How is the opinion on Rashad McCants now?...

[casey]

The TO numbers are likely to fall and if we let him learn from his mistakes instead of yanking him early, he will learn not to foul stupidly.

Those are some pretty huge assumptions.

[big3_8_19_21]

It's part no respect from refs, but quite a bit si McCants bulling people over. His offensive fouls are the main culprit for both turnovers and fouls. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be able to improve on this. In the Denver game he only had one turnover in 32 minutes (but five fouls). Dewey was saying how it's troubling that a pro should have to learn some of these things. Plenty of 23 year olds around the league have weaknesses they have to work on that McCants has down pretty well. Is it not exponentially more troubling that seasoned veterans like Ben Wallace and Shaq can't make the VERY VERY fundamental free throw?

[big3_8_19_21]

Another thing: as turnover prone/foul prone Dwight Howard is, if he was treated like McCants, he would have some serious work to do. He lowers shoulders on offense all the time (which is McCants main source of offensive fouls), plus he tends to use his hands to gain rebounding position.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing McCants to Howard, D12 is a supreme talent and maybe the best big man in the game today, but he gets some real superstar treatment that helps out a lot with the same problems McCants has.

[JBoog35]

I don't take any foul talk seriously. Refs in the NBA are far different from any other sport. I'll never forget Byron Russell/Michael Jordan pushoff. It's just as bad today as back then. I agree on the D12 assesement by Big. I think as this team gets better, like .500ish. The O fouls will diminish.

If there is anything that he should work on is his footwork on Defense. He seems sluggish, but I have a feeling it's overcompensating for his knee. His knee could be 100%, and subconciously is still protecting it. I've been hurt before and even after everyting was good, I'd subconciously protect the injury still.

One last thing, is that he needs to be reminded to be aggressive Offensively. Once he gets into the routine of getting to the line, it shouldn't be an issue.

My point....it just takes time now.

[casey]

I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be able to improve on this.

Why? I haven't seen anything to make me believe he will improve on it. Sure he should be able to, but he should've done that by now. Shaq should be able to shoot a FT. Troy Williamson should be able to catch a football. Why will that change?

If there is anything that he should work on is his footwork on Defense.

Footwork is certainly part of it. But a bigger part is that he plays defense with his hands. He's always reaching, pushing, etc. He's a very stupid defender, and that's what causes a lot of the problems.

[horaceworthy]

I really enjoy watching McCants play when he's on his game. When that's the case, he's excellent attacking the basket, can find the open man now and then, and doesn't give ground on defense. When he's off his game, few players are more frustrating to watch.

As casey said, McCants uses his hands, shoulders and sometimes knees too much on defense. He's about half a step slow when it comes to cutting off his man's drive, and he tries to make up for it by mugging him. On offense, I don't mind the offensive fouls, those are byproducts of attacking the basket. As Jim Peterson is fond of saying, if you keep attacking like that, eventually the calls will go your way more. I'm not certain about that with McCants, though, since the refs don't seem to give him any respect. I think a lot of that's on Rashad, since he doesn't give the refs any respect. If he wants to get it, he's going to need to cut waaaayyy back on the post-whistle histrionics.

He's at least shown signs the last couple nights of getting that swagger he had earlier in the season. That's a step in the right direction, but he needs to keep making them. Namely, staying front of his man without fouling him, contributing to ball movement a little more, and making quicker decisions.

[big3_8_19_21]

Why? I haven't seen anything to make me believe he will improve on it. Sure he should be able to, but he should've done that by now. Shaq should be able to shoot a FT. Troy Williamson should be able to catch a football. Why will that change?

I've heard nothing but positive reviews on his work ethic. It's easier to make yourself stay after and shoot jump shots than it is to stop bad habits on the court. A jump shot is something tangible that can have immediately visible results when practicing by yourself. Working on stuff like this has to be done in game/scrimmage situations which makes it somewhat harder to work on by yourself. It can be done, and if his work ethic is as good as Hanney and Pete say it is, then he should be able to reduce his bad habits on the court over time.

