The steady ascension of Clint Capella has been spectacular. Here’s a guy who outplayed KAT in the first round and Rudy Gobert in the 2nd, two of the best centers in the league.
While the takeover ability of CP3 and Harden will foretell a lot, the play of Capella in WCF may be the most prominent variable to prevent the Dubs from another title.
He has to switch out, hassle, disrupt and play the best ball of his career if the Rockets are going to shock the world.
Regardless Capella is going to get a max deal this summer. He deserves it.
Capella is prideful in his defense. He’s tough. He’s smart. He’s quick off his feet. He wags his finger no, no no!
He does not bite on weak fakes. He does not get wobbly when balance and sturdiness is demanded. He does not try to do things on O of which he is incapable. He blocks hands with either hand, whichever mitt is closest to the shot release.
I am belaboring the list of virtues Capella possesses because Willie is more or less the opposite.
Willie is effectively the anti-Capella.
Unless you listen to Vlade tell the (tall) tale, that is, “Willie can be elite”.
The only thing elite about Willie is his tattoo collection.
The only thing he shares in common with Capella is lob finishing ability.
Meanwhile we have a potentially equally or better lob finisher rehabbing in the wings.
His name is Harry Giles.
Don’t look now but a lot of young bigs around the league are making a name for themselves. Willie is getting bypassed by guys younger and less experienced but more promise.
See Jarett Allen with Nets, John Collins with Hawks, Jakob Poetl with Raps, Montrezl Harell with Clips, Bam Adabayo and Kelly Olenyak with the Heat, among others.
Then there’s DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Mo Bamba chomping at the bit.
There has been a quiet renaissance at the center spot in the NBA projected to continue with new infusion of coordinated high risers.
Amidst these challenges getting outplayed is going to happen. But too many nights, Willie looks outclassed and overmatched.
Steven Adams bullies him. KAT destroys him. Nikola Jokic dances on his head. Clint treats him like his kid brother.
The court attendant has to wipe the puddle of drool at the feet of Anthony Davis when he sees Willie coming.
That’s five West opponents right there in a conference in which only eight qualify for the post-season, and I didn’t even mention Aldridge, Gasol, rehabbing Boogie, DeAndre Jordan or the 2018 rookie bigs whom are unlikely to go to the Kings.
Barring something significant, this means the Kings have to be that much better at other positions to compensate for Willie trying moves he has no business trying, boxing out porously and reacting hesitantly to challenge shots.
Its sobering reality and correlated to a team that finished with the second worst point differential in the NBA.
A big that cannot defend without fouling excessively and create reticence and second guessing on behalf of the opponent is a hole in the defensive wall. Any coach worth his salt will exploit this hole.
Skal and Z-Bud have these same issues as Wille, to be sure, but this was sort of known going in.
Being young and inexperienced does not mean inevitable struggle.
I would rank JaVarr Sampson and Nigel Hayes for example as smarter and better defenders in pick and roll and on perimeter than Willie. Both have an intuitive sense of where to be and have barely played in the league.
If we have bear witness to anything this postseason, is when you cannot switch defensively, you will be exposed. You can hide for a while but eventually you are going to get shook and dusted.
Some bigs relish the little things, setting picks and sacrificing their body.
Willie ain’t having any of that nonsense.
Can you infuse a players psyche with will and spirit and dirty work gusto?
I think you have it or you don’t.
You hold your ground or cede it.
You take the charge to the chest or you turn your shoulders.
You bring the intensity or play it cool.
You talk constructively on the court....or you flap your gums on Instagram.
You assume an alpha leadership role or play the beta.
You are either susceptible to the occasion technical foul or you would rather not dare to offend.
If you have never lost control of your emotions because you want it so bad, perhaps you don’t want it bad enough.
It is problematic too when you are incapable of setting a decent pick.
We want our guards to shine like crazy diamonds not be less than they can be because the pick setter is timid and disinterested.
Harry Giles is allegedly the teams best pick setter.
You need only to look to guys like Westbrook (with Adams), Donovan (with Favors), Paul (with Capella), Rozier (with Baines) as guys who come closer to their potential with an effective pick setter accentuating their talents.
Boggy spent much of last season making Willie look good, serving dimes on a platter for forceful flush.
Willie rarely reciprocated with a well-timed and well-angled bone crusher.
The multi-skilled and multi-positional player we thought we were getting from Kentucky was a lie.
The Kings need a young center amidst the stiff competition and the aforementioned resurgence.
Maybe that guy is Skal with 15 to 20 pounds of off-season muscle. Maybe that is Harry Giles with sound knees and seasoning. Maybe that guy is Mo Bamba if he falls or we jump up. It is not Willie.
It is better to make room for his replacement NOW than entertain false hope.
There’s a conventional sentiment you should not give up prematurely on centers or PGs. There’s also the defense that Willie did not play a ton of minutes before Boogie was traded, and relative to the reps he has been given, there has been some growth.
