James Robinson Stat

[PHATWOOD]

Actually, he is very good. But he's not great. And he hasn't had the best supporting cast around him at all times during his career either.

A great point guard will overcome that with his play. A very good one will struggle against top level competition and elite guards.

I believe I noted multiple times that the blame lies with Jamie for not finding a better option via recruiting. Maybe Jamie didn't think he needed to - maybe he was unable to.

I believe I noted that he's not athletic enough to push Pitt over the top. So I'm not sure what you're doing other than screaming at the clouds. Being angry at James Robinson isn't going to fix this, and quite frankly it shows your ability to actually analyze a situation to be much worse than your desire to lash out because that situation doesn't satisfy you.

Should we draw and quarter him for going on the floor when told to? Was he supposed to say, "Coach, I'm not good enough, maybe we should play one of the walk-ons."

Sorry, that's not okay in my book. I believe he's given maximum effort. I just don't believe he's good enough to overcome the other flaws on this team single-handedly.

Again, you want to lay this at the feet of his coach, do it all day. I won't stop you. But I simply can't sit here and watch people bash a kid for going out and playing a game and not winning to the level you would like.

 

[PittPoker]

Actually, he is very good. But he's not great. And he hasn't had the best supporting cast around him at all times during his career either.

A great point guard will overcome that with his play. A very good one will struggle against top level competition and elite guards.

I believe I noted multiple times that the blame lies with Jamie for not finding a better option via recruiting. Maybe Jamie didn't think he needed to - maybe he was unable to.

I believe I noted that he's not athletic enough to push Pitt over the top. So I'm not sure what you're doing other than screaming at the clouds. Being angry at James Robinson isn't going to fix this, and quite frankly it shows your ability to actually analyze a situation to be much worse than your desire to lash out because that situation doesn't satisfy you.

Should we draw and quarter him for going on the floor when told to? Was he supposed to say, "Coach, I'm not good enough, maybe we should play one of the walk-ons."

Sorry, that's not okay in my book. I believe he's given maximum effort. I just don't believe he's good enough to overcome the other flaws on this team single-handedly.

Again, you want to lay this at the feet of his coach, do it all day. I won't stop you. But I simply can't sit here and watch people bash a kid for going out and playing a game and not winning to the level you would like.

That's great and all BUT once again, he is not very good.

 

[PHATWOOD]

Way to criticize the thread as redundant, then rehash it all in yoir post.

James isn't a "very, very good point guard." If he was, he wouldn't get eaten alive so often when we play teams that have good guards. If he was a vey good PG, he'd be mentally tough and would lead his team. He's an OK point guard.

Of course it's not his fault that he was a 4 year starter here because we didn't have anybody better, and of course he's a decent kid and a hard worker. He also does not have a ton of help. But whatever he is or isn't, it hasn't translated to a lot of success the past 4 years for our basketball program.

Fair enough on your first point.

We could debate all day on how "mental toughness" translates in to better performance, or if that was the actual issue with James. I might be mentally tough, but I'd score precisely 0 points in 100 college basketball games.

I believe much of my post was a simple reminder that 40 and 50 year old men, even if (maybe especially if) they were at some point athletes, should stop for a moment and remember that these are still kids. They do care, they do work hard, they don't always achieve at the level we would like them to.

We as fans aren't owed a player improving every year of his career. We aren't owed anything by James himself other than effort. We aren't able to get inside his head and tell definitively whether he's given all he can.

We are owed something from the person who is payed handsomely to judge his performance. So again, I welcome people who would like to criticize the head coach for his evaluation and ability to, or unwillingness to find a better option.

 

[PHATWOOD]

That's great and all BUT once again, he is not very good.

We'll agree to disagree on that point. The numbers show he's very good. The eye test will tell you he's not great.

In the meantime, I urge you to find and use the ignore button. Because I personally don't care to have arguments with angry mental midgets.

Glad to be of help.

 

[colingrant2]

His form is fine. If you left him alone in a gym he probably wouldn't miss. It's his head that's the problem. He lacks confidence and mental toughness. So he could shoot 500 shots a day, and for all we know maybe he does. It wouldn't matter.

The book on defending JROB is that he has no left hand and if you take away his right, he's completely ineffective even in his usual role as a table setter in the half court. Pitino talked about this after Louisville ran us. And with our offense, when you cut off the head, the body dies, there is no Plan B. We are rigid and inflexible, like our PG and our coach. We also lack a capable secondary lead guard, as we have for years, since Dixon favors the "combo guard" that isn't great at either backcourt job.

