Thanks for the TP mmbaby, appreciate it, agree with you also re the weight issue, that's the million dollar question to me, all the other tools are there. The weight change would go along ways towards solving maybe his biggest physical limitation by giving him just enough more quickness and lift to solve his current aroudn the rim issues.
This has been a great, intersting post and read, TP for te original poster again.
I have another question and then another proposition/pojection that I'd be interested to hear the feed back from people on.
1. The question:
I like stats and all that and they obviously have merit and have a place in the game. However, I also think they are overrated in judging a player's importance to the team.
Thee is a big difference betwen great players and winners; between hard working guys and guys with big heart.
I think Baby is a winner with a big heart. He emotionally lives for the big games and his heart is always on the floor. I put my money with those types of players because they'll never give up.
I like Bosh but I'd much rather have Horford.
I like Chris Paul but I'd much rather have Rondo
I like "the idea" of Bynum but I'd much rather have Perkins, or Bogut.
I like Carmelo but I'd much rather have Durant
I like Kobe's game but I'd much rather have Lebron
Michael Cooper, Maxwell, DJ, Fisher, AC Green, Rambis, Paul Silas.
My Point is, stats are great but they tell you everything you need to know about a player, at all. Amd most importantly they don't tell you anything about the guy's heart and mentality.
Second point is, Baby has limits, like Unseld, Dantley, Barkeley, etc. Can he overcome them is the only question.
Short answer is anything is posible to get around: Sneakiness around the rim, left and right hands, weight loss, etc...
Leads to proposition / projection statement:
Sorry but I'm giving myself a little credit here on this..
1. Way back when Perk was just a pudgy lad, you could still see what his heart and what his mentality was. I argued at that time on this board that Perk would eventually settle in at around 12 points, 8 boards and 2-3 blocks a night. I defended that statement and took a massive beating over it.
Today Perks numbers are 10.5, 6 and 1.5 in.....25 minutes/night
2. I watched Rondo play limited minutes at the end of his rookie year and posted he was a game changing player. Also took a amssive beating. He's doing ok now.
Both Rondo and Perk had to overcome significatn shortcomings to be starters on NBA championship team.
3. I see Baby sort of in between Rondo and Perk; he's more developed than Perk was and less developed than Rondo was as far as pure skills at their given positions.
My point is, I'm less concerend with wehere Baby is right now than where I think he might be able to go.
My thoughts are:
1. It's there for him to take. It's up to him if he watns it. He has all the tools. He only needs to learn how to create more space around the rim for his shot using the width of his body, lose about 20-30 pounds, adn develop very reliable left and right hand baby hooks and by doing so be able touse the rim to create up and under space as well.
I project that "IF HE CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS", he could eventually settle with the following numbers on a contending team:
20+ points a night
10+ boards a night
3-4 assists per night
1-2 blocks a night
1-2 steals a night
If he doesnt' accomplish the above things and sort of stagnates, he will remain what he is right now.
His progression thus far suggests he is more likely to achieve it than not.
Remember, it took Perkins almost 6 years.
Where will baby be in year 5 and year 6?
That is the question.