We Are Stuck With Him - The Lance Stephenson Thread II

Post #1221 » by **fatlever** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:21 pm

Radu_Hornets wrote:I do believe that Lance played well tonight...

He played like a half competent backup wing last night vs the Wolves - which is a huge upgrade to most of his performances.

Post #1222 » by **JDR720** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:09 pm

Lance Stephenson doesn't regret his decision to sign with the Hornets as a free agent, even though this season has been a huge struggle for the five-year NBA veteran.

"Not at all," Stephenson said. "I love this system. I love my coaches. I love my teammates. Some people come into systems and fit right in. Some people it takes time. I feel like with me, I'm going to take time."

The Hornets gave Stephenson a three-year, $27 million deal this past offseason expecting him to bring a boost with his playoff experience. But he hasn't come close to living up to expectations.

Stephenson is shooting just 37.7 percent from the field and has made only 16 percent of his 3-point attempts. Things have gone so downhill that he didn't even play in Charlotte's biggest game so far this season -- a 116-104 loss Monday night to the Boston Celtics -- despite two starters being out with injuries.

Stephenson sat and watched while Jeff Taylor and rookie P.J. Hairston played ahead of him. The loss dropped the Hornets 1½ games behind the Celtics in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday night.

"It's a coach's decision and my job is to keep a positive attitude," Stephenson told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Stephenson lost his starting job early in the season and had been playing with the second rotation until this week.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford said sitting Stephenson was the result of a combination of things, including the need to have a stronger defender on the floor with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out with an ankle injury. Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson.

Clifford said Stephenson is still adapting to the new system, and as a coach he hasn't found the right people to use with Stephenson on the floor.

"I think the biggest thing for him is he's 23 and this is the first time he's gone somewhere different," Clifford said. "He's played for the same team and same coach for four years with the same basic offensive and defensive structure."

Stephenson said he still believes he can turn things around in Charlotte, but said he just needs "that freedom to let me play through mistakes."

Stephenson's numbers have fallen off in almost every category. He's averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game this season, down from 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season for the Indiana Pacers.

Clifford said Stephenson still has a chance to make an impact with the Hornets in the future, although he indicated he'll stick with the same rotation he used against the Celtics moving forward.

The second-year coach compared Stephenson with 12-year veteran Mo Williams, who was acquired in a midseason trade with Minnesota. For Williams, it was his seventh NBA team; this is Stephenson's second.

"In three days Mo knew everything we're doing," Clifford said. "That is what happens. For Lance it has taken a while to get comfortable."

Stephenson is shooting more jump shots and driving less than he did in Indiana, which Clifford said has affected his shooting percentage.

Stephenson said he wasn't comfortable at the beginning of the year, which led to bad shot selection. But he said he began to find his way after the All-Star break.

"I knew what I was doing and knew how to play (in the system) and I felt like I was shooting better," Stephenson said. "I felt like I was going to help our team get over that next hump." http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12595011/lance-stephenson-does-not-regret-joining-charlotte-hornets

Elden Payton · Post #1223 » by **Elden Payton** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:31 pm

Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

Liver_Pooty · Post #1224 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed Apr 1, 2015 1:52 am

I have gotten on Lances ass so much this year its insane, but the way he has taken benching along with his terrible play most of the time without flipping out I have to give him some praise. It would be so freaking awesome if he came out next year and ripped the league in half. Hes the wild card. If Jefferson opts in we will probably have about the same team, and no matter how much any of our players improves we will still be a treadmill team.

Unless Lance gets his head out of his ass and lives in the gym nonstop this off season.

W_HAMILTON · Post #1225 » by **W_HAMILTON** » Wed Apr 1, 2015 1:56 am

I like Taylor, but even taking the bad with the good, there's almost no way that Stephenson could have played worse than Taylor did in that last game. There's no reason that Stephenson should be getting DNPs, especially when he looked like he was starting to turn it around.

Post #1226 » by **Diop** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 2:45 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/583458626544742401[/tweet]

hes going hard with this line.

taking one for the team? trying to protect the front office to help him keep his job?

Liver_Pooty · Post #1227 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:12 am

Sachmo wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/583458626544742401[/tweet]

hes going hard with this line.

taking one for the team? trying to protect the front office to help him keep his job?

Or protecting one of his players. Clifford is a players coach.

Something went on behind the scenes. I don't care what Lance has to say about "learning a new system" or Clifford saying " I wanted him, I was his advocate " or whatever.

No one would take a benching as well as Lance has. Saying that he doesn't regret at all signing with Charlotte and such. Either his agent is telling him the right things to say in hope of a trade or he royally **** up somehow and the organization is covering it up. Thank God we have a beat writer that is worthless who won't even bothering asking.

