Hornets Sign Lance Stephenson 3y/27.5 mil (p67)

[RichBoy923]

That's true, he hasn't had a lot of opportunities. But every time he is in there he doesn't really pose a threat on offense. If you can't catch the ball in the post, it doesn't matter if you've mastered the jump hook.

[JDR720]

Biz is right on the borderline of serviceable role player and bust

[LamarMatic7]

The only thing I disagreed with in that article was that he called Biyombo a bust. That's flat out not true.

Actually, he called him a "flop". Which I then realized is an uncommon way to call a basketball player. I'm having a twitter chat with him on the same exact detail as of now. Will post the results once Lowe stops replying to me

[LofJ]

That's true, he hasn't had a lot of opportunities. But every time he is in there he doesn't really pose a threat on offense. If you can't catch the ball in the post, it doesn't matter if you've mastered the jump hook.

It's a shame he struggles so much in that category because he sets some mean pics and would dominate with his athleticism if he could just catch the ball and finish at the rim.

[LamarMatic7]

He has a jump hook, a nice drop step move, and has a decent looking jumper. He still can't catch post entry passes worth a damn, but let's not sit here and act like he's had a lot of opportunities to show off what he's been working on because he hasn't.

As someone who does yearly mixtapes of him, I've been very pleased to see him learn these moves when it seems like it was just yesterday that this unknown kid joined us for a pre-season game against Atlanta and quite frankly was a 6-11 athlete that tried to do what the other 9 basketball players were doing. He's come a long way.

However, let's not act like he's learned the offensive game. Yes, you can give him the ball in the perfect situations (which occurs once every 15 games) and he'll make the hook (can do it with both hands, an underrated aspect) after a turn-around drop-step like he has learned it by heart. And that's exactly the thing. The guy has probably done hundreds of those moves every day at practice. But at this point that's all he can do. It's basically monkey see, monkey do. His offensive awareness is not there yet. If the opponent happens to guess the correct way to which Biz's move is going to, he'll most likely get confused and travel. If he doesn't get the ball in his perfect spot, he isn't likely to post up, fight for and get the position he needs, catch the ball and then make the move. It's much more accidental.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that he knows how to make the post move, he doesn't know how to get in the position to do so.

And although his rim protection stats came against backups mostly, its certainly not a bad thing that he had the 2nd best stats in the league in that category after Joakim Noah.

He actually is number one and held down that spot for almost the whole season.

[LofJ]

He has a jump hook, a nice drop step move, and has a decent looking jumper. He still can't catch post entry passes worth a damn, but let's not sit here and act like he's had a lot of opportunities to show off what he's been working on because he hasn't.

As someone who does yearly mixtapes of him, I've been very pleased to see him learn these moves when it seems like it was just yesterday that this unknown kid joined us for a pre-season game against Atlanta and quite frankly was a 6-11 athlete that tried to do what the other 9 basketball players were doing. He's come a long way.

However, let's not act like he's learned the offensive game. Yes, you can give him the ball in the perfect situations (which occurs once every 15 games) and he'll make the hook (can do it with both hands, an underrated aspect) after a turn-around drop-step like he has learned it by heart. And that's exactly the thing. The guy has probably done hundreds of those moves every day at practice. But at this point that's all he can do. It's basically monkey see, monkey do. His offensive awareness is not there yet. If the opponent happens to guess the correct way to which Biz's move is going to, he'll most likely get confused and travel. If he doesn't get the ball in his perfect spot, he isn't likely to post up, fight for and get the position he needs, catch the ball and then make the move. It's much more accidental.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that he knows how to make the post move, he doesn't know how to get in the position to do so.

And although his rim protection stats came against backups mostly, its certainly not a bad thing that he had the 2nd best stats in the league in that category after Joakim Noah.

He actually is number one and held down that spot for almost the whole season.

Those are great points. He rarely, if ever, fights for position in the post. Thankfully, that's something that Al Jefferson thrives at, hopefully Bismack will take advantege of that to learn from him. That's one reason why I have been secretly hoping that we don't extend Jefferson past hte next two years, I want to see what Biyombo is truly capable of if we show confidence in him.

