The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

[DallasShalDune]

So far, McG is schooling his smallish Team USA teammates in the exhibition game--6 straight points, with a pretty left handed finger roll.

[JWizmentality]

Damn, they sat him pretty quick. Brook Lopez hasn't done squat. I know McGee has that asthma problem, but I don't wanna see him used as a "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" player.

[Illuminaire]

McGee is showing good activity on defense, and excellent awareness on offense.

I've seen him dog it back on defense a few times though.

[JWizmentality]

Still has a lot to learn on defense. Yikes.

[DallasShalDune]

Agreed. He has dogged it. I want to know the extent of the asthma, just to know how bad it is going to hurt McGee's potential.

[Ruzious]

Still has a lot to learn on defense. Yikes.

I can only imagine what Coach K was thinking - watching Javale's defense. I was embarrassed for him. A couple times, he didn't even bother going back on defense. He let Rose over-power him once - you really shouldn't get bullied by players a foot shorter than you. He gave up the baseline for no reason - giving Granger an easy layup. There were probably a dozen other things we could pick on that he didn't do on D. It was just... wow... really sad. The good thing is - he's going to get talked to - I hope - of the reality of what he needs to do to stay on the roster, and then it's up to him to do that or... most likely be the 1st player cut.

[Ruzious]

Btw, the second best player (behind Durant) was easily Rudy Gay, imo.

[80sballboy]

Not sure why anybody is surprised. He played a solid 4 minutes, but did a lot of the same things in the Summer League though I think he attempted to rebound defensively. He was just bigger and better than everybody he faced in the SL. He needs to talk to Bill Russell, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Kareem and Bill Walton about how to be intimidating at 7-1 without trying to block everything.

[Ruzious]

Not sure why anybody is surprised. He played a solid 4 minutes, but did a lot of the same things in the Summer League though I think he attempted to rebound defensively. He was just bigger and better than everybody he faced in the SL. He needs to talk to Bill Russell, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Kareem and Bill Walton about how to be intimidating at 7-1 without trying to block everything.

You're right, but it's still alarming when a guy trying to make the US National Team puts so little effort to play defense. We understand the lack of smarts on D, but the lack of effort in this setting... As a coach, how do you deal with that?

[Hoopalotta]

Wiretap:

Kings guard Tyreke Evans, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, sprained his ankle and missed Team USA's final three practices and Saturday's game in Las Vegas.

Evans said Friday that because of the injury he didn't expect to survive the team's impending cut and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo appears to agree.

Colangelo said that Evans being cut is "pretty obvious."

I take this to mean that Evans is, in the vernacular, McGee's bitch.

[Rafael122]

Looks like Brook Lopez has mono, so it could mean McGee is a lock at this point. Whether he plays or not, the experience will be good for him.

[JWizmentality]

Looks like Brook Lopez has mono, so it could mean McGee is a lock at this point. Whether he plays or not, the experience will be good for him.

I hope so, I trust that coaching staff will drill some sort of defensive principles into him. I'm not sure how much to attribute to his asthma problems, but why does he always look so winded during games, it's like he's just loping around. However, as soon as he sees an opportunity for a breakaway dunk or alley-oop, he goes flying down the court.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Not sure why anybody is surprised. He played a solid 4 minutes, but did a lot of the same things in the Summer League though I think he attempted to rebound defensively. He was just bigger and better than everybody he faced in the SL. He needs to talk to Bill Russell, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Kareem and Bill Walton about how to be intimidating at 7-1 without trying to block everything.

You're right, but it's still alarming when a guy trying to make the US National Team puts so little effort to play defense. We understand the lack of smarts on D, but the lack of effort in this setting... As a coach, how do you deal with that?

Sorry I missed the game. Maybe there will be a replay on NBATV.

As far as McGee's defense goes, I think his mistakes need to be charted. Each mistake needs can be categorized as follows: (1) not trying to, (2) not knowing what to do, and also, (3) attempting to do the right thing but not being able to do so. A lot can be learned as to whether lack of effort, lack of understanding, or lack of skill are to blame. All three areas can be improved.

The goal should be to take McGee from atrocious defender to slightly below to average defender. He obviously likes to get his points and to go for blocks. So, maximize those areas but minimize his gaffes on defense would be the plan.

I think McGee's a long stride athlete who probably takes a while to get moving. I think once he gets to a spot he probably doesn't hold position well. I don't think he cares one bit for the infighting and physicality that good low post defense requires. I think he's been so weak for so long in the upper body that he's got the mindset that he needs to avoid banging at all costs.

McGee needs to gain understanding of where to stand on the court and what angles to take. He needs to learn to get position on defense and how to flop. He sets really bad picks and doesn't seem to know hot to get square--probably could stand to do a bunch of shoulder shrugs. He seems to have a very small torso. Bench press and fly movements probably would help him a bunch. I think Javale could really benefit from some combat skills training. Jiu Jitsu or grappling--just to get some exposure to that world might help him mix it up a bit.

