Kevin Seraphin

[nate33]

CCJ, that's a translation from French. The term "eviction" in the French language is presumably not associated with the forceful removal of someone and their possessions from a rental property. It probably means simply to expel or remove.

[azer95]

CCJ, that's a translation from French. The term "eviction" in the French language is presumably not associated with the forceful removal of someone and their possessions from a rental property. It probably means simply to expel or remove.

+1, removal is more relevant.

[dobrojim]

How-much do you want to bet that Kevin is paying out-of-pocket for these trainers?

snark - snark

why do you care if that's true or not? For the amount of money even
a 17th pick on the rookie scale gets paid, he can afford it. It's pocket
change and a great investment in his career.

[queridiculo]

How-much do you want to bet that Kevin is paying out-of-pocket for these trainers?

snark - snark

why do you care if that's true or not? For the amount of money even
a 17th pick on the rookie scale gets paid, he can afford it. It's pocket
change and a great investment in his career.

I think it was meant as a slight against McGee and his overlord Pam.

[nate33]

How-much do you want to bet that Kevin is paying out-of-pocket for these trainers?

snark - snark

why do you care if that's true or not? For the amount of money even
a 17th pick on the rookie scale gets paid, he can afford it. It's pocket
change and a great investment in his career.

I think it was meant as a slight against McGee and his overlord Pam.

No it wasn't. closg00 has a way of spinning any conceivable Wizards story into an indictment of Ernie Grunfeld

[closg00]

Since Nate and Dob went-there, the evidence suggests that Kevins success came in-spite of the Wizards organization, not because of it.

Note that in Kevins blog-piece, no-where does he mention or credit Wizard coaching-staff with his success this year. Kevin specifically mentions the time spent with the French team and his experience playing in Spain. Thankfully, Flip was fired and Kevin was able to show what he picked-up this summer.

Former Wiz reporter Jay Glassie corrobortaes Pam McGee account of Ernie Grunfeld refusing to provide a dedicated big-man coach for JAVale. Pam rightlfully pointed to the better-run organizations that provided such coaching for the centers they were developing. No-such luck if you play for an organization run by Ernie Grunfeld. Even the shooting coach brought-in to rescue Jan's shooting-stroke was only here for a few weeks.

It would be a safe bet to say that if Kevin has trainers outside of the organization, he is paying out-of-pocket.

PS. The new moves that JaVale demonstrated this season (improved hook shot etc), he credits to coaching instruction HE PAID FOR, nothing that great big-man coach Gene Banks did for him. Fact, not spin.

[dobrojim]

why are you even a fan of the Wizards? You hate them.

If JaVale improved in the offseason (due to coaching), OF COURSE he paid for the it.
There was this thing, a lockout, you probably heard about it.

Pam McGee might be a great mom and it's not surprising that she should
stick up for her son. That doesn't mean I'm taking anything she says with
anything other than a average size grain of salt.

[Ruzious]

Closg, while I think you bring up a valid issue there, with Javale last offseason - they couldn't have helped him because of the lockout - same with Seraphin. But in prior years, my impression is they haven't done anywhere near as much as they should have to help there bigs in offseason development - but my impression could be wrong - I don't have the facts. Going forward, I hope they make it a priority. I really don't care who pays; I just want the players to get the best guidance.

[tontoz]

Since Nate and Dob went-there, the evidence suggests that Kevins success came in-spite of the Wizards organization, not because of it.

Note that in Kevins blog-piece, no-where does he mention or credit Wizard coaching-staff with his success this year.

Huh?

Randy Wittman, who is currently the coach of the team but that was already the assistant of Flip Saunders early in the season told me not to let go. I followed his advice. So I decided to keep working hard until the coach gave the opportunity. At that time, I didn't know that it was Randy who would help me to do such a good second half of the season ...

