Did this guy watch the same Mcroberts as I did?

[yancem]

I was just poking around Dukeupadate.com and came across this article:

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/nba-dra...f-ar42080.html

He makes several valid points and I agree that McRoberts could benfit from another season at Duke but saying "Josh also has some holes in his game, like defense he really needs to improve on that, and he is a very average rebounder, who doesn’t always play well vs big men. He doesn’t show alot of effort to box out. Josh isn’t a consistent scorer, he can mentally drift off during the game at times, he doesn’t like to make too much contact on the floor. Josh also has an Antonie Walker mentality when it comes to three pointers, he just wants to jack them up, even though he’s not very good at it." seems a little off to me.

McRoberts was one of our better defenders (although late in the season there seemed to be a lot of confusion with switches) and averaged 2.5 blocks a game. He also averaged just under 8 rebounds a game which seems pretty decent to me and as for the Walker comparison, he only took 23 3 point shots this season and I'm pretty sure at least a few of them were end of shot clock heaves.

[mjones723]

He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding for christ sake. How do these people get these jobs?

[Duke15304]

the way the media talks it sounded like hansborugh averaged like 10 more rebounds then anybody else

[Wander]

He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding for christ sake.

No, he didn't.

I have a feeling that losing McRoberts could be addition by subtraction in the long run - not immediately though.

[Bob Green]

He makes several valid points and I agree that McRoberts could benfit from another season at Duke but saying "Josh also has some holes in his game, like defense he really needs to improve on that, and he is a very average rebounder, who doesn’t always play well vs big men. He doesn’t show alot of effort to box out. Josh isn’t a consistent scorer, he can mentally drift off during the game at times, he doesn’t like to make too much contact on the floor. Josh also has an Antonie Walker mentality when it comes to three pointers, he just wants to jack them up, even though he’s not very good at it." seems a little off to me.

The following points are completely wrong:

1. "He is a very average rebounder."
2. "...when it comes to three pointers, he just wants to jack them up..."

The following point is correct:

1. "Josh isn't a consistent scorer, he can mentally drift off during the game at times, he doesn't like to make too much contact on the floor."

IMO, Josh's struggles this season were a side affect of his back surgery during the off-season. Josh will address his shortcomings over the summer and develop into a solid player in the NBA. He has a lot of talent and a ton of potential.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[Wander]

IMO, Josh's struggles this season were a side affect of his back surgery during the off-season.

What makes you think this? It sounds like an excuse to me. If you have real reasons though, I'm definately listening.

[Bob Green]

What makes you think this? It sounds like an excuse to me. If you have real reasons though, I'm definately listening.

I believe the back surgery impacted Josh's ability to address his game's shortcomings, which were identified during his Freshman season. His focus was on recovering from surgery so he could not work on his midrange jumper or develop a consistent move for the low post. I also believe the surgery effected his jumping ability and confidence to bang away inside.

I am the last person who would be making excuses for Josh, but I believe in addressing facts. The fact is that Josh spent his "summer vacation" recovering from surgery, instead of working on his game.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[WeepingThomasHill]

Bob Green wrote:

"Josh will address his shortcomings over the summer and develop into a solid player in the NBA. He has a lot of talent and a ton of potential."

I don't think McRoberts will get a second contract - he will be exposed quickly and ruthlessly in the NBA. Hope he saves his money. He is not going to be another Webber, as he does not have CWebb's sophisticated offensive game (the vintage CWebb, not the current version). Who is he going to guard? Power forwards like Brand will destroy him. Garnett? Boozer? Bosh? Gasol? Al Jefferson? Jermaine O'Neal? Stoudamire? They will manhandle McRoberts in the post. I don't think McRobert's line drive hooks will scare anyone.

[dukie8]

I believe the back surgery impacted Josh's ability to address his game's shortcomings, which were identified during his Freshman season. His focus was on recovering from surgery so he could not work on his midrange jumper or develop a consistent move for the low post. I also believe the surgery effected his jumping ability and confidence to bang away inside.

