Jonas Valanciunas discussion thread

LLJ · Post #41 » by **LLJ** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:01 pm

He's fine. We expected these kind of nights to happen from time to time. People expecting him to play like a veteran or some wonderboy were fooling themselves. He still adds more to this team than detracts even when he's playing bad. Don't freak out every time some big scores on him. Bosh is a vet and he gets scored on all the time.

TheDunc · Post #42 » by **TheDunc** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:01 pm

Continue to start Jonas, fouls dont matter since were not asking him to play 30+ minutes out there. He still needs to build some chemisty with Lowry, a few times hes been open for the alley oop and Lowry has missed him. Soon i think we'll be good for 1-2 lobs a game just because his hands are always up. Id like to see him gather and jump though, sometimes he has a tendency to go up a little soft. It might also appear this way because he doesnt have the strength yet to finish in the nba. He definetely has the body to put on muscle though. I hope he goes more the Dwight Howard route and not the Andrea Bargnani route in terms of physical build.

Maternal · Post #43 » by **Maternal** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:09 pm

MEDIC wrote:
Maternal wrote:It's not like we're going to make the playoffs

Um.....their goal IS to make the playoffs. How can you tell your guys to fight hard to make the playoffs, but make lineup decisions that don't match your goals?

Casey already said it'll be surprising if they make the playoffs. Allowing Val to play even if he gets fouled out (in the 4th quater) matches the playoff goals. He's better than anyone we have at the C position.

JWiLL02 · Post #44 » by **JWiLL02** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:13 pm

Pekovic is a 280 lb monster, it made perfect sense that Jonas struggled against him. I can't understand why we didn't send a quick double at him every time he posted up. This guy isn't used to that, let's see if he can make plays out of the post facing an aggressive double.

Casey is a great defensive coach and all, but using single coverage against every C Jonas is guarding at this point doesn't make a lot of sense. We have the athletes at our guard positions for quick, aggressive doubles. Use them!

RedX · Post #45 » by **RedX** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:16 pm

He needs to learn by playing. I'm fine w him learning as he goes. It's not an easy adjustment guarding guys that have much more experience and weight over you.

ItsDanger · Post #46 » by **ItsDanger** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:26 pm

JV gave up the baseline to Pekovic too often and thats a classic mistake in this sport. No help D when that happens. No surprised his minutes were limited then. Its a learning proccess.

J-Roc · Post #47 » by **J-Roc** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:29 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:
J-Roc wrote:
ATLTimekeeper wrote:Two games ago he had a double-double against an all-star. Now he can't start?

Problem with big men is they're reliant on the refs calling it tight or loose. You'll recall in the Pacers game it became obvious as the game went on the refs were allowing everything. But if the refs aren't so lenient, the poor guy gets stuck with cheap fouls. It's a tough call, because he's our best C by far. But it doesn't do him any good to sit with fouls that he can't help picking up.

He had one foul at half time last night.

And he did get some burn over the first half. It can work, but I have my doubts over the long haul. Maybe Pekovic was just too much. Once he decided to go after Val, it was over.

fredericklove · Post #48 » by **fredericklove** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:31 pm

Jonas needs to play better post up d. He's too afraid of picking up another foul that he doesn't even wanna get physical with the post up guys.

J-Roc · Post #49 » by **J-Roc** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:33 pm

Why haven't they developed a natural roll to the rim with him yet? Is it just a matter of time, or is Kyle not up to it? Maybe Jose can get Val going in that regard.

Just Win Baby · Post #50 » by **Just Win Baby** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 7:34 pm

Haven't seen the past two games but from the Pacers game we looked significantly better with him on the floor. I think Casey is being conservative and is trying to make Jonas' transition a slow and easy process. We will probably just have to be patient, the future with this kid looks bright.

rarefind · Post #51 » by **rarefind** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:24 pm

This is why the Raptors board is becoming a joke. He's 3 games in going against a seasoned, gritty veteran who's bulk is a handful for most 5's in the league.

Oh no, the sky is falling. He's going to have to play through some of this due to us not having much of an another viable option not named Aaron Gray.

edit: At the point of knowing you're sending JV into a mismatch, coaching has to have counter adjustments ready. Sending a quick double down from the wing would limit Pekovic's back down and force him to use up his dribble further from the bucket. But once Pekovic sealed him down low looking for an entry pass it was lights out - this is going to happen some nights this year, gotta live with it.

trick · Post #52 » by **trick** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:27 pm

"Pek" just sounds so wrong too call a guy with his size and strength.

trick · Post #53 » by **trick** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:29 pm

rarefind wrote:This is why the Raptors board is becoming a joke. He's 3 games in going against a seasoned, gritty veteran who's bulk is a handful for most 5's in the league.