We only need to look to Capella however as an example of a player who has made incremental strides - with conditioning, strength and timing.
Never has there been prolonged fundamental lapses or neon warning signs.
Players who become really good rarely generate genuine cause for genuine alarm.
Has Willie gotten better as a former 22 year old rookie?
He has regressed defensively. His rebounding numbers are conspicuously modest.
His offense production increased but only because he fancies himself a modern day Hakeem Olajuwon.
Dream had footwork and touch and uncanny timing. He played off instinct and passion.
Willie plays more on premeditation and cool.
Willie shows nice passing instincts but this does not compensate for the fundamental flaws.
Has there been a player who falls down more than Willie while trying to make his scoring moves?
I think he sets a record for falls to his butt per FGA. This does not inspire confidence or points.
Body balance is a prerequisite to play the game at a high level.
Willie’s high center of gravity and flailing limbs relative to the opponent does not serve him well.
Underperformance may be matter of his biomechanics as much as what is between the ears.
There’s a scenario in which our front line is upgraded which limits Willies touches to lob dunks, spot shots and the occasional straight line drive.
Combined with a summer of beast mode in the gym to strengthen his lower half and core and improve his balance, there’s potentially something salvageable ahead of RFA status in 2019.
Could Willie develop as a consistent plus rebounder, a defensive hawk, a brutal pick setter and opportunistic scorer?
All signs are counter indicative.
This is like expecting Frank Mason to become a low post scorer with an unstoppable sky hook.
The more you have to squint to envision a player develop and thrive in an optimal role the more you are probably better opening your eyes and casting them elsewhere for the solution.
I would like to proven wrong with regard to Willie. I said the same thing with regards to Ben and we know how that turned out.
This is not an argument but their respective play has been disconcertingly similar.
In each case it is difficult to discern where tangible progress occurred.
There’s a time to be patient and a time to cut your losses.
Lob finishers are nice undoubtedly to have. Just ask Boggy.
But Harry Giles can catch and flush too.
Willie mostly watched for two years thinking if he was given the chance that Boogie was given, he could be as good or better.
I saw Boogie play every game of his career as a King. A new level of appreciation has manifest in his absence.
As frustrating as he could be, with regards to temper, sporadic defensive effort and indiscriminate shot selection, I would rather watch Boogie play any day of the week than endure another season of Willie pretend to be something he’s not.
Out with the old.
In with the new.
Out with the harrowing.
In with the Harry.
- Blob
While the takeover ability of CP3 and Harden will foretell a lot, the play of Capella in WCF may be the most prominent variable to prevent the Dubs from another title.
He has to switch out, hassle, disrupt and play the best ball of his career if the Rockets are going to shock the world.
Regardless Capella is going to get a max deal this summer. He deserves it.
Capella is prideful in his defense. He’s tough. He’s smart. He’s quick off his feet. He wags his finger no, no no!
He does not bite on weak fakes. He does not get wobbly when balance and sturdiness is demanded. He does not try to do things on O of which he is incapable. He blocks hands with either hand, whichever mitt is closest to the shot release.
I am belaboring the list of virtues Capella possesses because Willie is more or less the opposite.
Willie is effectively the anti-Capella.
Unless you listen to Vlade tell the (tall) tale, that is, “Willie can be elite”.
The only thing elite about Willie is his tattoo collection.
The only thing he shares in common with Capella is lob finishing ability.
Meanwhile we have a potentially equally or better lob finisher rehabbing in the wings.
His name is Harry Giles.
Don’t look now but a lot of young bigs around the league are making a name for themselves. Willie is getting bypassed by guys younger and less experienced but more promise.
See Jarett Allen with Nets, John Collins with Hawks, Jakob Poetl with Raps, Montrezl Harell with Clips, Bam Adabayo and Kelly Olenyak with the Heat, among others.
Then there’s DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Mo Bamba chomping at the bit.
There has been a quiet renaissance at the center spot in the NBA projected to continue with new infusion of coordinated high risers.
Amidst these challenges getting outplayed is going to happen. But too many nights, Willie looks outclassed and overmatched.
Steven Adams bullies him. KAT destroys him. Nikola Jokic dances on his head. Clint treats him like his kid brother.
The court attendant has to wipe the puddle of drool at the feet of Anthony Davis when he sees Willie coming.
That’s five West opponents right there in a conference in which only eight qualify for the post-season, and I didn’t even mention Aldridge, Gasol, rehabbing Boogie, DeAndre Jordan or the 2018 rookie bigs whom are unlikely to go to the Kings.
Barring something significant, this means the Kings have to be that much better at other positions to compensate for Willie trying moves he has no business trying, boxing out porously and reacting hesitantly to challenge shots.
Its sobering reality and correlated to a team that finished with the second worst point differential in the NBA.
