Bust is a strong word. But certainly below average NBA calibre at the moment. It's night and day even just seeing how James Anderson plays compared to Ben. I'm wondering whether it would be better if he were to put on a bit more size given what we're asking him to do. He doesn't need as much quickness to be a 3&D guy, and he seems to be outmuscled by bigger guards.
Beat LA!!!
- Thread starter NewArena
- Start date
Bust is a strong word. But certainly below average NBA calibre at the moment. It's night and day even just seeing how James Anderson plays compared to Ben. I'm wondering whether it would be better if he were to put on a bit more size given what we're asking him to do. He doesn't need as much quickness to be a 3&D guy, and he seems to be outmuscled by bigger guards.
I don't even mind the suggestion that McLemore might be a bust. He might be, and he might not be. Even if he's not a bust, he might not work out in Sacramento. Wouldn't be the first time somebody left here, and got good.
I take much more exception to the implication that McLemore might be too stupid to play NBA basketball.
Let's not kid ourselves; Anderson is eating his soup with a fork, right now. Not only does he have three years more experience than McLemore, but he's also been cut five times (twice by the Spurs, once each by the Hawks, Rockets and 76ers), and he spent last year playing in Lithuania. He knows full well that, if it doesn't work out for him in Sacramento, he might not get another shot at the NBA. He's hungry, and he's desperate, and he knows that this is his last shot at guaranteed NBA money. I'd be more astonished if he weren't playing harder/with more energy than McLemore.
I think it'd be a mistake to get rid of McLemore at this point but, by all means, keep Anderson as "bust insurance."
McLemore isn't and won't be a bust. 2o13 was a weak draft. The other guards around him in Caldwell-Pope, McCollum and Burke haven't done much to this point either. At least McLemore has shown improvement from year 1 to year 2. Lets see him make the same improvement this year and we should have a serviceable player on our hands. At worst he will come off the bench for someone. There's far worse players sitting at the end of benches that are a lot older than McLemore.
Anderson has looked solid. Good defensive effort, shooting has been good, swings the ball around and has a little play making ability. Doesn't try and do too much and doesn't seem to force anything. Then again, there's a reason his career has gone the way it has. I thought James Johnson looked great during preseason with us too. I remember him looking good on offense and him and TRob had some game going where JJ was dishing him nice assists and getting him easy looks. Then the regular season started and we all know what happened after that.
Anderson has looked solid. Good defensive effort, shooting has been good, swings the ball around and has a little play making ability. Doesn't try and do too much and doesn't seem to force anything. Then again, there's a reason his career has gone the way it has. I thought James Johnson looked great during preseason with us too. I remember him looking good on offense and him and TRob had some game going where JJ was dishing him nice assists and getting him easy looks. Then the regular season started and we all know what happened after that.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
It's probably too early to write McLemore off as a bust. But he does have to start showing improvement. Much was made of his great start last season, and the hard work he had put in during the offseason. But it all went poof a third of the way into the season. Yes, I'm sure Malone's firing affected him, but, at some point he should have recovered and bounced back. He's loaded with potential, which means absolutely nothing if you can't put it to use. I might add, that this is nothing new for McLemore. Too many times he disappeared in games at Kansas. I thought then that he didn't seem to have an aggressive nature. But I wrote it off to being a late comer to the game.
Ben needs someone to light a fire under his butt. He's one of those guys that appears to be playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. There is a difference. I still hold out hope for him, but the time is now. Lets hope we didn't trade the wrong SG to Philly.
Ben needs someone to light a fire under his butt. He's one of those guys that appears to be playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. There is a difference. I still hold out hope for him, but the time is now. Lets hope we didn't trade the wrong SG to Philly.
KingsFanGER
Starter
Ben was a bit more active tonight. He attacked Young quite a bit and got to the line. If he makes his Ft's I would say that he had a solid game.
And it's so beautiful to finally watch good team defense - blitzing guards, icing pick&rolls, 48 minutes of good interior defense. Im loving it.
And it's so beautiful to finally watch good team defense - blitzing guards, icing pick&rolls, 48 minutes of good interior defense. Im loving it.
K
KingMilz
Guest
#That was the best I have ever seen Moreland play and he has completely blown out Acy for that 4th big spot based on the mins the two have played so far this preseason
#Koufus is a beast such a elite defender
#WCS was solid
#Anderson actually played well
#Rondo getting better every single game was terrific
#Everyone aside from Ben played well
I love the fact we currently have 3 bigs on the roster who actually are very good at rolling (Cuz does not really like to roll) to the rim in WCS/Moreland and Kosta (easily the best one at it on the team). I would actually love to structure our mins so Rondo plays more with Kosta (with WCS starting)cause imo he is the best roller on the team and Rondo last year when I watched actually made one of the Zeller scrubs look amazing in the pick and roll.
It got so frustrating for years watching the likes of JT/Landry/Reggie among many other Kings big''s not have any idea how to create a easy to points for themselves where a PG could just throw them a dime, honestly Derrick Williams out of all people was probably the best at rolling to the rim out of any of our players for the last two seasons and that's embarrassing.
#Koufus is a beast such a elite defender
#WCS was solid
#Anderson actually played well
#Rondo getting better every single game was terrific
#Everyone aside from Ben played well
I love the fact we currently have 3 bigs on the roster who actually are very good at rolling (Cuz does not really like to roll) to the rim in WCS/Moreland and Kosta (easily the best one at it on the team). I would actually love to structure our mins so Rondo plays more with Kosta (with WCS starting)cause imo he is the best roller on the team and Rondo last year when I watched actually made one of the Zeller scrubs look amazing in the pick and roll.
