Ben McLemore

[hrdboild]

He lacks the ability to create his own shot and will therefore never be a Top 2 SG in this league. He will improve, but his handles are a bit shaky and don't look natural. He will never reach Wade's, Kobe's, DeRozan's or Ginobili's ability to create of the dribble and get his shot at will. Right now he is decent at straight simple drives to the basket and spot up jumpshots. If he improves his handles, he can be a Danny Green or Wes Mathews kind of player with serious athleticism. That would make a really good player, but certainly not a Top 3 SG.
But to be honest - we dont need a SG, that can create at will, if Cousins and Gay are healthy and on the floor. Ben should compliment those 2 really well, if he reaches his full potential. I would love to see the Kings call more plays for Ben and get him to run around multiple screens. He is so fast, it would really cause difficulties for the defender, if Ben learns to use screens like Reggie Miller or Ray Allen. I think that has to be the next step in Ben's development.

I'll grant you Kobe and Wade. Those are completely different types of players. And you might as well add Harden and Evans to that list as well. But DeRozan was strictly a midrange shooter and crazy athlete when he came into the league. He's added to his game a lot since then. Ginobili is crafty with the ball but there's nothing in his skillset that Ben couldn't acquire through hard work. If you want to cap his ceiling as borderline All Star and second option on a good team, I think that's fair. But I think you're also forgetting how young Ben is. As he learns how to pick his spots and when to be aggressive, he could grow into a star scorer like DeRozan or Ginobili in a few years. He's in that class of talent I think. A lot of the criticisms people are making about Ben's game were also made about DeRozan at a similar stage in his development.

 

[King Baller]

NEVER??? Never say never You sound like you are claiming the world to be flat or something

 

[King Baller]

Ben Mc is 21.

 

[KingsFanGER]

NEVER??? Never say never You sound like you are claiming the world to be flat or something

Please just take into account, that i m not a native speaker. So sometimes my posts sound a bit harsher, than they should, cause i simply lack words in english and don't have time and energy to use a dictionary. That's mainly why i m writing here - to discuss the Kings and at the same time improve my english in a relaxed and casual way.

 

[KingsFanGER]

I'll grant you Kobe and Wade. Those are completely different types of players. And you might as well add Harden and Evans to that list as well. But DeRozan was strictly a midrange shooter and crazy athlete when he came into the league. He's added to his game a lot since then. Ginobili is crafty with the ball but there's nothing in his skillset that Ben couldn't acquire through hard work. If you want to cap his ceiling as borderline All Star and second option on a good team, I think that's fair. But I think you're also forgetting how young Ben is. As he learns how to pick his spots and when to be aggressive, he could grow into a star scorer like DeRozan or Ginobili in a few years. He's in that class of talent I think. A lot of the criticisms people are making about Ben's game were also made about DeRozan at a similar stage in his development.

We ll see, but i just doubt, that Ben can improve in a way, that he can resemble those guys, you mention. For me Ginobili is just one of the best combo-guards that I watched so far in my life. So stating that a second year player, that shows the first signs, that he can figure out a niche for himself in the league, can be as good just by simply putting in the work is somewhat a knightly accolade for Ben. For now it would be great if he keeps improving on the defensive end and learns to use screens to get open. Like you said - he is young and has quite some time, to become the prime time ballhandler and playmaker from the 2 guard position, you see in him.

 

[jdbraver]

At this point, I wouldn't trade Ben for anything. He's showing a glimpse of what's going to come. He's played excellent, even if Ben struggles, we can just bring in a back up SG. I wouldn't give up Ben in any trade. When he reaches his prime, he can be crazy good. His potential is off the charts.

People say he has the potential to be a 3&D guy, but I think that's already what he is now.

Anything? Wow. Sorry Thunder or Clev we got Ben you keep LJ and KD. Smh.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Anything? Wow. Sorry Thunder or Clev we got Ben you keep LJ and KD. Smh.

And here I thought that players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry were on the permanent 'We can't get this guy, and even suggesting a trade for him is ****ing ludicrous' list. And that we didn't have to preface our posts with a disclaimer about exceptions for each and every elite-level player in the league, and that it was therefore perfectly above board to make sweeping general "I wouldn't trade him for anybody" hyperbolic statements, because it didn't have to be spelled out for the mental midgets in the audience that we don't really mean that we wouldn't trade Ben ****ing McLemore for LeBron James.

