Can mcguires offense develop?

[BruceO]

I look at Dmac and I'm concerned about his decisions offensively. Ofcourse some decisions are affected by ability..e.g today he had a shot from the right key ( a shot even I can hit at a good rate) and he passed it up to try and move closer to the rim then caused a charge. He also does alot of spin moves and scoops the ball towards the rim alot. Obviously we may need him for other things other than offense but alot of the utility/ o good defensive players out of the small forward can still score ( marion, wallace, kirilenko, artest) I think having the option to score comfortably allows his options to expand as far as other things he wants to do.
a) do you think his offense needs to improve?
b) what do you think his issues are?
c) How would you improve his offensive

[Donkey McDonkerton]

He is too scared to shoot. He gets the ball and holds it too long while looking for someone to give it too, then turns it over.

It is something that will come, but right now he is afraid to take a shot or create his own offense. He needs to just play....

[LesWizerables]

Dmac sort of reminds me of Kwame in that he seems to panic with the ball in his hands. He rushes. A stint in the D league might help him get more comfortable playing at the pro level.

[jimij]

Yep, he really needs some extended playing time in the D league right now to get his confidence back.

Its a shame that we're so tight under the luxury tax cap that we can't afford to sign another small forward (and backup PG) so that we could send DMac down to the D league. Unfortunately, since he's really our only other true small forward on the team, we have to keep him on the active roster.

[wateryd]

dude was a mid-2nd round pick who averaged 13.5 ppg on 47% shooting as a 21yo at fresno state. he averaged 12 ppg on 41% shooting in the summer league. how much can we really expect his offense to develop? a stint in the d-league might be nice because he won't feel the need to automatically defer to everyone else on the court, as he clearly does now. at the same time, i think that being around great mentors like AJ and CB, practicing against them regularly, might be better than spending time playing with a bunch of guys looking to improve their 1-on-1 games and put up lots of points in hopes of a call-up.

i think he needs to find one spot on the floor that he's comfortable shooting from, sort of like what bruce bowen has done. it doesn't need to be from 3, just something he feels confident with. and he just needs to be more assured with his decision-making, which will come with time.

[newslowsad]

dude was a mid-2nd round pick who averaged 13.5 ppg on 47% shooting as a 21yo at fresno state. he averaged 12 ppg on 41% shooting in the summer league. how much can we really expect his offense to develop? a stint in the d-league might be nice because he won't feel the need to automatically defer to everyone else on the court, as he clearly does now. at the same time, i think that being around great mentors like AJ and CB, practicing against them regularly, might be better than spending time playing with a bunch of guys looking to improve their 1-on-1 games and put up lots of points in hopes of a call-up.

i think he needs to find one spot on the floor that he's comfortable shooting from, sort of like what bruce bowen has done. it doesn't need to be from 3, just something he feels confident with. and he just needs to be more assured with his decision-making, which will come with time.

co-sign.

[WizarDynasty]

look , i wouldn't really worry about DMAC. His best friend who he jokes around with is one of the best offensive rookies in the league. Nick YOung's offensive awareness is extremly high and there is good chance that DMAC watching Nick Young in person is going to improve his awareness of effective offensive moves since they are both built the same physically.

[hands11]

dude was a mid-2nd round pick who averaged 13.5 ppg on 47% shooting as a 21yo at fresno state. he averaged 12 ppg on 41% shooting in the summer league. how much can we really expect his offense to develop? a stint in the d-league might be nice because he won't feel the need to automatically defer to everyone else on the court, as he clearly does now. at the same time, i think that being around great mentors like AJ and CB, practicing against them regularly, might be better than spending time playing with a bunch of guys looking to improve their 1-on-1 games and put up lots of points in hopes of a call-up.

i think he needs to find one spot on the floor that he's comfortable shooting from, sort of like what bruce bowen has done. it doesn't need to be from 3, just something he feels confident with. and he just needs to be more assured with his decision-making, which will come with time.

Agreed. He needs to build a game and that means starting somewhere. If he does what you suggest then mentally he and his teammates will know he is ok in that spot. He should have a plan A, B, and C so when he gets the ball in his spot he knows what to key on from the defender and that determines a set of moves/options. This will simplify the game for him.

This is the same thing BH and AJ do in the post and CB does on the wing.

I think it may be to late for him to do anything this year though. When he is on the court, the team doesn't play well. It's like 4 on 5. He is Ruffin as a scoring threat so that puts pressure on everyone else. Putting him on the court with starters would be the best way to get him to improve.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/posting.ph ... p=15261109
Do we really need to offer him a new contract again next year? If so, him not doing much this year will be great in the long run. Sign him cheap. I think he will get a lot better between now and next year. He just needs to do a lot of summer work.

AJ and NY are our best SF options behind CB.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I look at Dmac and I'm concerned about his decisions offensively. Ofcourse some decisions are affected by ability..e.g today he had a shot from the right key ( a shot even I can hit at a good rate) and he passed it up to try and move closer to the rim then caused a charge. He also does alot of spin moves and scoops the ball towards the rim alot. Obviously we may need him for other things other than offense but alot of the utility/ o good defensive players out of the small forward can still score ( marion, wallace, kirilenko, artest) I think having the option to score comfortably allows his options to expand as far as other things he wants to do.
a) do you think his offense needs to improve?
b) what do you think his issues are?
c) How would you improve his offensive

His offense must improve. McGuire's a 37% shooter who's missed his last 5 FTs and is actually 1 for his last 9 FTs.

