Trevor Booker

closg00 · Post #241 » by **closg00** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 7:04 pm

I-too will be coming back for some crow if Booker can keep this up. Last night Booker hit his first jumper of the season, he'll have to be able to do that more often and against teams that are not slacking like the Lakers were in the 3rd. I hope Blatche was taking notes.

keynote · Post #242 » by **keynote** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 7:35 pm

GilShammGil wrote:Booker is the anti-Blatche. He is as raw as Blatche is skilled, as explosive as Blatche is sedentary, and as instense as Blatche is lazy. I'm starting to enjoy watching Book play was much as I'm frustrated watching Blatche. Question is which scenario is more likely: Blatche developing some of the intensity/toughness of Book? Or Book developing some of the skills of Blatche? Can we hope for a little of both? Either way I want to see Book on the court and Yi on the bench.

There are tons of examples of players honing their skills (e.g., mid-range jumper, post moves, etc.) over the course of their career. Are there any examples of players developing motors over time? Other than guys who suddenly play with motivation during contract years, I can't think of any.

closg00 · Post #243 » by **closg00** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 8:37 pm

Love the cut to Phil Jackson's face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NVoTxCr5Ms

DCZards · Post #244 » by **DCZards** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 10:16 pm

closg00 wrote::lol: Love the cut to Phil Jackson's face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NVoTxCr5Ms

I loved the little skip that Wall did after Booker threw it down. You can tell this is what Johnny Wallgame lives for---setting up teammates for easy buckets. I'm sure that Wall streaking down court with an equally fast Booker running beside him is exactly what EG and the Zards envisioned when they moved up to draft Trevor.

Toughness, a motor and athleticism. All Booker needs now is experience---and an improved jumper.

ErikChowbay023 · Post #245 » by **ErikChowbay023** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 10:48 pm

I think the thing with Bookers jumper is confidence. He has good form, and good lift, so the only thing he needs to do is shoot it with confidence.

chpmntsptx · Post #246 » by **chpmntsptx** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:48 am

Just wanted to bump this and revisit my earlier thoughts (I'll keep it shorter this time).

I kind of stopped tracking the Wiz when someone decided to stop playing the young guys. I guess with Howard's return and Lewis coming to town, they wanted to check them out, see what could develop. But I can't say why it's taken so long to realize you can achieve a miserable record while also getting valuable experience for rooks and building chemistry. I won't belabor the point, but consistently fielding a lineup with McGee, Blatche, and Lewis is a sin against the basketball gods. No defense, no energy, no chemistry. Blatche is a nice scorer, great passer... but he's nothing on defense and death to the rhythm of an offense. I cringe every time he touches the ball b/c I know I'm about to be sucked into an 8-second span of nothingness before he decides to make a move. Anyway...

Through the misfortune of McGee, Booker's gotten a chance to show, well, nothing that much different from earlier in the season, except for much better rebounding. It's just that he's had more minutes. Going back to my Blatche gripe, he's the antithesis of what anyone wants to watch, and more importantly, what Wall, Booker, McGee, and co want to do -- high tempo attack. I know I'm a Booker homer, but the energy, flow, interactions, etc. are night and day different when he and other youngs are in. I have no idea how many games a rookie-laden lineup would register, but it would at least be entertaining.

Booker hasn't done anything apart from what he showed in college. His FG% has been unrealistically high recently, though. I didn't catch the OKC game, so I don't know how he got his points, but from what I've seen otherwise, it's been mostly on breaks, cleaning up, or pick and roll. I've read remarks on his offensive limitations, but my impression is that he's been told to defer to other guys. If so, it doesn't make much sense to me at this point, but whatever. His jumpshot isn't there yet, but has anyone noticed how easily he can blow past his man from the top? Has anyone seen how well he passes? Any of the coaches notice that he's not too shabby posting up? Sheesh. Hell, just for the sake of variation, feed him low and let him try take his man or distribute. Bottom line is that I really believe he can offer more on offense right now but he's being limited or is limiting himself (afraid of making a mistake?).

Play the kids. Stop wasting time and start building experience and chemistry.

FAH1223 · Post #247 » by **FAH1223** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:25 am

Booker should start over Blatche

willbcocks · Post #248 » by **willbcocks** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:14 am

He definitely needs to get 20 minutes a game, minimum. I don't see a star here, but he can be a solid rotation guy.

hands11 · Post #249 » by **hands11** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:24 am

ErikChowbay023 wrote:I think the thing with Bookers jumper is confidence. He has good form, and good lift, so the only thing he needs to do is shoot it with confidence.

And shoot with any arch.

verbal8 · Post #250 » by **verbal8** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:49 pm

Given Blatche's struggles and Booker having a couple impressive games, I think it might make sense to give Booker a few starts. While not perfect, I think a line-up of Wall, Young, Lewis, Booker and McGee has some potential. Young and Lewis should be the primary scorers. Booker and McGee should get enough chances without forcing bad shots or excessive turnovers.

Post #251 » by **nate33** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:16 pm

I'm willing to try it because we have nothing to lose, but I'm real skeptical of the Booker/McGee lineup. Neither guy can shoot or post up. I really think you need Blatche or Yi alongside Booker.

tontoz · Post #252 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:29 pm

nate33 wrote:I'm willing to try it because we have nothing to lose, but I'm real skeptical of the Booker/McGee lineup. Neither guy can shoot or post up. I really think you need Blatche or Yi alongside Booker.