I am the last person who would be making excuses for Josh, but I believe in addressing facts. The fact is that Josh spent his "summer vacation" recovering from surgery, instead of working on his game.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

i completely disagree. back surgery or no back surgery anything other than a dunk was pure brutality. there have been few players at duke with such a poor shot and his back surgery cannot possibly be the root cause of that. if he had even the slightest touch to his shot, the uva game would have been a win. i would be curious to see what his ppg were if you took out his dunks (which were awesome).

i agree with the other poster that he isn't going to get another contract. hansbrough ate him up. imagine what oden or durant would have done (and that is the type of player he will be facing every night in the nba). he was very fortunate that the acc had another off year and the better players were mostly guards. va tech, uva and bc had woeful front lines and were led by their guards (dudley was more a 3). i know that shav has figured out how to survive in the nba but he very much is the exception.

[Bob Green]

I stated that Josh would develop into a solid player. I did not say he would be an immediate impact player. Josh's game has some holes that he must address. IMO, a reliable midrange jumper should be priority # 1. Moreover, I agree with you that his line drive jump hook will not scare anyone. But, he is young and there is time for him to learn to shoot the jump hook with some arc and to develop a couple of low post moves.

My basic believe is that Josh is much, much, much better than he showed during his two years at Duke. For whatever reason: injury, team chemistry, coaching philosophy, desire, ... he did not blossom into the dominate offensive player we all expected him to be.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[dukie8]

I stated that Josh would develop into a solid player. I did not say he would be an immediate impact player. Josh's game has some holes that he must address. IMO, a reliable midrange jumper should be priority # 1. Moreover, I agree with you that his line drive jump hook will not scare anyone. But, he is young and there is time for him to learn to shoot the jump hook with some arc and to develop a couple of low post moves.

My basic believe is that Josh is much, much, much better than he showed during his two years at Duke. For whatever reason: injury, team chemistry, coaching philosophy, desire, ... he did not blossom into the dominate offensive player we all expected him to be.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

what makes you think that he is better than what he showed in 2 years at duke playing against other guys his age on national tv every week? clips of what you saw him do in high school against 6' suburban guys? it's not like the nba is full of 30 year old players as it is a VERY young league and he is going to be playing against a lot of guys close to him in age. the league has very little room for guys with absolutely no outside shot and a horribly poor shot on anything other than a dunk.

[Bob Green]

what makes you think that he is better than what he showed in 2 years at duke playing against other guys his age on national tv every week? clips of what you saw him do in high school against 6' suburban guys? it's not like the nba is full of 30 year old players as it is a VERY young league and he is going to be playing against a lot of guys close to him in age. the league has very little room for guys with absolutely no outside shot and a horribly poor shot on anything other than a dunk.

I stick with my original statement that Josh was setback by the off season back surgery. That is my core point. He could not work on his offensive game over the summer between his Freshman and Sophomore years. The surgery affected his jumping ability and willingness to bang inside. His confidence was down and frustration set in.

As far as watching him in clips against 6' suburban guys, I have not watched any clips of Josh's high school performances. Searching for film clips on the Internet is a relatively new hobby for me so I've seen clips of Singler, Smith, & Taylor, but none of Josh.

I'm not sure what a 6' suburban guy is, but it sounds like a new euphemism for white and slow, or maybe, white and short.

Bob Green
Yokosuka, Japan

[mgtr]

I certainly have no ill will towards McBob, for he made a solid contibution in his two years at Duke, but I don't see exactly where he will fit in at the NBA level. As others have stated, he better save his money, since he won't get a second shot. Plus, with the Florida players coming out along with hotshot freshmen such as Durant, he may not be drafted all that high.

[b&l]

Just one of those subjective feely things while watching Duke games. Josh is fighting a demon, and a ton of anger. Logic might say unresolved emotions regardings the divorce of his parents? Who knows? But unlike a Brand or Deng who had their lives sorted out and sported the maturity of 30 year olds when they left Duke, Josh has a lot of personal sorting out to do. He could have used one or two more years at Duke to give himself space and time to do that. One can only hope he doesn't get drawn to self-destructive behavior, and have not enough safety net around him. Can't shake off memories of ex-Duke stars such as Jay Williams or Bobby Hurley. The NBA is a grind with little sympathy for those who are sometimes quite fragile.

[dukelifer]

I certainly have no ill will towards McBob, for he made a solid contibution in his two years at Duke, but I don't see exactly where he will fit in at the NBA level. As others have stated, he better save his money, since he won't get a second shot. Plus, with the Florida players coming out along with hotshot freshmen such as Durant, he may not be drafted all that high.

