After Season Interviews

[spectre]

http://www.nba.com/bobcats/

How did these go unnoticed?

I've just gotten thru LB's 2 parts. He has some serious man love for Crash, was asked by Jordan to evaluate Felton as a PG, thinks he's stepped up and gotten a lot better. Mentions Mek's drive, guys getting better over the summer...lot's of good stuff.

There's also one with Felton, Crash & DJ.

[Dead_Real]

Yea I watched the DJ, Felts & Larry Brown vids last week I loved what he said about Felts/Crash but it was interesting hearing him call out Mek's desire to become a better player hopefully Mek takes notice. I'm watching the Crash vid now thanks for the heads up.

[dav7z]

Great find Spectre, Good stuff, i just posted Feltons Vidio on the Felton thread.
The Mek thing goes right along with what we have been saying. Larry just want's him to play with some passion . We all know what Mek could do but getting him to do it is a different story.
Players like that piss me off and im sure it pisses Larry off . If larry can get him to play with a little passion and pride against other Centers he could average 20 and 12 a game . His averages hasn't got any better sence his rookie season? Why does he just goes through the motions?, No passion no pride.

[spectre]

Just finished all of them.

DJ seems like a GREAT guy. I can't see how anyone can't not like the kid. He's my boy's favorite Bobcat, and I bought him one of those autograph balls (the brown/white one) and he's already planning on getting DJ to sign it.

Wants to work on getting stronger, mentioned bigger PGs posting him up. Funny, but I thought he did exceptionally well in that department...especially for his size. Most weren't able to back him down.

Crash...LB said he's just touching what he can ultimately be and I fully believe that. I also didn't know that Crash was the leading rebounder among small forwards! Remember LB specifically mentioned that he needed more boards out of Crash; the boy delivered that and everything else in spades.

Felton...his dedication to the team is just awesome. You never hear of players putting that ahead of money, but if anyone will do that it'll be him. Another year or so under LB and I think he'll eventually be in the discussion for top 10 in PGs.

Larry Brown...I LOVE that guy! Best decision ever to bring that man on.

[teej]

Watching the Raymond video reminded me why I want him over DJ...drive. He will get better to the best of his abilities, DJ I'm not so sure of...

[Slam]

Watching the Raymond video reminded me why I want him over DJ...drive. He will get better to the best of his abilities, DJ I'm not so sure of...
You're an idiot.

[Slam]

I would like to drink beer - lots and lots of beer - with Gerald Wallace.

He seems like such a fun guy.

[teej]

You're an idiot.

And you talk to me about class:confused::o

And how does that make me an idiot anyway??

[spectre]

I don't think you can judge DJ's work ethic yet, dude's just a rookie! We'll know soon enough whether he or anyone else for that matter will stay in Charlotte this summer and work.

IMO that's more important than going home (or to UNC) and working out there. Build that team. LB already let Mek know his ass needs to be in Charlotte. He can feed Africa via FedEx.

No doubt tho that Felton has a very admirable summer work ethic. Richardson did too.


I would like to drink beer - lots and lots of beer - with Gerald Wallace.

He seems like such a fun guy.

I wonder if he gets easier to understand the drunker he gets?

Totally agree...it's obvious he really enjoys life.

[Slam]

LB already let Mek know his ass needs to be in Charlotte. He can feed Africa via FedEx.
:rofl:


I wonder if he gets easier to understand the drunker he gets?
:rofl: :rofl:

[teej]

I don't think you can judge DJ's work ethic yet, dude's just a rookie! We'll know soon enough whether he or anyone else for that matter will stay in Charlotte this summer and work.

IMO that's more important than going home (or to UNC) and working out there. Build that team. LB already let Mek know his ass needs to be in Charlotte. He can feed Africa via FedEx.

No doubt tho that Felton has a very admirable summer work ethic. Richardson did too.

I'm not questioning DJ's work ethic at all, I'm just saying that I myself have doubts as to whether he'll bust his ass for the team. It's not anything tangible, just a gut feeling. I love the kid, he's got a great shot and a great personality, but if you swap shot and defense, you get Mek. Who still can't commit to his team.

As far as people staying, Raja's already gone back to Miami, and the French Connection and our Head Coach are halfway across the globe. So that kinda shoot's chemistry. But I get your point.

And that was a good line about fedex.

Am I still an idiot, Slam...or were you experiencing the aftereffects of divine substances? :biggrin:

[Ghost Kat]

I have missed the Bobcats in these first few of weeks. I can't wait for the drat to see who we pick up. To my knowledge we have a 1st rounder and 2 second rounders. Hopefully thats three new people picked by LB. I'm looking forward to seeing what DJ and Ajinca bring in their second year. Still happy to have Vlad, But I saw the space cadet a couple times. I do not want Sean May back but I would like to see more of Dontell Jefferson at SG.

