Around the NBA part 4

[Rasho Brezec]

I'm not going to look for all the evidence about Jennings having a horrible character because there's too much of it, so here's just the latest:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8zXvtF24Us[/youtube]

[K_ick_God]

Waaaaay too early to write Jennings' obituary lol.

A couple week ago, he was a real (more real than J.R. by far) and strong contender for the All-Star game. Had they picked a *guard* to replace Rondo, which I assumed was a lock, he was the leading contender I believe.

But they replaced Rondo with a big man in Brook, which is more than fair. Brook deserves it.

But Brandon has been awful of late. It's a concern. I don't think he's a clear All-Star. But I still would much rather have him than Felton, and I'd be willing to pay a bigger price to have him too. I think his ceiling is high if he played with someone like Melo. He's a really good Melo pairing IMO.

Man...you're slowly bringing me over to the Jennings side. I do think that he has more ability aand raw talent than Felton but he hasn't quite harnessed it yet. Ray tends to play within himself and, IMO, is a better fit with the other pieces on this team. In short, he knows his role and stays in his lane (sorry for all the cliches ). Jennings would come here and try to be the man, which he's not. But if he ever harnasses that ability, whoa....

Jennings is J.R. crossed with Felton and a little bit of Rondo. The question is how much he can work on becoming Rondo. He's still very young.

I think he's a pretty bright guy and could handle NY. Maybe I'm wrong. Admittedly he's one of my riskiest bets. But I think he can be a prime-time guy, hit big shots and find people, if given the right chance.

Maybe he's a bad guy. I don't know him. I'm curious to hear what public info there is about him being a bad guy.

I know he didn't like playing overseas. I know he leaves the refs alone pretty much. I don't think he has a criminal record. I don't see what makes him a bad guy. But somebody enlighten me. Selfish because he takes a lot of shots? OK well maybe. Selfish and low character are distant cousins, not quite the same thing.

[GONYK]

Aside from a few inches, what separates Jennings from Nate?

[Thugger HBC]

I have no interest in a player that says this...no matter when they say it.


""If I am going to be having limited minutes, I might as well not be playing at all," he said. "When I get my rhythm, I have to come out because the limited minutes I am in. But once I get going you know how I get. So it kind of took me out of my rhythm a little bit. So if I am going to be on limited minutes, I might as well just not play at all."

[Thugger HBC]

Aside from a few inches, what separates Jennings from Nate?

Nothing other than the 6-8 mil in salary per season....jennings is gonna get paid, which is gonna be hilarious.

[K_ick_God]

Aside from a few inches, what separates Jennings from Nate?

To me, a lot. Nate has never averaged 19 PPG in a playoff series, first of all. Brandon sees the floor and has long arms that allow him to be crafty around the hoop. I know his assist numbers are not great, but I think he's got real point guard instincts. He can run a team.

Nate's having a good season. Doesn't mean he's really good. But he is doing well.

[Fat Kat]

Aside from a few inches, what separates Jennings from Nate?

Nothing other than the 6-8 mil in salary per season....jennings is gonna get paid, which is gonna be hilarious.

Nate's a better shooter.

[GONYK]

Aside from a few inches, what separates Jennings from Nate?

To me, a lot. Nate has never averaged 19 PPG in a playoff series, first of all. Brandon sees the floor and has long arms that allow him to be crafty around the hoop. I know his assist numbers are not great, but I think he's got real point guard instincts. He can run a team.

Nate's having a good season. Doesn't mean he's really good. But he is doing well.

When Nate has the chance to dominate the ball like Jennings loves to do, look at what Nate does.

[Knicker23]

I don't think BJs a 'bad guy," I just don't think he is very mature, certainly isn't a "leader" - be it through voice or play. He reminds me of a Monta Ellis.. skilled, but all over the place a lot.. does his own thing a lot and doesn't have the ability of top talent to get away with it because it ends in a W.

I think if you give him the right coach he could be refined into a much more consistent player that results in Ws instead of just nights of getting good numbers.... But until that happens, if it ever does, hard to call him a "winner" or put him on the level even a tier or two down from All Star.

[K_ick_God]

I have no interest in a player that says this...no matter when they say it.


""If I am going to be having limited minutes, I might as well not be playing at all," he said. "When I get my rhythm, I have to come out because the limited minutes I am in. But once I get going you know how I get. So it kind of took me out of my rhythm a little bit. So if I am going to be on limited minutes, I might as well just not play at all."

When was this quote?

Jennings played about four years for Skiles, who is a difficult coach. I don't remember any major fallout between them. Seems Skiles liked him and gave him a heap of minutes as a young guy.

He's regressing right now. But it ain't over.

Might I suggest that you guys should work on taking a longer view of things. We have people bringing up Nate Robinson. Who is a true blue midget b.u.m. He's played for like a hundred teams.

Congrats to Thibs for getting something good out of Nate for 60% of a single season. It doesn't mean that these people should be twisting with every breeze or slight wind.

Same goes for Felton. He's better than Nate. But the long view tells me that Felton is not good enough. Just because he had a good November, or played well against the Clippers, does not move the needle much. Just because Lin took a month to adjust to his role doesn't mean he's average.

