Euro league Games, Schedule 9/4/2013

[jivelikenice]

If we were talking about a wing I'd agree. But a big who does what I describe is worth more than a late first in the NBA. I'm not saying pick up the option though....I'd wait to see if this carries over to TC and preseason.....

[nuposse04]

Thanks Keynote and CObR. From what I've read and seen from the clips, Jan is essentially back in his element and scoring the way he normally does in European-style basketball - transition buckets, quick passes, and the occasional unimpeded dunk. In the half-court, he can't do-much. Consider me unimpressed.

In the NBA he is going to have to finish strong around the basket and in the post against NBA centers, he is going to have to keep defenses honest with a respectable jump-shot.

He had like 3 dunks from what I remember in watching the game, and thats with him being the 1st option on the team. The bulk of his shots came from little hook shots 4-7 feet out. He hit at least on jumper I recall, and air balled a couple others, but he knew he had to take that shot. When he bricked the first FT in the closing seconds to tie the game, I thought there was no way the kid was gonna hit the next to bring it within 1. But he did.

He's never going to live up to the billing he was drafted to be, but to think he is the "same" player just kinda makes me think you actually WANT this guy to continue to suck. I understand he's one of EG's guys and EG, while the devil, shouldn't be the reason we don't acknowledge Jan for one **** good game instead of trying to find ways to marginalize it. But if you're that salty for him still being picked when he was, marginalize away.

(and, no, I don't think his option should be picked up, but I'm assuming it will).

[hands11]

I watched 2 mins of the game at the end of the first half. I heard Poland's coach pleading with his team: "we *can't* let #15 keep beating us down the court!"

When's the last time you heard an opposing coach complain about Vesley?

I also saw Vesley's rather nasty tip dunk (in traffic) at the first half buzzer. He looked *hyped*, and his teammates all mobbed him and chest bumped him while he pumpd himself up. I've never seen him look that alpha male in a Wizards uni.

Sigh. A few tidbits like this and I'm a hopeless romantic again. "Maybe *this* is the year it all clicks for Jan." "Just wait until Andray adds a few pounds of muscle." "Kwame's going to be scary once he puts it all together." "I read that Cheaney is adding that 3 point shot this year."

Right. lol

Glad he is having fun over there. But until I see him start busting some from outside, I'm not sure how much of it will translate.

What bothers me was that one clip I posted where he was still getting pushing around under the basket. He seems to use his chest to bump instead of his hips. Well, Ves is no Charles Oakley in the chest so not sure that will work in the NBA.

[hands11]

^ You'll never find love if you're not willing to open up, clogs00.

No, you're right to be guarded, of course. I did see Jan stick a 15 foot jumper, but I'd be shocked if he were pulling that off all game long. The major thing I noticed (in admittedly two minutes of game play) was the swagger he displays while playing with his countrymen in his comfort zone. I don't see him ever being confident enough to assert himself in the same way in the NBA. So, even if his skills improves and he adds a little more size, he'll never be more than a quiet role player. He doesn't have the personality to even turn into a Birdman-esque crowd favorite. Here, he shrinks from the spotlight; over there, he was drinking it in.

Again: this is all extrapolated from 2 mins of footage viewed on my phone. So, please take it all with a few grains of salt.

I finally watched both the 15 min clips I posted on the previous page. I didn't see anything that gave me warm fuzzies. He didn't see any new tricks in what I saw.

[nate33]

^ You'll never find love if you're not willing to open up, clogs00.

No, you're right to be guarded, of course. I did see Jan stick a 15 foot jumper, but I'd be shocked if he were pulling that off all game long. The major thing I noticed (in admittedly two minutes of game play) was the swagger he displays while playing with his countrymen in his comfort zone. I don't see him ever being confident enough to assert himself in the same way in the NBA. So, even if his skills improves and he adds a little more size, he'll never be more than a quiet role player. He doesn't have the personality to even turn into a Birdman-esque crowd favorite. Here, he shrinks from the spotlight; over there, he was drinking it in.

Again: this is all extrapolated from 2 mins of footage viewed on my phone. So, please take it all with a few grains of salt.

I finally watched both the 15 min clips I posted on the previous page. I didn't see anything that gave me warm fuzzies. He didn't see any new tricks in what I saw.