With Randy Wittman, my playing time has increased. From his first practice, he clearly said: everyone would have his chance. He has given me the playing time and I was able to start my season. The trigger has been the performance that I has produced against the Lakers with my 14 points and 9 rebounds. During this match, I felt good and it allowed me to regain confidence in me. Subsequently, the coach continued to trust me and the management has conducted trades that allowed me to enjoy a interesting playing time. Today I can say, coach Wittman was the savior of my season! I owe him a lot and I really want him as the head coach for the next season. This is largely thanks to him that I could make a good season.

It is rare to see any player give such a strong endorsement to his coach.

[DCZards]

closg00 can bash Ernie all he wants...but that doesn't take away from the fact that it was EG who drafted the promising Seraphin.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, that's a translation from French. The term "eviction" in the French language is presumably not associated with the forceful removal of someone and their possessions from a rental property. It probably means simply to expel or remove.

nate, I was very aware that a language translator was used. I went back and put green font.

Flip's coaching WAS worthy of eviction IMO.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

So CCJ was right all along, Flip was hurting the big man's development. He was just talking about the wrong player.

I catch a lot of grief for posting what seems obvious to me but might be totally against the mainstream opinion. Every now and then, I end up being right.

Flip was bad from very early on IMO. Also, Javale could have played some with Seraphin IMO. Flip was locked in to his system and IMO his guys. Andray Blatche, Yi Jianlian, Francisco Oberto, Hilton Armstrong were not power players. Young guys playing behind them were not going to get much time.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I am happy that Randy got to coach Kevin.

[closg00]

Since Nate and Dob went-there, the evidence suggests that Kevins success came in-spite of the Wizards organization, not because of it.

Note that in Kevins blog-piece, no-where does he mention or credit Wizard coaching-staff with his success this year.

Huh?

Randy Wittman, who is currently the coach of the team but that was already the assistant of Flip Saunders early in the season told me not to let go. I followed his advice. So I decided to keep working hard until the coach gave the opportunity. At that time, I didn't know that it was Randy who would help me to do such a good second half of the season ...

With Randy Wittman, my playing time has increased. From his first practice, he clearly said: everyone would have his chance. He has given me the playing time and I was able to start my season. The trigger has been the performance that I has produced against the Lakers with my 14 points and 9 rebounds. During this match, I felt good and it allowed me to regain confidence in me. Subsequently, the coach continued to trust me and the management has conducted trades that allowed me to enjoy a interesting playing time. Today I can say, coach Wittman was the savior of my season! I owe him a lot and I really want him as the head coach for the next season. This is largely thanks to him that I could make a good season.

It is rare to see any player give such a strong endorsement to his coach.

You must not have read the thread, I was referring to Kevin discussing the time spent playing in Europe and the trainers that he had for the credit of his big improvements in basketball skills, that and his tremendous work-ethic. Kevin rightfully credits coach Witt for allowing him to finally log some minutes also.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the skills JaVale and Kevin picked-up this summer, came after spending some time with other coaches/trainers.

[tontoz]

[
You must not have read the thread, I was referring to Kevin discussing the time spent playing in Europe and the trainers that he had for the credit of his big improvements in basketball skills, that and his tremendous work-ethic. Kevin rightfully credits coach Witt for allowing him to finally log some minutes also.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the skills JaVale and Kevin picked-up this summer, came after spending some time with other coaches/trainers.

You must not have read your own post.

no-where does he mention or credit Wizard coaching-staff with his success this year.

He gave Wittman credit for more than just playing him. He credits him for saving his season and said he definitely wants him back. He said Wit was encouraging him to continue to work hard (with the Wizards staff) while Flip was still here.

He also mentioned in his blog that back in January he was working on his game both before and after practice. I'll go out on a limb and guess he wasn't working with his Euro trainers at that time. He only played with that Victoria team for a few weeks and admits he lost some of his conditioning during the lockout afterwards.

