What Happened to All The Jermaine doubters?

[Dante]

Where are the JO doubters, you ask? We are all here, alive and kicking - waiting for JO to become unglued physically at any moment. It will happen, sooner than later, so......history will repeat itself. No problem - us doubters are used to it. No brainer. We wont lose any sleep over it.

[Jon]

However, it's equally silly to say that he's done.  Clearly if he did it last night, he can still do it again. 

would u like to make a friendly wage of 10 tps on this?  we can review at the end of the season.  i am fully prepared to eat crow and admit im wrong, if indeed i am wrong.  but i am confident he will do one of three things......

1. suck
2. get hurt
3. both


* i hope i am wrong and he can play sufficiently bc it will only help the team.

Well, I'm not really sure what criteria we're talking about.  In my original post, I specifically said that it's equally silly to think that JO is gonna be a star or that he's going to suck, so I'm certainly not ready to come out and say that he's going to be a star. 

But I'd be interested in the wager; however, I'd like you to be more specific about sucking and getting hurt. 

But to let you know ahead of time, all I've ever claimed is that when healthy, Jermaine has the ability to be the most well-rounded center of the Big Three Era.  I think he can defend as well as Perk (though in different ways), I think he has a lot more offense than Perk, and while he isn't Shaq offensively, he can hit a free throw, something neither Perk nor Shaq could do, and something that often forced Doc to go small at the end of games. 

So yeah, we can talk, but I'm not exactly sure how we're going to quantify any of this.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think not sucking means that JO plays realtively injury-free, averages 20-25 MPG and puts up numbers around 10 and 6.

Defensively is harder to measure objectively, I would say 1+ BS per game and not getting into early foul trouble are 2 objective measures I would use for not sucking on D.  The 'eye test' should say he is holding his own defensively against most opponents and consistently rotating to help in the lane would be nice.

It's not much a bold prediction to expect that JO will sustain a season impacting injury.  He's been prone to such for a few years and he isn't looking like a guy who is aging particularly well.  To be honest, I think that no one can say 'I told you so' if he is injured. EVERYONE worries that he will be injured.  

[Redz]

Did they go the same place as the Stiemsma Hall of Fame committee?

[Greenbean]

Thrilled to see JO have a good game (especially since I was in attendance!).

It is painfully obvious how good this team can be with a solid defensive presence at center.

That is why it is frustrating to realize the one guy on the roster who can provide that presence is extremely fragile.

I was extremely dissapointed to see that JO had not lost any upper body weight this offseason, but rather put some on!

It isnt fat either, this guy has been bulking up for years now and it seems to lead to more and more injuries to his toothpick legs.



Ig JO makes it thru 50+ regular season games and is healthy for the playoffs, I will be ecstatic.

I just dont expect it...and this is coming from a guy who was convinced Shaq was healthy last year for the playoff run. Usually I am very positive when it comes to these things but the guy has a pretty significant track record and it isnt a good one.


His last year in Miami was one of his healthiest in his previous 7 (most games played in 7 years, look it up), and he was hurt in the playoffs!...Danny was fooled. I refuse to be...

[cman88]

if he can give us the production offensively like he did tonight I would be happy with that. 8-10ppg

[SHAQATTACK]

How long he makes it may depend and Doc and the younger fellows stepping up and resting him.  20-25 minutes is JO's max at his advanced age and being injury prone.  8 points and 6  rebounds a game and decent D would mean the world during the regular season.

[twinbree]

One swallow does not make a summer. A good game from JO isn't enough to stop me from doubting. Heck 2 finals MVPs in a row probably wouldn't either. JO is old and fragile. When he's able to play I expect him at best to have a very up and down season.

[Inside-Out]

Didn't see either game, but it looks like JO followed up his impressive performance with a whopping 8/3/0 effort in 23 minutes...about 12/4.5/0 per 36.

I'm not too worried about points, but bigs need to rebound.

[Celtics4ever]

I think we should offer him and a number one for Cousins.

[Neurotic Guy]

Didn't see either game, but it looks like JO followed up his impressive performance with a whopping 8/3/0 effort in 23 minutes...about 12/4.5/0 per 36.

I'm not too worried about points, but bigs need to rebound.

I thought JO had a nice first quarter and then seemed out of it.

Once Wilcox is back, they'll have another decent option for when Jermaine seems to be sleeping.

[Celtics4ever]

Bad Jermaine was back last night.  Granted he looked better than the first two games though.   What bothers me most about him is that any center who is younger and has an iota of athletic ability looks all world against him.   Monroe and McGee looked very good against him.   

I know he thinks this is a matter of minutes and rythymn but I think it is more than his legs don't always obey his mind on D anymore.  That happens when you get older, your mind doesn't control your body as sharply.  You may want to stop someone but your too slow etc.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

He's out hurt tonight... surprise, surprise. 

[Inside-Out]

I've written before (I think) that I'll take a platoon of healthy, competitive bigs who rebound relentlessly and defend reasonably well (or at least know when and how to give a good foul).

Therefore...

Stiemsma >>> J.O.

Larry Freakin' Bird said of JO that the most important ability was availability, and that was IN HIS PRIME!!!  Folks, I'm with the Legend on this one.  JO wasn't worth a roster spot and sizable salary in his prime, and isn't worth it now.

I'll take my chances with him coming off the bench (if his wrecked body can ever get off it).

JO doubter?

I think JO has erased any doubt.  We KNOW we can't count on him.