Yeah, I just watched it. It's pretty much the same old Vesely. He sets good wide screens and cuts hard to the basket, and he has active hands on defense. We know that. Unfortunately, he still looks light in the haunches, gets pushed around in the post and has trouble holding position to grab defensive rebounds. His shot is still completely unreliable. Basically, he doesn't do well enough in the "meat and potatoes" aspects of basketball for him to stay on the floor and show off his good intangibles.

[jivelikenice]

I guess my expectations aren't that high which is why I'm pleasantly surprised. Everyone is to some extent issaying the "same old Vesely", but when has he ever been that in the NBA? We know he theoretically should be able to run the floor, dunk, etc...but he's never finished well on non-dunks or shown good touch around the rim. All I want to see is him do the things we know he can do, and just do them efficiently and consistently. That to me is not the same Jan cause we've never seen that before and that has value if it comes from a big. I'd be thrilled if he was able to fill a stat sheet w/o running any plays for him.

[Nivek]

I think you're looking at this the wrong way. A big who can run the floor, finish at the rim, & finish off pick & rolls can have value. To ever expect Jan to be a player you give the ball to and say "get me a bucket" is a mistake. The issue with Jan's first two years is outside of open dunks he hasn't been able to finish near the basket and has been afraid to take wide open Js that present themselves. If Jan showed the ability to consistently finish off floaters/jump hoooks from 10 ft and in, and showed the ability to knock down an occasional J, and frankly justy didn't play scared, he could contribute and have value here and/or around the league.

What's clear from his performance in Euro and in SL is his game is centered around confidence. He knows in these sitautions he's not getting pulled and he doesn't defer and the differnce is showing. Now I think Nivek and Dat mentioned that confidence was an excuse and he was just lazy. I wouldn't say lazy is the right word but it could very well be that now that he's put in the work over the summer, he's more confident in his skillset and is thus more willing to show it.

I've never accused Vesely of being lazy -- but he's not DRIVEN in the way that many NBA players (not just stars) are. My point was that what he lacked was skill and strength. Those are things that develop with work, which suggests he hasn't put in the time/effort on his game or body. His confidence deficiency in his basketball skills and his physical strength may actually be a sign of intelligence -- he was woefully sub-par in both areas.

I think the difference between his performance last season and his performance in Euro League and/or Summer League has less to do with confidence and more to do with the level of competition.

That said, if he's put in work on his body and his basketball skills, he certainly has the physical tools to be a decent NBA player.

[nate33]

My point was that what he lacked was skill and strength. Those are things that develop with work, which suggests he hasn't put in the time/effort on his game or body. His confidence deficiency in his basketball skills and his physical strength may actually be a sign of intelligence -- he was woefully sub-par in both areas

[hands11]

^ You'll never find love if you're not willing to open up, clogs00.

No, you're right to be guarded, of course. I did see Jan stick a 15 foot jumper, but I'd be shocked if he were pulling that off all game long. The major thing I noticed (in admittedly two minutes of game play) was the swagger he displays while playing with his countrymen in his comfort zone. I don't see him ever being confident enough to assert himself in the same way in the NBA. So, even if his skills improves and he adds a little more size, he'll never be more than a quiet role player. He doesn't have the personality to even turn into a Birdman-esque crowd favorite. Here, he shrinks from the spotlight; over there, he was drinking it in.

Again: this is all extrapolated from 2 mins of footage viewed on my phone. So, please take it all with a few grains of salt.

I finally watched both the 15 min clips I posted on the previous page. I didn't see anything that gave me warm fuzzies. He didn't see any new tricks in what I saw.

Yeah, I just watched it. It's pretty much the same old Vesely. He sets good wide screens and cuts hard to the basket, and he has active hands on defense. We know that. Unfortunately, he still looks light in the haunches, gets pushed around in the post and has trouble holding position to grab defensive rebounds. His shot is still completely unreliable. Basically, he doesn't do well enough in the "meat and potatoes" aspects of basketball for him to stay on the floor and show off his good intangibles.

Sad but true.

I really didn't see any improvement going by what I saw.

[closg00]

The score was close in the first, but this Euroball blows, Spain has Gasol and they run zero post plays. Jan receives the ball in the post and he immediately passes it out just like in the NBA. Just running and shooting pretty-much.

Sato is looking like he MAY have more trade-value down the road for us. Jan will be out of the NBA after this year.