Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Bippity10:

As for this whole argument, it's so all over the map. From Gallo stinking, to Gallo is injury prone to Walsh and crew blew the pick, to Walsh and crew don't care about the future. I can't tell where we are and what the argument is.

No, that's pretty much the argument. Don't be so hard on yourself newbie, you'll figure it all out eventually. By the time you get to 9999 posts, you'll have a much better idea than you do now.

Soooooooooooooooo, what's the end game? Do you want Bip to get on the horn and tell Walsh to take back the pick?

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by BlueSeats:

I think two issues need to be separated: Gallo the pick vs Gallo the player.

The irony is that the guys most convinced Gallo was a bad pick are the ones most strident that he needs the most minutes, not because it's what's best for him, but so as to sooner declare themselves right.

Lets just say,for arguments sake, that he was an awful pick, he's damaged goods with little athleticism or skills, and he'll never amount to anything in this league.

If that is your point, and we accept that and let you win that war, then is it still mandatory that he get major minutes every night? Or, if since he's a marginal project on the way to becoming damaged goods would it then be okay if the coaching staff brought him along slowly?

What if management is in the middle and aren't quite ready to declare him a bust, but nor are they ready to declare him a cornerstone - then would it be okay for them to try him in different situations (starting vs off the bench) to see how his game and his back respond, and adjust accordingly?

If the kid is struggling physically, emotionally or whatever, at what point isn't it a requirement that they destroy him as quickly as possible?

Blue you could also say that the irony is that most people who said that Walsh and D'Antoni picked the guy that they thought was the BPA is ok with him not getting the minutes to hold off from being told that they were wrong. I keep hearing give him years to find himself and his game in a league and environment that doesn't really allow for any player to do that. Once more he was not suppose to be a project player. Wasn't he the player with extensive experience in the EL. Now that stance has been changed and he is now a project player. I seem to remember that there were players that most agree had a higher risk and higher reward potential but were considered projects. For pete's sake we had guys ready to give him starting duty at the beginning of the season. Rookies are on a 2 year deal with teams with options to bring them back. So they basically have only two years to show they are worthy to be brought back. Everything is relative in life. It just depends on what stance you take when you wake up.

Also, we are now going into the 9th month of discussing whether or not his back is an issue for what was first described as a non-issue by this organization and many on this forum. Remember an issue that didn't require surgery or real concern. It now appears to be a crutch that only seems to be used as a means of convenience to dismiss concerns about this young man's game. So at what point do we stop using the injury to properly evaluate his performance? The 10th month, the 11th or perhaps the 15th month? Suppose he as healthy as he will get, what then?

I understand your position but it doesn't disqualify my point. I am simply suggesting that we'd understand each other better if we qualified where we are coming from. In particular, if our position is to prove he was a bad pick, or if it is what's best for Gallinari.

For myself, I don't really follow college hoops and didn't take a position on him as a pick, so when I say it's okay to bring him along slowly it's not to defend him as a draft pick. I just think it's what's best for him based on what I've seen so far. If the guy starts finding his groove and banging with abandon then increase his minutes.

See, when you're not trying to attack or defend him as a pick then you can just assess his game and his health for what it is. And I'm not saying I know what his game and health are, I'm just saying I think it's fair to assume that when the guy can contribute they'll let him.

BTW, here's another point of irony. How many years have we trashed management for mishandling injuries: from Ewing, to Houston to Camby to McDyess. So many of the most outspoken critics of our medical staff now insist that we grind this kids back to the bone simply so they can prove he was a bad pick. Maybe he was a bad pick, but do we have to destroy his career in the first year just to demonstrate it?

Good post. I agree. I never saw the guy play a minute until summer league so I did not have an opinion of the guy. I have no idea what this guy is going to be. I dont' know if he's going to be a bust or not. I'm just not going to read into it. In my view he isn't getting major minutes because he isn't ready. He could not be ready because he still has developing to do, or he could not be ready because he doesn't have an NBA game. Either way he isn't ready. Hopefully his minutes increase and he plays more. If not, I have to assume he isn't ready for minutes.

I personally do not believe in handing a guy minutes until he deserves it. Too many times, guys have been handed minutes and their work ethic disappears.

As for this whole argument, it's so all over the map. From Gallo stinking, to Gallo is injury prone to Walsh and crew blew the pick, to Walsh and crew don't care about the future. I can't tell where we are and what the argument is.

Yeah, Bip I would have to say it is all that you mention. We were told so many things by management during the season, it is safe to say that there is no clear path right now. One minute we are worry about the future an development of such players that we expect to be here. Another minute we make trades that will help our future and aren't worry about making the playoffs, the next moment we are making trades to try to ensure that we make the playoffs and may in turn reduce minutes to those players we wanted to evaluate for the future. One minute we are letting future players come along slowly, the next moment we are starting them and then soon after we are talking about a pecking order and how minutes must be earned. I agree though I can't tell where we are at the moment. You better not blink because you could lose track of what direction we are going quickly.

