The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

[Ruzious]

While I concur with most of what you say, Nivek, when the hands you are dealt are so drastically different, I think coach comparisons are going to be inetiquitable skewing (and skewering). Players like Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker could have developed in a vacuum. Duncan especially - with the benefit of breaking in with David Robinson - is a coach's dream and makes EVERYTHING so much easier. And Phil Jackson - even with his humble CBA roots - has an amazing record - but with rosters that were normally the best of the best.

[Benjammin]

To put it succinctly, when it comes to the press Flip is flip. He likes to hear the sound of his own voice. I agree that he does have somewhat of a tin ear as it comes to comments about players in the press. I imagine he is better in private. The whole Blatche-Garnett thing, for example, was poorly handled by Flip. I also recognize that Flip doesn't have an easy job with his cast of characters (Gil, Nick, Dray, JaVale primarily). I still believe he is a good coach, although at the time of his hiring I preferred a young up and coming coach. But that doesn't mean Flip can't be successful through this building phase.

[Nivek]

I agree Ruz. Although, Phil did win a CBA title and CBA coach of the year. He knows how to work with everyone. I agree with the principle, though that there's no "one size fits all" approach to coaching, anymore than there's such an approach to managing an offense. I know from painful experience that I had to be a frigging Nazi to get any work from an ex-assistant. And even then, the work was shoddy and full of problems. Whereas, this other person who worked for me would take any assigned task and do it well (and on time). Completely different management styles needed. I hated the way I had to manage the ex-assistant.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

To put it succinctly, when it comes to the press Flip is flip. He likes to hear the sound of his own voice. I agree that he does have somewhat of a tin ear as it comes to comments about players in the press. I imagine he is better in private. The whole Blatche-Garnett thing, for example, was poorly handled by Flip. I also recognize that Flip doesn't have an easy job with his cast of characters (Gil, Nick, Dray, JaVale primarily). I still believe he is a good coach, although at the time of his hiring I preferred a young up and coming coach. But that doesn't mean Flip can't be successful through this building phase.

The way I see things the Wizards aren't winning anything (save perhaps if they are wildly successful, a playoff game or two) this season. Keeping Flip is a given.

However, if this team underachieves and only wins 30 games give or take three or four, I would love to see Dave Joerger get a head coaching gig. He was a great coach with the Dakota Wizards, has won titles at many levels, and is entering his fourth year on staff of the Memphis Grizzlies.

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/david_joer ... l?nav=page

Benjammin, Joerger's the type of young, up and coming coach that could have great success right away and for years to come.

[Benjammin]

^^^

Joerger was on the short list of up and coming coaches we discussed when the Wizards hired Flip along with Dave Blatt, and Mike Budenholzer (sp), assistant coach for the Spurs.

[Nivek]

Joerger is one of the most successful minor league basketball coaches ever and I would have loved to see the Wizards give him a shot instead of hiring Flip. Here's what Joerger did in the minors:

Got hired as GM of the Dakota Wizards when they were still in the IBA. Then became an assistant coach for the D-Wizards (3 seasons). In his first season as head coach, they won the IBA championship. The next season, the team joined the CBA and won the CBA championship. Two years later, they won the CBA title again. That offseason, he changed teams (went to Sioux Falls) and...won the CBA title yet again. He went back to the Dakota Wizards and won the D-League title in 07.

The guy has 5 minor league titles, 2 CBA Coach of the Year awards, and a career winning percentage of .665. Oh yeah, 18 of his players got called up to the NBA from the D-League. So he won, even when his best players were getting pulled. I think he's going to be a terrific NBA coach when he gets his shot.

[Ruzious]

Joerger's got some fans. http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/2/ ... coach-dave

Now that he's got some NBA experience with the Griz, he sounds like an excellent head coach candidate. 2 of his talented young players at Memphis - Rudy Gay and OJ Mayo - both with reps for being selfish - have been developing very well - not to mention Gasol, so it seems that his rep for developing young players is well earned.

[doclinkin]

Joerger is one of the most successful minor league basketball coaches ever and I would have loved to see the Wizards give him a shot instead of hiring Flip. Here's what Joerger did in the minors:

Got hired as GM of the Dakota Wizards when they were still in the IBA. Then became an assistant coach for the D-Wizards (3 seasons). In his first season as head coach, they won the IBA championship. The next season, the team joined the CBA and won the CBA championship. Two years later, they won the CBA title again. That offseason, he changed teams (went to Sioux Falls) and...won the CBA title yet again. He went back to the Dakota Wizards and won the D-League title in 07.

The guy has 5 minor league titles, 2 CBA Coach of the Year awards, and a career winning percentage of .665. Oh yeah, 18 of his players got called up to the NBA from the D-League. So he won, even when his best players were getting pulled. I think he's going to be a terrific NBA coach when he gets his shot.

