Is Stanley Johnson on his way to being a BUST?

[The Penguin]

Not sure if someone's mentioned it, but Otto Porter is guy who looked like a bust his first two years in the league and now he's gotten an opportunity to grow and flourish.

Sometimes with the high school / one and done kids they need a moment to grow into the game.

[ImHeisenberg]

Is he a bust or or is he underwhelming?...

I'll almost give you underwhelming, but there's definitely signs of a good player in him. Way too early on the bust call mate

I'm not one to make a quick call. I preached patience for KCP for years, and just now is starting to look consistently good. Even then, he lays eggs on the reg.

I just don't get the huge step back Johnson took this year. Last year he was inefficient and out of control at times. But, he at least showed some promise. This year? He looks disengaged and acts like he doesn't even want the ball when he touches it.

This isn't a trend players that became really good have ever shown in year 2. Lots of busts have done this, though.

[Redeemed]

I think it is clear, SVG is committed to playing his "three starting forwards" the bulk of the minutes.

And based on SVG's consistent messaging, he is committed to developing Stanley at a methodical pace. It is a pace that will require him to focus primarily on defense and rebounding. And as he is improving his understanding of the game, his routine, and his skills offline more opportunities will present themselves in the future.

Stanley Johnson is a developmental pick that has great potential which SVG doesn't appear willing to rush. I get frustrated about the short he has, but I believe it will benefit him in the long run. He's not bust. Way too early to throw that label around.

He's not disinterested or disengaged. I haven't seen him come in the game with low energy or pouting like our starting pg and center. This season has seen him start flat and turn things around a bit. I like what I see in his tough demeanor. It is something I only see a shred of in two other players on the team (Baynes and Mook).

I love that he's got his post game routine and I trust that it will pay dividends for him.

[joedumars1]

I think it is clear, SVG is committed to playing his "three starting forwards" the bulk of the minutes.

And based on SVG's consistent messaging, he is committed to developing Stanley at a methodical pace. It is a pace that will require him to focus primarily on defense and rebounding. And as he is improving his understanding of the game, his routine, and his skills offline more opportunities will present themselves in the future.

Stanley Johnson is a developmental pick that has great potential which SVG doesn't appear willing to rush. I get frustrated about the short he has, but I believe it will benefit him in the long run. He's not bust. Way too early to throw that label around.

He's not disinterested or disengaged. I haven't seen him come in the game with low energy or pouting like our starting pg and center. This season has seen him start flat and turn things around a bit. I like what I see in his tough demeanor. It is something I only see a shred of in two other players on the team (Baynes and Mook).

I love that he's got his post game routine and I trust that it will pay dividends for him.

Well said. Adding to it a little. It Should get the game to slow down for him. He can see the floor more clear and be able to become a good a facilitator (already decent for a 20 year old, imo). If he ever get's a consistent mid range and 3 pt shot watch out, he'd be our point forward that can score

[Billl]

" I haven't seen him come in the game with low energy or pouting like our starting pg and center. "

Well, not pouting, but definitely not ready to play either. Up until the last couple weeks, he's gotten off to very poor starts, especially on the defensive end.

Coming off the bench in the NBA is HARD. In a lot of ways, it tougher than being a starter. You rarely get time to just work yourself into the game. SJ isn't going to be an instant offense type guy, so he really needs to be an instant energy type guy. If not, he'll get lost in the shuffle and back on the bench before he ever finds his offensive groove.

[Redeemed]

" I haven't seen him come in the game with low energy or pouting like our starting pg and center. "

Well, not pouting, but definitely not ready to play either. Up until the last couple weeks, he's gotten off to very poor starts, especially on the defensive end.

Coming off the bench in the NBA is HARD. In a lot of ways, it tougher than being a starter. You rarely get time to just work yourself into the game. SJ isn't going to be an instant offense type guy, so he really needs to be an instant energy type guy. If not, he'll get lost in the shuffle and back on the bench before he ever finds his offensive groove.

Coming off the bench is hard
And what just said about not being ready defensively as soon as he comes into the game can be true of anyone.

Still given the opportunity the effort is always there.

[Billl]

Bench guys who can't score consistently and aren't ready to play defensively are just a liability. If your calling card is going to be your defense, you have to come in ready to play defense. If your calling card is being a jump shooter, you have to come in ready to hit shots. That's just the reality of being a bench player in the NBA. You need to be ready when your name is called. If you aren't, the coach is going to call someone elses name.

Like I said, he's been getting off to much better starts recently, so hopefully he can keep it up. He needs minutes to develop, but the only way he's going to get those minutes is if SVJ can trust him defensively. That is entirely within SJ's ability to control.

[russkopp]

Bench guys who can't score consistently and aren't ready to play defensively are just a liability. If your calling card is going to be your defense, you have to come in ready to play defense. If your calling card is being a jump shooter, you have to come in ready to hit shots. That's just the reality of being a bench player in the NBA. You need to be ready when your name is called. If you aren't, the coach is going to call someone elses name.

Like I said, he's been getting off to much better starts recently, so hopefully he can keep it up. He needs minutes to develop, but the only way he's going to get those minutes is if SVJ can trust him defensively. That is entirely within SJ's ability to control.

SVJ. That's awesome. From now on, anytime I have to reference SVG and SJ I will simply say ...SVJ.
Example - "I don't know why SVJ is getting more minutes but it better change"

[Redeemed]

Bench guys who can't score consistently and aren't ready to play defensively are just a liability. If your calling card is going to be your defense, you have to come in ready to play defense. If your calling card is being a jump shooter, you have to come in ready to hit shots. That's just the reality of being a bench player in the NBA. You need to be ready when your name is called. If you aren't, the coach is going to call someone elses name.

Like I said, he's been getting off to much better starts recently, so hopefully he can keep it up. He needs minutes to develop, but the only way he's going to get those minutes is if SVJ can trust him defensively. That is entirely within SJ's ability to control.

Absolutely agree if your only contribution is a particular skill set and you aren't ready to play perform, then perhaps you aren't much of an asset. However, as we seem to agree jumping into a game cold and quickly adjusting to the pace in an impactful manner is not easy.

SJ is frequently ready to contribute. SVG has him on an unbelievably short leash. There are games where it doesn't matter if SJ's contribution is or isn't immediately a positive or if he does or doesn't play efficiently, SVG pulls him. SJ is learning to live under the scrutiny. He's putting in the work with the assistant coaches before and after the games.

They're correcting his footwork and shot mechanics. They're helping him develop a midrange shot and a three. He's getting his cardio right and cutting weight. The guy is doing the work and it does show. We've watched guys like Rodney Stuckey, Austin Daye, and Greg Monroe remain stagnant.

SJ is not cut from that same cloth. He's a headstrong workhorse with a goal to be great. SVG and his staff would do well to continue to investment in SJ's development. He's worth it.

[Redeemed]

Good showing by SJ and the bench mob. We need them to keep it up.

[Billl]

Great game by SJ last night. He kept DD in check and still give help to break up several plays. It's amazing how much better the team looks when he's playing like that.

[JohnReese]

His decision-making and confidence are making the difference in his game. He is growing as a playmaker.

[Pharaoh]

Give him another 12 months and then see where he's at!

Ye of little faith! Stanimal is a key building block for our future

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

[El Chivo]

I'd like to see him a little more loose on offense. If you miss a good shot isn't the end of the world, Stan!

[tmorgan]

It's looking more and more like KCP and SJ are the foundation of this team. Those two can help the team form an actual identity.

It's a ways off, though.