The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

[hands11]

Wow, the negativity is amusing. Either he improves and gets it or he doesn't and someone else gets a chance. It's almost as if some of you were asleep for four months and awakened to the fact that JaVale is the starting center. He's going to struggle, but hopefully he will improve.

Agreed. With more minutes and more starts, he'll likely start to learn some things. If he doesn't, oh well.

The Wizards could have done better w/ McGee, just as they could have w/ Kwame and some other bigs. Why invest millions in what is clearly a project, and not throw everything at the player to insure that he improves. I just see them (and other teams) in situations like this just shrug their shoulders, like they can't figure out training and motivation. I hope Leonsis is more willing than Pollin was to spend on such additional personnel as is needed to micromanage training of unschooled projects. It's not too late w/ McGee, but it will be soon.

Well, we have Ted, EG, Flip and Sam I Am in the front office. You have to hope that between the four of them, someone one has to be talking about a big man coach. With all these Georgetown centers that played here, you think we can get one here. Where is Alonzo ? Ewing was baby sitting Howard. Where is Akeem and David Robinson ?

[closg00]

Poor guy is getting flamed for his thread.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1042537

[KennerLeaguer]

Roy Hibbert scored a career high 29 points against McGee. Btw Hibbert has owned McGee ever since their workouts for teams before the 2008 draft.

He also got 27 against Okafor, 26 against Dwight Howard, 25 against Mark Gasol, 23 against Boston bigs, and 21 against Lakers bigs.

This isn't about what Hibbert did against other guys. Its about what he has done against McGee. I brought it up because when all the folks in here started talking about the big guys in the East who could give McGee problems none of them mentioned Hibbert. So maybe you should educate the rest of the Wizards fans because they don't seem to think Hibbert is worthy of being considered a threat.

He also had two more years of college experience in those workouts, and was given the starts and minutes almost from the beginning, whereas McGee played behind Haywood and others and often did not play at all. When Hibbert scored 29 against the immature, inexperienced, and still developing McGee, McGee stil managed 14 points, 8 RBs, 3 steals and 3 blocks, but it wasn't enough to win the all-important last game of the season.

McGee went only one pick after Hibbert in the 2008 draft which suggests folks thought he was close to Hibbert in terms of NBA readiness. Hibbert is only a year older than McGee afterall. Yes, he played two more seasons of college hoops but Hibbert doesn't have all those marvellous tools such as quickness and explosive athleticism that make fans drool and get you invites to Team USA tryouts two summers in a row. So I'm not feeling too much sympathy for McGee considering he has all those supposed phsyical advantages over Hibbert. Yes, he is still developing. But so is Hibbert. Not every player who leaves college as a senior has reached their potential by the time they play their first NBA game. Hibbert is known to be in the gym non-stop to work on everything regarding game. Does McGee have that same attitude? I think every time he gets invited to the Team USA tryouts he feels he has proved something and doesn't have to put the time in to really make that leap forward. I could be wrong., I may be too harsh. But I think some folks get too excited about McGee simply because he proves to be the slam dunk king in these summer games. Does he have a halfcourt game to rely on though when the fastbreaks are not to be found? And can he defend anyone ten to twenty pounds heavier than him?

[montestewart]

^
Mostly agree with all of that KennerLeaguer. More than any other position, C is the position that teams risk picks on with the idea that players are likely still growing physically and of course mentally, and will be projects to some degree (the occasional Olajuwan or Shaq aside). I thought of Hibbert as a project to some degree, but he has shown himself more NBA-ready, more quickly. Everyone knew McGee was a project, but some of those early appearances with the sky high dunks and ferocious blocks kind of blurred the reality of his deficiencies, and once Haywood reappeared, McGee kind of disappeared (even though the Wizards shed three bigs prior to last season).

Should he choose to take it, McGee's optimal path seems clear: 1) focus on the weight room and strength and endurance conditioning, enough to add lower body bulk and strength, but not so much that he appreciably loses his elevation, 2) learn the game; consistently being in the right position on both offense and defense, rather than constantly looking only for blocks and alley-oops, will make him a better team player on offense and defense, and probably will get him more touches and scores, with maybe the loss of some blocks, 3) keep the silly fouls down (more learning) so he can stay in the game.

McGee's a project for sure, and much of the debate here seems to be on the deadline of that project. Maybe McGee doesn't have the discipline or enthusiasm or intellect or whatever to take a productive path, but his raw skill set is one of the most exciting of any big to come into the league in years. Hopefully, more to come.

