Jiri Welsch - Q & A

[Karma]

Got this from another board. Its a good read.
Link

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The original was in Czech, and since I'm a massive dork, I wanted to see if I could understand some of it. Here goes nothing.

(Asking about what happened after the trade)

Yes, I was glad. I guess I welcomed it. There was an opportunity to play alongside one of the top 10 players in the league Lebron James, and for me Cleveand had a better long-term outlook. I believed that I would be playing. Of course, I went to the bench again. Before long coach Silas was fired and under the new staff once again it wasn't ideal. I was frequently sitting on the bench. The trade to Cleveland was an interesting experience.

How have you been becoming accustomed to Cleveland?

At season's end, I've been on my own. My wife stayed at home in Boston, we're moving before next season. For now we've moved to a house in a smaller town. Cleveland is not a very pretty place but our house is in a nice area.

Will you stay now with the Cavaliers, or will there be another trade?

It's not certain. 50/50. I haven't heard indications of a trade, but I will wait and see. Until the new management comes, with a new general manager and head coach. They will have their own opionions on the makeup of the team. We'll see...

One of the co-owners of the club is now the singer Usher, right? Have you met with him?

Yes, I did meet him. He is very short! (laughs). I like his music, I listen to it. What kind of person he is I can't say for sure. I only met him briefly, once to shake his hand.


This year you will pay for the Czech Republic. Last year you did not play for the national team. What changed?
Last year's reasons I have sufficiently clarified. It would be hard to refuse, but this time around, I think it's the right thing to do. Next time I do not want ot turn town the national team. Also this year it will be easier to qualify. I'm ready for the opportunity. I'm always ready to play for the national team.

Can your club complicate your participation?

I don't think so. It is important that the Czech Basketball Federation have an insurance policy compared to the NBA. Provided the insurance is payed, there shouldn't be a problem.

Do you remember the last time you appeared for the Czech team?

When did I play.. hold on - In January 2002? Yes, against the Slovaks. We won that time.


There is also a question about his agent that I just didn't understand.. I couldn't tell if there were problems with his agent and he's getting a new one or not.

 

[Deadlock]

Cleveland is not a very pretty place but our house is in a nice area.

:chuckles: :chuckles:

Welcome to Cleveland sucka.

 

[cavincali]

hey jirri you game isnt verynice either ya bumb.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

well when he got to Cleveland he didn't exactly play well, but then a agin they never real gave him a chance to get in a flow on the floor. i have a feeling they are going to try and move him in the offseason, but i wouldn't mind bringing him back. give him a full training camp to get adjusted to the Cavaliers. really next year everyone will need to get adjusted during training camp; new GM, new Coach, and remade roster.

 

[NarlCavs]

I did have to laugh about Jiri saying Cleveland is not a very pretty place. It is and always will be a tough city to draw FA's to.

I can't see Jiri returning next season but who knows? Maybe the new GM and coach will think they can get something out of him. I wouldn't mind seeing him moved for a draft pick or picks even if it's 2nd rounders. That would also clear a little more cap space.

 

[Glen Infante]

Man...

I still think Jiri holds some value on our bench. He can play both positions, he can handle the rock, and he knows how to draw contact. As for shooting, he has been known to drop some bombs on certain nights, sadly it didn't happen after he got traded.

I am still under the assumption that Jiri's lackluster play had alot to do with his new surrounding. He didn't know anyone, he had a new team, a new crowd to play for, a new coach, a new system. Bring in anyone new to the team and he isn't going to produce large amounts of points on the spot. Even Chris Webber didn't do that for the Sixers.

Jiri should be on the roster next season, I feel he is more valuable than Sasha and he has more experience and looks "to me" more of a hustle player than him.

 

[Karma]

I dont know about more value then Sasha, but his ability to play some point guard gives him a chance to stick. Obviously he had a bad season, and coming into a contract season, you'd think he'd work hard to get his game back. Confidense is low, so maybe some Euro games may help bring that back. Its unfortunate though, that he seems not to have made any friendships here. Always easier to work hard if you have a running mate.

 

[Marty Mar]

Jiri is a bumb. He is a waste of space on our bench. :thumbdown:

Sasha will end up being a better player than him in the long run.

 

[Karma]

Jiri is not a bumb. He is not a "scorer" or "shooter", but a player multi dimensional player. He has no great strengths or weaknesses. Obviously his shooting has to pick up some, but outside of that, the rest of his game was acceptable. Its almost like we are looking at another Ira Newble. A player that comes here with certain skills, but when he arrives, struggles. Both had injuries to start their respective Cavalier careers, so hopefully Jiri can bounce back if he remains in Cleveland.

 

[Marty Mar]

The reason he was traded from Boston was because he wasn't producing.

He came from being a starter, to being a bench player, to being a DNP player.

Gets traded to Cleveland.

He became a bench player to a DNP player.

If a player recieves a massive amount of DNP's, then you a running toward the bumb catagory.

It isn't hard to see that Paxon really screwed us by getting this guy. Sasha was already here, and there is certainly no use for Jiri for their roles are very simular.

 

[Karma]

The trade did make no sense. It was supposed to be part of a bigger plan in which the 1st part did not go through, yet Paxson went through with the deal. Obviously with Ricky and Pierce in Boston, his role would have suffered, and it seems his game went with that.

I can possibly see Cleveland possibly using him in tandom with Snow next season if we cannot grab a decent point guard.

 

[Glen Infante]

Jiri was a bumb this season, I agree. But as a starter, Jiri was a 428% fg shooter and a .381% shooter from three.

He gets insecure about himself when there is another player like him on the bench, and often he doesn't seem to like to challange himself when he is fighting for minutes against someone more talented than him. In Boston is was Ricky, Cleveland, Sasha.

If Jiri doesn't make any friends on the team, then its going to be a long time before his confidence level gets back to where it needs to be. When Jiri is confident, he is a fine player. When or if he gets that confidence back up, we will all see that.

 

[TrueCavsFan23]

jiri wasnt confident,if he can gain some confidence i think he can become very valuable.pierce shot down his confidence in boston they didnt get along.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Does "bumb" stand for something on the street or is everyone just misspelling "bum"?