IMO, Woodson more focus more and fewer unforced errors than MDA.Some of that may be the wake-up effect of firing a coach, but I think Woodson was a more effective communicator.MDA appeared to have two gears at the end: ignoring the veterans and yelling at the rookies/role players.

The Honorable Cock Jowles: No shit. You’d rather have a player who was good at shooting than a player who wasn’t. What analysis!Tell me, then, why Marcus Denmon will go undrafted.

I honestly can’t believe you would set this trap on yourself.

Do you not see the different ways your argument will backfire?

Denmon is going to be a late pick for the same reason guys like Novak and Eddie House were mid-to-late second rounders.

The biggest reason is that they aren’t shot creators. They don’t add any value outside of their ability to make shots. GM’s understand this much better than the folks in the Berri club.

While they will look like amazing players by metrics that are currently available to the public, their teammates will have to do a lot of heavy lifting for them to provide that value.

And what’s with the obfuscation of the point Dunlap is making, the same principle we’ve argued on this board since I’ve been around (and assuredly much longer than that)?

You claim to be a stats guy, but you resort to sophistry most of the time. Sounds like someone who has a dogma problem and can’t think himself out of it.

ruruland:
Basketball knowledge: Berri>Dunlap

“For the Bobcats, they get a much needed shooter in their backcourt. In a recent interview after a pre-draft workout, new coach Mike Dunlap told reporters that was the team’s biggest need.

“Definitely, shooters,” Dunlap said. “The ability to make the 3[-pointer] is really important because it allows you to play inside. What happens [in the absence of quality shooting] is the defense collapses and it gets crowded in there.”

No shit. You’d rather have a player who was good at shooting than a player who wasn’t. What analysis!

Tell me, then, why Marcus Denmon will go undrafted.

“For the Bobcats, they get a much needed shooter in their backcourt. In a recent interview after a pre-draft workout, new coach Mike Dunlap told reporters that was the team’s biggest need.

“Definitely, shooters,” Dunlap said. “The ability to make the 3[-pointer] is really important because it allows you to play inside. What happens [in the absence of quality shooting] is the defense collapses and it gets crowded in there.”

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8098948/my-time-coming

ruruland: In shape Melo from ’09:

Vs Thunder (Durant): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbK44oS_SZc&feature=plcp

Vs Thunder (Durant): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbK44oS_SZc&feature=plcp

Dominating Pistons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlPsMW9aZ1k&feature=plcp

Bulls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OdAE-eC9oo&feature=plcp

(post wrist injury, not in as good of shape after sitting out two weeks) Clippers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGvv94eVM38&feature=plcp

Nick C.:
The Melo with Lin stuff is interesting because I recall a lot of grousing about Lin missing or waving off Melo on post ups along with dissatisfaction with spotting up for corner threes. Was there a change when MDA left? I would add Melo getting over the nagging injuries but I think Lin wasn’t playing when Melo was playing hurt.

There were times when Lin would miss Melo cutting to the basket, as clearly Melo made an effort to fit into the offense off the ball and get easy baskets in that fashion, but there was a HUGE uptick in cut attempts, and pick and roll roll man attempts when Melo played with Lin……

I don’t think the problem was with Melo taking corner 3s… It was with an offense that was not structured for ANY Melo iso/post-ups or high pnrs… Remember, Melo trained in the offseason to be the team’s primary ballhandler in the pnr, and he was actually really efficient in that role (not as good as Lin of course), but when MDA took Melo off the ball completely, combined with the losing streak and the outside pressure… just a potent mixture.

johnlocke:
I don’t know what his weight was, but I was re-watching Melo’s first game with the Knicks against the Bucks…and he looked noticeably much much svelter than he did this season….(he had some of his best offensive numbers in those 30 or so games with the Knicks — ignoring the playoffs w/ the exception of game 2 of course)and that was without Lin, and with D’Antoni

He was not in great shape coming into the ’10 season which is one reason he got off to awful start to the season IMO…. Maybe it was all the distractions, but it took him a good 30-40 games to get right.

This is what a perfectly in-shape Melo looks like after a great off-season (from the beginning of ’09):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIQIkBIJo8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0o2YJ3jIac

before the wrist injury against Dallas in late December, Melo was averaging over 30 ppg on 48% from the field with a .581 TS….. And he was playing more iso/post-up than he did last year…

ruruland: The struggles Melo had around the rim last year were confounding to a lot of people. He’s carried that 250-260 much better in the past, though I think most of us know he’s been too heavy the last two years.

Sure, his best years around the rim have occurred when he was lighter on his feet……no doubt.

’09 he came into camp light and was having a monster year (on extreme iso/post-up) before the elbow and knee injuries.

And the knee, ankle, wrist, groin injuries all played a part last year, too. If only because they kept Melo off his feet and out of shape……

I think he’s getting lighter to stay healthy (and each of his potential monster years have been thrown off by injury)

But the decrease in shot creation with a true pg in Lin will preserve energy for cuts and transition — areas where he’s really efficient (against the league average)….

I think somtimes people underestimate the energy Melo often expends grappling for position inside, especially against20 minute defensive specialists whose only job is to make Melo work…. Anyone who’s wrestled or boxed knows how exhausting that kind of activity can be……