Motor Keeps Going: The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread III

LofJ · Post #801 » by **LofJ** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 5:34 pm

Braggins wrote:I'd be happy with 30+ makes on 100 attempts. It wouldn't make a huge difference with how teams defend him in the short term, but as good as we are defensively and as often as we seems to have close games, getting a random extra three points from MKG every game or two could actually translate to some extra wins.

That's a good point.

HornetJail · Post #802 » by **HornetJail** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 6:28 pm

EwingSweatsALot wrote:I'd be happy with him getting to 80-90 attempts on 30%. It might not be enough to matter scheme wise, but it matters in the sense of progress and that the work is beginning to pay off.

I wouldn't be surprised if for the first quarter he's shooting a decent percentage and then it takes a dip as defenders are a step closer to him. That though should increase his ability to get to the rim.

This is what I expect from him. He's not going to shooting three 3s a night on any decent percentage but if he can demonstrate the ability to knock down some open ones (like he did in his 7 games last year, rather than completely ignore the 3-point line his first three years) then defenses will likely respect just a little bit more, and that means more driving room for everyone.

MKG might shoot Josh Smith percentages, but he's not an idiot and won't take so many- just enough to establish the fact that he's capable of knocking them down.

SWedd523 · Post #803 » by **SWedd523** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:17 pm

fatlever wrote:He could shoot 50% for the season on 20 attempts, which would be a great talking point, but him only attempting .25 3's a game won't change how anyone defends him or the team, which is ultimately the goal. Point being, he has to take enough, and make enough to force teams to change the way he is defended. None of this matters if teams still sag way off him, clogging the paint for Kemba and MKG is unable or unwilling to make enough wide open 3s to punish that behavior. If I am defending MKG, I'd leave him alone out there until he made at least two 3s in a game, and even then I'm only cautiously closing out on him. It will take months, maybe years of MKG steadily knocking down 3s before teams respect him enough for it to matter in terms of how he is defended. But maybe, in the meantime, somebody leaves him wide open at the end of a game and he buries a 3 for a winner. That would be progress.

And yet, despite his shooting weaknesses, the team has pretty much always been better with him on the floor.

I think you might be forgetting that.

Post #804 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:00 pm

SWedd523 wrote:
fatlever wrote:He could shoot 50% for the season on 20 attempts, which would be a great talking point, but him only attempting .25 3's a game won't change how anyone defends him or the team, which is ultimately the goal. Point being, he has to take enough, and make enough to force teams to change the way he is defended. None of this matters if teams still sag way off him, clogging the paint for Kemba and MKG is unable or unwilling to make enough wide open 3s to punish that behavior. If I am defending MKG, I'd leave him alone out there until he made at least two 3s in a game, and even then I'm only cautiously closing out on him. It will take months, maybe years of MKG steadily knocking down 3s before teams respect him enough for it to matter in terms of how he is defended. But maybe, in the meantime, somebody leaves him wide open at the end of a game and he buries a 3 for a winner. That would be progress.

And yet, despite his shooting weaknesses, the team has pretty much always been better with him on the floor.

I think you might be forgetting that.

Not forgetting that at all. His impact on the team is well known and obviously I'm a huge MKG fan. My entire point was arguing the Clifford quote where he said that MKG had improved more than any player he had seen in 17 years. I called bull on that quote. Don't misinterpret my comments as me underrating MKG.

Post #805 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:11 pm

It seems like we've missed MKG so much and we are dying to see him healthy and playing again that we'd all settle for status quo MKG. I know I would be thrilled with status quo MKG for 70+ games for the next few years. But status quo MKG is not the most improved player Cliff has seen in 17 years. Does there come a time, that as a fanbase, we are no longer content with just a healthy status quo MKG? We caught a glimpse of what an improved offensive version of MKG would look like last year in those 7 games. Maybe that really is the new MKG and if so, watch out, we're going to be doing back flips. But the pessimist in me is not ready to accept that MKG has made that jump permanently. I am expecting status quo, but rooting for most improved player in 17 years.

Post #806 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:13 pm

Cliff says be patient, that in 3 weeks we should see a better version of MKG. I think that's completely fair. He's been out a long time. I'll refrain from complaining for this first month (well, less complaining...haha).

SWedd523 · Post #807 » by **SWedd523** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:38 am

Can somebody tell fats to shut his dirty mouth

Flip Murray · Post #808 » by **Flip Murray** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:40 am

lol delete your account fats

HornetJail · Post #809 » by **HornetJail** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 2:41 am

**** YO NEGATIVITY MOTHAFUDGAS ITS GO TIME

510TWSS · Post #810 » by **510TWSS** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:23 pm

Came here to post about MKG, watched the game last night and he was awesome. Like a breath of fresh air with how he was going hard the whole time out there. Maybe that's just b/c we've all been starved for more MKG for awhile. Really like his first step and ability to find gaps in the defense to cut with/without the ball.