Again, they are still developing the players. It's your definition of development that is not being met. Your definition of development is give the guy minutes simply because he's here. But that is not necessarily accurate. Minutes are great, but that's not the only way to develop a player. You can attempt to make the playoffs and still develop a player at the same time, at least in my view. Learning to earn your minutes is part of development. Learning that what you are doing right now isn't good enough and that you are not going to be handed things are both part of development. Learning that you have to up your game to get minutes is part of development. Development is not all about handing someone something that they haven't earned. As a matter of fact I'm willing to bet that this retards development. He will play more as this season goes on, but heavy minutes will need to be earned, just like it is by all the vets. Just because you are the #6 pick does not mean it should be different for you. If you can't play, you don't play. I know this view is too old school for some and not acceptable. But sorry, 19 year old kids don't get minutes until they earn them

One minute we are letting future players come along slowly, the next moment we are starting them and then soon after we are talking about a pecking order and how minutes must be earned. I agree though I can't tell where we are at the moment. You better not blink because you could lose track of what direction we are going quickly.

We are still obviously letting future players come along slowly, so that has not changed. Starting a player doesn't mean you are speeding up anything. Gallo started and still got 15 minutes per game, so where is the change? Because he started? He started but the 15 minutes per game he got still clearly stated that there was a pecking order.

For the record, I said these same things during the Frye, Lee, Nate year. The year where Frye averaged 24 minutes a game, Nate 21 and Lee 17. Somehow Lee found a way to develop.

[Edited by - bippity10 on 23-02-2009 5:04 PM]

Summer League

Gallinari is two years away. Any sudden development of his body, or his game, before that time will be a pleasant surprise.

With the recent acquisitions there is absolutely NO reason to rush him along, no matter how many tabloids want to track his minutes as some type of D'Antoni conspiracy, or how many fans consider his rookie minutes an obligation.

Allow his back to gain strength and allow Gallo to gain confidence in his ability at his own pace.

There is no timetable - so long as he can make a consistent contribution in 2011.




[Edited by - misterearl on 02-23-2009 5:31 PM]

"You can observe a lot by just watching"

- Yogi Berra


martin - hard to tell.
One thing is certain - I like 'em both.

Posted by JamaicanJetFan:

I still cant believe how people are ripping on this kid...wow.

Let's wait till the end of next season before formulating these ridiculous conclusions.

tomorrow's game will tell the story on what Gallo will be when he's 65

Well, you guys got your wish and Gallo got minutes in last night win.

His numbers:

FG 0-3 Pct .000
3P 0-2 Pct .000
FT 0-0 Pct .000
Steal 0
Block 0
Turnover 0
Rebound - Off 0, Def 3, Tot 3
Assist 0
Points 0

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Rookie:

Well, you guys got your wish and Gallo got minutes in last night win.

His numbers:

FG 0-3 Pct .000
3P 0-2 Pct .000
FT 0-0 Pct .000
Steal 0
Block 0
Turnover 0
Rebound - Off 0, Def 3, Tot 3
Assist 0
Points 0

Token minutes don't count. He plays the first 7 minutes of the 2nd quarter and is never heard from again. Yeah, that's how you develop your lottery pick.

Take a look at Anthony Randolf's minutes. He gets similar minutes and has days when he's a DNP. It's not the end of the world. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/gamelog?playerId=3455

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Rookie:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Rookie:

Well, you guys got your wish and Gallo got minutes in last night win.

His numbers:

FG 0-3 Pct .000
3P 0-2 Pct .000
FT 0-0 Pct .000
Steal 0
Block 0
Turnover 0
Rebound - Off 0, Def 3, Tot 3
Assist 0
Points 0

Token minutes don't count. He plays the first 7 minutes of the 2nd quarter and is never heard from again. Yeah, that's how you develop your lottery pick.

Take a look at Anthony Randolf's minutes. He gets similar minutes and has days when he's a DNP. It's not the end of the world. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/gamelog?playerId=3455

AR's head coach hates him and wants him traded. I don't think the situation is the same. Although it would explain a lot.

Nelson is old school. You have to earn your minutes with him.

"Q & A transcripts with Don Nelson

Nelson overall had a right to be generally pleased with the game: A very good performance by the Warriors, who definitely were energized by the explosive energy of Anthony Randolph.

Randolph was so good–14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocked shots in 28 minutes, with a team-best +10 in the plus-minus–that even Nelson said Randolph is earning minutes with his play.


—DON NELSON, post-game presser/

Randolph, again, was plus being out on the court. Really has done a nice job coming along and being a player now. That really encourages and excites our ballclub.

-Q: The way Randolph is playing… is he locked into more minutes now pretty much?

-NELSON: He’s going to just get better and better, I hope. I hope he continues doing what he’s been doing to stay on the floor. You guys don’t get to go to practice that much, but he’s staying out of trouble and doing what he does best. And when he does that, why, we’re going to play him more and more, you’re right."

Posted by Rookie:

BTW - didn't Nelson bring along Dirk (a player who Gallo has been likened to) just fine.

"When the season finally started, Nowitzki struggled. Played as a power forward by coach Don Nelson, the lanky 20-year old felt overpowered by the more athletic NBA forwards, was intimidated by the expectations as a number nine pick, and played bad defense, causing hecklers to taunt him as "Irk Nowitzki", omitting the "D" which stands for "defense" in basketball slang. He only averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of playing time. Looking back, Nowitzki said: "I was so frustrated I even contemplated going back to Germany… [the jump from Second Bundesliga to the NBA] was like jumping out of an airplane hoping the parachute would somehow open." The Mavericks only won 19 of their 50 games and missed the playoffs, although Nowitzki completed the season with eight double-digit scoring games out of the last twelve."

thank you.