In the first of installment of a 5-part series, I look at a young player who has become an afterthought, but could represent the easiest way to changing New York's fortunes.
I think DSJ will surprise people. His talent is off the charts. I saw him outplay a healthy John Wall and give Michael Conley Jr. fits in his rookie year. It is definitely 75% mental, and 25% skill-based (lack of a consistent jumper). I think Thibs gets him back on track and also improves his basketball IQ, which was another area that needed some work.
The biggest key to this season is who improved their game during the offseason.
You can pretty much take the point guards on the roster and cut any of them that didn't learn how to shoot. Even Frank. When you get over 5 mil you need more than one skill.
That said, with an offseason as long as it was and with the holes in their games so obvious there is no reason not to have taking hundreds of shots per day. Anyone who didn't find that offseason motivation is not part of the solution.
DSJR never should have been a top 10 pick. He never looked like a starting PG and anyone who ever had him rated over Mitchell wasn't looking at anything except offensive numbers. That said what I saw last year made me think drugs or alcohol. He didn't look like he belonged near an NBA court.
I'm excited to see what improvements players bring to camp and actually think we'll see quite a bit from most of the players. I think everyone is missing the boat assuming no significant development in the game of so many young players.
I'm excited about Quickly and the passing ability the team seems to be targeting (finally noticing as a valuable concept) In the absence of a pure PG it will be interesting to see how the team does without one but with everyone being able to at lest pass a little bit.
I think DSJ will surprise people. His talent is off the charts. I saw him outplay a healthy John Wall and give Michael Conley Jr. fits in his rookie year. It is definitely 75% mental, and 25% skill-based (lack of a consistent jumper). I think Thibs gets him back on track and also improves his basketball IQ, which was another area that needed some work.
The biggest key to this season is who improved their game during the offseason.
You can pretty much take the point guards on the roster and cut any of them that didn't learn how to shoot. Even Frank. When you get over 5 mil you need more than one skill.
That said, with an offseason as long as it was and with the holes in their games so obvious there is no reason not to have taking hundreds of shots per day. Anyone who didn't find that offseason motivation is not part of the solution.
DSJR never should have been a top 10 pick. He never looked like a starting PG and anyone who ever had him rated over Mitchell wasn't looking at anything except offensive numbers. That said what I saw last year made me think drugs or alcohol. He didn't look like he belonged near an NBA court.
I'm excited to see what improvements players bring to camp and actually think we'll see quite a bit from most of the players. I think everyone is missing the boat assuming no significant development in the game of so many young players.
I'm excited about Quickly and the passing ability the team seems to be targeting (finally noticing as a valuable concept) In the absence of a pure PG it will be interesting to see how the team does without one but with everyone being able to at lest pass a little bit.