The future of Martell Webster

[eyeteeth]

So Brewer shoots comparably to a bunch of players who are having terrible years, most of which are barely rotation players? Joy.

At least a few of those players can shoot a decent percentage from 3pt range (a sterling 25% for Corey, ugh).

His only real positive is drawing fouls and getting to the line, but he's still an offensive drain. On defense, he gets an occasional steal, which is often balanced by his man getting a clear path to the basket when he gambles.

He's not good.

Well, whatever he is (energetically mediocre?) he is at least consistent. And he gives 100%. When we have more players who give 100% every game and will do anything to make a difference in a game, then I will be fine with people dissing Corey, or being eager to see him gone. Until then, I will defend him, and hope we at least get something good from the team we inevitably deal him to at the deadline.

[Dewey]

Like Brewer or not, it's this simple ... if other players give the same effort as Brewer, he does not see the floor. This just doesn't seem to sink in...

[sisibilio]

Webster is a natural SG who can play as SF if needed, not the opposite.

Well, whatever he is (energetically mediocre?) he is at least consistent. And he gives 100%. When we have more players who give 100% every game and will do anything to make a difference in a game, then I will be fine with people dissing Corey, or being eager to see him gone. Until then, I will defend him, and hope we at least get something good from the team we inevitably deal him to at the deadline.

I don't think you can expect anything more than a 2nd round pick.

[teven_1]

to clarify: until we sign these guys to affordable extensions I'm going to worry they are booking it.
Before the team became so close a lot of analysts were suggesting Webster would play out his contract before bolting to greener pastures. Who could blame him? we were coming off a 15 win season and no one but Minny fans saw the potential to flourish.
Anyway, it seems overall Webster can play SG for us.
Rubio, Web, Beaz, Love and Darko with: Pek, Tolliver, Johnson, Ellington and Flynn (Ridnour?) off the bench. That team still has some holes, most concerning is essentially that's a healthy version of our team this year.

[Yes We Kahn]

I still don't understand how effort is good enough for people when skill is clearly lacking. This isn't JV. Do I wish every player on the team gave as much as they had every single game? Yes. But to defend Brewer, by saying he gives a total effort, is to overlook an essential component to a good basketball player: talent. He is not good. Effort does not supersede talent. Mark Madsen gave effort, but he wasn't given 25 minutes per game and allowed to shoot 9 times per game at a 37% clip.

[zerogravity15]

Like Brewer or not, it's this simple ... if other players give the same effort as Brewer, he does not see the floor. This just doesn't seem to sink in...

Pretty much. You have to play defense or at least attempt to play it.

[Klomp]

to clarify: until we sign these guys to affordable extensions I'm going to worry they are booking it.

Webster's already signed through the 2012/13 season

[Dewey]

I still don't understand how effort is good enough for people when skill is clearly lacking. This isn't JV. Do I wish every player on the team gave as much as they had every single game? Yes. But to defend Brewer, by saying he gives a total effort, is to overlook an essential component to a good basketball player: talent. He is not good. Effort does not supersede talent. Mark Madsen gave effort, but he wasn't given 25 minutes per game and allowed to shoot 9 times per game at a 37% clip.

Would be a great debate if we had that level of skill and talent sitting on the bench ... til then, there's nothing to add other than - skill and talent.

[Klomp]

I still don't understand how effort is good enough for people when skill is clearly lacking. This isn't JV. Do I wish every player on the team gave as much as they had every single game? Yes. But to defend Brewer, by saying he gives a total effort, is to overlook an essential component to a good basketball player: talent. He is not good. Effort does not supersede talent. Mark Madsen gave effort, but he wasn't given 25 minutes per game and allowed to shoot 9 times per game at a 37% clip.

What good is talent if you don't give any effort to use it?

[Esohny]

Do we really think that Webster and Johnson aren't giving effort? I sure don't see that. So there's no reason for Brewer to get minutes over those two at SG. I guess you could argue that Beasley floats around sometimes, but you can't seriously think that Brewer should get minutes over any of those guys.

[Yes We Kahn]

Do we really think that Webster and Johnson aren't giving effort? I sure don't see that. So there's no reason for Brewer to get minutes over those two at SG. I guess you could argue that Beasley floats around sometimes, but you can't seriously think that Brewer should get minutes over any of those guys.

Exactly.

[horaceworthy]

Do we really think that Webster and Johnson aren't giving effort? I sure don't see that. So there's no reason for Brewer to get minutes over those two at SG. I guess you could argue that Beasley floats around sometimes, but you can't seriously think that Brewer should get minutes over any of those guys.

I don't know that not giving effort is the way I would phrase it, but there are simple things Brewer does, such as rim running, attacking the basket in transition, recognizing seams without stopping the ball, etc, that the others don't. Just about every player could do that stuff but doesn't, and those things, along with his hyperactivity on defense, have shockingly added up to make the Wolves a better team when he's on the floor this season.

Brewer has a knack for putting himself in position to make a ton of plays, on both sides of the ball. It certainly doesn't always end up with a positive result, and often looks decidedly awkward when it does. If the other wings started doing some of those simple things Brewer wouldn't be getting the minutes he is, or making the surprisingly positive impact he has.

[Dewey]

Do we really think that Webster and Johnson aren't giving effort? I sure don't see that. So there's no reason for Brewer to get minutes over those two at SG. I guess you could argue that Beasley floats around sometimes, but you can't seriously think that Brewer should get minutes over any of those guys.

Exactly.

Why does Johnson settle for j-shots? Why does Beasley turn the ball over 5+ times a game or make defensive stops? Can Webster attack the basket? Do any of them run the floor with "consistently"? Do they try to create any havoc on defense? What do they do that's so special?

Talent is apparent and know one is arguing that, but when comparing Webster, Beasley, and Johnson's effort, I don't see them giving the same effort either end of the floor. Stat-wise Brewer gets to many minutes, but do you give them to others who are not playing to their abilities? Maybe these guys aren't as good as people think...

As I've said before on another thread ... if they give Brewers effort, Brewer's minutes drop. Right now his minutes tell me they are not playing up to expectations.

[shangrila]

Webster still seems like he's adjusting after his injury so I don't understand why he's in this discussion. He puts more effort into both sides of the ball then Johnson and Beasley and you can see it now that his minutes are cutting into Johnson's a little.

If Brewer could cut down on some of his offensive mistakes he'd probably be starting. So I wouldn't worry too much that guys like Johnson are losing minutes to him.