JR is such a one dimensional, non-dynamic player, and yet we are entirely dependent on him offensively. Not a good equation.

My take

1) It would matter if he shot x number per day. His confidence is shot because he's not a good shooter. He's not a good shooter because he hasn't made himself into one. It's really that simple.

2) I've been around JR for a long time. My son attended DM when he was there. I told him personally after DeMatha's 2014 graduation ceremony I'd help him (hand in face) as I've done so with others here in PG County.

3) He wont be the first or the last player not refining this aspect of his game.Personally, I've never seen a player's shot not improve after practicing 15-20 hours per week during the summer and 1/4 that number during school and season. However, my experience is that basketball players prefer playing basketball, not practicing basketball (shooting). Scrimmaging 5 on 5 and competing against someone is a proposition no baller turns down. ....... ever!!!! Herein lies a major reason for skill set stagnation in many.

4) Agree on ball handling. His left hand dribble maxes out at 4 consecutive dribbles or so, then he'll stop and slowly cross over to the right. When he does go left, it's at half speed, not full speed because he's not confident enough in it. Again, his confidence isn't there because he's not proficient at it. Skill enhancement is really easy to see. Even casual observers can identify skill improvement. I watch for this very closely as it is a pet peeve of mine in a sense. Meaning, players going 2,3,4 years with seemingly minimal skill improvement. By the same token, improvements made by Lamar Patterson (handle,shot,finish,foot speed), Sam Young (shot, handle), Trey Woodall (shot,decision making), Brad Wannamaker (shot), Michael Young (shot, handle, quickness) are a few who come to mind that made significant improvements.

 

[iMissTheOldDays]

So very good senior point guards usually play like sh*t against good competition ..? Yea man ,that's the first trait of a very good point guard , totally ...

 

[PittPoker]

So very good senior point guards usually play like sh*t against good competition ..? Yea man ,that's the first trait of a very good point guard , totally ...

Yeah didn't you know? Very good SENIOR point guards tend to score 0 points a lot.

 

[PittPoker]

My take

1) It would matter if he shot x number per day. His confidence is shot because he's not a good shooter. He's not a good shooter because he hasn't made himself into one. It's really that simple.

2) I've been around JR for a long time. My son attended DM when he was there. I told him personally after DeMatha's 2014 graduation ceremony I'd help him (hand in face) as I've done so with others here in PG County.

3) He wont be the first or the last player not refining this aspect of his game.Personally, I've never seen a player's shot not improve after practicing 15-20 hours per week during the summer and 1/4 that number during school and season. However, my experience is that basketball players prefer playing basketball, not practicing basketball (shooting). Scrimmaging 5 on 5 and competing against someone is a proposition no baller turns down. ....... ever!!!! Herein lies a major reason for skill set stagnation in many.

4) Agree on ball handling. His left hand dribble maxes out at 4 consecutive dribbles or so, then he'll stop and slowly cross over to the right. When he does go left, it's at half speed, not full speed because he's not confident enough in it. Again, his confidence isn't there because he's not proficient at it. Skill enhancement is really easy to see. Even casual observers can identify skill improvement. I watch for this very closely as it is a pet peeve of mine in a sense. Meaning, players going 2,3,4 years with seemingly minimal skill improvement. By the same token, improvements made by Lamar Patterson (handle,shot,finish,foot speed), Sam Young (shot, handle), Trey Woodall (shot,decision making), Brad Wannamaker (shot), Michael Young (shot, handle, quickness) are a few who come to mind that made significant improvements.

Wow great post colingrant.

Yeah James COULD in my opinion have really gotten better by practicing and practicing and working on his deficiencies but it is obvious he did not. It's a shame because this team really could use right now a point guard that can shoot the ball well and be able to use his left hand like his right one.

 

[colingrant2]

Wow great post colingrant.

Yeah James COULD in my opinion have really gotten better by practicing and practicing and working on his deficiencies but it is obvious he did not. It's a shame because this team really could use right now a point guard that can shoot the ball well and be able to use his left hand like his right one.

I do hold this opinion, but stopped short of stating it factually to be fair. I've been around him, others like him and the game in general a long time. Played it at a high level and coached it. Player performance doesn't lie. Players that shoot well, demonstrate the time they've invested to become good shooters. Michael Young has the green light to shoot the three because he makes them. He makes them because he worked extremely hard off season at expanding his range and accuracy. It just doesn't come magically.

