jeff, but it does seem that power forward is probably the deepest position in the league. Think about how many starting centers there are that are better suited to playing the 4. So if you ever have to use one of the Big Three as trade bait, Green would be the most logical choice.

I have to say that having both Joe and Royce has made the season that much better. Joe has followed this franchise for years, so I guess he’s the veteran presence here. I appreciate that while he has his favorite player rating index, he doesn’t ignore the others. And with Royce, I find myself saying, “Yeah, that’s what it felt like to me too.” They’re both the kind of guys that make the people around them better. Well, maybe not Tebow-ish better, but I digress…

]]> By: V http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5900 V Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:34:10 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5900 I agree Royce. Green brings a lot of positive intangibles to this team. If you notice, during timeouts on the sidelines, Brooks is always talking to him and obviously relays info to the team through Green. Many of the plays on the court go through him as well. He is the consumate team player. You need your superstar to make it to the top level but you will never get there without the real workhorses like Green and Collison. I agree Royce. Green brings a lot of positive intangibles to this team. If you notice, during timeouts on the sidelines, Brooks is always talking to him and obviously relays info to the team through Green. Many of the plays on the court go through him as well. He is the consumate team player. You need your superstar to make it to the top level but you will never get there without the real workhorses like Green and Collison.

]]> By: Royce http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5891 Royce Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:44:54 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5891 I can't picture them trading Green - at least not in the next three years. I don't really think he's out of position, he's just a total tweener. He has some good qualities as the three and some good ones at the four. But he has his deficiencies at both too. He's clearly big enough to be a power forward (6-9) but he's just got to get better as a rebounder and help defender. I can’t picture them trading Green – at least not in the next three years. I don’t really think he’s out of position, he’s just a total tweener. He has some good qualities as the three and some good ones at the four. But he has his deficiencies at both too. He’s clearly big enough to be a power forward (6-9) but he’s just got to get better as a rebounder and help defender.

]]> By: Vega http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5890 Vega Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:22:08 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5890 I don't think that Green will be traded. At the worst, he'll be the sixth man. I don’t think that Green will be traded. At the worst, he’ll be the sixth man.

]]> By: Kev http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5888 Kev Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:59:46 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5888 with all this enthusiasm , It's just another reason why I think Green gets traded at some point - it's difficult to sign a guy long term that is basically playing out of position . . . with all this enthusiasm , It’s just another reason why I think Green gets traded at some point – it’s difficult to sign a guy long term that is basically playing out of position . . .

]]> By: Royce http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5887 Royce Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:41:29 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5887 I'm extremely excited about what D.J. can bring. Once he puts a little weight back on and gets stronger on the boards, I think he could be a legit 14-8 bench guy, or maybe even more if he were to start. He's got a great mid-range jumper and solid post moves. Plus a four-year college player so he's got some intangibles and basketball brains. I’m extremely excited about what D.J. can bring. Once he puts a little weight back on and gets stronger on the boards, I think he could be a legit 14-8 bench guy, or maybe even more if he were to start. He’s got a great mid-range jumper and solid post moves. Plus a four-year college player so he’s got some intangibles and basketball brains.

]]> By: Vega http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/04/per-paws-nba-eff-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-5886 Vega Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:28:19 +0000 http://www.dailythunder.com/?p=2140#comment-5886 If DJ looked that good when he was not anywhere close to normal form, I can't wait to see him fully healthy. If DJ looked that good when he was not anywhere close to normal form, I can’t wait to see him fully healthy.

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