Oh no, the sky is falling. He's going to have to play through some of this due to us not having much of an another viable option not named Aaron Gray.

You're the only one overreacting bud. It's fine to say Jonas got manhandled by Pekovic because he did. No one is calling him a scrub or bust.

rarefind · Post #54 » by **rarefind** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:33 pm

trick wrote:
rarefind wrote:This is why the Raptors board is becoming a joke. He's 3 games in going against a seasoned, gritty veteran who's bulk is a handful for most 5's in the league.

Oh no, the sky is falling. He's going to have to play through some of this due to us not having much of an another viable option not named Aaron Gray.

You're the only one overreacting bud. It's fine to say Jonas got manhandled by Pekovic because he did. No one is calling him a scrub or bust.

Doubt that when the discussion is stemming around his playing to make an impact or playing to stay on the court. Any likening of Bargs in his rookie season to JV (at least thus far) is a bit much.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #55 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:38 pm

rarefind wrote:This is why the Raptors board is becoming a joke. He's 3 games in going against a seasoned, gritty veteran who's bulk is a handful for most 5's in the league.

Oh no, the sky is falling. He's going to have to play through some of this due to us not having much of an another viable option not named Aaron Gray.

edit: At the point of knowing you're sending JV into a mismatch, coaching has to have counter adjustments ready. Sending a quick double down from the wing would limit Pekovic's back down and force him to use up his dribble further from the bucket. But once Pekovic sealed him down low looking for an entry pass it was lights out - this is going to happen some nights this year, gotta live with it.

I think they want to stay tight on shooters this year. JV is going to have to take his licks. Optimism: Pekovic is the best offensive rebounder in the game. Last year he averaged 4 a game and last night he only had 1.

jtrl5 · Post #56 » by **jtrl5** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:41 pm

Jonas played good in his debut. Needs to get stronger as he was outmuscled by Lopez and Pevic, as well as they need to pass the ball to him more.

Clutch Carter · Post #57 » by **Clutch Carter** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:43 pm

Pek had like 11 points on 5-11 shooting or something when Val left and kept him off the glass. I think he did a fine job all things considered.

kirkwood · Post #58 » by **kirkwood** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:59 pm

Whats most alarming to me about JV is his lack of athleticism, being some what still skinny and just a young pup you would think he would be flying around and jumping out of the gym. Instead he moves like an aging vet, slow, very little hops and overall athleticism.

Thats kind of scary, he is only going to get slower with age. If JV is going to be a big time player he is going to have to put on massive size and use strength to get there because he certainly is not ever going to be a high flying athletic big.

Yoga · Post #59 » by **Yoga** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 11:16 pm

kirkwood wrote:Whats most alarming to me about JV is his lack of athleticism, being some what still skinny and just a young pup you would think he would be flying around and jumping out of the gym. Instead he moves like an aging vet, slow, very little hops and overall athleticism.

Thats kind of scary, he is only going to get slower with age. If JV is going to be a big time player he is going to have to put on massive size and use strength to get there because he certainly is not ever going to be a high flying athletic big.

He is only 20 years old

I'm going to sig this

BackseatBoss · Post #60 » by **BackseatBoss** » Tue Nov 6, 2012 12:32 pm

kirkwood wrote:Whats most alarming to me about JV is his lack of athleticism, being some what still skinny and just a young pup you would think he would be flying around and jumping out of the gym. Instead he moves like an aging vet, slow, very little hops and overall athleticism.

Thats kind of scary, he is only going to get slower with age. If JV is going to be a big time player he is going to have to put on massive size and use strength to get there because he certainly is not ever going to be a high flying athletic big.

What are you talking about? Sure, he can't jump out of the gym, but that doesn't mean he's not athletic. He is pretty quick for his size, is agile has very good 2nd and 3rd jumps, which is essential for an elite center. He never was touted as a highflyer, his arms are very long and he barely needs to jump to touch the rim and that's pretty much enough. I would rather have Jonas, who can't jump very high, than let's say H. Whiteside or S. Swift.