A couple of seasons ago, I saw Lamar Patterson take a pass slightly inside the foul line,, pivot to face the basket, put the ball on the floor to move to his right, went behind his back (low and tight to his body) changing direction and from right to left and his left hand now handling the ball, extended his arm fully (extremely hard to maintain control and lift the ball with accuracy), softly placed it on the glass and scores in traffic. The 2-2.5 seconds of advanced skill, revealed he was a gym rat in every sense of the word the previous summer(s) to even approach that maneuver, let alone make it effortlessly in a real division 1 game.

When Sam Young turned into a face-the-basket, catch & shoot marksman from 21 feet his senior year, but was inconsistent from 17 feet in his sophomore year, a statement was made that he put in the work. Seth Curry's handle is 100% better than it was as a college senior and 1st year pro. And believe it or not, his shot has improved considerably as well. It's not magic. It's practice. Hours,upon hours, upon hours of drill repetition.

By the same token, for players who cannot perform fundamental skill execution required of their position, it too tells a story in many cases. Unfortunately for JR, he's a 4 year starter and possesses the ball more than anyone else. His limitations are more visible and seen longer (4 years) than any other player, so his name occupies thread titles regularly, and that's not going to change until he makes a more consistent positive difference. It's not hard. He just needs to make 3-4 of 7 from the perimeter and 2-3 defensive plays to give real context and greater meaning to his turnover to assist ratio.

 

[jaebree422]

His game is wack! He may very well be a really nice young man but his game is WACK and it hurts watching him play!

 

[Pittx9]

colingrant, where have you been hiding? Some of the best postings I've ever seen on here. Very factual and intelligent. Some great insight.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Mateen cleaves senior year around 12 points per game 7 assists and almost 4 turnovers a game.

Again robinsons stats are almost identical to levance fields.

People romanticize point guards sometimes because of a big shot here and there. James Robinson needs to play better. Even more James needs to hit open shots. But James is a Victim as much as a culprit because he has played on some average to below average talented teams.

Wow.

 

[DT_PITT]

Yeah but most of them all do as well. They are mostly good kids. There are a lot of reasons why Pitt has struggled the past few years but James Robinson is high on the list.

You missed the point too, then. The original post is saying aim your wrath at Dixon for not recruiting anyone better.

 

[Pittx9]

Recruiting is not the issue. We've been getting better recruits than we used to, much better. The problem is we are no longer developing these players and they are coming nowhere near reaching their full potential. James Robinson was a 4 star and highly regarded. He was a great get in recruiting, he just has not developed into what he should have.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Putting all this on JRob isn't fair. He's not the quick ,penetrating , sure shot, point guard everybody wants ,but he's the best Pitt has. Let's put a great point guard on this team and while we're at it a great 5 and heck let's add a 2 that doesn't disappear . What about seeing if John Wooden is available ,oh he's dead how about Coach K I'm sure Duke fans are upset with him. Now is everybody happy!
Ps JRob hasn't really progressed since his freshman year and I'm sure no one takes it harder then him ,get on him if he's dogging it .Constantly blaming all Pitts ills on a kid working his butt off is wrong he's giving all he's got what more could you ask of him. Would you ask more from your child ,he is what he is accept it.

 

[NTOP]

Geezz Del. Did you even read his post?

Allow me to offer a key phrase: "But the lack of a better answer isn't his fault. Let's stop for a moment, realize that he's a kid who came here to play, gave his all, and is one of us - one of our own."

He can't be any good....he came here under the prior Chancellor.

 

[NTOP]

Recruiting is not the issue. We've been getting better recruits than we used to, much better. The problem is we are no longer developing these players and they are coming nowhere near reaching their full potential. James Robinson was a 4 star and highly regarded. He was a great get in recruiting, he just has not developed into what he should have.

What?? Better recruits?? Who??

 

[colingrant2]

colingrant, where have you been hiding? Some of the best postings I've ever seen on here. Very factual and intelligent. Some great insight.

Pittx9, thanks. I have lots of thoughts but personally I don't enjoy some of the aggressive bantering and attacks that frequently accompany postings. That's just me. However there are times in which I can't not post and this is one of those times. Saturday's loss was disturbing to me. Pitt used be up for the challenge of a fight. There's three major sides to basketball in my opinion that dictate game outcomes.

