mpharris36 wrote:BBALLER4FR wrote:mpharris36 wrote:I don’t get y’all we got enough guys to put the ball in the basket. He got 6 assists and 2 steals with good defense in 15 minutes. He took 3 shots. He needs to hit the 3 more consistently but otherwise how is this game viewed negatively. If you want RJ, Mitch, Knox, randle to score you need someone to defend and willingly pass them the ball.
Do you hear yourself? What you guys keep saying equates to "We have enough good players. I like Frank so let him run around with those guys to make me feel better". Also, the scoring for those guys you mentioned have nothing to do with Frank's defense or passing. RJ, Mitch, Payton, Taj, Portis and Morris are plenty defense. So what your pushing is finding a role for Frank to run up and down the floor, pass it and hide on the offensive side...basically a continuation of what he's done to date. That's nuts!
no... i didn't think I needed to be more clear but I guess I have to.
We have guys that can score. That are effective in situations with the ball in there hands and making plays. What we don't have is a surplus of ball movers that can also defend. People equate aggressiveness to putting up shots...which I think is complete garbage.
He was plenty active and aggressive, he's just never going to be a high volume shooter. Peoples first reaction is 15 minutes he was 0-3 and don't care about anything else he brings to the table. When I'm saying if you are playing alongside guys like RJ, Randle, Knox...those guys need the ball..you don't need 5 scoring minded people on the court at the same time. Good basketball teams have balance.
I don't care if he's a high volume shooter. He does nothing to impact a game. The eye test can tell you this kid is not ready for the NBA. When his biggest attribute is he "gets out of everybody's way" then he has no attributes. In 2 seasons he's shown no substantial gains in offense (NOT scoring but creating, offensive aggression, urgency, things you need to visually see at this level). His defense has even taken a drop off and the few flashes he's shown seem to be enough for some guys to hang their hat on despite stagnation or regression at damn near every facet. This is the highlight's from todays game where he's playing along his fellow countrymen in a game he's more suited...
...given 2 mediocre seasons with no progress and this game in a friendly environment, can you tell me what I should be excited about with him? I keep hearing the "give it time" or the "he'll improve" but there has yet to be visual evidence that he is working on it OR that he's capable of taking that next step, which if were being honest, it's a fairly simple step. No one is asking for elite shooting. No one is asking for Kawhi defense. No one is asking for JKidd captain skills. None of that is expected - but DAMNIT, give us SOMETHING! I refuse to keep blowing out birthday candles wishing for this kid to make simple improvements coaches expect from HS JV players. You've gotta realize that slight upticks of improvement in defense from Knox, RJ, Mitch, Trier, DSJr (which all are capable of) makes Frank the most useless player in basketball for any team. I don't have to pine over Frank's occasional D if the collective have taken pride in their craft enough to go from really good offensive players with average to below average defensive skills to really good offensive players who are average to above average defenders. His shooting is still a problem. He needs rapid improvement not a career of hopeful progress. And the age thing has long lost it's potency when there are kids coming into the NBA not just more talented than he is, but showing the will to get better.
