MarkPrice25
Situational Stopper
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Messages
- 522
- Reaction score
- 443
- Points
- 63
Thought that this would be a good time to discuss how this team is grading out, seeing as we have 31 games to go. While I have been disappointed at times this season, I believe that we are UNDOUBTEDLY better this season than last. Here's how I grade the team after 60% of the regular season
LeBron James- A
He's been phenomenal all season long.......nuff said. There is room for improvement, but that's nit-picking
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - B+
I love Z. He got off to a slow start, but has played great since Hughes went down. Still one of the top 3-4 centers in the league in my opinion. Has his shortcomings, but has made great strides on the defensive end. This is an A- if he didn't have such an inconsistent first month.
Drew Gooden - C+
I'm a big advocate to keeping Drew and he has done some good things this year, but he drives me nuts. This trade talk stuff has affected him IMO. He's been even more inconsistant of late. I still think we should get him involved in the offense more - especially with Hughes out.
Larry Hughes - B
You don't appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore. Bottom line is that he was solid while adjusting to a new team, new scheme, new role and new coach WITH a broken finger. I hate the "injury prone" talk. It's not like he has chronic problems (which is the true "injury prone" definition). Guys break fingers, thumbs and wrists all the time. It happens. I can sum up Larry this way - 18-9. That's the record with the Opening Day starting line-up (Larry played one game where Z was hurt when Atlanta beat us).
Eric Snow - C
You get what you get from Eric. He is knocking down that jumper more consistantly and is still playing decent defense. He is what he is - a solid veteran player who would be great coming off the bench.
Damon Jones - D
I don't have enough time to type all I want to say about him. Bottom line is that he is completely useless unless his shots aren't falling. He has put forth a better effort on the defensive end and, like him or not, he's gonna get hot a couple nights the rest of the way and win us some games.
Donyell Marshall - B
Why so high? Because he still contributes when his shot isn't falling. He rebounds well and has been going to the hole more lately. Remember, stats aren't just for fantasy geeks. This game (like baseball to a larger extent) is about averages. Donyell shooting 30% from deep won't continue. Everything averages out. It's like Belliard two years ago. Career .275 hitter hitting .320 at the break. What were his stats like at the end? About .280. Donyell will be closer to 40% than 30% by the end of the season.
Sasha Pavlovic - C
Shows signs of being a solid player, but still struggles on the defensive end and looks tentative out there. But, he has given us a nice pick-up with Hughes down.
Anderson Varejao - B
Love his energy, but I still think that many overrate him. He's not a starter in this league until he can score more. He's also apt to make a stupid backcourt foul when we are over the limit that drives me absolutely nuts.
Luke Jackson - D-
Just looks scared, lost, tentative........I can go on and on. As soon as he misses one shot, he's done. How many times have we gotten 3 second calls because Z and Drew were expecting him to shoot? He's passed up shots when the fans were closer to him than his defender.
Alan Henderson - B
Has given us solid minutes when he has had the chance. Is a nice veteran presence when we are in dire straits. This grade is based on what he does compared to what is expected of him. He was great in Denver when he got the start.
Newble, Wilks, Marty, Graham- Incomplete, but I'd give Newble an F for the awful minutes that he has given us. Wilks is more of a D-Leaguer than Graham.
This team will still nab 46-48 wins without Hughes. If Jones and Marshall break out of it, we'll still be tough to beat.
LeBron James- A
He's been phenomenal all season long.......nuff said. There is room for improvement, but that's nit-picking
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - B+
I love Z. He got off to a slow start, but has played great since Hughes went down. Still one of the top 3-4 centers in the league in my opinion. Has his shortcomings, but has made great strides on the defensive end. This is an A- if he didn't have such an inconsistent first month.
Drew Gooden - C+
I'm a big advocate to keeping Drew and he has done some good things this year, but he drives me nuts. This trade talk stuff has affected him IMO. He's been even more inconsistant of late. I still think we should get him involved in the offense more - especially with Hughes out.
Larry Hughes - B
You don't appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore. Bottom line is that he was solid while adjusting to a new team, new scheme, new role and new coach WITH a broken finger. I hate the "injury prone" talk. It's not like he has chronic problems (which is the true "injury prone" definition). Guys break fingers, thumbs and wrists all the time. It happens. I can sum up Larry this way - 18-9. That's the record with the Opening Day starting line-up (Larry played one game where Z was hurt when Atlanta beat us).
Eric Snow - C
You get what you get from Eric. He is knocking down that jumper more consistantly and is still playing decent defense. He is what he is - a solid veteran player who would be great coming off the bench.
Damon Jones - D
I don't have enough time to type all I want to say about him. Bottom line is that he is completely useless unless his shots aren't falling. He has put forth a better effort on the defensive end and, like him or not, he's gonna get hot a couple nights the rest of the way and win us some games.
Donyell Marshall - B
Why so high? Because he still contributes when his shot isn't falling. He rebounds well and has been going to the hole more lately. Remember, stats aren't just for fantasy geeks. This game (like baseball to a larger extent) is about averages. Donyell shooting 30% from deep won't continue. Everything averages out. It's like Belliard two years ago. Career .275 hitter hitting .320 at the break. What were his stats like at the end? About .280. Donyell will be closer to 40% than 30% by the end of the season.
Sasha Pavlovic - C
Shows signs of being a solid player, but still struggles on the defensive end and looks tentative out there. But, he has given us a nice pick-up with Hughes down.
Anderson Varejao - B
Love his energy, but I still think that many overrate him. He's not a starter in this league until he can score more. He's also apt to make a stupid backcourt foul when we are over the limit that drives me absolutely nuts.
Luke Jackson - D-
Just looks scared, lost, tentative........I can go on and on. As soon as he misses one shot, he's done. How many times have we gotten 3 second calls because Z and Drew were expecting him to shoot? He's passed up shots when the fans were closer to him than his defender.
Alan Henderson - B
Has given us solid minutes when he has had the chance. Is a nice veteran presence when we are in dire straits. This grade is based on what he does compared to what is expected of him. He was great in Denver when he got the start.
Newble, Wilks, Marty, Graham- Incomplete, but I'd give Newble an F for the awful minutes that he has given us. Wilks is more of a D-Leaguer than Graham.
This team will still nab 46-48 wins without Hughes. If Jones and Marshall break out of it, we'll still be tough to beat.