1) Coaching preparation before and during games,
2) Collective player physical skill and talent level
3) Team chemistry, character & disposition

This Pitt team lacks #3 the most, team character and disposition to fight. I've seem much less talented Pitt teams achieve more. JD recently talked about rule changes impacting the teams' defensive rights, but I see Virginia playing defense like Pitt used to, so maybe there's some exaggeration on how impacting the new rules are. Who knows. It's all conjecture.

I hate to say this, but my man JR has a role in this as well. College basketball is all about the guards. Fearlessness, sometimes cocky, emotional leading is required of the senior point guard. Pitt needs the opposing team, fans and coach to say, "Damn, that number "0" killed us today". Every time we made a run, he made a play or 2 that pushed the lead to double digits. Pitt received this type of senior pg play from Woodall, Krauser, Knight and Fields to name a few. Passion and play-making are prerequisites for senior PG. Maybe it's there and I'm off. I'm personally not seeing it.

 

[Delpanther]

You missed the point too, then. The original post is saying aim your wrath at Dixon for not recruiting anyone better.

Well the OP is dead 100 percent right on the culpability issue but he got off to a bad start in his assessment(which is what triggered my reaction)of the situation by allowing that JR is "very good"-too many people have gotten away with that assessment for way too long. And it won't be the last time we hear it....

 

[KiwiJeff]

Pittx9, thanks. I have lots of thoughts but personally I don't enjoy some of the aggressive bantering and attacks that frequently accompany postings. That's just me. However there are times in which I can't not post and this is one of those times. Saturday's loss was disturbing to me. Pitt used be up for the challenge of a fight. There's three major sides to basketball in my opinion that dictate game outcomes.

1) Coaching preparation before and during games,
2) Collective player physical skill and talent level
3) Team chemistry, character & disposition

This Pitt team lacks #3 the most, team character and disposition to fight. I've seem much less talented Pitt teams achieve more. JD recently talked about rule changes impacting the teams' defensive rights, but I see Virginia playing defense like Pitt used to, so maybe there's some exaggeration on how impacting the new rules are. Who knows. It's all conjecture.

I hate to say this, but my man JR has a role in this as well. College basketball is all about the guards. Fearlessness, sometimes cocky, emotional leading is required of the senior point guard. Pitt needs the opposing team, fans and coach to say, "Damn, that number "0" killed us today". Every time we made a run, he made a play or 2 that pushed the lead to double digits. Pitt received this type of senior pg play from Woodall, Krauser, Knight and Fields to name a few. Passion and play-making are prerequisites for senior PG. Maybe it's there and I'm off. I'm personally not seeing it.

I think you'll find posts like this are not blindly attacked (except maybe by one or two insane guys). Most of the attacking is against posts not as well presented or thought out. "Where are all the people saying James Robinson is better than these 2 guys combined!!!!" or "So and so is not a D1 player!!!" does not tend to be a compelling argument, and therefore, may be more open for criticism.

 

[colingrant2]

I think you'll find posts like this are not blindly attacked (except maybe by one or two insane guys). Most of the attacking is against posts not as well presented or thought out. "Where are all the people saying James Robinson is better than these 2 guys combined!!!!" or "So and so is not a D1 player!!!" does not tend to be a compelling argument, and therefore, may be more open for criticism.

You're probably right kiwi....... I enjoy reading posts well thought through and basketball knowledgeable. Reading so and so is not a Division 1 player, as you stated is not compelling.

 

[Pitt Panther4ever]

I've read through this thread and have seen a lot of people saying robinson isn't tough. Now I'm more in the camp that JRob is an average player who has had anubderwhelming career based on expectations but to say he isn't tough seems off to me. Let's not forget the gonzaga game where he banged his face on the floor and had that giant cut under his eye. He went out, got stitched up and then came back in and scored at least 5 more points. The cut was so bad that the cut/scar is still very visible. I agree with those saying that he gets way too much credit from some on this board and Id take Levance over him in a heart beat but to say that he's not tough doesn't seem fair to me

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Actually, he is very good. But he's not great.

OK, if he is "very good," where does he rank in the ACC?

Rank the following list of PGs

Eli Carter
Michel Gbinije
Demetrius Jackson
Quinn from Louisville
London Perrantes
Seth Allen
Mitchell Wilbekin
Cat Barber
Derryck Thornton
Marcus Paige
Avery Holmes
Xavier Rathan-Mayes
Angel Rodriguez
James Robinson

I didn't include GT's PG platoon because they are the worst in the league by far. I would put Robinson over only Wilbekin and the GT duo.