It got so frustrating for years watching the likes of JT/Landry/Reggie among many other Kings big''s not have any idea how to create a easy to points for themselves where a PG could just throw them a dime, honestly Derrick Williams out of all people was probably the best at rolling to the rim out of any of our players for the last two seasons and that's embarrassing.
K
KingMilz
Guest
At this point all I want to see from Ben is him hustling, I don't understand when your a role player why you would not hustle even Bellenli plays with more energy than Ben. Ben is one of the few players we have that is athletic enough to the point where all he has to do to have any impact on a game is hustle, dude should learn from WCS.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
That assumes McLemore is at least as smart as rookie WCS in knowing what he should do to have an impact - NOT!
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
I find the notion that Ben somehow went from young project guy to one step removed from being unable to distinguish his butt from a hole in the ground over the span of a week of preseason basketball highly suspect at best.
jcwkings
All-Star
Ben looked like crud at the beginning of last season as well, then almost like a light bulb going off he played well for a pretty long stretch there. Question is this season will be his minutes. Bellinelli and Anderson have both looked better and we are seeing Rondo/Collison more and more lately too.
About that great start, we remember that he averaged 5 points on 31 percent shooting, through the first five games of last season, right?
Livinthedream
All-Star
Preseason basketball is for coaches to experiment, vets to shake off rust and into real gamespeed and for fring players to try to show they have something.
How are we declaring busts, starters and best free agent signings ever based on the fact that we are watching "practice"?
Let's see how the regular season goes when we're not resting starters every game and mixing and matching lineups just to see what happens.
How are we declaring busts, starters and best free agent signings ever based on the fact that we are watching "practice"?
Let's see how the regular season goes when we're not resting starters every game and mixing and matching lineups just to see what happens.
FaStRmAn
Starter
It is hard to kick a team when they are down.... unless its the Fakers.... then KICK AWAY !!!
FaStRmAn
Starter
yes.. Its on Sportsnet LA
Chubbs
Starter
I recall reading how we overpaid for both.
FaStRmAn
Starter
Ive always heard that it takes 3 full seasons to accurately assess a player. Ben is not a bust yet. He has shown progress albeit excruciatingly SLOW progress. Fans have no patience when it comes to player improvement. They think that just because someone is drafted high in the NBA that somehow they should be an immediate impact player or they are a bust. Well more often then not, they have a slow ascension to NBA caliber. Playing time in real games is the only training regime for an NBA player. No amount of working out or practicing or scrimmaging will train a young NBA player in how to be an NBA caliber player. Players gotta play.
I feel like this is Ben's year to shine. They say he is lights out in practice shooting the ball. That needs to translate into regular season games. He has shown flashes of brilliance. He needs to turn that into consistent production. He has all the tools. He needs to use those tools to build his career.
King Baller
All-Star
Some folks need to take a step back from the edge. One person says Cousins shoot too many 3's and it is like watching sharks swarm after chum
If I am to believe some of the posters Ben McLemore should just turn in his sneakers. The reality is that Ben is a hard working professional athlete in the most competitive league in the world.
Ben is 22 years old!!!!! What were you doing at 22?
If I am to believe some of the posters Ben McLemore should just turn in his sneakers. The reality is that Ben is a hard working professional athlete in the most competitive league in the world.
Ben is 22 years old!!!!! What were you doing at 22?
If Bellinelli and Anderson are playing better than Ben then they should get the minutes. It's not rocket science. Ben started out in his first season being a big negative on the team play. The only good thing was he didn't touch or shoot the ball much. Last year he was a little better but poor. Again, he didn't shoot or touch the ball much which s to his credit. Let him earn his playing time from scratch. Meantime our other two SGs are making contributions. Play them.
Livinthedream
All-Star
James Anderson is becoming legendary.
Yes. Outside of the lakers game, he was contributing nothing on offense, but it was apparently WAY better than Ben.
J
jdbraver
Guest
Pretty sure you are the one being over sensitive for me it's simple...if he is the better player he should get the minutes regardless of age.Some folks need to take a step back from the edge. One person says Cousins shoot too many 3's and it is like watching sharks swarm after chum
If I am to believe some of the posters Ben McLemore should just turn in his sneakers. The reality is that Ben is a hard working professional athlete in the most competitive league in the world.
Ben is 22 years old!!!!! What were you doing at 22?
Really? You haven't heard that one week of preseason ball at age 22 determines exactly who you will be as an NBA player?
Livinthedream
All-Star
That's fine, but the bigger problem is the rationale being used to prove who the better player is.
l have a hard time when cold hard facts/stats are ignored and the argument centers around perceived intelligence and mental weakness. When we drafted a player who was lauded for his bbiq and swagger, he crumbled under the pressure. Many gave him the benefit of the doubt and cried that he should get MORE playing time.
Now we get this Anderson guy who is a stretch to call a journeyman and has done absolutely nothing in his career and he's all of a sudden worthy to be a starter on our playoff hopeful team. I cry foul.
You would rather start a product whose worth is proven like Ben? Anderson is already better than Ben was in year one, year two and now this year. I'm not betting against Ben being a great player, I' m saying he isn't a great player. Coach will d what is best for the team and that should quiet me and the rest of the crowd.
gunks
Hall of Famer
Ben quietly had a decent game.
Maybe he just needs to build some momentum.
I think it's way too early to give up on him entirely, but a reduced role might be beneficial to him, and the team.
I can just as easily see Ben reclaiming a starting role down the line as I can see him losing it in the first place. Kid just needs to find his groove.
Maybe he just needs to build some momentum.
I think it's way too early to give up on him entirely, but a reduced role might be beneficial to him, and the team.
I can just as easily see Ben reclaiming a starting role down the line as I can see him losing it in the first place. Kid just needs to find his groove.
Similar threads
