The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

willbcocks · Post #261 » by **willbcocks** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:51 pm

Good news for McGee, bad news for the USA.

MJG · Post #262 » by **MJG** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:05 pm

How about this little note from Sheridan:

CENTERS Brook Lopez.

Cuts: Tyson Chandler (conditioning, free throw inaccuracy), JaVale McGee (victim of numbers game, but a sleeper to make final 12), Robin Lopez (a project for 2014 and beyond).

He says that this is part educated guess and part talking to the people actually running the show, which is interesting. So, McGee wasn't just invited back just because, McGee was invited back with the idea that he's a legit (albeit longshot) dark horse to make the final cut. Good stuff for him.

Post #263 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:12 pm

Absolutely. Congrats to Javale. This is an honor and a great experience for him. The other centers are the 2 Lopez brothers and Tyson Chandler, so while he's probably the least likely to make it, it wouldn't be a total shock if he did - especially if he can show some PF skills.

pancakes3 · Post #264 » by **pancakes3** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:35 pm

robin lopez is the least likely to make it, imo. i say he's battling chandler for the 2nd spot behind lopez and if he focus on REBOUNDING he has a solid chance of making it. OTOH, if mcgee can't handle being a rebounding role player on even team USA we should just give up on him.

rockymac52 · Post #265 » by **rockymac52** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:50 pm

What kind of stats would you guys project for McGee this season?

My best guess is:
27 MPG
12 PPG
7 RPG
2.5 BPG
.500 FG%

The hardest thing for me to predict was the minutes. Once we blew it up last year he got more playing time and more starts, more like 23 mpg as opposed to the 10 he had been getting before. I expect we'll want him to play even more, as long as he can stay out of foul trouble and can be in good enough shape to keep running the floor for that long. But mainly I don't see Armstrong getting the other 20-25 MPG, and we shouldn't have Blatche at center too often.

Post #266 » by **nate33** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:52 pm

willbcocks wrote:Good news for McGee, bad news for the USA.

daSwami · Post #267 » by **daSwami** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:54 pm

Wow, that's sort of unexpected. Whomever is in charge of Team USA roster selection has (historically) had a knack for identifying players who are on the cusp of a break out. I hope that is again the case. If nothing else it will be great experience for Javale to play with/learn from some of the best.

Post #268 » by **nate33** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:55 pm

rockymac52 wrote:What kind of stats would you guys project for McGee this season?

I have absolutely no idea.

I think it's pretty likely that McGee will post excellent per-minute numbers in points, rebounds and blocks; he always has. The question is, will those numbers be "empty numbers" as they have been in the past, or will he combine his statistical contributions with more intangible contributions like position defense, proper rotations to stop penetration, and boxing out so his teammates get boards.

fishercob · Post #269 » by **fishercob** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:36 pm

willbcocks wrote:Good news for McGee, bad news for the USA.

Is it me, or do some of you look at that roster and next expect a gold medal? Literally no one from Beijing will be there. Not as much practice/bonding time, me thinks. No "redeem" theme. Bunch of kids trying to find their way. If Coach K wins with this team, it will be a hell of a coaching job.

dobrojim · Post #270 » by **dobrojim** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:51 pm

rockymac52 wrote:It'll be nice for him to get some action against much more established and skilled centers. Although I think McGee is getting a lot better, his game is clearly suited to the summer league atmosphere. When he towers over the rest of the inexperienced competition, he can dominate, just like in college, but then when the real NBA rolls around, he goes back to being a confused, weak kid again. It's fun to see him dominate the summer league, and it's encouraging that he has it in him, but he clearly isn't ready to do so against the NBA's best, so this is the perfect opportunity.

seems to me that McGee did fine against the finesse Cs.
He got eaten alive by the low post bangers. As we all know,
all NBA Cs are not created equal. McGee may even dominate
some while being eaten alive by others. Matchups baby, matchups.
Hopefully the depth will by of a variety that covers areas in which
McGee is weak.

queridiculo · Post #271 » by **queridiculo** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:32 pm

McGee doesn't just get beaten by low post bangers, he gets beaten by anybody with a semblance of a post game.

It's almost comical watching him try to play defense at times. What really boggles my mind is his inability to maintain any defensive positioning. He constantly gets turned around and ends up in awkward angles, like he's more interested in opening his hips to block a shot then to actually absorb physical contact.

On top of that he's still so unsure of himself that even when he's in decent position on help defense, he tends to stick with his man rather than playing the angle, and ends up a step late as a result.

He's just completely lost on that side of the ball and I'm really wondering if he will ever get it. There's simply not much in the way of progress that I have seen over the years.

mhd · Post #272 » by **mhd** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:11 pm

Amare and Robin Lopez are out. Was listening to Jerry Colangello on the John Thompson show. he praised McGee and said he had a great summer league (though he noted Wall had something to do with it).

Looking at team USA right now, my team would be:

PG: Billups/Westbrook/Curry
SG: Mayo/Gay/
SF: Durant/Granger/Gay
PF: Odom/Kevin Love
C: B. Lopez/David Lee

That 12th spot has to be a big. Maybe McGee makes it as a 12th man?

rockymac52 · Post #273 » by **rockymac52** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:22 pm

Well seeing as Colangelo would rather have Billups/Westbrook/Rose/Evans than Wall, McGee would only be better playing alongside them, right? :lol:

keynote · Post #274 » by **keynote** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:27 pm

Brook is out too, acc. to the Wire Tap.

fishercob · Post #275 » by **fishercob** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:40 pm

Colangelo just signed Earl Boykins off the street to play in the WCs.

pancakes3 · Post #276 » by **pancakes3** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:50 pm

keynote wrote:Brook is out too, acc. to the Wire Tap.

did you mean robin? i don't see the brook news.

eltacoman · Post #277 » by **eltacoman** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:38 pm

I can feel it
this is setting up JaVale for a 2011 Allstar Appearance

!!!!!!!JaVale 4 NBA DUNK CONTEST movement Has Begone !!!!!!!!!!!!!

eltacoman · Post #278 » by **eltacoman** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:58 pm

pancakes3 wrote:
keynote wrote:Brook is out too, acc. to the Wire Tap.

did you mean robin? i don't see the brook news.

they mistaked Brook for Robin again :lol:

Post #279 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 1:26 am

pancakes3 wrote:robin lopez is the least likely to make it, imo. i say he's battling chandler for the 2nd spot behind lopez and if he focus on REBOUNDING he has a solid chance of making it. OTOH, if mcgee can't handle being a rebounding role player on even team USA we should just give up on him.

I guess you're right, but I think RLo is on the verge of becoming a very good player who you win with - an outstanding defender/banger who accepts his limited role on offense. He's going to be to BLo as Marc Gasol is to Pau Gasol, imo.

keynote · Post #280 » by **keynote** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:09 am

eltacoman wrote:
pancakes3 wrote:
keynote wrote:Brook is out too, acc. to the Wire Tap.

did you mean robin? i don't see the brook news.

they mistaked Brook for Robin again

Yeah, the WT said Brook originally; they've apparently made the edit.