[WizarDynasty]

One of the most important aspects of mcgee development will be the signing of diaye. For the first time in mcgees c3eer he has a big that he can practice dominating physically who also has size. If u watched the mni camp scrimmages mcgee was pushing ndiaye around and actually practicing to be aggressive. Mcgees bigman instincts of being aggressive won't be honed if he is battling veterans is what we learnwed watching mcgee in camp against ndiaye. Mcgee will develope his potential if he has the correct practice partner who the wizards have found in ndiaye. Not only does mcgee ndiaye is built like mcgee but he has the young fighters spirit that mcgee has buriedin himself. Mcgee is expected to dominate ndiaye and when ndiaye starts outplaying him that really pushes me mcgee to a new level. EG has found the correct tool to unlock mcgees potential. Sign ndiaye don't send him to development league. He is the key to seraphins english and to mcgee's aggressiveness. Mcgee will back down to vets who isn't expected to physically dominate like armstrong blatche and even seraphin. But when ndiaye a young seven foot lunch pale guy with athleticism and the same build as mcgee starts outworking him...it forces mcgee to up his game. Sign ndiaye if we want mcgee to be an allstar otherwise all the time spent developing mcgee will be wasted. He needs a younger player with similiar build and height and younger age to battle against to get hos confidence and counter moves improved. Ndiaye unleashes mcgee's physical side and mcgee body gets stronger each time he out physicals ndiaye and each time ndiaye outshines him mcgee's reputation is on the line. With ndiaye signed mcgee is no longer the lil baby bigman seven footer on the team. Ndiaye allows mcgee to be the big brother dominating the younger 7 foot lil brother ndiaye. No other player on the roster allows mcgee to assume this role.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Hamady N'Diaye was born 1/12/87. Believe it or not he's a year older than Javale, (born 1/19/88). WD you believe McGee will go all out against N'Diaye in practice and thus improve his game. That could be. My concern is N'Diaye's game is pretty much limited to being a terrific shotblocker. He's not a score and not a good rebounder, either. I doubt he makes the team. If he does it will be because he defends exceptionally well.

If N'Diaye does show great defense I'd like to see him on the court with McGee (or Blatche, or Seraphin). I think instead of playing McGee as a post defender the Wizards need to find a more suitable role for him.

[hands11]

kennerLeaguer

The only things McGee being picked right after Hibbert means is that EG didn't have a chance to pick Hibbert so he took the most talented upside big that was available since the Wiz desperately needed bigs.

Everyone know McGee was a lot more raw then Hibbert. It's no surprise Hibbert is more developed bt he wasn't available when we picked McGee anyway.

[hands11]

Hamady N'Diaye was born 1/12/87. Believe it or not he's a year older than Javale, (born 1/19/88). WD you believe McGee will go all out against N'Diaye in practice and thus improve his game. That could be. My concern is N'Diaye's game is pretty much limited to being a terrific shotblocker. He's not a score and not a good rebounder, either. I doubt he makes the team. If he does it will be because he defends exceptionally well.

If N'Diaye does show great defense I'd like to see him on the court with McGee (or Blatche, or Seraphin). I think instead of playing McGee as a post defender the Wizards need to find a more suitable role for him.

I agree. I don't believe N'Diaye is going to be on the active 12 but with the roster we have, I have a feeling McGee is going to get pushed out of center and start getting more minutes at PF which is where you and I have been slotting him all along.

I think it will be a process getting him there. I think he will get moved around in practice and in camp getting minutes both PF and Center. Eventually I believe Seraphin beats him out as starting center. Then he will be fighting for minutes as back up center and getting some as back up PF.

There will be a lot of competition on this squad which is good. Nick and McGee really need to step it up if they are going to turn their athletic potential into regular minutes. I like this environment for helping them get there. Both are back ups on a good team for now and this is starting to look like a good team. Most talent we have had in a long long time. Lots of questions still but lots of raw talent. This is exactly what I wanted as we rebuild.

[Kanyewest]

Brook Lopez pulls out because of mono; Javale McGee makes the team.

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=txuslopezout

[pancakes3]

i thought he had pulled out already, which made me confused when mcgee wasn't added. this makes more sense, even though i'm not entirely sure it was entirely necessary. hopefully javale will get decent burn, but at the very least he'll be going up against good competition during practice.

[Zonkerbl]

Shawn Bradley was supposed to get better after he bulked up too. Problem was, he couldn't. That worries me, a little.

Trying as hard as he possibly can, McGee has gained seven pounds. And also grew an inch, so it's almost a wash. Bulk is the main obstacle to McGee's development, and I hope he hits that early twenties thickening stage sooner rather than later. Given he was still growing there's probably still a chance.

[queridiculo]

All the bulk in the world isn't going to help McGee until he gets his head right.

[Wiz99]

Well, if Javale is good enough for Team USA, maybe he's good enough for Les Bullez.

[Ruzious]

Shawn Bradley was supposed to get better after he bulked up too. Problem was, he couldn't. That worries me, a little.

Trying as hard as he possibly can, McGee has gained seven pounds. And also grew an inch, so it's almost a wash. Bulk is the main obstacle to McGee's development, and I hope he hits that early twenties thickening stage sooner rather than later. Given he was still growing there's probably still a chance.

