How Big Is Your Tank

[sfam]

I don't have a problem with Booker's comments. I didn't really see it as him blaming coaching for his lack of minutes. He was just stating the truism that it's hard to develop a rhythm if your minutes are inconsistent. I think Booker himself would acknowledge why the available minutes were inconsistent. It was a combination of his performance, his injuries, the play of others, and the matchups Wittman was trying to exploit.

I still like Booker the most out of the four young bigs on the team.

If Booker stays more or less healthy next season, he should be a solid role player. If he works on his shot and develops a mid-range game, he becomes a borderline starter. Unfortunately, I'm guessing his pattern continues. He plays reckless (that's often a good thing) and gets hurt as a consequence.

[fishercob]

Booker is no borderline starter. I think when he's going well he's good on offense -- in the pick and roll, crashing the offensive boards, etc. But I think he's a net negative on D. I agree with nate that he's the best of our 4 young "bigs" but that's damning with faint praise, especially since he's 6'7".

[nate33]

Booker is no borderline starter. I think when he's going well he's good on offense -- in the pick and roll, crashing the offensive boards, etc. But I think he's a net negative on D. I agree with nate that he's the best of our 4 young "bigs" but that's damning with faint praise, especially since he's 6'7".

He plays bigger than 6-7 though. He is now averaging 9.7 boards per 36, and it would probably be higher if we only looked at the games when he was healthy. He's the 2nd best rebounder on the team after Okafor. When I watch him on the court, I don't really think to myself, "man, he's undersized".

[queridiculo]

I typically think he'd make a fine matador with that ole defense.

[sfam]

Booker is no borderline starter. I think when he's going well he's good on offense -- in the pick and roll, crashing the offensive boards, etc. But I think he's a net negative on D. I agree with nate that he's the best of our 4 young "bigs" but that's damning with faint praise, especially since he's 6'7".

The caveat was he could be a borderline starter if he developed a mid range game. Not as he is now.

[sfam]

Because ChiTown is still playing for position, its assured we lose. Given that Detroit has won 4 in a row, they probably win against Brooklyn. The Clippers are still playing for position, so Sacramento loses as well. I'd say prior to the ping pong balls, we're clearly on track to finish #7.

[dobrojim]

which is middlin enough to still have a reasonable chance at moving up.
Once you get over 10-12, you have a vanishingly small chance at picks 1-3.

edit to add -
others have probably already made this observation but in case anyone
hasn't, CLE will almost certainly take OP unless they win the lotto outright.

Love to have a chance at dipo or OP. Would be really happy with either.
Wouldn't mind Burke either.

[sfam]

which is middlin enough to still have a reasonable chance at moving up.
Once you get over 10-12, you have a vanishingly small chance at picks 1-3.

edit to add -
others have probably already made this observation but in case anyone
hasn't, CLE will almost certainly take OP unless they win the lotto outright.

Love to have a chance at dipo or OP. Would be really happy with either.
Wouldn't mind Burke either.

I don't see Porter there at the #7, but I am still fantasizing that Bennett will be there. Shabazz has to go before us, and perhaps Zeller or Len, depending where we end up, for that to happen.

[hands11]

I don't have a problem with Booker's comments. I didn't really see it as him blaming coaching for his lack of minutes. He was just stating the truism that it's hard to develop a rhythm if your minutes are inconsistent. I think Booker himself would acknowledge why the available minutes were inconsistent. It was a combination of his performance, his injuries, the play of others, and the matchups Wittman was trying to exploit.

I still like Booker the most out of the four young bigs on the team.

Yeah, but here is Bookers problem.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/i ... vor-booker

That isn't trending in the right direction

[mhd]

Well, Detroit is certainly getting the message as they are down 18 in the 3rd quarter. Minny is up in the 3rd (important if we win this game). Kings play later tonight.

[nate33]

I don't have a problem with Booker's comments. I didn't really see it as him blaming coaching for his lack of minutes. He was just stating the truism that it's hard to develop a rhythm if your minutes are inconsistent. I think Booker himself would acknowledge why the available minutes were inconsistent. It was a combination of his performance, his injuries, the play of others, and the matchups Wittman was trying to exploit.