I think he can hit that corner 3 the coach wants him to take as he'll have room to shoot it, hopefully he has the confidence with lots of rep time.

Post #811 » by **yosemiteben** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:27 pm

What's really weird about MKG is that like every time he's running up the court and is not involved in a break or breaking up one, he looks completely winded and semi-hobbles back. I noticed that several times last night, and am not sure if he's working back into game shape or if that's just how he runs around in between bouts of mayhem.

Post #812 » by **fatlever** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:34 pm

yosemiteben wrote:What's really weird about MKG is that like every time he's running up the court and is not involved in a break or breaking up one, he looks completely winded and semi-hobbles back. I noticed that several times last night, and am not sure if he's working back into game shape or if that's just how he runs around in between bouts of mayhem.

He's always looked like that. Always looks like he's completely out of breath. Been noticing that for years.

Flip Murray · Post #813 » by **Flip Murray** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:43 pm

fatlever wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:What's really weird about MKG is that like every time he's running up the court and is not involved in a break or breaking up one, he looks completely winded and semi-hobbles back. I noticed that several times last night, and am not sure if he's working back into game shape or if that's just how he runs around in between bouts of mayhem.

He's always looked like that. Always looks like he's completely out of breath. Been noticing that for years.

That's a classic Mike Miller play. Also Cam Newton does it some

MPM · Post #814 » by **MPM** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:46 pm

fatlever wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:What's really weird about MKG is that like every time he's running up the court and is not involved in a break or breaking up one, he looks completely winded and semi-hobbles back. I noticed that several times last night, and am not sure if he's working back into game shape or if that's just how he runs around in between bouts of mayhem.

He's always looked like that. Always looks like he's completely out of breath. Been noticing that for years.

That's how he gets ya.

Post #815 » by **fatlever** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 8:52 pm

MKG in 2012-13
25/12
25/12
21/9
21/9
18/14

MKG in 2013-14
Nothing good happened in 2013-14 regular season, he lost his confidence, was a shell of former self
best game was 16/8
But did have 22/10 game in playoffs

MKG in 2014-15
23/9
20/4
18/12
17/13
17/12

Point being, MKG has always had the skills to but up some big numbers. He started off playing great, with some huge games in his rookie year. It wasn't until he got hurt his rookie year, then lost all his confidence that his numbers dipped. That lost confidence, followed by the hitch getting worse in that 2nd year, really brought MKG down.

Last night didn't really show a side of MKG that we haven't seen before. He's always had the skills to score in transition, make some mid-range jumpers, get put back baskets and get to FT line. He just lost his confidence and his jumper regressed, probably related.

The best thing about last night, and even the preseason is seeing MKG with confidence, taking a lot of shots, looking for his offense, rather than what we saw in most of 2013-14, when he was scared to shoot and hid in his shame corner.

Its always been a mental thing with him, for the most part, and of course staying healthy.

Even if his jumper does not improve, as long as he is healthy and confident, we should see a more consistent and offensive minded MKG that should be able to push 15ppg.

tondi123 · Post #816 » by **tondi123** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 10:38 pm

yosemiteben wrote:What's really weird about MKG is that like every time he's running up the court and is not involved in a break or breaking up one, he looks completely winded and semi-hobbles back. I noticed that several times last night, and am not sure if he's working back into game shape or if that's just how he runs around in between bouts of mayhem.

Jim Brown was like that. He was super slow getting up after every play and would half walk, half hobble, back to the huddle. Then he would run over half the defense again the next play. Over and over. Did it his whole career.

Eoghan · Post #817 » by **Eoghan** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 1:22 am

Nah, that was a different side of MKG to me. Even when he had big games previously, he was notably playing in the background as a role player, a 4th-5th option on offense where he just didn't want to overstep his role. He was decidedly peacocking out there like a 1st or 2nd option guy, which I hadn't seen since probably his rookie SL.

He's one of the most tenured guys on the team and Kemba is the only other player that is obligated more touches now that Big Al is gone. Batum likes to facilitate, Marv is a spot-up guy and none of the bigs are scorers. There's a big slice of go-to scoring pie available and MKG looks hungry.

UNCNYC · Post #818 » by **UNCNYC** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 8:41 pm

I think we should trade MKG for what we can get for him ( hoping at least a first rounder ). I have a feeling if we dont his stock will just continue to decline

Flip Murray · Post #819 » by **Flip Murray** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 8:49 pm

UNCNYC wrote:I think we should trade MKG for what we can get for him ( hoping at least a first rounder ). I have a feeling if we dont his stock will just continue to decline

The 23rd pick got belineli. We need to figure out how to trade with ourselves.

UNCNYC · Post #820 » by **UNCNYC** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 8:54 pm

Flip Murray wrote:
UNCNYC wrote:I think we should trade MKG for what we can get for him ( hoping at least a first rounder ). I have a feeling if we dont his stock will just continue to decline

The 23rd pick got belineli. We need to figure out how to trade with ourselves.