 

[We_All_We_Got]

Pittx9, thanks. I have lots of thoughts but personally I don't enjoy some of the aggressive bantering and attacks that frequently accompany postings. That's just me. However there are times in which I can't not post and this is one of those times. Saturday's loss was disturbing to me. Pitt used be up for the challenge of a fight. There's three major sides to basketball in my opinion that dictate game outcomes.

1) Coaching preparation before and during games,
2) Collective player physical skill and talent level
3) Team chemistry, character & disposition

This Pitt team lacks #3 the most, team character and disposition to fight. I've seem much less talented Pitt teams achieve more. JD recently talked about rule changes impacting the teams' defensive rights, but I see Virginia playing defense like Pitt used to, so maybe there's some exaggeration on how impacting the new rules are. Who knows. It's all conjecture.

I hate to say this, but my man JR has a role in this as well. College basketball is all about the guards. Fearlessness, sometimes cocky, emotional leading is required of the senior point guard. Pitt needs the opposing team, fans and coach to say, "Damn, that number "0" killed us today". Every time we made a run, he made a play or 2 that pushed the lead to double digits. Pitt received this type of senior pg play from Woodall, Krauser, Knight and Fields to name a few. Passion and play-making are prerequisites for senior PG. Maybe it's there and I'm off. I'm personally not seeing it.

Good post(s)! Can't disagree with what you wrote, can only try to reinforce it.

I agree with your #3 assessment. The teams under Dixon from '03 to '11/'12 had an identity. The players, fans, and opposing teams knew what Pitt was during this time - a team that had talent, but thrived on their "want to". As a team, they wanted to play you and beat you. Whether you were Cuse, UConn, GTown, or Rutgers, you got a game from Pitt, win or lose. When they brought that attitude to the Pete, it was contagious and helped create the Zoo. It became so much an identity that 4 or so years later national media still associates toughness to Pitt program.

I'm not sure what the identity of this Pitt team is. They definitely play a certain way and have shown some flashes of toughness and resiliency, but they don't always seem excited or confident in their approach. Maybe this team needs more "nurturing" than Dixon teams in the past? Maybe they need to hear more hard truths to gain their edge? Dixon came into the locker room hot at halftime at FSU, and they came out gunning; maybe they just need to get pissed off?

In addition to your point about the PG and leadership, a lack of a true 5 in both personality and size has been missing from Pitt for a few years now. Guarding the paint is a lot like guarding the net in hockey, you have to want to keep people out and make it yours. Hopefully Nix and/or Manigault can fill that role.

 

[bobfree]

OK, if he is "very good," where does he rank in the ACC?

Rank the following list of PGs

Eli Carter
Michel Gbinije
Demetrius Jackson
Quinn from Louisville
London Perrantes
Seth Allen
Mitchell Wilbekin
Cat Barber
Derryck Thornton
Marcus Paige
Avery Holmes
Xavier Rathan-Mayes
Angel Rodriguez
James Robinson

I didn't include GT's PG platoon because they are the worst in the league by far. I would put Robinson over only Wilbekin and the GT duo.

Now rank shooting guards. Guess where Pitt would be?

How about the 5 position?

See a trend developing here?

How can a pass first point guard really succeed with this type of roster? Zero finishers. Our two best players are almost exclusively jump shooters.

James Robinson isn't great he's barely good. But he catches way too much shit on this site .

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Michael Young has the green light to shoot the three because he makes them. He makes them because he worked extremely hard off season at expanding his range and accuracy.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but I think you need a better example than Mike Young having the green light on shooting threes. He took more threes as a freshman than he did as a sophomore, and he made them at a higher rate as a freshman. He is taking even fewer threes this season than last year, to date he has only shot six threes all season. And while there is no way you should be making any judgements based on the shooting percentage of someone who has only taken six of them, his percentage as a freshman was also higher than his percentage is so far this season.

He has certainly expanded his range and become a much better mid-range shooter, but to this point that has not translated into more or better three point shooting. It seems pretty obvious that he doesn't actually have the green light to shoot threes.

I think the better way to look at it is that Young shot 33.8% on two point jump shots as a freshman, 43.0% on two point jump shots as a sophomore, and and is currently at 46.8% on two point jump shots this season. There is the proof that he's put in a ton of time on his shooting in the gym.