Seems to me McGee can really improve quite a bit. I am encouraged that a lot of what seems to be wrong with his game is correctable. He's got the physical tools to be a really good player.

[Dat2U]

I think McGee's a long stride athlete who probably takes a while to get moving. I think once he gets to a spot he probably doesn't hold position well. I don't think he cares one bit for the infighting and physicality that good low post defense requires. I think he's been so weak for so long in the upper body that he's got the mindset that he needs to avoid banging at all costs.

QFT.

Dead on. What makes McGee unique is the combination of length, fluidity & agility. But I wouldn't really consider him explosive, but 7-1 guys generally aren't explosive unless its a freak of nature like Shaq. What really hurts him is that he absolutely hates contact so much that he refuses to actually put a body on someone even to just block out. When opponents go right at him defensively he'll either back up or side step to create room to try to block the shot but often he's just creating a pathway to give the opponent an easy score.

That's why I view him more as supersub than an ideal starter at C position. I don't know if he'll change that mindset of avoiding contact. Until then, 24 to 28 minutes a night is probably his ceiling. I don't necessarily view that as bad thing, I can see him dominating inferior backups, where his weaknesses won't be as magnified and for any contending team its a must to have quality depth on the frontline.

[AceDegenerate]

I saw a couple times during the game Billups tried to talk to McGee and calm him down, it looked like he was telling him to conserve some of his energy because he came out just guns blazing and scored the first 6 points of the 2nd Quarter. Going into the first Timeout you could see Billups stop McGee and tell him to take it easy.

To me the Asthma seems to play a huge role in McGee's effort and overall gameplay. When he has the energy, he is throwing down alley-oops/running the break/and contesting everything on the defensive end. As soon as that Asthma starts to kick in and you see him breathing heavy, the first thing that suffers is his Defense. I saw it last night as well, the first place he stops giving effort when tired is on the Defensive Glass. He just totally doesn't position himself and sort of looks for someone else to get the board for him.

The reality is his defensive rebounding could improve by simply using his head more than his athleticism. He should spend more time positioning than trying to sky over people and grab boards, this way even when he's tired he will have good habits to fall back on that should allow him to always compete on the defensive glass.

He definitely comes off as receptive to criticisms, but you still have to wonder if he's ever going to put it all together. If he does, he can be one heck of a player.

[Kanyewest]

Another big weakness in McGee is that he's not a good passer or it may be that he chooses not to pass. He rarely passes out when he's posting up especially when a quality shot is not available to him. This often results in bad shots or turnovers.

[Rafael122]

Should be very interesting what happens in the next two years with McGee. If he could be half as good as Chandler is now defensively, we'd have our starting center for the next 6-7 years.

[dobrojim]

if i'm mcgee i'd be pretty tired about all the chatter about my mom.

Imagine how Lebron feels.

HOF right there

ROFL

[mhd]

Honestly, Zach Randolph would be an absolute bull on Team USA. He's exactly the kind of beef and rebounding USA needs. He's a lefty to boot.

[hands11]

I think McGee's a long stride athlete who probably takes a while to get moving. I think once he gets to a spot he probably doesn't hold position well. I don't think he cares one bit for the infighting and physicality that good low post defense requires. I think he's been so weak for so long in the upper body that he's got the mindset that he needs to avoid banging at all costs.

QFT.

Dead on. What makes McGee unique is the combination of length, fluidity & agility. But I wouldn't really consider him explosive, but 7-1 guys generally aren't explosive unless its a freak of nature like Shaq. What really hurts him is that he absolutely hates contact so much that he refuses to actually put a body on someone even to just block out. When opponents go right at him defensively he'll either back up or side step to create room to try to block the shot but often he's just creating a pathway to give the opponent an easy score.

That's why I view him more as supersub than an ideal starter at C position. I don't know if he'll change that mindset of avoiding contact. Until then, 24 to 28 minutes a night is probably his ceiling. I don't necessarily view that as bad thing, I can see him dominating inferior backups, where his weaknesses won't be as magnified and for any contending team its a must to have quality depth on the frontline.

http://www.usabasketball.com/photos/10_ ... ry_11.html

So it always comes back to the same thing with him, if he can't be a strong defensive center, then he shouldn't start .... then who should ? And where is that player on our team ? Oh I miss Haywood.

Back to the Seraphin watch.

I know this team going to get put together over time but I'm getting antsy to learn what we have as a defensive center. Cuz if we don't have one, we are going to loose a lot of games with or without Gil. I guess if it comes to crunch time you can always put Dray at center.

It's my biggest concern for this team. Seraphin ? Armstrong ? I just want to know we have Seraphin signed so I know there is at least a "chance" that we have someone to play down there.