Who, do you think Bynum is 100% to finish the season? I see KCattheStripe up there...KC, you think Bynum stays healthy all season and is 100% in the playoffs consider he hasn't finished the season in full health since Bush was president?
I have no idea ... but for the purposes of my vote, I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Then here is my question: Are you also giving Ilyasova and Jennings the benefit of the doubt, assuming they do well in their new roles, and they improve as players?
Because Bynum has been hurt 3 years in a row, and Jennings + Ilyasova would logically improve..as Ilyasova has already shown he's drastically improved since his first tour of duty.
For Ilyasova: After one year of defending PF's full time, wouldn't he get stronger, better at it? Wouldn't he because a more efficient shooter?
Wouldn't Jennings improve as a scorer, and get a bit better a picking his shots?
You're saying Bynum's production will improve, but I feel like you're not making the same leaps with the Bulls.
Not to say I think I'm not getting a fair shake, I do...I'm just saying we've been talking about this thing for so long over the same points, I feel like we're leaving things out.
Sorry, two different areas here
(1) Not ImprovementAndrew Bynum is a 20/10 big man right now. That isn't improvement. He is capable of doing that right now. He just plays on a team with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol and as a result he doesn't get enough touches or shot attempts to score 20ppg + not enough minutes to get 10rpg without a greater commitment to defense / rebounding ...
In Washington, I expect him to get those touches + those shot attempts so he'll put up those numbers. I don't think a greater commitment to defense / rebounding happens for at least another season but he'll play longer minutes in Washington so I think he gets to 10 boards a game that way.
Like most young players he is too obsessed with his offensive stats + establishing himself as a star to fully commit to how good of a defender he could become (which is a scary thought). So the offense comes first, then some more defense and rebounding.
If he only plays 32-33 minutes, then an 18/10 threat but if he manages 35-36mpg I'm thinking 20/10.
To repeat, this is not improvement ... this is simply playing a larger role for a different team.
(2) ImprovementI do expect Ersan Ilyasova to improve his shooting efficiency. You mentioned a figure of 37% from downtown earlier that's the type of ball park that I am expecting from him. I expect his overall TS% to be a positive too (55-56% -- maybe a bit higher on this Bulls team versus Bucks). Not expecting his defense to improve significantly though. Or his rebounding or his general scoring. He is capable of playing longer minutes.
Brandon Jennings is a more difficult case to be specific with. Yes, I expect him to improve but I don't feel all that comfortable pin-pointing exactly where.
The reason I like him to improve are - his jump shot improved a great deal over where it was reportedly before joining the NBA to where he was as a rookie + he is a gym rat who's working out all summer long with strong guidance of his coaches who all love his work ethic.
His scoring efficiency is an obvious area and I think that will improve but I don't know to what to degree. His scoring efficiency is already so poor that I doubt he makes enough inroads to reach league average levels but I'm hoping he moves across the 50% TS% threshold.
Jennings jump shot should continue to show improvement (already a good perimeter shooter) but his finishing around the rim is the real problem area and it's unclear when + how much that will improve. Maybe it improves next year, maybe it doesn't ... I don't know so I am leaving it alone.
The rest of his game, I'm just saying slight improvement in across the board + good improvement as a floor general, general passing (not necessarily assists) and leadership areas.
If you want to argue something more specific than that for Jennings ... I'm all ears.
Topic: CB Draft '10 Playoffs Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Read 36782 times)