Struggle Street - The Gary Neal Thread

[mrknowitall215]

I went looking for Gary Neal highlights with the Bucks, and I found this...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVC7uQrXTec[/youtube]

...almost a hawk spitting image of Ben Gordon

[catch20two]

Uncanny. All in all I'm just looking forward to seeing how we play with a PG that doesn't play 1-on-5 where the only time he passes the ball is when it's guaranteed to be a assist.

I wonder how Clifford is going to do the rotations. It look like Neal played a little or lot of PG with the Bucks. Is Neal going to just take over Sessions' role or is he and Ridnour both going to play backup minutes. Somebody's minutes is going to take a hit between Hendo, MKG, or Tolliver.

[tondi123]

I honestly think if Neal comes in and plays well that Hendo will be the odd mam out. Tolliver has been lights out so he's not going anywhere and MKG brings so many other positives I'm sure the team would like to keep him out there so that leaves "long 2" Hendo riding the pine if Neal can regain his stroke. Hendo will start and play, of course, but I could definitely see his minutes dwindle a bit more than anyone else.

[gehenherzog]

I honestly think if Neal comes in and plays well that Hendo will be the odd mam out. Tolliver has been lights out so he's not going anywhere and MKG brings so many other positives I'm sure the team would like to keep him out there so that leaves "long 2" Hendo riding the pine if Neal can regain his stroke. Hendo will start and play, of course, but I could definitely see his minutes dwindle a bit more than anyone else.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I think Neal's shot returns. If you look at his stats from Milwaukee, he started the season playing well (i guess too well) then his minutes started going away and his shot started getting a little inconsistent. I think with consistent minutes his shot will return. He was playing consistent minutes up until December, then rarely played until Milwaukee decided to showcase him. Then he had 2 out of 3 solid performances. I am excited to see what he does here.

Time will tell and I can't wait for Friday.

[fatlever]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/248024341.html

[JDR720]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/248024341.html

Can't say i blame him, the Bucks are a train wreck

[HornetJail]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/248024341.html

Who knew the Bobcats would be seen as a refuge to someone who signed with a playoff team last year?

[Snidely FC]

I'm not a fan of guys who rely on purple patches as their sole contribution to the team, but if he keeps having purple patches every game I guess I will have to shut up.

[Snidely FC]

Getting rid of Gary Neal just leaped to the top of my summer to do list for this team.
I hate his game.
This guy is a sourpuss and a bad fit for a team built on chemistry.
Taking on his contract for next year changed that trade from just bad to downright stupid.
I want him gone.

[yosemiteben]

Last night was definitely frustrating but he has shown some real value since he's been here, I'm not at all interested in dumping him. He's shooting, what, like 46% from three since he's gotten here? He also is one of three guys on our roster capable of creating off the dribble (Kemba and CDR being the other two, though based on last night the potential is there with MKG). He typically is not a defensive liability, and frankly he's carried our bench offensively at times.

Saying we need to dump him is going too far IMO. He's a perfectly serviceable offensive injection off the bench.

[mrknowitall215]

Gary Neal's contract and presence on the team is fine. I wouldn't consider him a 6th man in the manner Clifford uses him, but his occasional relief of instant offense at his market value is decent. Charlotte just need to make him 3rd string shooting guard with sporadic minutes where he only receive extended minutes when he's hot or in situational instances

[Radu_Hornets]

Ok, his performance in the playoffs until now is not really what we were all expecting.

However, he made his presence known since he signed in charlotte, and I saw the ability to create his own shot and attack the rim when there is no other possibility, and end the play with some beautiful floater.

I don't dislike havng him on the team.

[Snidely FC]

Sorry, I disagree. Just because he can create his own shot doesn't mean he should. His game is eerily similar to Ben Gordon. His defense is a liability. He's a horrible passer.
What we need in a SG is a shooter who takes open 3s. Frankly, I preferred Anthony Tolliver in that role before Neal came in.

[mrknowitall215]

Sorry, I disagree. Just because he can create his own shot doesn't mean he should. His game is eerily similar to Ben Gordon. His defense is a liability. He's a horrible passer.
What we need in a SG is a shooter who takes open 3s. Frankly, I preferred Anthony Tolliver in that role before Neal came in.

That's exactly what Gary Neal is, a poor man's version of Ben Gordon (circa Chicago Bulls). He's not all bad, just need to be reeled in and given a smaller role moving forward

[KingExecutive]

I have to constantly remind myself that Neal is being played outside his intended role this season.

He is not our answer for a starting shooting guard.
He should not be ending games for us.
He is a scoring option for the second/third string.

I keep trying to picture what next season will look like with Neal in his role. He'll be supported by Taylor and hopefully a serviceable point guard. Hopefully Biz will pick up some of the defense lost with Neal in.

He needs to develop a catch-and-shoot mentality rather than throwing up inefficient floaters. Also, he should pass in traffic. Period.

[HornetJail]

Getting rid of Gary Neal just leaped to the top of my summer to do list for this team.
I hate his game.
This guy is a sourpuss and a bad fit for a team built on chemistry.
Taking on his contract for next year changed that trade from just bad to downright stupid.
I want him gone.

You and I both. He's done some things to make me second-guess my initial hatred for that trade, but not nearly enough. Ramon Sessions would NOT have choked that hard. For all his flaws, Sessions would've found Kemba instead of trying to play hero ball in that scenario. What a **** moron. I hate Gary Neal. I would give up our 2nd round pick to dump his contract.

[mrknowitall215]

Clifford on acquiring shooter Gary Neal: “That trade helped us a great deal. You want to take your best player (Jefferson) and surround him with players who make him better. Gary Neal helped do that.”

I didn't like the trade, but I'm not blind to the results, because Jefferson did excel the more Neal, Tolliver, and CDR hit 3-pointers

[Snidely FC]

Tolliver was shooting 46% on 3s when they brought Neal in. Neal's arrival ruined Tolliver. Tolliver would have continued to be just as effective, or more so if you discount Neal's insistence on dribbling, paired with CDR during the late season stretch.

Sessions averaged 16 pts and 5 assists and 35% on 3s in MIL. He was obviously trying to incorporate more 3s and passes in his repetoire just before he was traded. While his departure probably helped Zeller and CDR shine more, it also left a gaping wound in the second unit's scoring ability that became a huge problem vs. MIA. (we would have won game 2 in MIA with Sessions).

If you go back and look at the game thread in Neal's first game with CHA, I immediately said I don't like his game, I don't think he's the right "shooter" for this team.

Of course Clifford's gonna dap Neal up, we've now got to pay his salary for one more year. Trade, Gary.

[Snidely FC]

Neal for . . . ?

Wayne Ellington (DAL)

Alexy Shved (MIN)

Dorrell Wright (POR)

?

[catch20two]

Neal for . . . ?

Wayne Ellington (DAL)

Alexy Shved (MIN)

Dorrell Wright (POR)

?

Shved please. That'll answer our backup PG issue and move CDR to backup SG.