Also your point goes both ways. Jermaine O'Neal should have produced more in Portland his first four years. Chris Kaman has always been physically able to block almost 3 shots per game, why is he now doing that as well as having putting up 18 and 14? The points/boards can be attributed to Brand's absence, but there are plenty of opportunity to block shots in a game, where it's quite literally impossible for one player to take all those opportunities. He's always been physically able to do it, maybe he's worked on his timing, a mental thing, same as McCants. If you do cite Brand as the reason for Kaman's shot blocking emergence, what about Dwight Howard finally blocking almost 3 shots a game? No one can argue that he hasn't been capable of that in the past, but he only put up 1.7, 1.4 and 1.9 blocks per game his first three years. He's always had the minutes and the physical ability. If you want a guard example, what about Chauncey Billups? What finally came to him when he went to Detroit that he couldn't get down his first 6 years in the league?

[dunkonu21]

Casey's outlook on life: Impossible is Everything...

[theGreatRC]

He's still butt hurt by the Hassell Trade.

[funkatron101]

-= original quote snipped =-

Im pretty sure the game against Denver was competitive.

A matter of perspective I suppose. I saw Denver get lazy, but nothing indicated that they were losing control of the game. The Wolves never seemed poised to take the lead to me.

[4ho5ive]

^lol. Good post Big3. This is only his 2nd full year of playing. He still needs time to be on court and develop.

[casey]

Also your point goes both ways. Jermaine O'Neal should have produced more in Portland his first four years. Chris Kaman has always been physically able to block almost 3 shots per game, why is he now doing that as well as having putting up 18 and 14? The points/boards can be attributed to Brand's absence, but there are plenty of opportunity to block shots in a game, where it's quite literally impossible for one player to take all those opportunities. He's always been physically able to do it, maybe he's worked on his timing, a mental thing, same as McCants. If you do cite Brand as the reason for Kaman's shot blocking emergence, what about Dwight Howard finally blocking almost 3 shots a game? No one can argue that he hasn't been capable of that in the past, but he only put up 1.7, 1.4 and 1.9 blocks per game his first three years. He's always had the minutes and the physical ability. If you want a guard example, what about Chauncey Billups? What finally came to him when he went to Detroit that he couldn't get down his first 6 years in the league?

I'm not talking about simply improving his game. I'm talking about a fundamental flaw in his game that after 3 years of college and now in his 3rd year in the pros is as big of a flaw as it has ever been.

[big3_8_19_21]

So what about the first half of my post?

[casey]

I've heard nothing but positive reviews on his work ethic. It's easier to make yourself stay after and shoot jump shots than it is to stop bad habits on the court. A jump shot is something tangible that can have immediately visible results when practicing by yourself. Working on stuff like this has to be done in game/scrimmage situations which makes it somewhat harder to work on by yourself. It can be done, and if his work ethic is as good as Hanney and Pete say it is, then he should be able to reduce his bad habits on the court over time.

He's in his 3rd season as a pro and he played 3 full seasons at UNC. This isn't some rookie out of high school here. He's played plenty of basketball.

[Calinks]

My opinon? HE A BEAST!

[theGreatRC]

My opinon? HE A BEAST!

QUOTED FOR THE MOTHER **** TRUTH

[Basti]

My opinon? HE A BEAST!

QUOTED FOR THE MOTHER **** TRUTH

[big3_8_19_21]

-= original quote snipped =-


He's in his 3rd season as a pro and he played 3 full seasons at UNC. This isn't some rookie out of high school here. He's played plenty of basketball.

You keep saying the same thing over and over..."he's played plenty of basketball"...and I ask again, is he the only 23 year old in the league expected to be a complete player? I just don't get why he's held to such lofty standards compared to his peers in your eyes.

[4ho5ive]

Man, are people gonna get of his fuken back anytime soon. I can already see the posts and threads "Its only been three games dont get excited" But at what point does it become consistent. 3 in a row is no fluke.

And once he has ONE off game everyone will be right back on his case.

[wolves_fan_82au]

1-1 from the line thats down though i guess if your shots are falling who cares

anywas great game too watch though that 4th quater everyone didnt really play well