Where did this Ben has a low basketball IQ thing come from? It's suddenly popping up everywhere on this board and repeated over and over as fact. I don't think he's at a comfort level where we can even think of making any determination like that.
Is he inexperienced, raw and sometimes clueless? Yes, he's a 20 year old rookie thrown into the fire on a rebuilding team with little from his teammates. We are not in win now mode or he wouldn't be on the court. I guess I should expect absurd statements from some people and just let it go, but we are absolutely not in win now mode. That would actually be detrimental, not helpful. You try to win of course, but you don't start benching rookies cause these games are just too important to build for the future. I see no downside at all on him growing into his role. If we get a decent PG, you'll see Ben start to flourish sooner rather than later. Right now our so called "Big 3" is missing the 3rd piece. Which means we are far from win now mode. We are in asset acquiring phase. I don't think we even have a core. I don't even know that Rudy is a lasting part of the puzzle.
We have one sure thing. Cousins. That's really it. And I strongly think Ben is getting 3 years at least to prove himself. Which makes him at least as likely to be here as 2/3s of the so called big 3, one of which is a FA this year, and the other who may opt out and leave also this season.
When people say win now, what do you mean? The 8 seed and a first round exit? Is that what we're talking about? I see little value in that. Much improved team play and defense is the goal, and only that. That's all the FO has preached all season.
Some of you are digging some deep holes in regards to Ben. Be careful.
His IQ is definitely not high. I think that's pretty obvious. Anyhow, didn't draft him because of his IQ but because we watched an athletic SG that can score. However, now that we have Gay, IT and a prospering Cousins, we don't really need that offensive punch bar a couple open three pointers that he seems to miss often (but that will improve with time).
Second, I think he could benefit from starting off the bench much like IT who garnered a lot of confidence from that role. Ben has the same work ethic like IT which will make him work even harder once benched. I think he's suffering from the pressure currently. We did throw him into the fire right away and with a guy who doesn't have an ego and lacks supreme confidence, it isn't a surprise that Ben is struggling.
I think it's pretty fair to say that we have a big 3 currently. I mean IT has been averaging 20+ points this season with good assist numbers. He's also improving his defense which is all you could ask for considering his height. I think IT's main problem is that he loses his opponent in the pick and roll too often or whenever a screen happens. He just needs to learn to stay in front of his man and that's all we really need from him. We need a strong 2 guard though on the defense. I think Ben has the potential to be a great defender considering his athleticism and work ethic but will it happen...hopefully.
Currently, we need to focus on two things: Trade thornton, landry, Jimmer, and Thompson for either a good defensive SG or PF and another useful bench scorer & to do well in the upcoming draft. That's all we can ask for. If we do these things, I don't see why we can't make the playoffs next season considering the other players (Gay/IT) stay with the team.
Would I prefer a pass first/defensive PG over IT? Yes. Will it happen? Probably not this season.
My dream: Get a star defensive/pass first guard (someone like Rubio or Rondo), Ben Mac becomes the second best scorer in the squad after Cousins, a good defensive PF from the draft and to trade for some consistency off the bench.
