OMFKG! The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread

[Joel Embust]

So, obviously a lot to work on. Look, I remember with fondness the old school Hornets, I look forward to them being good again with their old school colours and gear. I don't like seeing them struggle like this. But it's really, really hard to be positive about MKG right now. I have an easier time being positive about Biyombo at this point than I do MKG, and I think the Bobcats should trade Yombo before his trade value drops.

Maybe there'd be less pressure if they just started bringing MKG off the bench, and letting him play a 6th man role, working his way into the rotation. Forced into the starting line up as he is, he looks lost most of the time (especially with few shooters or shot creators on the court with him in the starting 5).

Nothing against MKG, but I feel bad for Jeff Taylor, who's done a lot more to impress coaches and fans but still has to sit on the bench and play for probably 15-18 minutes per game.

I agree that putting MKG in a 6th man role might take off some pressure since he's what, 20 years of age?

Taylor's a bit older and has more to offer at this stage. Bigs would have someone to kick out to since Hendo and MKG aren't the most reliable outside shooters.

[Red Larrivee]

Only Memphis starters made less threes than the Bobcats last season. Preseason (meaningless) is continuing the trend. Bobcats starters have made only 3 three pointers through three games; the reserves have 16.

The NBA has embraced exceptional shooting more than it ever has. Teams frequently put four shooters on the court to space the floor and give inside scorers one/one coverage to operate in the paint. The Bobcats don't have a single reliable three-point threat projected to start.

In turn, a player like MKG will be forced to take those shots when it's not his game. Three-point shooting likely will never be his game with the shot he has. I wouldn't demote him to the bench, the team used the second pick in the draft on him over players like Beal, Barnes, and Drummond. MKG is the type of player this team needs to win, but he needs shooters around him so that he can play his way.

Unless Hendo gets significantly better, I hope they look to trade him for a reliable shooter.

[LamarMatic7]

don't get caught up in the faulty Jalen Rose stats. He made 57 shots from farther than 16 feet last year.

i don't know anything about jalen rose stats. i was going by my (apparently faulty) own memory. 0.7 per game is still a fairly negligible number, in fairness to my (faulty) memory.

I just assumed that you had taken the stat up from Jalen who has wrongly said it numerous times as trivia about MKG.

[fatlever]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/23 ... nting-More

[fatlever]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/10/15/ ... s-nba-2013

[mrknowitall215]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... -gilchrist

[fatlever]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell 25m

Sounds like MKG won't play vs. Knicks but hamstring doesn't appear serious.

[lmcguir5]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell 25m

Sounds like MKG won't play vs. Knicks but hamstring doesn't appear serious.

So prognosis looks like he'll be ready for the opener at least

[thesneakysneak]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/230480/Top-60-Players-In-NBA-Today-Considering-Everything

MKG getting some love from Realgm article. Rates 56th best in the league.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF/SG, 20 years old, 3 years / $16.2m + RFA): If he can develop a reliable jumper from any distance, Kidd-Gilchrist could become one of the best swingmen in the entire league. The question is whether he can put that together because otherwise he has too many limitations to become a truly elite player. Love his defensive potential and willingness to be a cog in a successful team.

[Bassman]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/230480/Top-60-Players-In-NBA-Today-Considering-Everything

MKG getting some love from Realgm article. Rates 56th best in the league.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF/SG, 20 years old, 3 years / $16.2m + RFA): If he can develop a reliable jumper from any distance, Kidd-Gilchrist could become one of the best swingmen in the entire league. The question is whether he can put that together because otherwise he has too many limitations to become a truly elite player. Love his defensive potential and willingness to be a cog in a successful team.

Great example of the eternal tease that is Hyphen. He's a great kid, super athletic, hard-nosed defender, etc.

But...that...shot...

It is beyond broken. In the opener, I was looking for nuances of improvement. Hard to find much. His free throw is from another planet...like something a 7 year old does to try and shoot. This type of defect cannot be fixed. Everyone has hope, but this project is like trying to take a totaled, bent frame camaro and straighten everything enough to compete for the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Without a reliable jumper MKG is forever a limited player.

[thesneakysneak]

True. I think Pricey has stated that he is working from the ground up. It has all pretty much been about feet positioning and facing up to the basket better, then I guess finer attention will be brought towards those shooting mechanics.

[Liver_Pooty]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/396338473780523008[/tweet]

[Liver_Pooty]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/status/397956620439007233[/tweet]

[fatlever]

iggy hit 7 threes last night. maybe one day mkg has a shooting day like that. great choice for mkg. i'd hvae been very worried if he said someone like chuck person or chris mullin. good to know mkg is self aware.

[HornetJail]

iggy hit 7 threes last night. maybe one day mkg has a shooting day like that. great choice for mkg. i'd hvae been very worried if he said someone like chuck person or chris mullin. good to know mkg is self aware.

MKG has a lot of Iguodala in him already. Iggy handles the ball a fair bit, plays lockdown D, plays hard on the boards, crazy good in transition, and gets ragged on about his scoring frequently. Sounds like MKG. I'd like to see him set his sights on being a Matrix type, but take it one step at a time.

[Elden Payton]

MKG is currently averaging 11 points on 57 percent in less than 28 minutes.

His shot is terrible but enough of saying that he's terrible offensively.

[JDR720]

I can defiantly see MKG as a better rebounding version of Andre Iguodala, maybe around 13ppg 8reb 3ast 1.5blks and a steal, i would be very happy with that, MKG is a taller and weights a good amount more so he can be a better defender also, maybe more of a Iguodala, Shawn Marion mix

[Liver_Pooty]

I can defiantly see MKG as a better rebounding version of Andre Iguodala, maybe around 13ppg 8reb 3ast 1.5blks and a steal, i would be very happy with that, MKG is a taller and weights a good amount more so he can be a better defender also, maybe more of a Iguodala, Shawn Marion mix

Marion averaged something like 22 and 14 in his prime.

He can get there, buts going to take 2 or 3 years. Sky is the limit for him.

[vorbis]

I can defiantly see MKG as a better rebounding version of Andre Iguodala, maybe around 13ppg 8reb 3ast 1.5blks and a steal, i would be very happy with that, MKG is a taller and weights a good amount more so he can be a better defender also, maybe more of a Iguodala, Shawn Marion mix

Marion averaged something like 22 and 14 in his prime.

He can get there, buts going to take 2 or 3 years. Sky is the limit for him.

closer to 21 and 11. i think a lot of people don't realize/forget/overlook how consistent and productive Marion has been over his career (still going). it's definitely no shame if it takes MKG a couple of years to ramp it up to prime-Marion levels of productivity.

[James Gatz]

closer to 21 and 11. i think a lot of people don't realize/forget/overlook how consistent and productive Marion has been over his career (still going). it's definitely no shame if it takes MKG a couple of years to ramp it up to prime-Marion levels of productivity.

Marion was 17,4,3,2,2 tonight against the Thunder. If MKG had his career I'd be thrilled.