RealGM

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Jus ... Crop-2924/

It is written by one of our own.

O.J. Mayo carried the load for USC, ranking number one on the list with over 28% of his team's offense. This could be a clear indication why he struggled so badly in many of the efficiency categories, especially when considering his freshman status, the strength of the Pac-10, and the amount of minutes he was forced to play.

Mayo ranked horrible in most the numbers, but at the end the usage rate could explain why. Just an interesting thread for stat geeks.

that FT rate, thats the thing that makes me down on Mayo. Wolves need a big-time slasher and I don't know if that's gonna be Mayo's game in the NBA. Seems more like lots of J's is gonna be his game.

Randy needs to become more of a slasher. If Shad stays around, he needs to drive more, too. Corey was successful taking it to the hole last year as well (at least compared to his shooting), I don't know why he didn't do it more. Telfair was very successful at getting to the basket, he just didn't finish and didn't pick up fouls.

I don't think the Wolves need a Wade-like player to be successful. Spreading the floor with shooters should give Al more space to work inside, which should always be option A. What the Wolves need is a change in mentality. Foye, McCants, Brewer, Gomes all settled for too many jumpers last year. They just need to find a balance, like the Spurs or the Pistons or the Celtics.

nah, we need a great slasher. All the championship teams have a guy that gets in the zone and can't be stopped off the dribble. Wade, Ginobili, Kobe, Pierce, Lebron some day....I wish that was Foye for the Wolves, but he's not there yet. I don't think McCants or Brewer will ever be that. Mayo either. In this draft I think Rose and Beasley are the 2 guys can be both be that, and maybe Gordon too. I don't know if anybody else in the draft has that gift. If the Wolves miss out on Rose and Beasley, then I default to the other primary need, and thats frontcourt size/toughness. No jumpshooters though (Mayo/Gallinari), we already have two 40% 3 pt shooters.

Devilzsidewalk wrote:we already have two 40% 3 pt shooters.

Until we get rid of McCants.

McCants isn't the problem with the team

The two needs you hear the front office talking about are

1.) A big man to help Al in the paint
2.) shooters to spread the floor.

A sad fact is that the NCAA has better zone defense and perimater defense than the NBA. Because of the rules (more contact is allowed in college than in pro) Mayo could become a slasher in the pro game with this rule. He has the tools to do it. As noted by Deeney, it is about mentality.

btw, McCants was a very, very good slasher when his focus was on getting to the tin. The problem is his focus. Once again, mentality. But he could get there when he wanted.

Towards the end of the season as Foye got more into shape and more comfortable he was also a good slasher. I do not think we will have a problem with our backcourt with natural progression of the young guys. Mayo is the icing on the cake.

They did these statistical studies last year, too. Anybody recall what, if any, bearing they had on that season's crop of prospects?