Motor Keeps Going: The Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Thread III

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I agree that this is a make or break year for MKG.

Someone here says that nearly every year about him.

For me last year was that year. He played nearly a full year and displayed some aggression on offense, but there were too many negatives. It was clear that the guys mostly went to him early in the 1st & 3rd and then he was basically a garbage man most games after that. His shot is as broken as ever. His defense seemed off somehow. MKG himself stated that he was tentative in his play after all the injures, but I also wondered if he was helping too much or if some of his athleticism was gone. IDK for sure what it was.

I'm not going to say that he couldn't get better, but I just don't like his fit here anymore. Still love his personality and that he puts in the work. Still hate his shot and thin frame. I still feel like the rest of the team relies on him too much when he plays and take it a bit easier on the defensive end. I liked the effort the other guys put in a lot more two years ago.

In terms of fan investment I'm just done.

[LofJ]

You only lose when you've given up, I still believe in MKG.

[yosemiteben]

My goal for him last year was just to stay healthy and he checked that box. If you were expecting a break out year after he took essentially an 18 month vacation from competitive basketball, that was just unreasonable expectations.

He's healthy and will have had a full offseason to work on his game. No excuses this season.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

If you were expecting a break out year after he took essentially an 18 month vacation from competitive basketball, that was just unreasonable expectations.

This was not said or implied since your "make or break" post, that I have seen.

[therebirth]

That's all I'm saying. For me, this is make or break Year for him. I actually started losing hope in him two years ago during preseason when the team would play better in games he didn't play in even before he went down with injury. It showed me all this team needs is a capable replacement and he won't be missed. I think his importance is overrated by some people here

[catch20two]

Any hope of MKG becoming anything more than a role player shipped sail for me halfway through last season.

[yosemiteben]

If you were expecting a break out year after he took essentially an 18 month vacation from competitive basketball, that was just unreasonable expectations.

This was not said or implied since your "make or break" post, that I have seen.

Nor did I say it was. The "you" was open, didn't mean to come across as directed at you specifically.

[UNCNYC]

We shoulda traded him long time ago. I wonder if he has any value at all left for trade

[Cheeze]

MKG is a role player. And it's not mainly because of his broken shot. It's his personality. Asking him to advance his game beyond his role is asking too much of his personality. That's not a knock. It's more a frame for his usefulness as a Hornet.

MKG came into the league as a boy, 19 years old. He didn't brag. He didn't pimp his ride. He had a speech impediment that made it fearful to speak in public. He came to work with a great attitude as a willing student, knowing he had a long way to go in his game.

We still don't know if he owns a Bentley, or a gun collection or a boa constrictor. We don't see condos all over Charlotte with baby mamas in them. Far as I know, he's not lit up with tattoos. All we do know is MKG makes $13M a year to play professional basketball - a reasonable amout for a starting forward on a playoff team, he lives for the game and he knows his role.

Charlotte needs MKG, role-player. The franchise has Kemba, who, himself, had to come out of his shell to be the team's best player. They have Dwight, who has never considered himself to be a role player. They have Kaminski, who is still learning his role but is probably on a Kemba arc when it comes to Alphas. They now have Monk, who is a baby crowing in a man's world. The Hornets need MKG to NOT be a star. They need him to defend, rebound and move in space. They need his energy, they needs his basketball purity to work within the game to advance the game. The Hornets DO NOT need MKG to be something he is not. They need him to be himself.

And to make a corner three. That's not too much to ask of a role player.

[BatumtheGlue]

http://www.thesportster.com/basketball/ranking-all-2nd-overall-nba-draft-picks-of-2000s/

[SWedd523]

I'm just bothered by the fact that he still has 3 inch pythons. Get in the effing weight room already. You don't have to look like LJ or Mase but at least look like you've done a bicep curl or two.

Post a shirtless pic bro

[fatlever]

penis

[UNCNYC]

Eww a penis mention. I'm out this thread

Watch on YouTube

[Eoghan]

I'm just bothered by the fact that he still has 3 inch pythons. Get in the effing weight room already. You don't have to look like LJ or Mase but at least look like you've done a bicep curl or two.

Post a shirtless pic bro

Sorry bro, I know these crappy RealGM servers wouldn't be able to handle the increased traffic. A shirtless pic of me would be like Bruno Caboclo actually becoming Brazilian Durant.

[Snidely FC]

Hornets coach Steve Clifford emphatically threw his support behind Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on Friday, saying the often-criticized small forward is a significant contributor and will continue to start.

The five-year NBA veteran has been widely criticized for his offensive deficiencies and his awkward-looking jump shot, but Clifford insists the former No. 2 overall pick makes up for it with his defense and other intangibles. He expects Kidd-Gilchrist to develop into one of the top 10 defensive players in the league this year.

"I think he's going to have a great year," Clifford said.

Clifford knows Kidd-Gilchrist's jump shooting is not his strength in an NBA game where spacing -- and good shooting -- is vital. Kidd-Gilchrist shot 47 percent from the field last season and only 11 percent from 3-point range.

But Clifford said spacing "is not as important as being competitive, it's not as important as character, and it's not as important as just natural talent. He is a talented athlete, he has a feel for the game, and he's a tough guy who cares about the team."

Clifford said Kidd-Gilchrist's defensive intensity is something the Hornets desperately need.

"We have enough offense with him on the floor that we can be fine offensively," Clifford said. "...It's easy to look at guy who is not a range shooter and say he doesn't belong in today's NBA game. But if you can't guard your guy in this league -- and I'm talking about blow-by, being two small, not physical enough, not wanting to put any (effort) into it -- you better be 28 or 29 (points per game) or it's very difficult for your team to win."

Clifford said Kidd-Gilchrist will start along with All-Star Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams and recently acquired Dwight Howard, Clifford said last year's starting center, Cody Zeller, will see extensive minutes off the bench.

Clifford is convinced this lineup and additional depth this year will allow the Hornets to be a playoff team, but wouldn't put a cap on the team's full potential.

[yosemiteben]

"being two small"

[Mystical Apples]

Clifford throwing heat, past and preemptive.

[euphorbus]

<Clifford said Kidd-Gilchrist will start along with All-Star Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams and recently acquired Dwight Howard, Clifford said last year's starting center, Cody Zeller, will see extensive minutes off the bench.>

Oh, great. Apparently, the coach has amnesia and would rather forget what happened to the team when Zeller could not play for several weeks. In my view, he is the second most important player on the team, after Kemba Walker. Putting him on the bench in favor of Dwight Howard is a recipe for going nowhere fast.

I'll eat my words if Howard turns out to be Superman in disguise.

[Braggins]

<Clifford said Kidd-Gilchrist will start along with All-Star Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams and recently acquired Dwight Howard, Clifford said last year's starting center, Cody Zeller, will see extensive minutes off the bench.>

Oh, great. Apparently, the coach has amnesia and would rather forget what happened to the team when Zeller could not play for several weeks. In my view, he is the second most important player on the team, after Kemba Walker. Putting him on the bench in favor of Dwight Howard is a recipe for going nowhere fast.

I'll eat my words if Howard turns out to be Superman in disguise.

Howard isn't ideal with the starting lineup, but the lineup should still be fine with him and we probably need to start him to get the most out of him.

Starting a less than ideal Howard and letting Cody run wild on 2nd units is probably better than starting Zeller (ideal) and dealing with a disgruntled Howard coming off the bench and potentially souring the locker room (not ideal). Its still an upgrade from last years formula of starting Cody and bringing Hibbert/Hawes/Plum off the bench.

[BatumtheGlue]

Still no video of MKG hits corner 3 three times in a row? Boring.