Silly us. Our bad for not expecting the people reading to be totally stupid. Wow, indeed.

 

[lawlman91]

He lacks the ability to create his own shot and will therefore never be a Top 2 SG in this league. He will improve, but his handles are a bit shaky and don't look natural. He will never reach Wade's, Kobe's, DeRozan's or Ginobili's ability to create of the dribble and get his shot at will. Right now he is decent at straight simple drives to the basket and spot up jumpshots. If he improves his handles, he can be a Danny Green or Wes Mathews kind of player with serious athleticism. That would make a really good player, but certainly not a Top 3 SG.
But to be honest - we dont need a SG, that can create at will, if Cousins and Gay are healthy and on the floor. Ben should compliment those 2 really well, if he reaches his full potential. I would love to see the Kings call more plays for Ben and get him to run around multiple screens. He is so fast, it would really cause difficulties for the defender, if Ben learns to use screens like Reggie Miller or Ray Allen. I think that has to be the next step in Ben's development.

We certainly see him trying to self-create e.g. that vicious, maybe-a-travel, and creates-too-much-space stepback he did some games ago. If anyone can put the gif on here, I'd be happy. And agreed -- his handles aren't near the level of the combo guards. As for addressing that... I'd be happy if he improves his handles... OR... keeps his handles good, but puts more effort in improving everything else e.g. defense.

 

[hrdboild]

We ll see, but i just doubt, that Ben can improve in a way, that he can resemble those guys, you mention. For me Ginobili is just one of the best combo-guards that I watched so far in my life. So stating that a second year player, that shows the first signs, that he can figure out a niche for himself in the league, can be as good just by simply putting in the work is somewhat a knightly accolade for Ben. For now it would be great if he keeps improving on the defensive end and learns to use screens to get open. Like you said - he is young and has quite some time, to become the prime time ballhandler and playmaker from the 2 guard position, you see in him.

I'm pretty sure I just agreed that he's not going to be a prime-time ballhandler ala Kobe and Wade. Perhaps you have a much higher opinion of Ginobili and DeRozan than I do and that's where we disagree...

Ginobili is a 12 year veteran who entered the league at age 25, averaged 30+ minutes per game in only 2 seasons, and has never been asked to be more than a second option in that offense. He's unique primarily because of his intelligence and instincts, but he doesn't overwhelm you with his skills so much as slow bleed you with off-balance drives, step back jumpers, and timely passing.

DeRozan is a talented scorer with some pretty glaring limitations in his game. His career 3pt% is .267 and he didn't post a positive assist/TO ratio until his fourth season. He's also benefited from being the first option on some pretty poor teams which force-fed him the ball as early as his second season.

Ginobili made the All-Star game the first time as a 27 year old. DeRozan made it last year in his 5th season in a much weaker conference. Ben has been solid for a couple weeks, it's far too early to start throwing "best in the league" out there as part of his natural growth curve. I do, however, think a lot of people tend to conveniently forget that most of the star players in the league were not can't-miss talents right out of the blocks either.

 

[jdbraver]

And here I thought that players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry were on the permanent 'We can't get this guy, and even suggesting a trade for him is ****ing ludicrous' list. And that we didn't have to preface our posts with a disclaimer about exceptions for each and every elite-level player in the league, and that it was therefore perfectly above board to make sweeping general "I wouldn't trade him for anybody" hyperbolic statements, because it didn't have to be spelled out for the mental midgets in the audience that we don't really mean that we wouldn't trade Ben ****ing McLemore for LeBron James.

Silly us. Our bad for not expecting the people reading to be totally stupid. Wow, indeed.

I believe this post is against forum rules. But apparently you are too smart to understand forum rules. Did your momma teach you to make assumptions based on forum posts too. You certainly are good at making ASSumptions out of yourself.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I'm not the one who made any assumptions. I'll continue to leave that up to you and 'umption.'

It doesn't require making assumptions to read "I wouldn't trade Ben for anybody" and not conclude that the person saying that would actually refuse to trade McLemore for LeBron James. It only requires being able to read and understand English at a twelfth-grade level.

 

[jdbraver]

I'm not the one who made any assumptions. I'll continue to leave that up to you and 'umption.'

