Deeeez Knicks wrote:Chanel Bomber wrote:Deeeez Knicks wrote: 
That’s fine. It’s just the audacity of calling us out for liking a few bricklayers and then brag about Westbrook as your favorite player
I think it's fine to like them. I can see why folks like RJ and McBride. Never said you shouldn't.
I just push back when folks say someone's a good defender when there's no evidence of it, when they compare him to the likes of Paul Pierce, when they say that a player is unselfish when they don't pass the ball all that much, or when they claim he should get a near-max contract (it was said). Some of these things could change (the defense and the passing), but what was being said was about the now then.
For me its the context of RJ being 21 years old and the ability for him to get better. Take all your favorite players in Jokic, Curry, and Westbrook. They all took years to get better and become the players they became. They all had some glaring flaws and doubters early on. Improvement like that doesn't happen all the time, and superstars like that are rare. But improvement does take time as evidenced even with your favorite players.
In terms of RJ, I see signs. Its been beaten to death. He def needs to get better. So far his preaseason has been very encouraging and he looks better all around. Have to see if it carries over of course. I think he has a bunch of different paths to get better so will see what happens.
In terms of Deuce, he's a 2nd round pick and odds are against him. What I like about him and that archeotype is he can effect the game without scoring or touching the ball with his defense, grit and hustle....We saw that last year and just recently in the preseason with his 6 steal, 4board, 2 assist, 1 block game. Even with poor efficiency he had a good game. If he can just knock down open 3's then hes a rotation player, and the type you would want since he doesnt need a high usage. But yeah, if he cant get it together on offense then it'll be tough. But again, it takes time and its early so I would not close the book on him yet. I like the kid and think he can be a rotation player....but maybe he won't. For whatever reason you guys are going crazy over that
I don't want to revisit this conversation but he obviously should get better and he most likely will. I never said otherwise.
F it. There are two conversations, that often get mixed up, which is one of my pet peeves. There's the evaluation of who he is as a player now. That was one of the conversations last season. Then there's the projection of who he'll become in the future.
When I say he wasn't good last year, and when I reply critically to some of the praise he received for his play last year, I do not say he will never improve or he will never become a good player. These are not the same things.
The only thing I have said about his upside is I don't think it is realistic to expect him to become a first or second option on a championship contender. Is that an insult? No, I don't think so. Plenty of great players and key contributors in NBA history have fallen short of that standard. But some folks who DO believe he has Paul Pierce-level upside and franchise player potential do view it as an insult. As "hating". And then it snowballs into juvenile conversations about "oh you're a hater" or "you're anti-this player" or whatever binary BS.
We've already talked about this. It's fine if he tops out as a good 3rd option. It's a much more realistic expectation, even if perhaps a bit optimistic. I think there's a range of outcomes, and it's one of them. I don't even care if some folks think he's going to be an elite 1A/1B type player, why not. Just don't pretend this is common sense and my skepticism is irrational.
I hope McBride pans out. He's a likeable player. I just don't think it's fair to criticize Thibs for not playing a G-Leaguer who so far has been a non-shooter in the NBA over a decent 3&D guard when the team desperately needed floor spacing.
