McJesus - The Josh McRoberts Thread

[KingExecutive]

Did anyone else hear the Mavs commentators talking about McBob early in the game?

"Looks like he's in an Indie Rock band."

"He just got done unloading the van." haha

[mrknowitall215]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/bkotloff/status/411199969802985472[/tweet]

[mrknowitall215]

NBA's best bargain players By Amin Elhassan | ESPN Insider

Josh McRoberts | Charlotte Bobcats

2013-14 salary: $2.7 million
2014-15 salary: $2.8 million (player option)

McRoberts has played an integral role in Charlotte's renaissance this season as an ideal counterbalance to free-agent signee Al Jefferson in the Bobcats' front line, drawing effusive praise from his owner, Michael Jordan, for his ability to "connect the dots." While his offensive numbers aren't jaw-dropping (8 points per game on 42 percent shooting), his overall stat line is rather impressive: he's one of only 11 players averaging at least eight points, five rebounds and four assists a game. He's not a knockdown 3-point shooter at 34 percent, but he's good enough to force the defense to respect his range, and his passing from the high post allows him to find Jefferson, as well as other teammates moving off the ball. In many ways, he is like a poor man's version of former Bobcat Boris Diaw in that his level of play increases with better talent to pass the ball to.

McRoberts signed a two-year deal with a player option for the cap room midlevel exception, but if he can sustain his level of play all season long and keep the Bobcats in the conversation for a playoff berth, he'll almost certainly opt out.

[HornetJail]

In many ways, he is like a poor man's version of former Bobcat Boris Diaw in that his level of play increases with better talent to pass the ball to.

He's a rich man's version of Boris Diaw if you ask me. Boris could be so non-existent at times on the court, he could have flown back to Paris, eaten sixteen baguettes, washed them down with wine and exotic cheese, spent a week chilling in France, then flown back to Charlotte and you wouldn't even realize he left.

[JDR720]

I think he'll opt out to be honest, he wont start next season and could probably get at least 4million somewhere else

[mrknowitall215]

I think he'll opt out to be honest, he wont start next season and could probably get at least 4million somewhere else

Agreed. The only way I can see McRoberts not opting out is if the Bobcats make a magical run past the 1st round & into a heavily competed 2nd round series in the postseason, where he'd just be sticking around for the kick of the experience, much like a college student refraining from the financial gain of coming to the NBA

[SpearNMgicHelmt]

Even if he opts out and we have to pony up more money, I expect other teams are never going to appreciate Josh as much as we do because of how his value to us doesn't always show up in the stats.

I don't ever go to other team boards. How is he regarded by opposing fans?

[mrknowitall215]

Even if he opts out and we have to pony up more money, I expect other teams are never going to appreciate Josh as much as we do because of how his value to us doesn't always show up in the stats.

I don't ever go to other team boards. How is he regarded by opposing fans?

McRoberts is as unheralded around other circles in the NBA as you believe, but there will be at least one GM that'll recognize his contributions to the Bobcats success & will be willing to give him around $5 million annually. He's already managed to land a $3 million annually contract from the Lakers a few years ago after performing reasonably as a backup for the upstart Pacers back then. Don't be surprised if another team "pony up more money" in the offseason for his services because he is currently on a bargain that his production wouldn't bargain for

[HornetJail]

Even if he opts out and we have to pony up more money, I expect other teams are never going to appreciate Josh as much as we do because of how his value to us doesn't always show up in the stats.

I don't ever go to other team boards. How is he regarded by opposing fans?

I believe we'll probably have to shell out $5M/yr to keep him next year. Something I'm willing to do more than I am for Sessions at this point. We need a 3-point shooting combo guard that isn't Ben Gordon in the worst way.

[LamarMatic7]

In many ways, he is like a poor man's version of former Bobcat Boris Diaw in that his level of play increases with better talent to pass the ball to.

He's a rich man's version of Boris Diaw if you ask me. Boris could be so non-existent at times on the court, he could have flown back to Paris, eaten sixteen baguettes, washed them down with wine and exotic cheese, spent a week chilling in France, then flown back to Charlotte and you wouldn't even realize he left.

To continue the metaphor, if the flight to Paris gets delayed and Boris is hungry (since he hasn't eaten those sixteen baguettes), he would eat McBob alive. Both figuratively and on the court.

[fatlever]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/102 ... -all-stars

mcbob make the 'luke walton all-stars" this season

PF: Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (CO-CAPTAIN)

McBob is our first returning member of last season's Walton team, and his case has only gotten stronger. McRoberts is a heady grinder, but if he's third on your team in minutes played and second in touches per game (22rd among all players!), it's probably a bad sign for your short-term potential.

McRoberts is a clever passer from the elbow, which is a valuable big-man skill, and a lot of Charlotte's pet sets feature McBob running things from there via passes, screens, and especially dribble handoffs. And when he's feeling frisky, McRoberts will fake a handoff, spin around, and set off on an adventure toward the hoop. Charlotte needs his passing. Kemba Walker remains a score-first point guard, and McRoberts actually leads the team in assists per minute.