[GoBobs]

I think DJ will improve more than people think. The first time he faced Derrick Rose in college he got worked and looked totally lost. Every time they have faced each other after that including in the NBA this year DJ has gotten the better of the match up. That tells me he his a smart player who adjusts to his opponents moves quickly. Now that he has had a look at a lot of the NBA guards he is going to face he will likely show a big improvement on D.

Mek I think gets a bad rap with the lack of passion thing. I don't really think that is fair. Some guys just show it differently. I see a lot of times where he tries to power dunk and just does not quite have the lift and ends up getting blocked or whatever, so I don't think the problem is not trying.

[spectre]

GoBobs I admire how you stick up for all the current players.

+1

Edit: Mek's interview is up.

[Ghost Kat]

DJ has good handles and doesn't turn the ball over much but we didn't see him really take alot of guy's off the dribble. He has good court vision, I don't understand why his assist numbers were so low. I think he starts the offense to high above the 3pt line. He didn't try to take over get into the lane and make offense. But thats something he'll learn with more games under his belt. Plus more games at the true point rather then half a PG with him and Felton on the court together. DJ is mainly the offense that Felton can't give. But think the with more time as a starter with Raja or another real SG He could get 6-8 assists a game.

[Ghost Kat]

I saw on a board somewhere that we might be looking at Jrue Holiday or another SG of that type. I really really think we need a good back up SG. Plus some type of scoring PF. Diaw moves the ball but isn't the best low post threat. I think we have three picks, I'm hoping we either trade those picks to get higher or just fill the needs we have. Back up SG and PF are the main thing i see we need to fill.

[GoBobs]

I am a homer I can't help it.

Although I am not sold on Vlad yet. Hopefully he will prove me wrong or else we will trade him.

[teej]

I am a homer I can't help it.

Although I am not sold on Vlad yet. Hopefully he will prove me wrong or else we will trade him.

Phil called him the space cadet for a reason. but are you sold on Gana then? Because he needs as much or more work than Vladi.

[GoBobs]

The Gana thing is hard to figure out. The Mavs let him go in the Kidd trade only to resign him as a free agent and then turn around and trade him again as if they are dying to get out of his contract. There must have been some falling out there, he totally looked out of shape when he got here.

One thing I that I think will help him a lot is dropping the mentality that he isn't allowed to shoot. Big guys allways play harder and are a lot more into the game if they can see the ball go down a few times. After he got here his fg % went way up but his terrible ft % actually went down. He has to find a way to get a least to the 60 % range from the stripe.

He gives us something we have needed for a long time a big body that can play the shaqs of the league. He is not totally unalethic i.e. the steal and breakaway dunk he had last season. First he needs to get in shape, second he needs to be shooting all summer and working on his basketball skills.

His contract is not that terrible considering he is heading into what should be his best years as a basketball player. I wonder about his love for the game a lot more then I wonder about Oak. If he puts the work in however he could suddenly become very good.

[spectre]

^ Good post.

LB and Jordan were hot for Gana last summer. They also said that they knew there'd be some work involved as he hadn't been playing and he wasn't really in shape. LB believes he can coach him up, and he shows a lot more aggression out there than Mek does, which we sorely need.

IMO they looked at Vlad as a "help get into the playoffs" move this past season and weren't thinking long term. Ammo wasn't helping and that was their primary goal. He can contribute, but I doubt we're so attached to him that we'd not look at alternatives.

If one of those potential draft candidates at 12th is a 2/3 it'd be great.

[Slam]

Seriously - Dalembert gets paid a whole lot more than Gana and they have about the same production.

I don't have that much of a problem with Gana - except for the FT shooting thing.

Radman I have a problem with because I think we could have held out and brought Fabio back this year for half the price and double the production (his denial D was always great) and I think we could have moved Ammo as an expiring for a pick (even a late 1st)

[Ghost Kat]

I think Vlad had an OK season. Much better then Morrison has ever had. I have more respect for Vlad when he shoot's then i ever did for Morrison. Vlad did have some horrible defense at time but I would have to agree he did show some good denial defense at times.

[Slam]

No doubt. He was a massive upgrade over Ammo - I just wish we had done it a litle differently.

[teej]

Boris Diaw's post season interview is now up on the homepage.

[spectre]

Good catch teej.

Did you go to Boris' new player profile? It looks pretty good, but then I go and look at all the others and they are OLD. Raja and Boris (before it gets replaced by the new one I imagine) still have them in Suns' uniforms.

Employee cuts I guess?