I think his issues are confidence, maybe work ethic, and poor shooting form. He's very anxious out there. I'd guess it's a combination of he's nervous, he's trying too hard, and he's also trying too hard not to make a mistake. (That sounds just like KFB). Clearly, Dominic McGuire doesn't KNOW he belongs out there because he's playing like a deer in the headlights.

I don't know how hard McGuire's working, so I won't question his work ethic. What I will say is he's obviously way behind on shot mechanics or on forming a good rhythm on his shooting. Whatever he's doing as a shooter clearly is not working.

What I'd do is just have him practice free throws first. If Hopla doesn't work for him, try a basketball shooting vid, like Better Basketball. That or just have someone assist him in understanding how to shoot from the ground up. From the soles of his feet to his fingertips on release. Dominic needs to feel his shot. Legs have to be balanced, shoulders square, elbow at the right angle for him, and his release point and release need to be second nature to where he shoots the same way with consistency. I wonder if he injured his wrist at some point and just doesn't have a smooth release. Assuming there's no physical hitch in his shot it like everything will get much better with practice.

I say get the FT shooting down first because he'll be agressive going to the basket not fearing going to the line. Also, like with Haywood if he gets the FT shooting form his midrange shot will automatically follow.

I may be biased, but I think he's got intangibles that you can't teach with shot blocking and he's got a good enough handle and is a decent passer. Shooting he can learn to at least become decent.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Yep, he really needs some extended playing time in the D league right now to get his confidence back.

Its a shame that we're so tight under the luxury tax cap that we can't afford to sign another small forward (and backup PG) so that we could send DMac down to the D league. Unfortunately, since he's really our only other true small forward on the team, we have to keep him on the active roster.

To me, the cap is something the Wizards need to make a deal just to get under.

Songaila, McGuire, Thomas, and maybe even Daniels are guys the Wizards could deal if it would get another SF or even better another PG and get under the cap.

[Soup's Uncle]

I think he can develop a bit. He'll never be a pure shooter,but I think he can get better.

[doclinkin]

First step: hit the iron hard.

Not on court, but in the weight room.

We have need of a 'stand your ground' rebounder who can elevate, catch and throw it down. DMac has the springs to rise above the traffic, to rebound or catch and stuff. But his upperbody doesn't have the power yet to match his instincts-- at the NBA level-- yet. On offense, he gets bumped off his comfort and tries to finesse the ball into the hoop. There's only one Antawn Jamison in the league who can hit the flip shot even with contact.

On defense, he'll pick up team concepts-- footwork-- anticipation-- etc-- with practice and repetition, but to match his skillset he also needs the swagger that comes from being able to muscle your man off his spot. To claim your place on the floor and own it. Know you belong, not back down. Right now his self-image suffers because he doesn't have the power to measure up to who he saw himself as: the dominating game-changer he was in college. Mostly because the guys he meets out there are bigger, tougher, stronger, nastier. Bigger dogs, louder bark, badder bite. So in his case, to regain his game, the answer is: gain size, mass, machismo.

Strength becomes defense becomes playtime becomes rebounds becomes dunks.

Once DMac works on his hand strength, forearms/wrist, and core strength he'll have more control in the air and be able to power-through after contact. After easy baskets, confidence follows. And-1 chances. Leads to Second step:

Hoplacize them free throws. Pick up the extra point. Make them pay for the foul. Easy buckets in the paint + defense get you rminutes. Free throws get you late game chances, critical experience when the team needs production. With all that you gain the trust of the coaches to let you play through mistakes. Try out what else you can do, discover new wrinkles sometimes. Allows Step three:

Innovate in the offseason. Add a move. Add a shot. An outside shot when unguarded will add 3-5 years to the career of a defender/rebounder. Groove the open three. Hoplacize that too. And suddenly opportunity knocks. With the assists and bit of a handle? Sky's the limit my son. All doors are open.

All follows a bit of gruntwork, bluecollar effort, sweat equity, pain. The suggestion is you don't follow the loosey goosey example of a natural talent like Nick Young, but instead the narrowbeam focus of a guy like Caron. Etan. Just put your head down and put in the work.

And remember: start with the iron. Become an ironworker, son.

[magee]

^That pretty much sums it up.

One thing to note, too, is that he came from a small school. He played three good teams last season. Nevada twice and Stanford. He went for 25 and 13 against Stanford. It's always an adjustment for kids who come from small schools. No playing time, bigger crowds, traveling 24/7. McGuire has a boatload of potential. He just has to hit the weights and the video sessions and pick apart players he can emulate. He and James Singleton, when he gets back from Spain this summer, would be pretty good workout buddies. Both have similar games, but Singleton has a better knack for rebounding. If I were McGuire, I'd try to become the hardest workout warrior in the NBA. That's the only way he becomes better overall. Become the next Caron Butler, workout wise.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

Cliff notes version: Get stronger.

Hoplacize your jumper. And your ft shooting.