[JDR720]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SteveReedAP/status/489871547574648832[/tweet]

[LamarMatic7]

Those are great points. He rarely, if ever, fights for position in the post. Thankfully, that's something that Al Jefferson thrives at, hopefully Bismack will take advantege of that to learn from him. That's one reason why I have been secretly hoping that we don't extend Jefferson past hte next two years, I want to see what Biyombo is truly capable of if we show confidence in him.

And in his defense it's not like his team-mates would pass him the ball if he did so. Moreover, he probably has orders from Clifford to spend more time setting screens and dipping in the paint for offensive rebounds and drop-off passes than to post his guy up.

[JDR720]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETfy7yV3EXs[/youtube]

Lance vs LeBron

[vorbis]

there's the antics.

at the same time, any 6'5" SG that bullies LeBron 1-on-1 in the post is already talking some junk with their game.

[Elden Payton]

I don't mind the oncourt stuff.

Personally it's more about the offcourt stuff.

That is what worries me.

[olive_triangurl]

i think its safe to say that we have the biggest weapon in the NBA, and that's to put it lightly
i can't wait to enjoy our riches in 2014-15
Lance is top notch all-round game AND the most entertaining man in America/Australia on and off the court!

[KembaWalker]

Big Al, Kemba, and MKG will keep Lance focused. He's not perfect, but people act like he was in some better controlled situation in Indy. I disagree. Lance wasn't even the biggest clown on his team, Paul George and Roy Hibbert are right there with him. Reminds me of Captain Jack, who was a complete maniac immediately before (with Baron, Matt Barnes etc) and after with the Bucks (with Jennings, Sanders) etc. But he was totally fine here (more or less) because we didn't put guys like him around him. Big Al and Kemba are 10x better leaders than anyone on the Pacers

[Liver_Pooty]

Big Al, Kemba, and MKG will keep Lance focused. He's not perfect, but people act like he was in some better controlled situation in Indy. I disagree. Lance wasn't even the biggest clown on his team, Paul George and Roy Hibbert are right there with him. Reminds me of Captain Jack, who was a complete maniac immediately before (with Baron, Matt Barnes etc) and after with the Bucks (with Jennings, Sanders) etc. But he was totally fine here (more or less) because we didn't put guys like him around him. Big Al and Kemba are 10x better leaders than anyone on the Pacers

Jackson was fine here because of Larry Brown, just like Stephenson will be fine here because of Clifford. Strong leadership from teammates helps, but it only goes so far. It takes a strong minded head coach to control these kinds of players, and I think Clifford can do that.

[EwingSweatsALot]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nba2k/status/489936908844154880[/tweet]

Funny Lance video. At least he continues to have a sense of humor about the whole situation.

[olive_triangurl]

also i might add that Michael Jordan is scary enough to keep everyone in line
i'm scared just typing his name

[Stun704]

also i might add that Michael Jordan is scary enough to keep everyone in line
i'm scared just typing his name

If michael jordan wanted sex what would you do?

[JDR720]

So i hear Lance Stephenson likes to irritate LeBron? I don't believe it, he was just trying to blow away a fly from going in LeBrons ear, it was pretty obvious imo. Probably saved his life.

[olive_triangurl]

also i might add that Michael Jordan is scary enough to keep everyone in line
i'm scared just typing his name

If michael jordan wanted sex what would you do?

if he's my hubby

So i hear Lance Stephenson likes to irritate LeBron? I don't believe it, he was just trying to blow away a fly from going in LeBrons ear, it was pretty obvious imo. Probably saved his life.

my favorite moment of 2014 was when Lance was listening in a really serious way to the Miami heat coach great to see a player showing so much passion to a coach

[amcoolio]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX66BxjKAp8[/youtube]

8th grader Lance Stephenson wanting to be the king of NY. Takes on 12th grader consensus #1 HS player OJ Mayo.

Lance has always had this drive. He has it. Its hard not to be excited for next season. I want him to explode