On the subject of EG i find it hilarious that you give him no credit for Seraphin even though;

-EG drafted him.
-EG fired the coach who wouldn't play him.
-EG traded the guy playing in front of him.

[closg00]

Actually I did credit EG for drafting Kevin in another thread. After nine years of drafting, you expect him to eventually score a hit.

[tontoz]

Actually I did credit EG for drafting Kevin in another thread. After nine years of drafting, you expect him to eventually score a hit.

So firing the coach who wouldn't play him and trading the guy playing in front of him count for nothing, right?

Nowhere does Kevin mention that he developed his skills in Europe. You just made that up.

[closg00]

Actually I did credit EG for drafting Kevin in another thread. After nine years of drafting, you expect him to eventually score a hit.

So firing the coach who wouldn't play him and trading the guy playing in front of him count for nothing, right?

Nowhere does Kevin mention that he developed his skills in Europe. You just made that up[/size].

On the preceding page I wrote "Kevin rightfully credits coach Witt for allowing him to finally log some minutes also."

Regarding how Kevin made improvements during the off-season, everyone can read for themselves what he wrote. He worked with the French and Spanish teams during the off-season and he was able to display his new skills after Flip was fired and Nene was injured. He specifically credits coach Dusko Ivanovic for helping him and coach Witt for playing him.

The Eurobasket played with the French team has been one of the trigger of my season. It was extremely interesting to do the training camp, to live with the team, and spend some times with experienced players such as Tony Parker. Playing some minutes during the competition allowed me to put me in confidence.

My experience in Vitoria has also been an interesting experience. This is a legendary club, an institution of European basketball. It gave me the opportunity to work with one of the greatest personalities of basketball, Dusko Ivanovic. This is a very demanding coach, but the results speak for him. He really helped me during the few weeks I spent in the Basque Country. Occasionally, I imagine how my last NBA season would be if I played in the month of December, when I was in great shape after my return from Europe. But hey, it is useless to dwell on the past ...

Read the entire blog-entry on the previous page.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/Actualites ... son/281212

[tontoz]

Like i said, he never said anything about improving his skills with the Euro team. You want to believe that so you pretend that he said it. He didn't say specifically how they helped him.

Here are some things he actually did say in his blog:

I'm still young and I have to progress in some areas of my game. That's why coach Randy Wittman and his assistants talk to me all the time. They advise me on my game and on the general attitude that I have on the court. The coach is very demanding with me, he gives me good point when I do something good but he also doesn't hesitate to correct me when I make a mistake. I really appreciate this kind of attitude because it helps me to grow day after day. Every night I have to prove him that he's right when he gives me confidence by putting me as a starter.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1023277&start=1125

I think anyone not drunk on Haterade can see he is giving the coaches credit here.

I decided to have extra training sessions every day, I come earlier to the collective training to work on my game, I stay again an hour after the end of the team training to work again. Just yesterday, I stayed an extra hour to work my shot. I am hungry for basketball, I want to keep progressing. My good performance against Philadelphia (tied career high with 12 points plus 5 rebounds and 3 blocks) make me more confident in my self and my abilities, even if we didn't win the game.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1023277&start=975


So he was working with the Wizards staff before, during and after practice (and games) for months but his skills didn't improve at all in that time, right? His skills only improved in the few weeks during the summer?

OK

[veji1]

I don't want to get involved in the debate regarding the Wizards' training staff, but Seraphin has said previously on quite a few occasions that he learnt a massive amount tactically from the euros and Vittoria.

Of coures I am not going to claim that European basketball is in anyway better than the NBA. not only physically but in terms of talent as well, it is a fair bit lower. But what I know from experience is that tactically, specially in Spain, Italy and Greece, the play is really thought out, with an emphasis on ball and player circulation. In a tactically way more mature setting then the Wizards team at the time, plus playing time, Seraphin learnt a lot about knowing where and when to be on different spots, and executing the right move straight away (back down defender, shoot, pass the ball again) without thinking to much.