Little known facts about Bradley - He was the 5th player in NBA history to get an official 20/20 plus 10 blocks game. He also had a 28/22/9 game. And he still wasn't very good. That's why you throw out a player's (Ramon Sessions, for example) best and worst couple of games when you evaluate them.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sessions is 24 and McGee 22. For both those guys I consider the sample space small, but their extremes could be predictive.

When I see Sessions has had a 44 point game, I don't forget that so did Tracy Murray (he had 50). I don't forget about Larry Wright of the Bullets going over 40. (Who?) When I see Sessions had a 20 assist game, I do note that Scott Skiles had 29 or was it 30, and that doesn't mean much. When I see Sessions had a triple double, I note a lot of guys have (but check the names of those players). In Sessions case, why would I throw out the extremes? He's played SG because Ridnour was the PG. He's been the backup to Jonny Flynn. But he apparently showed enough to get a great contract for a young player. Ruz, you and I can go around and around on Sessions. Most I will grant you is he has no outside shot whatsoever.

As for Javale, that 25/15 with blocks in under 30 minute game is one that was an extreme. Probably never will do that again. Ever. Javale seems like he's gradually getting better on both sides of the ball. What I looked at when others said he couldn't play is he's been at 9 rebounds per 36 minutes for a long while. I note the times he blocks several shots in 5 minutes. Extremes just show what the player is capable of doing.

[eltacoman]

wow the BasketBall GODS must want to see more JaVale McGee some more this Summer
dude is Entertaining

[REDardWIZskin]

I'm glad to see him back on the USA team being around more coaches and players with experience can only benefit him for the upcoming season. It will also help with his conditioning which was what the wiz staff wanted him to improve most. One thing that he will do he make opposing bigs run the floor. If he can do that for atleast 20 of the 30 mins he sees on the floor (once he secures the rebound of course) it will cause many problems.
Even he he doesnt get the dunk the wiz will put tons of pressure on teams in transition this yr by him starting. That may be the biggest benefit of him being on the floor.
You guys better get used to hearing flip yell "run" "go" go"

[hands11]

wow the BasketBall GODS must want to see more JaVale McGee some more this Summer
dude is Entertaining

Totally agree. Glad to see he is back to Team USA.

Kid does need the experience. The total experience. This should show immediately in his maturing and game.

The basketball God continuing to shine on us.

[Hoopalotta]

This looks good, from Chris Sheridan on you know who:

"He's trying to do what he can do," coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "and if we don't make the final roster decision here, which I don't think we will, I hope he continues on with us because he'll keep getting better. At that spot, Tyson (Chandler) is really playing well, and you know what Lamar (Odom) will do when he gets into game shape. But if something goes wacky, to have another big guy is not a bad thing. That's where he fits in. He's in the discussion. And when we started camp in Vegas he wasn't even invited. So he's made that much of an impression."

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... ining-camp

There was more about his family and gold medals.

[Ruzious]

Sessions is 24 and McGee 22. For both those guys I consider the sample space small, but their extremes could be predictive.

When I see Sessions has had a 44 point game, I don't forget that so did Tracy Murray (he had 50). I don't forget about Larry Wright of the Bullets going over 40. (Who?) When I see Sessions had a 20 assist game, I do note that Scott Skiles had 29 or was it 30, and that doesn't mean much. When I see Sessions had a triple double, I note a lot of guys have (but check the names of those players). In Sessions case, why would I throw out the extremes? He's played SG because Ridnour was the PG. He's been the backup to Jonny Flynn. But he apparently showed enough to get a great contract for a young player. Ruz, you and I can go around and around on Sessions. Most I will grant you is he has no outside shot whatsoever.

As for Javale, that 25/15 with blocks in under 30 minute game is one that was an extreme. Probably never will do that again. Ever. Javale seems like he's gradually getting better on both sides of the ball. What I looked at when others said he couldn't play is he's been at 9 rebounds per 36 minutes for a long while. I note the times he blocks several shots in 5 minutes. Extremes just show what the player is capable of doing.

You know why you're wrong, CCJ - in my opinion? It's because you base your opinions totally on stats - and don't balance it out by watching and evaluating talent. When you rely totally on one or the other - instead of using both - you don't have a balanced view. Watching Sessions - he is what he is - not a real talented player and not lots of potential to get better. Watching Javale, there's a ton of untapped potential. He can get a lot better.

What extremes show you is that every dog can have his day. Most bad to mediocre players who have played some minutes have been the dog that had their day.

Don't be patting yourself on the back on Javale. You're the one who was emphatic on draft day that he was a terrible pick when EG picked him - while a bunch of us were saying that the talent is there. You were saying his former teammate on Nevada (Fazekas?) would make a better NBA player.

FYI, Sessions was the PG with Ridnour, because Ridnour can play off the ball as a catch and shoot player - as he did with Jennings last season. Flynn is a PG like ex TWolf Foye is a PG. When you can't shoot a jump shot at all - like Sessions, you can't play shooting guard with any effectiveness unless you're great on defense, and Sessions is an awful defender.