Blatche can't shoot either. He just thinks he can.

Post #253 » by **nate33** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:41 pm

tontoz wrote:
nate33 wrote:I'm willing to try it because we have nothing to lose, but I'm real skeptical of the Booker/McGee lineup. Neither guy can shoot or post up. I really think you need Blatche or Yi alongside Booker.

Blatche can't shoot either. He just thinks he can.

I know Blatche gets lots of well-deserved hate on these boards, but let's not overstate things. Blatche is a pretty reliable shooter when his feet are set. You can't leave him alone out there. Blatche's problem is that he is taking too many contested jumpers and he is shooting open long range jumpers early in the shot clock.

tontoz · Post #254 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:52 pm

nate33 wrote:
tontoz wrote:
nate33 wrote:I'm willing to try it because we have nothing to lose, but I'm real skeptical of the Booker/McGee lineup. Neither guy can shoot or post up. I really think you need Blatche or Yi alongside Booker.

Blatche can't shoot either. He just thinks he can.

I know Blatche gets lots of well-deserved hate on these boards, but let's not overstate things. Blatche is a pretty reliable shooter when his feet are set. You can't leave him alone out there. Blatche's problem is that he is taking too many contested jumpers and he is shooting open long range jumpers early in the shot clock.

Teams do leave him open.

Are you holding out hope that he will suddenly start using good shot selection? At this point I think that is about as likely as the Wizards signing me to a 10 day contract.

Post #255 » by **nate33** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:08 pm

Blatche shoots 35% and 29% from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And many of those are contested fadeaways. Surely his wide-open jumpers are at a higher percentage. I figure he's probably about 50% and 40% when wide open.

Booker shoots 17% and 18%, from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And he only shoots when wide open.

fishercob · Post #256 » by **fishercob** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:10 pm

Book is more athletic and explosive then I realized. HIs hangtime on a couple of those plays was phenomenal, especially for a dude his size. It would seem to me that his efficacy as a legit NBA player hinges solely on his ability to build a reliable jumper. Here's hoping.

tontoz · Post #257 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:13 pm

nate33 wrote:Blatche shoots 35% and 29% from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And many of those are contested fadeaways. Surely his wide-open jumpers are at a higher percentage. I figure he's probably about 50% and 40% when wide open.

Booker shoots 17% and 18%, from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And he only shoots when wide open.

Contested? You must be seeing something i don't. I see defenders playing off him hoping he will shoot. Then he dribbles between his legs or behind his back and launches. Once he picks up his dribble he isn't a threat to drive so of course the defender can get up on him.

But before he actually takes a dribble he is routinely open.

Post #258 » by **nate33** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:28 pm

tontoz wrote:
nate33 wrote:Blatche shoots 35% and 29% from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And many of those are contested fadeaways. Surely his wide-open jumpers are at a higher percentage. I figure he's probably about 50% and 40% when wide open.

Booker shoots 17% and 18%, from 10-15 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. And he only shoots when wide open.

Contested? You must be seeing something i don't. I see defenders playing off him hoping he will shoot. Then he dribbles between his legs or behind his back and launches. Once he picks up his dribble he isn't a threat to drive so of course the defender can get up on him.

But before he actually takes a dribble he is routinely open.

No, he isn't. Sometime he is, but not "routinely". I guarantee you that teams don't adopt a defensive strategy designed with the intent to double with Blatche's defender. If Booker and McGee started, once the scouting report got out, teams would double with Booker's man. Wall would never run a successful pick and roll with Booker because both defenders would simply go behind the screen. Hell, teams could just play a Triangle and 2 defense with man-to-man D on Young and Lewis and a 3-man zone against Wall, Booker and McGee.

I'm not trying to defend Blatche. I'm just as frustrated as you with all the stupid dribbling and behind the back moves that he takes unnecessarily. I'm just saying that, despite his idiocy on offense, teams still have to respect his outside shot. They can't afford to let him take uncontested 17-footers all night.

Dat2U · Post #259 » by **Dat2U** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:36 pm

The biggest surprise to me is Booker's rebounding the last two games. His rebounding seemed like a legitimate concern up to this point in his rookie season.

Booker's energy level seems to make all the difference in the world. When he brings it, he's effective and when he doesn't he's just another guy. Learning to bring that consistent effort & energy every night will make him a solid role player whether he develops a jumper or not.

Speaking of his jumper, Nate is right. Blatche deservedly gets a lot of hate but he's not a terrible shooter from the perimeter. He's been wildly inconsistent and takes horrible shots at times but at least he's capable of making those jumpers. Booker can't hit the broad side of a barn yet. I think I can count on one hand how many jumpers Booker has made this year.

tontoz · Post #260 » by **tontoz** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:37 pm

Are you under the impression that teams aren't going under the screen when Wall runs a pick and roll with anyone? Wall's unwillingness to shoot and his inaccuracy when he does shoot means that they will go under the screen no matter who is setting it.

I think teams will let Blatche take all the 17 footers he wants. he is happy to oblige which is why 67% of his attempts are jumpers. What teams don't want is for him to drive past his man for a layup which he can do although he doesn't do it often enough.