Fishmike, are you trying to get revenge on me for our last discussion? There really is no parallel. I am taling about
HOPING that JJ goes from a below average/average player to a slightly above average player. You on the other hand were talking as if it is a logical inevitability that Sweetney will become a dominant PF.
Now let us begin:
well, you can focus on being 2 inches shorter or you can focus on other things.
I am not focusing on it. It is in fact a vulnerability.
Sweetney's FG% and FTs speak volumes about the difficulty the opposition has dealing with him.
I don't think it does speak volumes about his offensive game, but his rebounding ability instead. EVERYTHING Sweetney does starts with rebounding thus far in his career. Does this translate into a well-rounded PF? Not so far.
He's also got the wingspan of a 7 footer with does count for something.
I am telling you Sweetney has low shoulders! And yes, the long arms do help him. Quote reach, heaight, anything you want, but when he goes out there he is obviously shorter than omst of the guys he is facing and it has made a difference to what he can do.
So long as we are talking height lets...
JJ's best year was his last, Its also the only year he's shot over 50% (.509). He doesnt draw fouls and his rebounding per isnt impressive at all for a guy his size. Now he does have 1.3 blocks in his 15 minutes per game but his 3 PFs in the same time kinda hurt the arguement that his size is a huge plus.
First I was never arguing that JJ *WILL* do anything or that anything was a huge plus (I never wanted him on the team in the first place!), but that it is *POSSIBLE* for him to put up some decent numbers. He will be the only center on the team too.
So if JJ is about the same amount bigger than the guys guarding him, that the guys Sweetney has to guard, why isnt he more effective? I mean with his HEIGHT why isnt his FG% higher? Why isnt he drawing fouls?
??? How did this become Sweetney V. JJ? They are totally different players. I won't get into defending JJ's whole career, he has obviously not been that good. I won't compare them point for point, it would be the proverbial apples and oranges. JJ has shown flashes, (Much like Sweetney.) that tell you it is *possible* for him to be a good player. (Much like Sweetney's flashes that have caused you to pre-emptively enshrine him in the hall of Fame
)
Why is his rebounding per about half of what Fortson and Reggie Even's is?
Those guys are nice rebounders. Evans has some skill, Fortson is a thug. But we needed a center so that is all moot.
Thing is ooha, I agree with you. JJ's size *should* be a huge advantage, and Sweetney's should be an issue. Yet Sweetney is drawing fouls and shooting a high % while JJ picks up fouls and isnt shooting a very high %.
I am still not getting into head-to-head comparisons of JJ and Sweetney.
I think Sweetney's height has been and will be the most limiting factor to his career. Add 2-3 inches and you have a possible all-star.
JJ's height is an advantage. (I never said huge.) that is what has kept him in the NBA. We have seen when he uses that advantage he can be a decent player. I am *hopeful* he will have his best statistical season yet, considering coaching, motivation, maturity and the fact he is the only person at his position.
So, does JJ suck?
Not anymore.
Are there some excuses we can make for him?
I have no emotional investment in him so I am not going to make any.
Or at 30 years old is he essentially just a big body that takes up space?
He is 29 and I *hope* not.
In certain matchups he has shown he can hurt the opponent, like against Brad Miller with an knee sprain.
He played well in that series irregardless of Miller's sprain. Why try to cut that down?
But 8 rebounds?
Like I said, that is what I *hope*. This is not really a prediction. I told you you can take 2 from him and give them to Sweetney...
That would probably put him in the top 20. Really think there's a chance in hell thats happening?
With the chuck-fest that might occur, I would say yes.
oohah
9/28/2005 10:52 PM