OMFKG! The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread

[Snidely FC]

David Thorpe suggests what this year's top rookies can do to improve now. He ranks MKG third, behind Lillard & ADavis.

MKG looks to impact the game in many ways, as his talent dictates he should do. And that includes posting up small forwards, something he's been doing for most of his basketball life. But he's making some key mistakes, not including his spotty face-up jumper that he settles for on occasion (his whole shot just needs time to get better).

From the wing or the mid-post, too often he attacks baseline, and that is almost always going to be a problem for him. It's a tough angle to finish shots from, especially if his defender rides him behind the block, where he's unable to use the backboard. It's an easier angle for defenders to contest from as well, from a shot perspective. When help comes, as it normally does, it literally gives MKG nothing to finish, and countering back to the middle causes all sorts of turnover problems.

Attacking middle first, as he does here and there, is the better choice, but he needs to get the shot off (most of the time) by the time he reaches the midpoint of the lane. Going past that point brings help defenders into the equation and makes it harder to finish the shot because the basket is now behind him. Lastly, he's not countering enough, so defenders know he's going to just keep going in the direction he started, better enabling them to time up their contests.

[Kembastockton]

According to NBA.com MKG joined LeBron as the only players to post two 25 point 12 rebound games before their 20th birthday.

Take a bow son

Already posted that cuz.

[JT2006]

According to NBA.com MKG joined LeBron as the only players to post two 25 point 12 rebound games before their 20th birthday.

Take a bow son

[BigSlam]

Did you guys know that MKG joined LeBron as the only players to post two 25 point 12 rebound games before their 20th birthday?

[JT2006]

Did you guys know that MKG joined LeBron as the only players to post two 25 point 12 rebound games before their 20th birthday?

Yeah, but did you know they both did it before the day before their 20th birthday as well?

[Elden Payton]

Any word on the eye injury?

Games expected to miss??

[JT2006]

scratches on the cornea can take up to 6 months to heal, but the treatment that required you to not blink much lasts only a couple days. He could be back friday, if the info about the eye is correct

[Elden Payton]

Cheers JT.

[James Gatz]

Bradley Beal wins rookie of the month while shooting 37% from the floor and 18% from 3 in december. MKG shot 57%.


Beals numbers:

13.6 3.9 3.4

Hyphen numbers:

10.9 6.1 2.1

Maybe I'm being a homer but I think this kind of bull s**t.

[JT2006]

Bradley Beal wins rookie of the month while shooting 37% from the floor and 18% from 3 in december. MKG shot 57%.


Beals numbers:

13.6 3.9 3.4

Hyphen numbers:

10.9 6.1 2.1

Maybe I'm being a homer but I think this kind of bull s**t.

MKG didn't have as good of a month as before, but 37% shooting for 14 points isn't really even starter worthy

[messed_up_todd]

Yeah honestly shocked by Beal winning rookie of the month. Have not been that impressed by him so far

[HornetJail]

Losing 18 in a row had something to do with MKG not winning it this month. I'm sure of that much. No other EC rookie is even close to him right now. Beal has been terrible in every game I've watched this year.

[Liver_Pooty]

Beal winning it reminds me of Morrison winning it, and he was terrible.

[Elden Payton]

Travesty.

MKG, Drummond and Ross were clearly more deserving.

[LamarMatic7]

Zach Lowe on MKG when talking about the ROY race

Kidd-Gilchrist, on the other hand, already rates as an above-average defender capable of guarding at least four positions on most nights. He’s shooting a hair better than 50 percent, getting to the line and dishing assists at a decent rate for a wing player, and posting a Player Efficiency Rating almost identical to Lillard’s. The Bobcats have been better on both ends with MKG on the floor, and he has flashed a surprisingly effective herky-jerky isolation game on offense; he can go around power forwards off the bounce and through/over smaller players after using an unpredictable move to turn a defender’s body just a bit out of position. He can’t shoot, which mucks up Charlotte’s spacing, but he has made up for it in other ways — including by posting one of the best offensive rebounding rates in the league for a perimeter player. And power forwards haven’t really hurt him in the post, either; opponents are just 10-of-28 against Kidd-Gilchrist on post-up plays, per Synergy. He fights hard for position against bigger guys, doesn’t bite on pump fakes, challenges shots, and has good timing swiping at the ball when he’s at a size disadvantage.

Lillard has earned front-runner status, but Kidd-Gilchrist deserves real consideration. Given their three-year age gap, it’s not surprising there are some folks around the league who would prefer to build around MKG for the long haul.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... rds-part-2

[JT2006]

Zach Lowe on MKG when talking about the ROY race

Kidd-Gilchrist, on the other hand, already rates as an above-average defender capable of guarding at least four positions on most nights. He’s shooting a hair better than 50 percent, getting to the line and dishing assists at a decent rate for a wing player, and posting a Player Efficiency Rating almost identical to Lillard’s. The Bobcats have been better on both ends with MKG on the floor, and he has flashed a surprisingly effective herky-jerky isolation game on offense; he can go around power forwards off the bounce and through/over smaller players after using an unpredictable move to turn a defender’s body just a bit out of position. He can’t shoot, which mucks up Charlotte’s spacing, but he has made up for it in other ways — including by posting one of the best offensive rebounding rates in the league for a perimeter player. And power forwards haven’t really hurt him in the post, either; opponents are just 10-of-28 against Kidd-Gilchrist on post-up plays, per Synergy. He fights hard for position against bigger guys, doesn’t bite on pump fakes, challenges shots, and has good timing swiping at the ball when he’s at a size disadvantage.

Lillard has earned front-runner status, but Kidd-Gilchrist deserves real consideration. Given their three-year age gap, it’s not surprising there are some folks around the league who would prefer to build around MKG for the long haul.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... rds-part-2

I agree with every bit. Pleasant surprises all around for MKG. Not because I didn't think he was goign to be this kind of player, just because he's already so good at the things he does as the youngest NBA player.

[Eoghan]

If MKG never improves his shot more than it is now, are we still fine drafting him #2?

[JT2006]

If MKG never improves his shot more than it is now, are we still fine drafting him #2?

yes, because you draft on draft night, not 5 years later...

[Eoghan]

If MKG never improves his shot more than it is now, are we still fine drafting him #2?

yes, because you draft on draft night, not 5 years later...

So on draft night you didn't entertain the possibility that his shot was irreparable?

Edit: Obviously my question is of a hypothetical nature, I don't mean that we should jump in a time machine, knock out Cho and then change the draft pick before it goes out to Stern.

[countryboi]

Damnit this is not the game thread