Post #1228 » by **Diop** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:16 am

you're right, Lance would have been told that his league value is on the line, so say the right things.
Clifford is happy to support his player and team.

Eoghan · Post #1229 » by **Eoghan** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:24 am

It'll be funny if Clifford isn't spouting schtick and he makes Cho pull off a blockbuster trade of Kemba, Biz, and Vonleh to surround Lance and Al with a bunch of shooters next year.

Post #1230 » by **Diop** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:34 am

BrotherDave wrote:It'll be funny if Clifford isn't spouting schtick and he makes Cho pull off a blockbuster trade of Kemba, Biz, and Vonleh to surround Lance and Al with a bunch of shooters next year.

and another point guard who has played over seas because that creates mental toughness

catch20two · Post #1231 » by **catch20two** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:39 am

Sik Infant wrote:Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

He's right. Taylor is a phenomenal defender with uncharted lateral quickness.

Elden Payton · Post #1232 » by **Elden Payton** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:41 am

catch20two wrote:
Sik Infant wrote:Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

He's right. Taylor is a phenomenal defender with uncharted lateral quickness.

Taylor's defense, like his shooting, is greatly exaggerated.

He got killed repeatedly during the Boston game, odd time for Clifford to make that comment.

Braggins · Post #1233 » by **Braggins** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:44 am

catch20two wrote:
Sik Infant wrote:Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

He's right. Taylor is a phenomenal defender with uncharted lateral quickness.

Clifford is such a dunce. It amazes me at times. He couldn't just say he was "a better defender", which is highly questionable anyways, he had to go with "by a substantial margin a better defender"... I don't know how anyone takes him seriously at this point.

catch20two · Post #1234 » by **catch20two** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:45 am

Sik Infant wrote:
catch20two wrote:
Sik Infant wrote:Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

He's right. Taylor is a phenomenal defender with uncharted lateral quickness.

Taylor's defense, like his shooting, is greatly exaggerated.

He got killed repeatedly during the Boston game, odd time for Clifford to make that comment.

Yup, exaggerated and wishful thinking, nothing more. They anticipated him becoming a solid 3nD player but he's been any and everything below solid. I kinda hope we re-sign him like I'm 60/40 expecting so I can continue to have a reason to talk sh*t. I like to talk sh*t. Lol

Braggins · Post #1235 » by **Braggins** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:47 am

We gonna resign Al, Max, and Taylor. We'll trade Biz and PJ.

Elden Payton · Post #1236 » by **Elden Payton** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:47 am

Braggins wrote:
catch20two wrote:
Sik Infant wrote:Clifford said Taylor is "by a substantial margin a better defender" than any other wing player on the roster, including Stephenson

Did Clifford watch the Boston game?

He's right. Taylor is a phenomenal defender with uncharted lateral quickness.

Clifford is such a dunce. It amazes me at times. He couldn't just say he was "a better defender", which is highly questionable anyways, he had to go with "by a substantial margin a better defender"... I don't know how anyone takes him seriously at this point.

Clifford is a robot.

catch20two · Post #1237 » by **catch20two** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 3:47 am

Lance starting at SF with MKG out while he was finally getting his groove back would've been perfect timing.

But Cliff gonna Cliff like Hobe gonna Hobe.

therebirth · Post #1238 » by **therebirth** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 4:14 am

This organization went back to doing the same thing that got them in trouble before. Letting the coach have a say. Anybody remember Larry Brown's work. The only difference is Clifford has more honor and admits his mistakes. I don't think lance is the only one either. Clifford coached Brian Roberts before and I'm sure lobbied for his signing.

Braggins · Post #1239 » by **Braggins** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 6:46 am

I'm very suspicious of this situation. I don't believe for a second that Lance likes this system or that he doesn't regret signing here. I think everyone is just being peachy with the media to help facilitate a possible trade in the off-season. Beyond that I have no idea what to make of this.

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #1240 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Thu Apr 2, 2015 10:56 am

therebirth wrote:This organization went back to doing the same thing that got them in trouble before. Letting the coach have a say. Anybody remember Larry Brown's work. The only difference is Clifford has more honor and admits his mistakes. I don't think lance is the only one either. Clifford coached Brian Roberts before and I'm sure lobbied for his signing.

I agree, but here’s the thing, it’s a partnership. The FO wants and needs the coach to be successful. If the coach tells them that he needs something – say more outside shooting – then it helps both sides if the FO can give him what he wants. Where it can get dicey is when it comes down to individual players.