Long view. Jennings is a risky bet of mine. I admit that. He's only 23 or 24? He's got room to grow. I see big things in his talent and approach. He's got game, I think he'll figure it out, and also, he has a much better basketball body than Felton. Felton is bulky and slow for a point guard.

[GONYK]

Might I suggest that you guys should work on taking a longer view of things. We have people bringing up Nate Robinson. Who is a true blue midget b.u.m. He's played for like a hundred teams.

And yet he's outplaying Jennings this season, and has almost identical #'s when adjusted for mins and usage...

[Thugger HBC]

I have no interest in a player that says this...no matter when they say it.


""If I am going to be having limited minutes, I might as well not be playing at all," he said. "When I get my rhythm, I have to come out because the limited minutes I am in. But once I get going you know how I get. So it kind of took me out of my rhythm a little bit. So if I am going to be on limited minutes, I might as well just not play at all."

When was this quote?

Jennings played about four years for Skiles, who is a difficult coach. I don't remember any major fallout between them. Seems Skiles liked him and gave him a heap of minutes as a young guy.

He's regressing right now. But it ain't over.

Might I suggest that you guys should work on taking a longer view of things. We have people bringing up Nate Robinson. Who is a true blue midget b.u.m. He's played for like a hundred teams.

Congrats to Thibs for getting something good out of Nate for 60% of a single season. It doesn't mean that these people should be twisting with every breeze or slight wind.

Same goes for Felton. He's better than Nate. But the long view tells me that Felton is not good enough. Just because he had a good November, or played well against the Clippers, does not move the needle much. Just because Lin took a month to adjust to his role doesn't mean he's average.

Long view. Jennings is a risky bet of mine. I admit that. He's only 23 or 24? He's got room to grow. I see big things in his talent and approach. He's got game, I think he'll figure it out, and also, he has a much better basketball body than Felton. Felton is bulky and slow for a point guard.

I give him one year personally, usually you know what you have at year 5.

That quote was about two seasons ago, but he hasn't changed he thinks he is better than what he is and has not improved any facet of his game.

[K_ick_God]

Might I suggest that you guys should work on taking a longer view of things. We have people bringing up Nate Robinson. Who is a true blue midget b.u.m. He's played for like a hundred teams.

And yet he's outplaying Jennings this season, and has almost identical #'s when adjusted for mins and usage...

[Thugger HBC]

I just thought about it, jennings is a RFA, he might now even see the money he thinks he's worth.

Depending where he gets traded to if he does, that team he may like them and they still might not keep him.

[K_ick_God]

Nate Robinson is outplaying Felton too. It means little. Except maybe that Thibs has built a great "plug-and-play" system where you can snap in any athletic PG and make it work.

[GONYK]

Might I suggest that you guys should work on taking a longer view of things. We have people bringing up Nate Robinson. Who is a true blue midget b.u.m. He's played for like a hundred teams.

And yet he's outplaying Jennings this season, and has almost identical #'s when adjusted for mins and usage...

I'm trying to think how many woefully inefficient players became magically efficient in years 5-9 (The course of his next contract).

How many PG's who showed no ability to consistently run an offense magically became floor generals in years 5-9?

[K_ick_God]

I'm trying to think how many woefully inefficient players became magically efficient in years 5-9 (The course of his next contract).

How many PG's who showed no ability to consistently run an offense magically became floor generals in years 5-9?

Well I don't fully agree that he hasn't run an offense well consistently. But you make a decent point nonetheless. For me to be right, Brandon's next four years will have to be more consistent and he'll have to take the next steps. He's not there yet.

Definite flashes though. Brandon has been slumping but before that, he was a consensus *contender* for a guard spot on the All-Star team. So this idea that he is horrible or has played horribly is not quite right.

[Rasho Brezec]

Throughout their career, their per 36 numbers are practically identical, except Nate is a vastly better shooter. So there's your long view.

[GONYK]

I'm trying to think how many woefully inefficient players became magically efficient in years 5-9 (The course of his next contract).

How many PG's who showed no ability to consistently run an offense magically became floor generals in years 5-9?

Well I don't fully agree that he hasn't run an offense well consistently. But you make a decent point nonetheless. For me to be right, Brandon's next four years will have to be more consistent and he'll have to take the next steps. He's not there yet.

Definite flashes though. Brandon has been slumping but before that, he was a consensus *contender* for a guard spot on the All-Star team. So this idea that he is horrible or has played horribly is not quite right.

So was JR

[K_ick_God]

Throughout their career, their per 36 numbers are practically identical, except Nate is a vastly better shooter. So there's your long view.

I haven't verified that and don't have interest in doing so but numbers aren't everything. No GM would rate Nate ahead of BJ. None. Not a one.

Nate has been on half a dozen teams. Nate was never considered for a contract in the range of $10M per. BJ is being considered for such. Or at least he was before his game hit big speed bumps.

He'll end up getting at least $8M. If he performs badly, it'll be a bad contract. But I think his talent, if he fulfills it, is of a $13M per point guard. So the next team *could* get a steal.