I Now Know Who Donte Greene Reminds Me Of...

[bajaden]

You want us to go to the extremes of being a homer? I will go to the max. IMO, Donte Greene might very well end up the Scottie Pippen of Michael Jordan. Of course, with that I mean our phenom kid Evans might very well turn out to be our Jordan.

As to Greene's perceived showboating, let the kid have some fun and don't kill that enthusiasm in his game. I hate it when the coach put's off a player's passion on his game when clearly it is not detrimental to winning. BTW, that also applies when a player wants to get a triple-double. IMO, Evans should have been allowed and encouraged to get that triple-double last game. They need those kind of accomplishments/experiences tucked on their belt. It inspires them more. Why stop them from having it?

Let me play devils advocate for a moment. In regards to Tyreke, and why not just let him stay in there and get the triple double? How about credibility. The difference between getting a triple double in the heat of a highly contested game or getting one in garbage time. Yeah, I know, they both look the same on paper. But one has more value.

Where Donte's concerned, I have no problem with him doing a little celebration after a good play. I do have a problem when he steps outside of the team concept. And I have no problem when he gets jerked from the game for doing so. The only way you learn from your mistakes is when they have consequence. He's made great improvements this season. And I think he finally has the proper attitude. If all these young players can continue on this road and manage to start peaking at the same time, its going to be a fun ride.

 

[FaStRmAn]

Donte's #'s this year, his first REAL year in the league, have been very similar to Granger's first year in the league. And the fact that Donte has the potential to give you 1 trey 1 steal and 1 block a game puts him in very rare territory. The thing about it is that Granger's first year in the league was at the same age Donte is now. He averaged more rebs, less points, and about the same blocks/steals/treys. Here, you decide:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4490/career;_ylt=AuETAagR5m2sraGQCWzvEiPnPaB4


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3943/career;_ylt=AuETAagR5m2sraGQCWzvEiMmPaB4

Yes, in the very first year there is a similarity. Granger had more reb's which is significant. But DG's numbers will have to increase exponentially from here on to match Granger. I totally think he is capable, but he needs to get serious and put away all the chest thumping and get to work if he wants to see the same improvement as Granger from here on out.

Also, have you noticed that Greene has great leaping ability when jumping with two legs but when he is dribbling and jumps off one leg he isn't as explosive? I wonder why that is? Afraid to injure a knee?? Just something odd i noticed and Jerry Renolds brought up on tv side.

 

[bajaden]

I like Donte Green, alot. I see loads more potential in him than say that of Hawes or Thompson.

Westphal has mentioned that he has responded well to coaching advice about being less flashy and having better shot selection. I think he should get more minutes and a good amount of the coaches time to develop him closer to his potential.

Poor Thompson - some people are just born smarter than others

First off, Thompson isn't poor. I suspect he has more money in the bank than either of us. Secondly he has a legitimate college degree. So be careful he just might be smarter than you are. Thirdly, if you want to criticize his game, I'm fine with that. But when you start calling players or people on this fourm stupid, you lose me pal.

 

[DocHolliday]

By the time Evans gets his jump shot on lock down... Greene, if he continues his steady improvement could be an all-star level player. He's so gifted, and has all the tools... It's just a matter of keeping his head together.

Man he is a serious x factor in this rebuild...

Then Donte better get it together by next season, because Tyreke might not have his jumpshot on "lock" by then, but his work ethic I guarantee it's fairly reliable by next season. His jumper is already starting to look better.

It's been noted by coaches that he's shooting much better in practice already, but in game situations he forgets his form and reverts back to falling backwards with his hands to far over, or behidn his head (can't remmeber which one).

So he's getting the form already, he just needs to have it be automatic where hs' not reverting.


Back to Donte...

The showboating that has been brought up is an issue. And someone said Lebron beats his chest.....yeah he does...but you know what Lebron doesn't do.....He doesn't make a good play or two, then get really high on himself in the moment...and try to force a shot, or play that turns out horribly.

Donte just gets ahead of himself. He has arrogant tendencies, and he goes from stable player to I'm the greatest in a few seconds flat.

He makes a couple great plays, so he now thinks he's Superman, and tries to create a shot that would look spectacular on the highlight real. That's called show boating. You take the shot that is there, and if you can make it pretty, because you are THAT good...every now and then that's fine. But when you clearly aren't THAT good.....you keep the ball where it's supposed to be and INSURE it gets IN the hole.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

This really isn't that far-fetched of a comparison. Granger came into the league relatively old (as a senior), and Greene's still only 22, and their stats are comparable. Greene made a huge leap in his 2nd year, and if he makes a comparable leap (and he should) the comparison would bear fruit. I hope Greene develops more as a defensive type guy though, because I do have some reservations offensively. But we'll see.

 

[bajaden]

Then Donte better get it together by next season, because Tyreke might not have his jumpshot on "lock" by then, but his work ethic I guarantee it's fairly reliable by next season. His jumper is already starting to look better.

It's been noted by coaches that he's shooting much better in practice already, but in game situations he forgets his form and reverts back to falling backwards with his hands to far over, or behidn his head (can't remmeber which one).

So he's getting the form already, he just needs to have it be automatic where hs' not reverting.


Back to Donte...

The showboating that has been brought up is an issue. And someone said Lebron beats his chest.....yeah he does...but you know what Lebron doesn't do.....He doesn't make a good play or two, then get really high on himself in the moment...and try to force a shot, or play that turns out horribly.

Donte just gets ahead of himself. He has arrogant tendencies, and he goes from stable player to I'm the greatest in a few seconds flat.

He makes a couple great plays, so he now thinks he's Superman, and tries to create a shot that would look spectacular on the highlight real. That's called show boating. You take the shot that is there, and if you can make it pretty, because you are THAT good...every now and then that's fine. But when you clearly aren't THAT good.....you keep the ball where it's supposed to be and INSURE it gets IN the hole.

I don't disagree with your analogy. I just don't think I'd call it arrogance. False confidence perhaps or over confidence at best. I do think that there are times where the logical part of his brain gets overwhelmed by the adrenaline. All part of the learning process.

One of the things that stood out to me when I watched Tyreke play at Memphis was how outwardly unaffected he seemed to be by the outcome of plays on the court.