It doesn't require making assumptions to read "I wouldn't trade Ben for anybody" and not conclude that the person saying that would actually refuse to trade McLemore for LeBron James. It only requires being able to read and understand English at a twelfth-grade level.

yah, yah I must not be able to read. U r so witty. So glad u have such an enormous intellect to come up w that.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

There you go making assumptions again; it doesn't require 'enormous intellect'. If you read the sentence "I wouldn't trade Ben McLemore for anybody", and you actually have the thought go through your head, "Really? Not even LeBron?", then you're having difficulty keeping up with the conversation. It's not that the party who understands that is really smart, it's that the party who doesn't understand is really... not.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

Hes coldblooded when hes shooting... He dosent seem get fazed if he misses shots, he could miss 5 in a row then drain 5 right after that. I love that about him.
His overall play has dramatically improved this year.. His movements are fluid within the offense, his defense is better and hes taking high percentage shots.
Its rare too see a sophmore find his Niche so quickly with a team like Ben has, he seems too know exactly what his role is.

 

[VF21]

yah, yah I must not be able to read. U r so witty. So glad u have such an enormous intellect to come up w that.

I know you think you're being incredibly clever, but all you're doing is derailing a topic because you made a dumb sarcastic response to someone and, while you can dish it, you obviously can't take it. None of this would have happened had you not felt the need to make a sarcastic smugly superior comment to 206fan.

I'll be blunt. You're being a jerk. You need to take it down a notch and quit with the obvious baiting.

 

[jdbraver]

I know you think you're being incredibly clever, but all you're doing is derailing a topic because you made a dumb sarcastic response to someone and, while you can dish it, you obviously can't take it. None of this would have happened had you not felt the need to make a sarcastic smugly superior comment to 206fan.

I'll be blunt. You're being a jerk. You need to take it down a notch and quit with the obvious baiting.

I believe they threw the first stone please go re-read. Then again you seem to be related to that jury from Ferguson.

 

[jdbraver]

My first post was not smug. I wanted to test his definition of anyone. Which was a legitimate question. Dude calls me stupid after that and it's ok? Reeks of priviledge for some members.

 

[VF21]

I believe they threw the first stone please go re-read. Then again you seem to be related to that guy from Ferguson.

Excuse me? You might want to seriously reconsider opening that particular can.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I believe they threw the first stone please go re-read.

'First' stone? You may not be clear on how chronology works.

 

[John Galt]

He's coldblooded when he's shooting... He doesn't seem to get fazed if he misses shots, he could miss 5 in a row then drain 5 right after that. I love that about him.

lol reminds me of a quote from Vernon Maxwell, during Jason Williams' first year (maybe sophomore year) about this same dynamic:

"yeah, JDubb ain't got no conscience".

Maybe BMac ain't got no conscience neither

 

[Livinthedream]

I have no idea how this got to Ferguson, but I'm going to make a bag of popcorn. This is getting good.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

[Modding]

Anybody hoping that jdbraver's comment is going to lead to a Ferguson hijack is going to be disappointed.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

MOD NOTE: Thread has been re-opened with a warning to get back to the subject of Ben McLemore, and a reminder that this is not a political forum: sidetracks to discussion of Ferguson or any other political or otherwise incendiary topics will not be permitted.

 

[Kingston Jamaica]

Hes coldblooded when hes shooting... He dosent seem get fazed if he misses shots, he could miss 5 in a row then drain 5 right after that. I love that about him.
His overall play has dramatically improved this year.. His movements are fluid within the offense, his defense is better and hes taking high percentage shots.
Its rare too see a sophmore find his Niche so quickly with a team like Ben has, he seems too know exactly what his role is.

I would give the credit on this to Mike Malone. When you have a shooter, you got to give him the green light to shoot. A 30% 3-point shooter is not going to hit every 3rd shot. He'll make 3 of 10 or 6 from 20, but not in any particular order (theoretically miss the first 14 and hit the next 6). In other words, it's not about if he takes those shots, it's about when he takes those shots. The team should be looking for BenMc for open 3-pointers when the clock winds down instead of banging themselves on bigger players under the rim. An open 3-point attempt by BenMc is way better than a desperation TO.

 

[jdbraver]

MOD NOTE: Thread has been re-opened with a warning to get back to the subject of Ben McLemore, and a reminder that this is not a political forum: sidetracks to discussion of Ferguson or any other political or otherwise incendiary topics will not be permitted.

Warnings mean nothing. Haven't we learned that. Authority figures create false guidelines. Funny how a mod kept up the attacks in his last post. Yet nothing was done to him.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

This discussion can clearly not return to the subject of Ben McLemore.

Thread closed.