I still like Booker the most out of the four young bigs on the team.

Yeah, but here is Bookers problem.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/i ... vor-booker

That isn't trending in the right direction

His REB% over the last 3 seasons:
2010 - 13.5
2011 - 14.5
2012 - 15.0

His DRtg over the last 3 seasons:
2010 - 109
2011 - 104
2012 - 102

His AST% over the last 3 seasons
2010 - 5.2
2011 - 5.1
2012 - 7.4

His shooting percentage from 16-23 feet over the last 3 seasons
2010 - .161
2011 - .400
2012 - .424

[mhd]

Go Kings!

[DCsOwn]

Well, Detroit is certainly getting the message as they are down 18 in the 3rd quarter. Minny is up in the 3rd (important if we win this game). Kings play later tonight.

Regarding Detroit, the Nets actually gave their starters minutes, which is disappointing for us considering the fact that they were locked into their position, but it's certainly their prerogative. Let's just hope we come out on the right side of that coin-toss.

[hands11]

His game total over 3 years.

65
50
47

[nate33]

His game total over 3 years.

65
50
47

Yes. That is unquestionably a huge issue.

But I maintain that, when healthy, Booker is a rock solid backup PF.

I was just looking at his game log this season. He started out horrible because he was nursing an injury, then he sat out all of December. He played a little in January but got dinged up again. But when he finally came back and got healthy in February, he was actually a pretty good ball player.

During the last 28 games of the year, he averaged 12 points, 10 boards and 1.6 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 52.5% from the field. His ORtg was a fabulous 121, and his DRtg was a pretty good 105. He actually averaged 18.5 minutes per game. His usage rate was a low 13.6%, indicating he was strictly a role player, but at least he was a role player who was efficient with the ball and played good D.

[BruceO]

i know some people think chicago is playing for position and think winning is their best option. I think losing favours them. the fourth/ fifth matchup plays the winner of miami, milwaukee. Miami is likely to win that so second round matchup is no good. Chicago is better off losing..face indiana and then most likely new york. Its a strategic path. Either way we'll be in a coin flip scenario. I expected a everyone to lose except us scenario cause the other teams are playing guys who can stand to win the game for homecourt advantage or security.

[tontoz]

Yeah Booker is fine as a backup pf. I think his offense will be too limited to be a good starter, especially on this team where a 4 with a jumper would be so valuable.

[willbcocks]

edit to add -
others have probably already made this observation but in case anyone
hasn't, CLE will almost certainly take OP unless they win the lotto outright.

I've seen this opinion floating around, but why is this a certainty? Cleveland has surprised with its selections last year (Waiters) and the year before (Tristan Thompson). They need a center, a wing, and another guard. They need a lot of help on D. Why rule out Oladip, Len, Shabazz?

[jivelikenice]

Booker is fine as a backup forward.....this is true.

1. The problem is backups needs to be versatile. Booker is ONLY capable of playing the 4. He can't play small forward or center at all.

2. Boker's shot has improved slightly but his motion is so slow that he'll never be a good pick n roll player. His shooting motion is Tebow'esque

3. Booker is injury prone.

4. Booker is 25, going on 26 early next season. There will be marginal inprovements, but that's it

If I had to rank the 4 bigs:

1. Seraphin. I would trade him in the right deal but he's still a young low post scorer which are hard to come by. He also can play some four and five
2. Singleton. There's been some marginal improvement in his J from 3-16. Last yr I thought he was trash. This yr I saw some signs of a plAyer who was beginning to figure out how to use his length and athleticism and play to it. He should be able to get around guys and dunk it or finish strong...but he played smaller than he is. Tonight he showed what he could do if he played to his athleticism and knocked down some shots. He also brings versatility and can play the three or four
3. Booker. Already addressed
4. Vesely. Euro trash.....Satoranskly will be a much bett player than him.

But any of be four can be had to make a deal work.

[Knighthonor]

need to get a long term big with skill to both shoot-ORebound-Drive-Block