Will James Young ever pass 'The Paul Pierce Test'?

[Global Celtic]

I was watching a Maine vs Iowa game recently and I wondered if James Young will ever be a good NBA player. I know he's only 19 but he seems to lack that crucial mental toughness that you can see, for example, in a guy like Marcus Smart or even in a guy like Chris Babb.
Gerald Wallace said some interesting things about Young last month:
"You can pick any message you want to give him. It’s up to him to pay attention. It’s like talking to a parrot, you know? You can only talk for so long. Eventually he’s got to understand and want it, and it’s got to sink in to him. They only understand and repeat the words that they want to understand and repeat. But it is what it is."
Translation: it's NOT OK to just smile on the bench e have that "happy to be here" face.

But in his recent interview with Jackie MacMullan, Paul Pierce said someting about Otto Porter that reminded me of Young too.
"He can shoot, he's a slasher, he can defend, I'm just not sure how badly he wants it every day.
"That kid just needs to get mad. If he came to practice ticked off and to the games ticked off, he'd be fine. But it's hard to get Otto mad. I should punch him one day just to get him riled up.''

The more I watch Young the more I hope he comes to next Summer League in superior shape and with a different mindset. But, right now, I think it's safe to say that we all fear Danny wasted that 17th pick...

[Londongreen]

Hopefully come summer league he can look as good as KCP. Step up like KCP, Maclemore, Porter, CJ McCollum and all those in their rookie years that looked like bust picks.

[Greyman]

I probably want to say 'give him more time' because for him and the C's I want there to be success and improvement. It is a big offseason for Young. There will be a point where being 'Young' outweighs being 'young'.

[mahcus smaht]

Just one of the many reasons Id love to bring back Pierce in the future.

[slamtheking]

Let's see how he commits to improving in summer league and next camp before dumping him as unmotivated

[indeedproceed]

Bruno Caboclo or James Young, who would you rather have ?

[Nowee]

I was watching a Maine vs Iowa game recently and I wondered if James Young will ever be a good NBA player. I know he's only 19 but he seems to lack that crucial mental toughness that you can see, for example, in a guy like Marcus Smart or even in a guy like Chris Babb.
Gerald Wallace said some interesting things about Young last month:
"You can pick any message you want to give him. It’s up to him to pay attention. It’s like talking to a parrot, you know? You can only talk for so long. Eventually he’s got to understand and want it, and it’s got to sink in to him. They only understand and repeat the words that they want to understand and repeat. But it is what it is."
Translation: it's NOT OK to just smile on the bench e have that "happy to be here" face.

But in his recent interview with Jackie MacMullan, Paul Pierce said someting about Otto Porter that reminded me of Young too.
"He can shoot, he's a slasher, he can defend, I'm just not sure how badly he wants it every day.
"That kid just needs to get mad. If he came to practice ticked off and to the games ticked off, he'd be fine. But it's hard to get Otto mad. I should punch him one day just to get him riled up.''

The more I watch Young the more I hope he comes to next Summer League in superior shape and with a different mindset. But, right now, I think it's safe to say that we all fear Danny wasted that 17th pick...

I missed the Gerald Wallace quote. I hope James Young didn't en does something with it. TP!

He missed last summer's traing camp because of the car accident. So this is his summer to prove that he earns some minutes. We are a playoff team now so no tanking minutes on this team.

[Global Celtic]

Bruno Caboclo or James Young, who would you rather have ?

From what I saw untill now, Caboclo. Very raw but just a physical freak with upside.

[Beat LA]

Young may just be quite discouraged after being shuttled back and forth between Boston and Maine all year, only to play really well in the d league and still not get any playing time.  Personally, I don't blame him.  I'd probably get discouraged under similar circumstances, too, no matter how much I practiced, etc.

[oldtype]

Still don't get how his shot can look so good yet never go in. Given that shooting is supposed to be his best quality, getting that fixed is probably a prerequisite to him ever playing meaningful NBA minutes.

[dwoumn]

I've been encouraged with what I've seen while he has played in Maine. I think this has been a confidence booster in a sense but the only way he gets better will be to play against the best of the best. He's gotta find a way to crack the C's rotation and it starts this offseason. His shoot has looked so good but not consistent, I'm not worried about that.

What else can he bring to the C's? He's shown flashes to attack the rim but it's gotta be consistent. If he can reach his potential, he can be a key player for the C's. I definitely want to see him shine.

[hwangjini_1]

I've been encouraged with what I've seen while he has played in Maine. I think this has been a confidence booster in a sense but the only way he gets better will be to play against the best of the best. He's gotta find a way to crack the C's rotation and it starts this offseason. His shoot has looked so good but not consistent, I'm not worried about that.

What else can he bring to the C's? He's shown flashes to attack the rim but it's gotta be consistent. If he can reach his potential, he can be a key player for the C's. I definitely want to see him shine.

geez people. how many times do we have to preach patience. young is 19 years old. spent more of his pro career in maine. give him 2-3 years before passing judgement. until then, lets watch for baby steps as he improves.

[positivitize]

I've been encouraged with what I've seen while he has played in Maine. I think this has been a confidence booster in a sense but the only way he gets better will be to play against the best of the best. He's gotta find a way to crack the C's rotation and it starts this offseason. His shoot has looked so good but not consistent, I'm not worried about that.

What else can he bring to the C's? He's shown flashes to attack the rim but it's gotta be consistent. If he can reach his potential, he can be a key player for the C's. I definitely want to see him shine.

geez people. how many times do we have to preach patience. young is 19 years old. spent more of his pro career in maine. give him 2-3 years before passing judgement. until then, lets watch for baby steps as he improves.

TP. James Young is a project pick.

Projects take time. People freak out that a 19 year old didn't blow up on his very first season. Heck. There are some people talking about how Smart is a bust.

They are kids. Give them time for their potential to develop.

[PhoSita]

Bruno Caboclo or James Young, who would you rather have ?

Young.  He's got one definite NBA skill.  He just needs to figure out how to not be a complete liability defensively and he'll get rotation minutes.

Caboclo has a freakish body but odds are he'll never figure out a role in the NBA.  If he does, of course, he could monstrous.

[HomerSapien]

James Young was the 3rd youngest player selected in last years draft (Aaron Gordon, and Noah Vonleh being the only two younger, I believe).  Developing NBA skills and physique take time.

The draft is where you go to get future talent, but often times you have to wait 1, 2, maybe even 3 years before the talent turns into something tangible.

I'm nowhere close to being down on Young as a player yet.  Right now he just needs to stay focused on building his body up, and getting as many reps as he can be it in the D-League or with the big club.