The Javale McGee Appreciation Thread

[daSwami]

its players like this that get coaches fired. That video is just a macro version of the type of brain-fart 'mistakes' this guy's been making for 4 years. It's hard to pick up a missed defensive rotation on TV, but if it wasn't we'd see a dozen or more from Javale every game.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I appreciate what McGee does well and post that in the appreciation thread.

When I read negative stuff in an appreciation thread I reflexively argue against what I read. In this case, I will say McGee didn't get Flip Saunders fired. He misses rotations, but Flip never played Seraphin. That got him fired more than Javale did.

I think the McGee hate is disproportionate. He's hardly a coach killer.

[Nivek]

Honestly, I don't pay a bit of attention to the title of the thread I'm reading/posting in. I read, I respond.

That said, I agree there's no point in hating McGee. I'm frustrated by his game and the slow speed of his development, but he seems like a nice enough well-meaning person. He's not a coach killer -- in the sense that he intentionally undermines the coach.

I don't agree that not playing Seraphin got Flip fired. Seraphin doesn't solve anything for the Wizards. His efficiency is awful, his rebounding is ho-hum, his defense is okay, but nothing spectacular.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

What I said about Seraphin was basically a means of saying Flip could have opted for death by firing squad vs death by hanging.

In response to McGee's failure to rotate on defense I merely noted Flip didn't play Seraphin much--not that Seraphin would have saved his job. Seraphin wouldn't have defended as poorly as Javale, but Coach Sauanders was still going to be fired.

[MF23]

its players like this that get coaches fired. That video is just a macro version of the type of brain-fart 'mistakes' this guy's been making for 4 years. It's hard to pick up a missed defensive rotation on TV, but if it wasn't we'd see a dozen or more from Javale every game.

A good coach would make Javale a consistent player. If Javale played for John Thompson II or Bobby Knight he'd be a different player right now. Mark Fox, EJ and Flip were not the coaches to make Javale get over his deficiencies.

[daSwami]

I appreciate what McGee does well and post that in the appreciation thread.

When I read negative stuff in an appreciation thread I reflexively argue against what I read. In this case, I will say McGee didn't get Flip Saunders fired. He misses rotations, but Flip never played Seraphin. That got him fired more than Javale did.

I think the McGee hate is disproportionate. He's hardly a coach killer.

Let me preface the following by saying that I've heard from what I consider to be a reliable source with some (albeit limited) 'inside knowledge' of the inner workings of the Wizards organization.

I don't think that Javale alone got Flip fired, but having to deal with him (and a handful of other knuckleheads) wore him down to the point of near-apathy. Had Flip not been fired, he may have resigned ala Jerry Sloan. Flip was set up for failure because some of the players he inherited were/are unwilling to maintain a regular work-out routines or learn the playbook in favor of free-lancing in hopes of making SportsCenter highlights. I know that Flip was frustrated by his perception that Javale dedicated more gym hours practicing for the dunk contest than for Wizards' games.

None of this would be a problem had Flip felt he had the authority to bench them in favor of players who actually bought in to his system. He tried to do that last season (sitting JM when he missed assignments - remember the shouting matches with Wittman?), but EG is very much invested in the notion that this group of players (the team HE built) represents a strong 'core' of young players that will develop into a winning roster someday and thus does not want to curtail their development by benching them. Too, with EG, it's an ego thing. The lens through which he views the players he acquired tends to inflate their value.

But in the spirit of this thread I close with: Javale is an awesome dunker.

[keynote]

Honestly, I don't pay a bit of attention to the title of the thread I'm reading/posting in. I read, I respond.

This. Frankly, if board convention requires all praise to go in an "Appreciation" thread, and all critique to go in an "Amazingly Sucky" thread, then I suggest we change the convention.

What's the point of having a stroke-fest thread with no dissenting opinion? Is "faint praise" allowed in JaVale's "Appreciation" thread, or can only Pamela post in here?

Conversely, I also think it's fine to stick up for players in an "Amazingly Sucky" thread. Posters do it al the time, and the board is better for it.

I come to this board for the discourse. That necessarily includes differences of opinion. If this thread is only for Colbert-esque "JaVale McGee: good Center, or All-Star Center?" debates, then I'll check out.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Did keynote just use stroke-fest and Pamela in the same sentence?

That takes me back to when I first saw Pam play for USC. Do any of you remember how you felt when you saw your first Playboy centerfold girl back in the day?

I will keep things PG13 and just say she certainly is worthy, keynote.














.

[theboomking]

Did keynote just use stroke-fest and Pamela in the same sentence?

That takes me back to when I first saw Pam play for USC. Do any of you remember how you felt when you saw your first Playboy centerfold girl back in the day?

I will keep things PG13 and just say she certainly is worthy, keynote.
.

CCJ, I really don't think things like this belong in the JaVale McGee appreciation thread. How is McGee supposed to feel if he is reading through this thread and sees you talking about that. posts like that should really go in the 'Sexual posts about NBA players' mothers thread.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I am at least honest and tasteful, theboomking. I said that's how I felt, then.

