How much should we be talking about Donovan?

[NAOS]

I’ve kinda said all along this is where I expected but the up and down nature and DMs disappointing start are the cause for concern.

The defense seems to be right again (most nights). So I think we can get back out second half mojo.

I’m slightly concerned on DM but still have faith in him. I just hope he’s not one of those guys who’s shot looks great but it never goes in as much as you think it should. I’d love to see how he looks if you surrounded him with shooting. I can’t tell if it’s purely a DM problem... a space problem... and it’s likely a little of both.

I’d love for DM to study Derozan. DM seems to have a good initial move but guys catch up or come to help... he needs the secondary spin move or pump fake instead of putting up a floater.

It’s definitely a little bit of both.... but I’m starting to wonder if it isn’t 70/30 Donovan. Maybe he’s banged up. But he’s making a lot of bad decisions when spacing isn’t the issue. Maybe he’s got a bit of the Rodney Hoods.

He needs the All-Star break to get here.

I think he’ll be fine. I wouldn’t be typing this at all if JFC weren’t awash with dudes pointing fingers everywhere else while claiming they’re woke.

 

[str8line]

Eh... I think he needs to play more and think less. I think he needs to kick it out more but that hasn’t been a recipe for success this season thus far. Specifying a certain number of assists is not what coaches do.

I think he’s willing to pass... I think that first unit lacks shooting and creation which is rough for a guy who is good but still needs to refine his game.

Of course you're right on specifying numbers but I think now is the time to reign in Donovan. No more chucking... for now. Let Don know you still have faith in him but for a bit we're going to have his emphasis be playmaking. Live or die with someone(s) other than Donovan.

 

[str8line]

Strange thing on DM... 1st and 4th quarters he's not good. Shoots 35/25 in Q1 and 38/25 in Q4. Compared to 46/36 in Q2 and 45/36 in Q3.

The Q4 stuff makes sense to me... since we force feed him and the offense stagnates... he was good last year though. The slow starts are somewhat puzzling but starting lineup spacing issues might be part of the problem.

Not sure what to make of it or if it's just random and there is nothing to it.

In the first he's warming up his battered body.

 

[fishonjazz]

Donovan & Ricky for us

What does this tell me?

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[fishonjazz]

It's not our offense it's our players. Our opponents want Don and Ricky shooting because they suck at it.

I think what he was saying is that if our offense is doing what the defense wants us to do then that isn't good offense. The defense is dictating. I think he probably thinks a good offense would get open shots for our players who don't suck at shooting.

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[Handlogten's Heros]

It’s definitely a little bit of both.... but I’m starting to wonder if it isn’t 70/30 Donovan. Maybe he’s banged up. But he’s making a lot of bad decisions when spacing isn’t the issue. Maybe he’s got a bit of the Rodney Hoods.

He needs the All-Star break to get here.

I think he’ll be fine. I wouldn’t be typing this at all if JFC weren’t awash with dudes pointing fingers everywhere else while claiming they’re woke.

To speak to your reads thing... he misses guys on the perimeter and gets too far in the paint and pukes up a shot or the ball too often. I agree it is likely a lot of DM, but not completely.

If there was another creator or more space I think maybe he forces less. I think he works it out... the spot up shooting at very least should creep up to where it was last year.

 

[str8line]

I think what he was saying is that if our offense is doing what the defense wants us to do then that isn't good offense. The defense is dictating. I think he probably thinks a good offense would get open shots for our players who don't suck at shooting.

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Too bad BOTH our PG and SG are shooting us out of games. Cutting out two of our starters(especially the 1 and 2) from the offensive equation won't work. Maybe we should give DMX a try right away.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Of course you're right on specifying numbers but I think now is the time to reign in Donovan. No more chucking... for now. Let Don know you still have faith in him but for a bit we're going to have his emphasis be playmaking. Live or die with someone(s) other than Donovan.

Problem is who? Joe seems tired... Ricky ain't it. DM has to create for himself or others. We need some personnel changes before I can condone telling DM to chill. It's as simple as weeding out one or two bad shots a night and not making the one extra bad turnover and I think he will return to similar numbers as the prior year.

It's a bit puzzling, but we don't have many answers to our creation problem on the roster. I think if we throw too much at Dante we'd have the same issue.

Long term we have some personnel issues to fix... I am doubtful we make the change this year... think it's an offseason thing. I still think we make the playoffs if healthy, but switching out a part or two for a better fitting or better quality part would be pretty life changing for us.

 

[str8line]

Problem is who? Joe seems tired... Ricky ain't it. DM has to create for himself or others. We need some personnel changes before I can condone telling DM to chill. It's as simple as weeding out one or two bad shots a night and not making the one extra bad turnover and I think he will return to similar numbers as the prior year.

It's a bit puzzling, but we don't have many answers to our creation problem on the roster. I think if we throw too much at Dante we'd have the same issue.

Long term we have some personnel issues to fix... I am doubtful we make the change this year... think it's an offseason thing. I still think we make the playoffs if healthy, but switching out a part or two for a better fitting or better quality part would be pretty life changing for us.

Honestly I think we give Dante the start over Ricky. Ricky is gone anyways, why not get started on our future? I'm not worried about throwing too much at Dante. His TO rate alone would go a long ways toward an improvement. And I think we strike while Dante is hot. His aggressiveness lately screams for a chance to start.

 

[Jazz]

Wouldn't it be weird if Dante ended up being a better player than Donovan? As much of a rollercoaster ride as Dante has been you can't deny his speed and ability to get to the rim lately. I think it's possible he might be on the cusp of being a 20 PPG guy.

Definitely a chance he's ends up better. Donovan relies so much on his jump shot. And Donovan is only athletic when no one is around. Otherwise he plays below the ring and he's not that fast either.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Honestly I think we give Dante the start over Ricky. Ricky is gone anyways, why not get started on our future? I'm not worried about throwing too much at Dante. His TO rate alone would go a long ways toward an improvement. And I think we strike while Dante is hot. His aggressiveness lately screams for a chance to start.

We'd need another solid option at PG imo so my preferred order of operations would be to move Ricky then commit to starting Dante. Let Dante continue to build confidence in his current role for now.

 

[carolinajazz]

I think Mitchell needs to come off the bench. When starts and begins with forcing shots, we end up behind and having to play catch up the rest of the game. Better to work for good shots to start out with, get a lead, and then bring Mitchell in and hope he doesn't go berserkawitz by playing out of control and shoot us out of the lead!