AK Sucks in Olympics Operner Vs. GB -- only scores 35
- Thread starter write4u
- Start date
I'll admit Ak was pretty awesome today. Got to watch the game on AFN over here in Germany. AK was the player we saw in our first two years.
He was a force on both ends of the court. Really fun to watch.
I think he'll have a good year for the Twolves if he can stay healthy. The problem is I just don't think he can.
His body, and game are meant for Europe. He's a top 5 player over here, and a superstar.
He was a force on both ends of the court. Really fun to watch.
I think he'll have a good year for the Twolves if he can stay healthy. The problem is I just don't think he can.
His body, and game are meant for Europe. He's a top 5 player over here, and a superstar.
I'm not surprised to see AK do well in Olympics just like I wasn't surprised to see him do well for CSKA. The undertone of this whole thread seems to be that we don't recognize that AK has talent.
Just because I think he has talent doesn't mean that I think he deserved the max contract that he got from the Jazz, and I don't think he deserves the 2yr/20mill contract he got from Minnesota.
It has been mentioned previously that AK thrives when he's the best player on the court. This happens a lot in international play, but it rarely if ever happens in the NBA. The Jazz didn't misuse his talents. The Jazz would have been a worse team if they had tailored their game to suit AKs needs. AK needed and still needs to adjust his game to be a valuable 2nd and 3rd option on the court because there is not a team in the NBA where he will be the first option like he is when he plays internationally.
Personally, I really liked AK. My wife had his jersey and we cheered for him loudly while he was here. But, he was wildly inconsistent, often injured, and seemed unwilling/unable to fill the role that we needed him to fill for the last several years of his contract here. I wish him luck in Minnesota, but unless they cater their play style to him, he won't do any better there than he did here. And, since Minnesota has better players, I don't see them doing that.
Just because I think he has talent doesn't mean that I think he deserved the max contract that he got from the Jazz, and I don't think he deserves the 2yr/20mill contract he got from Minnesota.
It has been mentioned previously that AK thrives when he's the best player on the court. This happens a lot in international play, but it rarely if ever happens in the NBA. The Jazz didn't misuse his talents. The Jazz would have been a worse team if they had tailored their game to suit AKs needs. AK needed and still needs to adjust his game to be a valuable 2nd and 3rd option on the court because there is not a team in the NBA where he will be the first option like he is when he plays internationally.
Personally, I really liked AK. My wife had his jersey and we cheered for him loudly while he was here. But, he was wildly inconsistent, often injured, and seemed unwilling/unable to fill the role that we needed him to fill for the last several years of his contract here. I wish him luck in Minnesota, but unless they cater their play style to him, he won't do any better there than he did here. And, since Minnesota has better players, I don't see them doing that.
"Russia won its group in the preliminary round, beating medal favorites Brazil and Spain in the process. Those tight wins gained the Russians a few believers, but most international hoop experts didn't think they belonged in the same company with the Americans, Argentina, Spain, France or Brazil."
The associated press does not agree that Russia was ranked above France.
The associated press does not agree that Russia was ranked above France.
Good post and all, but this has always been the major misconception around AK. He was the first option one year with the Jazz and was never above third from that point, and those years when he was a third option he was damned good.
In terms of FGA/GM:
'04/'05 (main injury year): Third at 10.2
'05/'06: Third at 10.6
'06/'07: Seventh 6.0 (BEHIND DEREK FISHER)
'07/'08: Fifth at 7.6
'08/'09: Sixth at 8.5
'09/'10: Sixth at 8.3
'10/'11: Sixth at 8.5
And it gets worse when you look at Per48 numbers.
So if he gets to Minny and they make him a second or third option, he'd flourish, but just being a fourth option would be a step up as well.
theNBAnerd
Well-Known Member
this, and the fact that he frequently said he didn't need to be a main offensive option. he said over and over again that he just wanted to be able to have an impact on games, and as long as he got to score somewhere around double digits, his ideal game was one where he was more involved as a playmaker and a defensive difference-maker.
i don't know where this misconception comes from that "AK wanted to be the first option." it's just 100% nonsense that people have pulled from their asses, and not based on anything AK has ever said or done.
MVP
Well-Known Member
Could you tell what player Adelman catered his offense in his Kings days? That was one of the most potent offense they run and everybody was more or less involved. Weber, Divac, Stojakovic, J.Williams, Christy, they run passing clinic on that team. AK will feel rigth where he needs to with Adelmans offense and Rubio, Love, Roy/Shved and Pekovic. So I think it is very reasonable to assume that he may be only third option on that team and still do way better then on Jazz in last few years.
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
I hate AK but I agree with this post. In fact, my gut tells me Minny will make the playoffs and be very feisty this year. It also tells me that GS will either barely make the playoffs, or barely miss them. As far as Utahr goes, I have a bad feeling in my gut. Marvin Williams will underperform, mostly on the offensive side of the ball where he'll suck from the perimeter. Burks will become our new chucker and be frustrating at times. Favors will be slightly better but still lack any go to moves on offense and be inconsistent. And Jefferson will be Jefferson. Personally, if our season comes down to one player, I think it's Hayward. Our frontcourt is deep and solid. We know what we get there. Mo should be solid at the point. But Hayward will make or break our season imo. We go as far as he grows and goes as a player. If he can be the Hayward who played the last couple months, before the SA series, ona consistent basis, who knows, we can win 50+ games. If not, and he, dare I say it, regresses, so could we, and we could have a losing record. Done mini-rambling.
It remains to be seen if given the opportunity to be a 2nd or 3rd option (which I assume Minnesota plans based on the contract they offered him) that AK can return to form. But it's also been a long time since we've seen that version of AK against NBA competition. His recent performances looks good no doubt, but it's not the same as day in - day out against NBA teams.
Ellipse
Well-Known Member
Why do none of you AK worshippers remember when Sloan deliberately ran plays designed for AK to score? He did this to keep AK happy. Sloan gave it up because he got tired of spotting six possessions a game to the opposing team.
Scorpjazz
Well-Known Member
We wont have a losing record, not close. Ak will NOT lead the Wolves (maybe in games missed due to injury once he is reminded the NBA players arent intimidated by him like they are in Euroland), but they might make the playoffs.
The discussion on the Olympic tourney is silly, it was over before it started. I guess wondering who wins the silver and bronze is fun however.
The discussion on the Olympic tourney is silly, it was over before it started. I guess wondering who wins the silver and bronze is fun however.