And it seemed like each year he was in the league, whichever league, one of his players became the Defensive POY.

I've been pimping Dave Joerger for years, sight unseen, wanted him instead of Flip and said so at the time. Wanted him on Coach Eddie's staff to improve the D and situation recognition skills. Was reading message boards and comment fields quizzing local fans on his pros and cons.

The knock on him has been that he's a bit of a control freak who likes to pick his own team and tends to bump heads with ownership trying to do things his way with no interference. But the results are good. Memphis even seems improved during his short tenure.

But I still kinda want to see what Coach Sammy would look like, given seasoning. He's got the right kind of spark to amp up his players and help them develop their fire, not settle for halfassery but still want to commit and sellout for the team.

-d.

[Hoopalotta]

Here's Javale's +/- for preseason:

@ Dallas - 27 minutes/ +15 (started)
@ Cleveland - 13 minutes/ -5 (started)
@ Chicago - 18 minutes/ -20 (started)
Vs. Atlanta - 25 minutes/ +9 (bench)
Vs. Milwaukee - 23 minutes/ -6 (bench)
@ New York - 16 minutes/ +7 (started)
NA Detroit - 21 minutes/ +1 (started)

Total = +1





That's actually a real big improvement; I don't think he's ever had a positive +/- over an extended stretch before. Everything bodes well for at least a statistical breakout season in base production numbers. Might be a while yet before that equates to honestly winning a lot of games, but this is a respectable start.

[nate33]

Here's Javale's +/- for preseason:

@ Dallas - 27 minutes/ +15 (started)
@ Cleveland - 13 minutes/ -5 (started)
@ Chicago - 18 minutes/ -20 (started)
Vs. Atlanta - 25 minutes/ +9 (bench)
Vs. Milwaukee - 23 minutes/ -6 (bench)
@ New York - 16 minutes/ +7 (started)
NA Detroit - 21 minutes/ +1 (started)

Total = +1





That's actually a real big improvement; I don't think he's ever had a positive +/- over an extended stretch before. Everything bodes well for at least a statistical breakout season in base production numbers. Might be a while yet before that equates to honestly winning a lot of games, but this is a respectable start.

Another positive is that he went against starters most of the time he was on the floor. He generally started, and he generally played not so many minutes, which means he wasn't matched up against the opposing bench in garbage time.

For what it's worth, McGee averaged 17 points, 12 boards, 4.2 blocks and 1.7 steals per 36 minutes in preseason. That's a ridiculous stat line.

I'm cautiously optimistic. There are a handful of burly low post types that might give McGee some trouble (Marc Gasol, Yao Ming, Chris Kaman), but he should be a matchup advantage for us on most nights.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

By having a strong preseason, Javale established he's a better starting option than Yi Jialian.

As for being cautiously optimistic, nate's concern about burly types giving McGee trouble is a valid one. Washington may have no other choice at times than to go with Blatche/Jianlian and to hope that Yi's jumper is falling, so he can force bigs out of the paint.

Ultimately, I think McGee would be a tremendous player next to somebody like Demarcus Cousins. Blatche isn't all that physical--he's a true PF, not a C; thus Javale has to play the postion. Problem is McGee's not a true C, either.

[MJG]

McGee comes in second place in ESPN's MIP predictions:

Results: Kevin Love (4 votes), JaVale McGee (3 votes), Michael Beasley (2 votes), Jeff Green (2 votes), Jrue Holiday (2 votes), Arron Afflalo (1 vote), Nicolas Batum (1 vote), Andrew Bogut (1 vote), Darren Collison (1 vote), Eric Gordon (1 vote), James Harden (1 vote), Serge Ibaka (1 vote), Ty Lawson (1 vote), Anthony Randolph (1 vote), Ramon Sessions (1 vote), David West (1 vote), Reggie Williams (1 vote)

I honestly think he has an outside shot. If he gets the minutes, his numbers are going to leap up, and numbers are what win you this award.

[PerkinsFor3]

David West?

[Benjammin]

David West?

Uh, random?

[PerkinsFor3]

Why would he get a MIP vote?

[Benjammin]

^
Sorry, I didn't know what you meant. That is strange.

[MJG]

David West?

Hilarious, I didn't even notice that. Yea, arguably the league's most consistent player over the past half decade who just turned 30 seems like a great choice for MIP.

[montestewart]

Why would he get a MIP vote?

Maybe someone's betting that there are so few weapons on the Hornets that Paul to West will be the mainline to the tune of 23-25 ppg on horrible efficiency. That could get some votes.

[Ruzious]

Have they voted for the 2011 Comeback Player of the Year yet?

[Illuminaire]

Bogut was also a strange choice to me. He was having a very solid season last year, and now he's coming back from a fairly major injury... how in the world is he going to have such an explosion that he'd get MIP votes?

>.>

Am I bad person because I feel like I can test ESPN writers' qualifications based on their MIP pick? =p