Now, I see her as a great mom who's still a fine woman. I am just being totally honest about the guy's mom. He knows men like his mom. Heck, he saw Dr J and his mom on All Star Weekend. Javale's momma is like Mike Tyson in the Hangover. "She's still got it!"

I just admire certain women. What I really like is she's the type that is not going to let you mess with her baby. He's not pampered IMO. He's loved.

[pancakes3]

the sexual posts about NBA players' mothers appreciation thread though. not the sucky thread. (or... is sucky thread? innuendo overload.)

[theboomking]

I've got to get one last thing about McGee's stupid play off of my chest. That horrible running hook that started the whole sequence off was horrificly bad.

[keynote]

That takes me back to when I first saw Pam play for USC. Do any of you remember how you felt when you saw your first Playboy centerfold girl back in the day?

I will keep things PG13 and just say she certainly is worthy, keynote.

Now that you mention it, Old-School Pam *was* easy on the eyes:



That being said...


...Current-Day Pamela clearly does not approve of the direction this thread has taken.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

That's a defeated look, there.

Notice the score. Nobody was having fun that game.

The back-in-the day picture is what I want to hold on to. I wish I had my physique from the early 80s. And as for the tone the thread is taking, I was just showing appreciation.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

About Javale McGee:

I root for him. He can have 25 bad games in a row and I would still like the kid. I think he's a good young man who tries very hard. I don't like to hear him called a knucklehead. I think most of the criticism about him is unfair.

I think all he needs to do is play hard. So what if you make a mistake! Do it trying your best. Javale's got the kind of energy within him to excite the crowd, but he's gotta get some tough juice-like swagger. Caron had that. Javale's got to find his own.

Regardless, I think Javale's a good kid and will root for him wherever he plays. Just like I have done for guys like Rip Hamilton and all the Wizards from the EJ teams who are playing elsewhere now.

[Severn Hoos]

I really wish we could see McGee under a real defensive-minded coach for at least a year. Bring in a Joerger (or if we could have had a Skiles, Thibodeau, or Carlisle) and see if he is capable of playing in a team concept. If after a year of a real system with significant focus on that end of the floor he still doesn't "get it" then I'd have no problem letting him walk.

I just keep picturing Haywood back there directing the defense, altering shots, and having such a positive effect, and wish JaVale could do the same.

Maybe the 1-year tender really is the best thing that could happen, for both him and the team.



Oh, and... IBTL.

[hands11]

pure comedy in that video... McGee just isnt very mentally tough. He needs to be on a veteran team. Which is probably the case with a couple of our guys. He does things similar to that quite often. Its like a silent protest when he think he does something wrong. Ive seen him start storming toward the bench thinking he was going to be yanked when he isn't. and also Conceding that he's fouled someone before the ref has finished putting the whistle to his lips. It kinda looks like he's pouting. It will take the next coach to be able to get to him to help mold that mindset if he's even here next season. He should spend a week with John Thompson lol

Now that is something I would love to see.

[hands11]

hermitkid, I suspect Javale could be ill. Lets assume there is either a lack of IQ or an attention disorder. I wouldn't even rule out something a doctor might diagnose and treat. Or, the guy could be suffering from the grind of this season. I don't know what, but something is going on with McGee. I have experienced a depression/anxiety related disorder. So, I don't laugh at that any more. I have worked with lots of youth who are special needs. I am sensitive to them, too.

If the Wizards want to move in another direction, so be it. I don't think Javale i's anything but a 24-yr old, really thin, relatively weak guy who is playing with a really bad team but doing the best he can. He's the most physically gifted guy on the team, perhaps behind Wall. McGee processes differently than most, but I find him amusing and nice. He's a good kid who until recently appeared to be trying really hard.

Right now, I just hope he gets his competitive fire back. Even if he doesn't improve one iota he's a useful basketball player.

CCJ, you seem to have a big heart so I get where you are coming from but....

McGee biggest problem is that he wants to do what he wants to do, not what is being asked of him. He has listened some, but not nearly enough.

That said, I am impressed he worked on a hook shot. And the drop step was nice. But now he is rushing everything again. He is all off balance. Looks like he did in year one on some plays. An NBA play just has to be smarter then that. If you ask me, I say it is his mothers influence on him. She messed the kids head up.

And that is coming from a guy who was happy we picked him when it happened. What I didn't know what nearly enough about momma McGee.

But I agree. At this point, if you put him on a vet team, he may stand a chance. But the only thing that will change is that he finally changes. Its not like all the sudden the off balance shots are going to start falling.

He and John have the same problem. They are so athletic, they rely on it to much.


SLOW DOWN. PLAY BALANCED. THE USE THE SPEED AND HOPS IN BURSTS. PLAY SMART. DONT FORCE IT.

[Dat2U]

I wonder if McGee's current struggles might have more to do with his relationship with Wittman more than anything else. I remember reading how Wittman would consistently tear into McGee in practice and on the bench whenever he had the opportunity to. I suspect McGee wasn't thrilled to see Witt get the job.

[nate33]

Wow. I don't think we've ever hit 100 pages on an appreciation thread. I've got to lock this one, but somebody feel free to start up Part II.