dlts20 wrote:I see Donklin, Dave Johnson, & Glenn Consor talking about how quick Gil looks but I havent really seen it yet. Ive seen some flashes but nothing consistent and substantial. I remember I was arguing with people on the blog inluding DJ during the Mavs game on this very topic. They were all talking about how lighting quick he looks but I keep telling them that I have the Lakers game on tape where he scored 60, the 54 point Suns game, the 30 something point Bobcats game, and so on. He was way quicker in those games than he is now. He was so much more lighter on his feet then. I was listening to the game last night and on the first few plays DJ & Glenn were going crazy about how Gil was blowing by the D but when I saw it back on DVR, he wasnt moving that fast to me. It actually looked like he was struggling. Even Michael Lee after the game said he looked sluggish. If you see him in most cases now compared to what he was a few years ago, you would think that he was fat and out of shape. Thats how he looks. He looks like he's slow & sluggish compared to that cat but we know thats not the case. We know that he's in great shape and weigh's less now than he did then.
He has had some good burst. I like that one drive he had against Dallas when he got the and 1 and I loved that drive & dish he had to Blatche against the Cavs but thats basicaly the only 2 plays when Ive seen a real burst from him. I think part of it is due to 3 things. His injury, his age, and rust. Will he ever get that lighting quick burst back? IDK but he can still dominate without it because he has great handles, is still quicker than most, is stronger than most PG's, and he's probably top 3 in the league in terms of knowing how to position his body on O to get leverage on guys and draw contact. Still, I wish we had this version of Gil with the same quickness he had back then. It might come back as the season goes on and as he plays more. It might come back next year because its year 2 of the injury or it might not come back at all. I mean, MJ wasnt the same athelete at 30 that he was at 24 but he was a much better player. Im a huge boxing fan and Mayweather isnt the same guy at the higher weights and in his 30's as he was at lower weights and in his early 20's but he's a better overall fighter. I think Gil can do the same.
His quickness still isnt there though. Even after his 1st surgery he came back with his burst. Even after the 2nd surgery he came back with the burst. Remember when he was coming off the bench and then coming in the game going a 100mph? Now it seems like he doesnt have that after the 3rd surgery. He's great off the picks because he has mad skill but just blowing by a cat one on one, he cant do that with ease anymore. He moreso just gets position on that guy. Even when people were sweating him in the SL, when I saw the footage I didnt think that he was blazing like he was 1st. Thats 1 part as his individual but overall I havent seen him play with that same team speed either. Meaning, I dont see him pushing the ball like a jet when he gets it anymore. Again, even like he did when he came off the bench after the 2nd surgery. He was non stop pushing it. Now its more of a jog & scan. Again, I think he will get faster as the year goes on and I think he's still faster than most now but its just not the same as of this minute. The only game that sounds like he was the old Gil with his speed was the Pistons game but IDK because I didnt get to see it. I could see him turning it up because he was against his boy Bynum. I also think that if Gil has 1 lights out game then he will start playing at a faster tempo and want to dominate more.
It sucks not only because he's passing more but it also sucks because he wants to drive more now which is what Ive been calling for him to do for the longest. Even when he was healthy he had stopped driving but now he's back on the attack again and that will help us a ton. What I dont like is his overall shot selection now. I think its not horrible but in alot of cases he is hurting himself and the team. He's so worried about not shooting 3's that he's passing up alot of open one's. Alot of times he doesnt even look at the rim. Then he gets it back later and jacks a long 2 with a hand in his face. It makes no sense. He's passing up on open 3's that he can make with ease and settling for long 2's with a hand in his face just so he wont seem like a gunner or whatever. Take those open shots.
His previous comebacks were during the season and trying to prove himself he's fine and bursting with 150% speed. now he has gotten a clue and trying to be a different play maker, a different person in life. He has only played in meaningless pre-season games and is trying to figure out which way to go with it all. He knows that he's passing up the 3, because right now it doesn't count. he is trying to figure out how else he can help. it's called practice. he wants to see if he can consistently feed the ball. consistently get to the basket without all the effort it took him before. He's going to be a different player this year, there's no doubt, but he will be better then he was before. he will take the thre when he gets it. flip is telling hij to be aggressive. he'll be aggressive with his shot, just watch. he's playing everybody right now. then he'll turn the hibachi on again and everyone will look like an idiot trying to stop him or get by him. he'll step it up on d too, you'll see. it's funny that with all the best intentions we (as humans) are not capable of 'waiting and see' and stop calling the game before it has started. seems like some of us have already made p their mind as to how good or not good this team is. i think about my own competitive spirit. i perform best when people are watching, when my stats are recorded and when something is at stake. not during routine practice play, not even during heated outside league play. it's not the same, summer league, pre-season: it's practice.