McBob does not want to be in college- so he will test his ability in the NBA. He may not make it like many before him- or he may surprise. You never know. I remember some NBA and DBR experts say that Carlos Boozer was too small and too slow/lumbering to play in the NBA when he left early- well how did that turn out? I remember everyone thinking Dun might be the next Larry Bird. Everyone though Shav would be selling insurance by now- but he somehow got a contract and some consideration. No one knows. Josh is taking his shot. Now the only issue is how high he will be drafted and thus how much he plays. I don't think he will slip to the second round- but he could be an end of the first round pick. The reality of the NBA will hit him very soon- but some players surprise. Some player's games are much better suited to the NBA.

[BCGroup]

Shavlik Randolph.

Just read this thread, and can't help but remember what folks said about Shav, then he did get a contract, and he was somewhat successful before his injury. I realized a while back that the NBA doesn't give contracts based totally on quality, sometimes they give a contract for height, potential, maybe even eye color--who knows.

[dukie8]

McBob does not want to be in college- so he will test his ability in the NBA. He may not make it like many before him- or he may surprise. You never know. I remember some NBA and DBR experts say that Carlos Boozer was too small and too slow/lumbering to play in the NBA when he left early- well how did that turn out? I remember everyone thinking Dun might be the next Larry Bird. Everyone though Shav would be selling insurance by now- but he somehow got a contract and some consideration. No one knows. Josh is taking his shot. Now the only issue is how high he will be drafted and thus how much he plays. I don't think he will slip to the second round- but he could be an end of the first round pick. The reality of the NBA will hit him very soon- but some players surprise. Some player's games are much better suited to the NBA.

how many 6'10" guys are in the nba who cannot shoot even a 5 footer?

[JasonEvans]

how many 6'10" guys are in the nba who cannot shoot even a 5 footer?

And how many 6-10 guys are there who can run the floor, handle the ball, and pass like Josh?

It is a heck of a lot easier to learn to shoot a close-range shot than it is to develop the kind of ball-skills Josh has.

I am not saying he is ever going to be an all-star, but Josh McRoberts will stick around the NBA for a while and will be a significant player (probably as a 6th-man type) in the league. I think his game suits the open-floor NBA style a lot more than it did college play.

-Jason "teams that move the ball around and value passing, like the Jazz, Suns, Pistons, Bulls, and Nets, would be a great home for Josh" Evans

[dukie8]

And how many 6-10 guys are there who can run the floor, handle the ball, and pass like Josh?

It is a heck of a lot easier to learn to shoot a close-range shot than it is to develop the kind of ball-skills Josh has.

I am not saying he is ever going to be an all-star, but Josh McRoberts will stick around the NBA for a while and will be a significant player (probably as a 6th-man type) in the league. I think his game suits the open-floor NBA style a lot more than it did college play.

-Jason "teams that move the ball around and value passing, like the Jazz, Suns, Pistons, Bulls, and Nets, would be a great home for Josh" Evans

a lot of guys can run, handle and pass like josh (hello nowitzki, duncan, and lebron) and ALL of them can shoot a lot more than dunks. if it were so easy for him to develop a close-range shot, then he would have done it by now after 2 years at duke. moreover, most of the guys in the nba -- particularly the ones he will face -- can shoot a lot further out than 5 feet. again, how many guys in the nba cannot shoot anything other than a dunk? if he couldn't hit those shots with guys like cain on him in college, how in the world is he going to hit them in the nba with someone like brand on him? i'd like to see him prove everyone wrong but i just don't see him making it. shav very much was more the exception than the general rule. for every shav, there probably are 50 dawkins or amakers who have great skills but who cannot make it.

[yancem]

There has been a lot talk about Josh's lack of an outside shot. When I was reading about him coming out of highschool people were saying that he had a solid midrange game and a shot and that with a little more work could extend his range out to the 3 point line. He also looked pretty good making a couple of 3's in the McD game so I wonder if Bob Green may have point about his back surgery. A stiffer back could effect his shot meaning that he would have to retool it.

There were a couple of time (granted not many) the he caught the ball and shot the 10-12 footer without hesitation and the shots looked fine. This makes me wonder if he somehow has developed a mental block. 90% of the time he took a shot from farther than 5 feet he hesitated which is almost aways a death nail.

Interesting aside, it seems to be a trend that Duke had recuited several players with a reputation for being good shooters then they get to campus there shot leaves them. Nick Horvath, Chris Duhon and Chris Burgess imediately come to mind. Anyone else notice that?