A big that cannot defend without fouling excessively and create reticence and second guessing on behalf of the opponent is a hole in the defensive wall. Any coach worth his salt will exploit this hole.
Skal and Z-Bud have these same issues as Wille, to be sure, but this was sort of known going in.
Being young and inexperienced does not mean inevitable struggle.
I would rank JaVarr Sampson and Nigel Hayes for example as smarter and better defenders in pick and roll and on perimeter than Willie. Both have an intuitive sense of where to be and have barely played in the league.
If we have bear witness to anything this postseason, is when you cannot switch defensively, you will be exposed. You can hide for a while but eventually you are going to get shook and dusted.
Some bigs relish the little things, setting picks and sacrificing their body.
Willie ain’t having any of that nonsense.
Can you infuse a players psyche with will and spirit and dirty work gusto?
I think you have it or you don’t.
You hold your ground or cede it.
You take the charge to the chest or you turn your shoulders.
You bring the intensity or play it cool.
You talk constructively on the court....or you flap your gums on Instagram.
You assume an alpha leadership role or play the beta.
You are either susceptible to the occasion technical foul or you would rather not dare to offend.
If you have never lost control of your emotions because you want it so bad, perhaps you don’t want it bad enough.
It is problematic too when you are incapable of setting a decent pick.
We want our guards to shine like crazy diamonds not be less than they can be because the pick setter is timid and disinterested.
Harry Giles is allegedly the teams best pick setter.
You need only to look to guys like Westbrook (with Adams), Donovan (with Favors), Paul (with Capella), Rozier (with Baines) as guys who come closer to their potential with an effective pick setter accentuating their talents.
Boggy spent much of last season making Willie look good, serving dimes on a platter for forceful flush.
Willie rarely reciprocated with a well-timed and well-angled bone crusher.
The multi-skilled and multi-positional player we thought we were getting from Kentucky was a lie.
The Kings need a young center amidst the stiff competition and the aforementioned resurgence.
Maybe that guy is Skal with 15 to 20 pounds of off-season muscle. Maybe that is Harry Giles with sound knees and seasoning. Maybe that guy is Mo Bamba if he falls or we jump up. It is not Willie.
It is better to make room for his replacement NOW than entertain false hope.
There’s a conventional sentiment you should not give up prematurely on centers or PGs. There’s also the defense that Willie did not play a ton of minutes before Boogie was traded, and relative to the reps he has been given, there has been some growth.
We only need to look to Capella however as an example of a player who has made incremental strides - with conditioning, strength and timing.
Never has there been prolonged fundamental lapses or neon warning signs.
Players who become really good rarely generate genuine cause for genuine alarm.
Has Willie gotten better as a former 22 year old rookie?
He has regressed defensively. His rebounding numbers are conspicuously modest.
His offense production increased but only because he fancies himself a modern day Hakeem Olajuwon.
Dream had footwork and touch and uncanny timing. He played off instinct and passion.
Willie plays more on premeditation and cool.
Willie shows nice passing instincts but this does not compensate for the fundamental flaws.
Has there been a player who falls down more than Willie while trying to make his scoring moves?
I think he sets a record for falls to his butt per FGA. This does not inspire confidence or points.
Body balance is a prerequisite to play the game at a high level.
Willie’s high center of gravity and flailing limbs relative to the opponent does not serve him well.
Underperformance may be matter of his biomechanics as much as what is between the ears.
There’s a scenario in which our front line is upgraded which limits Willies touches to lob dunks, spot shots and the occasional straight line drive.
Combined with a summer of beast mode in the gym to strengthen his lower half and core and improve his balance, there’s potentially something salvageable ahead of RFA status in 2019.
Could Willie develop as a consistent plus rebounder, a defensive hawk, a brutal pick setter and opportunistic scorer?
All signs are counter indicative.
This is like expecting Frank Mason to become a low post scorer with an unstoppable sky hook.
The more you have to squint to envision a player develop and thrive in an optimal role the more you are probably better opening your eyes and casting them elsewhere for the solution.
I would like to proven wrong with regard to Willie. I said the same thing with regards to Ben and we know how that turned out.
This is not an argument but their respective play has been disconcertingly similar.
In each case it is difficult to discern where tangible progress occurred.
There’s a time to be patient and a time to cut your losses.
Lob finishers are nice undoubtedly to have. Just ask Boggy.
But Harry Giles can catch and flush too.
Willie mostly watched for two years thinking if he was given the chance that Boogie was given, he could be as good or better.
I saw Boogie play every game of his career as a King. A new level of appreciation has manifest in his absence.
As frustrating as he could be, with regards to temper, sporadic defensive effort and indiscriminate shot selection, I would rather watch Boogie play any day of the week than endure another season of Willie pretend to be something he’s not.
Out with the old.
In with the new.
Out with the harrowing.
In with the Harry.
- Blob
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