Re: Trades ?

[jmc@ptc.com (Jonathan McIntyre)]

John Lyell said:
> Here is some good info from the Miami's  team report

Thanks for the excellent info!

John also said:
> I agree that we do not have any real consistent shooters, but it is not 
> like Dana Barros has been the epitome of consistency in the 3 years we have 
> been stuck with his contract.  This is what happens when you bring in guys 
> like McCarty to replace a 3 whom you got rid of because he couldn't shoot 
> the J.   This team still needs a 3 like Ceballos that can score.  McCarty 
> is not the answer.  He wasn't at Kentucky or New York, don't expect it in 
> Boston.  Jones was a good shooter in college , but I haven't seen anything 

The problem with Barros has not been his shooting ability, it's been his 
shot selection.  When he's gotten open in the half-court offense, he has 
consistently hit the shot.  He's just taken way too many 3-pointers on the 
break, or outside shots while defended tightly.  However, I've been impressed 
with how much his shot selection has improved this year, and with it his 
overall consistency.  His passing and steals have been better this year, 
too... his biggest problem is still his size in half-court defense.


John also said:
> You have to realize Grant had 4 years of college & is in his what 3rd year 
> ?  Mercer is really at the Jr. level in college.  Give him 2 years.
>  
> - -----Original Message-----
> From:	Danny Lim Fung Yee [SMTP:dlim@utkux.utk.edu]
> Sent:	Saturday, December 27, 1997 6:47 PM
> Subject:	Re: Trades ?
> 
> I agree that Mercer's showing some skills but to compare him to
> Hill is premature to say the least. Hill is almost averaging a
> triple double and Mercer seems, so far, to be a selective gunner
> and little more. Don't get me wrong - he takes great shots and
> can only be helping the team but his assist and rebound numbers
> don't even come close to emulating those of Grant's. - Danny
 
I don't understand how 2 years of experience will turn a player 
doesn't get many rebounds and assists into someone who does?  Where 
are the signs that he's developing these skills significantly?  I 
hope he does, and I think he has the physical ability to be that type 
of player, but he'll need a ton of work to become one.  Right now he 
comes off the screen and hits the jumper as well as anyone in the NBA, 
but in everything else he's average, maybe above average at best. 

Grant Hill can drive past people & dunk, drive & pass for layups, get 
rebounds, hit the jumper, is dangerous bringing the ball up the floor 
himself, has more assists per game as a forward than most starting 
point gaurds, makes a lot of steals, and basically does everything very 
well.  He even gets a fair number of blocked shots for a guy 6'8".  

I think Grant Hill already had a lot of these abilities by the time he 
STARTED college, at a younger age than Mercer is now.  I used to live in 
Reston, Virginia, where Hill went to high school, and someone from there
told me Hill played mostly gaurd in high school even though he was
taller than most high school centers, because he had his sights set on
the NBA and wanted to develop the skills of a relatively smaller
player.  I'm sure Mercer wants to improve his all-around game, but I
don't think he has the same desire to improve those all-around skills
that Grant Hill had.  I hope I'm wrong.

Jon Mc