He just doesn't do much else, and sometimes his passing can veer into risky highlight-hunting. His usage rate barely tops Thompson's sad mark, and though Charlotte has worked to turn McBob into a 3-point threat, the results have been uneven. McBob has already jacked 114 triples this season after attempting just 185 combined over his first six seasons, but he's treading water at just 34 percent from deep — a couple of ticks below the league average. He's only at 33 percent on non-corner 3s, and defenses don't exactly bend toward McRoberts in fear of his long-range accuracy.

Still, the Bobcats need whatever 3-point shooting they can get, just so they can at least fake some spacing. Only the Grizz shoot fewer 3s per game, and only four teams have hit a lower percentage from deep.

McRoberts isn't really helpful defensively, but he's competent and avoids major blunders. He won't stop quick point guards from turning the corner or deter shots at the basket, but McBob can quarterback things by talking a lot, and he generally gets where he needs to be. The Kitties still somehow rank sixth overall in points allowed per possession, and they've held steady with the McRoberts/Al Jefferson frontcourt — a duo that looks bad on paper.

[LamarMatic7]

For the second year in a row, I might add.

Good day for basketball fans - two Zach Lowe articles in the same day.

[EwingSweatsALot]

For any of the X's and O's guys I have a question on McRoberts.

Have y'all noticed him going to the opposite side on double teams, screens, and pick and rolls? When one of these happens he goes to the opposite side of his man leaving him wide open.

I have seen it through out the year, but one instance sticks out in my mind. It was the Utah game a couple games back and he leaves Williams at the top of the key to go and help Henderson on Jefferson. When he helps he helps on the baseline side not on the side closest to Williams. Jefferson realizing this kicks it back to Williams, Henderson now has to fight between Jefferson and Henderson to get back and he trips leaving Williams with an easy drive to the lane.

If his man screens the ball handler, he does the same thing, when the screen is used his man just pops out for a wide open 15 footer or so because McRoberts cannot get back to him.

On screen and rolls when he does it, instead of flashing over between the ball handler and the roll man, he already goes to the ball handler leaving no one shuffling down to the roll man, leaving an open lay up because you know Jefferson isn't rotating there.

Is anybody else seeing this? Is this something the coaches want from him? Is this how they want it played? It seems odd since nobody else does it, but maybe Clifford has is reasoning on it.

[catch20two]

The only thing I notice is that we can't be a serious team with this dude McBob starting at PF, being our secondary playmaker, and playing 30 plus minutes. Lol. No freaking way.

[countryboi]

why dont we toss any alleys to mcbob anymore?

[HornetJail]

because we don't even have the spacing inside for McBob to even make a cut to the basket. Kind of hard to get an alley oop play when all five defenders can fill the paint.

[mrknowitall215]

why dont we toss any alleys to mcbob anymore?

...because McRoberts no longer play off the ball like he did in Dunlap's system where the guards got to be guards. McRoberts won't be catching any alley oops unless it's in transition

[LamarMatic7]

For any of the X's and O's guys I have a question on McRoberts.

Have y'all noticed him going to the opposite side on double teams, screens, and pick and rolls? When one of these happens he goes to the opposite side of his man leaving him wide open.

I have seen it through out the year, but one instance sticks out in my mind. It was the Utah game a couple games back and he leaves Williams at the top of the key to go and help Henderson on Jefferson. When he helps he helps on the baseline side not on the side closest to Williams. Jefferson realizing this kicks it back to Williams, Henderson now has to fight between Jefferson and Henderson to get back and he trips leaving Williams with an easy drive to the lane.

If his man screens the ball handler, he does the same thing, when the screen is used his man just pops out for a wide open 15 footer or so because McRoberts cannot get back to him.

On screen and rolls when he does it, instead of flashing over between the ball handler and the roll man, he already goes to the ball handler leaving no one shuffling down to the roll man, leaving an open lay up because you know Jefferson isn't rotating there.

Is anybody else seeing this? Is this something the coaches want from him? Is this how they want it played? It seems odd since nobody else does it, but maybe Clifford has is reasoning on it.

I'm sorry, man, I can't imagine the situation inside my head. Perhaps, look for it during the next game and tell me which exact plays (at what point in the game) you were talking about. I'm not sure whether I'm fluent enough in English to quite understand what you were talking about.

I have noticed what you talked about in the second to the last paragraph. Those McBob hedges on PnRs do go terribly on some occasions.

[countryboi]

why dont we toss any alleys to mcbob anymore?

...because McRoberts no longer play off the ball like he did in Dunlap's system where the guards got to be guards. McRoberts won't be catching any alley oops unless it's in transition

disappointing he seems to be less effective in the system change

[mrknowitall215]

why dont we toss any alleys to mcbob anymore?

...because McRoberts no longer play off the ball like he did in Dunlap's system where the guards got to be guards. McRoberts won't be catching any alley oops unless it's in transition

disappointing he seems to be less effective in the system change

Pretty much. The role that Clifford has McRoberts playing has him in a bit over his head & his pay grade. He's averaging less points, shooting lower percentages, and his rebounding has regressed...

...BUT HIS ASSIST IS UP!!!



I was never a fan of McRoberts facilitating the offense. It doesn't help the spacing issues, unless it's on one of those rare nights where McRoberts is able to make a fair share of 3-pointers, and the opposing defense is forced to respect it after the fact