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

I pretty much agree w/ everything written here. After 4 years it is the coach's responsibility to develop this player. An 80+% FT shooter can't hit open jumpers at a 40% rate?? A PG after 4 years can't learn/practice to use his left hand effectively? It reeks of either lack of coaching, player dedication to getting better or mental issues. There is nothing else.

His form is fine. If you left him alone in a gym he probably wouldn't miss. It's his head that's the problem. He lacks confidence and mental toughness. So he could shoot 500 shots a day, and for all we know maybe he does. It wouldn't matter.

The book on defending JROB is that he has no left hand and if you take away his right, he's completely ineffective even in his usual role as a table setter in the half court. Pitino talked about this after Louisville ran us.

 

[Pittx9]

Pittx9, thanks. I have lots of thoughts but personally I don't enjoy some of the aggressive bantering and attacks that frequently accompany postings. That's just me. However there are times in which I can't not post and this is one of those times. Saturday's loss was disturbing to me. Pitt used be up for the challenge of a fight. There's three major sides to basketball in my opinion that dictate game outcomes.

Oh it is tough sometimes. I would usually never rag on James as much as I did after Saturday, but wow that brutal. I've been a huge supporter of the kid his whole career, but that game just did it in for me. Unfortunately, some people just think everyone is awful, all the time, they're no good, have no talent, and will never amount to anything. I would never take it that far. It was great to see you along with the facts, give a thorough rationale of what you saw happening with this team. Personally, I think they need to step up the effort in some of these games, but I don't think they're anywhere near some garbage team that is the dreads of college basketball.

The bantering can get out of hand, but I personally am fine with some devil's advocate. I won't just go crazy on someone for no reason, unless they get out of hand and/or make it personal. But I give credit when I agree, and just try to calmly play the other side of things when I don't. I thought you post was a particularly great one because you admitted there was a problem, but also showed it's not completely out of control like some think.

 

[colingrant2]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but I think you need a better example than Mike Young having the green light on shooting threes. He took more threes as a freshman than he did as a sophomore, and he made them at a higher rate as a freshman. He is taking even fewer threes this season than last year, to date he has only shot six threes all season. And while there is no way you should be making any judgements based on the shooting percentage of someone who has only taken six of them, his percentage as a freshman was also higher than his percentage is so far this season.

He has certainly expanded his range and become a much better mid-range shooter, but to this point that has not translated into more or better three point shooting. It seems pretty obvious that he doesn't actually have the green light to shoot threes.

I think the better way to look at it is that Young shot 33.8% on two point jump shots as a freshman, 43.0% on two point jump shots as a sophomore, and and is currently at 46.8% on two point jump shots this season. There is the proof that he's put in a ton of time on his shooting in the gym.

Not following the logic. He was one example of five. Just pretend it wasn't there and proceed with the main point.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Not following the logic.

Really? I said I mostly agreed with you but I just pointed out that one of your examples was off. What's so hard to understand about that?

 

[colingrant2]

Really? I said I mostly agreed with you but I just pointed out that one of your examples was off. What's so hard to understand about that?

I may have inadvertently come off a certain way. Not intended. I made quite a few points, but wasn't sure which one you agreed with, but the one exception as you point out is one (I think) that provides 5 examples to support a point of how skill development is a focus of some players. The main point was the importance of developing skill , so if the Michael Young example doesn't do it for you, just disregard it and perhaps one of the other 4 will. Apologies if came off as snappy.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I may have inadvertently come off a certain way. Not intended. I made quite a few points, but wasn't sure which one you agreed with, but the one exception as you point out is one (I think) that provides 5 examples to support a point of how skill development is a focus of some players. The main point was the importance of developing skill , so if the Michael Young example doesn't do it for you, just disregard it and perhaps one of the other 4 will. Apologies if came off as snappy.

No apology needed. I actually think that Young IS a good example, but just not for the reason that you used. He is a significantly better mid-range shooter now than he was two years ago. He has obviously worked hard on that. It's hard to say how much or how well he's worked on shooting threes, because he has done it so rarely this season.

 

[colingrant2]

No apology needed. I actually think that Young IS a good example, but just not for the reason that you used. He is a significantly better mid-range shooter now than he was two years ago. He has obviously worked hard on that. It's hard to say how much or how well he's worked on shooting threes, because he has done it so rarely this season.

Gotcha