Jump to content


Toggle shoutbox Shoutbox Open the Shoutbox in a popup

@  majik19 : (13 October 2015 - 09:09 PM) Apparently we claimed Arsalan Kazemi off waivers from the Hawks today... yet another undersized (6'7") power forward for Morey's cupboard.
@  Mario Peña : (10 October 2015 - 01:12 PM) If your part if the Red94 Fantasy Basketball League check the thread to vote for the date and time for the draft event. Thanks y'all!
@  jorgeaam : (07 October 2015 - 08:47 PM) Guys we need 1 more owner for the Red94 fantasy league, if interested please comment on the post in the fantasy basketball thread
@  slick shoes : (07 October 2015 - 06:50 PM) Kobe ranked one spot higher than Ariza? Is this based on legacy or...??
@  slick shoes : (07 October 2015 - 04:13 PM) It was hard to keep up with both the Astros and Rockets at the same time. Should be interesting on Thursday with the Texans and Astros on simultaneously.
@  Mario Peña : (07 October 2015 - 04:09 PM) It was fun to have the Rockets on last night! Right now I'm watching the Celtics versus Milan and Alessandro Gentile is impressive.
@  jorgeaam : (06 October 2015 - 07:47 PM) Well, thinking twice about it, I'd rather have him score less and have the team as a whole do better. Lawson should take a lot of his load off
@  jorgeaam : (06 October 2015 - 07:47 PM) Loving that, hope he hits 30 PPG this year
@  thejohnnygold : (06 October 2015 - 06:15 PM) Someone is feeling confident :) : LINK
@  jorgeaam : (06 October 2015 - 05:54 PM) 10 Teams done, will need 2 more
@  Mario Peña : (06 October 2015 - 02:35 PM) Alright guys, if anyone is interested in joining the Red94 fantasy basketball league we could use one more player to get us to 10 teams (or three to get us to 12 teams). Just check the thread in the Fantasy Basketball forum. Thanks!
@  thejohnnygold : (05 October 2015 - 06:23 PM) I use leaguepass here in Austin with no problems...
@  skip 2 my lou : (05 October 2015 - 03:14 PM) Hey fellas, I'm a rocket fan but I live in the heart of Dallas. Does anybody know if I buy NBA Leaguepass if it's too close to be subject to blackouts?
@  Losthief : (02 October 2015 - 02:24 AM) tks jg
@  thejohnnygold : (29 September 2015 - 05:16 AM) FYI, it was media day today. Interviews are up at NBA.com
@  slick shoes : (23 September 2015 - 06:37 PM) kind of late in the day but NBATV is broadcasting classis Rockets games all day today.
@  SadLakerFan : (16 September 2015 - 04:37 AM) Man, as a Laker fan, I'm learning how little you care about the off season when your team sucks. Anyway, a quick moment to remember Moses. Still remember watching the 81 team as a kid - losing record, NBA Finals. I would have cried w/joy if they could have beaten the Celtics.
@  jorgeaam : (15 September 2015 - 08:30 PM) http://bleacherrepor...ist-after-crash
@  jorgeaam : (15 September 2015 - 08:30 PM) So to celebrate his new contract, Montrezl Harrell saved someone's life on monday
@  thejohnnygold : (14 September 2015 - 04:36 PM) A good article from Blinebury talking about when Hakeem and Moses used to play in the park. LINK

Photo

At what point can I feel safe trusting Donatas Motiejunas?


  • Please log in to reply
28 replies to this topic

#1 Red94

Red94

    Senior Member

  • Administrators
  • 1,415 posts

    Posted 05 December 2014 - 02:27 PM

    New post: At what point can I feel safe trusting Donatas Motiejunas?
    By: Rahat Huq

    I've been driving the Motiejunas bandwagon for years now, before he ever even came over.  The Rockets' big man had shown flashes here and there, but had largely been a disappointment up to this season.  There was a point earlier in the year where I was convinced that his career in Houston was soon to be over.  But with injuries saddling Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones, Motiejunas is finally repaying on the trust his small band of loyalists have held.  The 7 footer has maintained his defensive efforts while finally delivering consistently on the offensive end.  But as aforementioned, he had shown glimpses of promise in the past.  Is it too early to fully trust Motiejunas?

     

    I've been trying to pinpoint the cause of this sudden effectiveness.  Increased playing time is obvious.  But typically, players show enough in small doses to where, when they get the minutes increase, the eventual production is an extrapolation.  Can you think of an example of a guy being horrible and becoming good with more time?  Off the top of my head, I cannot.

     

    Confidence is an interesting thing.  If a guy goes into a game, and knows he isn't coming out, and knows he's going to be out there for most of the time, maybe he settles down?  Maybe that ease is what allows him to put that extra touch on his shot?  You can compare it to real life.  Most people can't work too well under pressure, especially when they know their job is on the line.  Look at the mistakes made in a legal brief on deadline.  But give a person time and they'll settle down.  It's possible that in the ten or so minutes Motiejunas would come in, he pressed too hard to make something happen, throwing everything off.  Unless we get inside his mind, we won't ever know.

     

    I'm looking back through recent Rockets history for guys who made a "jump".  Harden was an extrapolation.  Beverley showed glimpses from Day 1.  Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry, now two of the best point guards in the entire league, are also interesting case studies, in that they went from serviceable to all-NBA.  For them, it was a case of finding the right system and growing as leaders.  They also made marginal skill improvements (Lowry extending his range, Dragic becoming a better passer).  But again, those guys were still "good players" all along.

     

    Look at this work from the other night.

     

    http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a559/RedNinetyFour/DMowork1_zpsyxp9spkz.gif

     

    And more work:

     

    http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a559/RedNinetyFour/DMowork2_zpsr6bf2fdm.gif

     

    This isn't much of a surprise.  We've known for years now that Motiejunas has the entire repertoire offensively.  He runs the floor hard, has range, can actually pass off the dribble (which I've highlighted previously), and is polished in the post.  You should definitely be able to let Motiejunas work on at least a few possessions per game.  If you don't, you're wasting his talents.

     

    But what happens going forward?  We can assume, hopefully, that both Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones will return to the lineup.  That will slash Motiejunas' minutes drastically.  Do you pull him from the starting lineup?  Some of you are probably thinking, "who cares?  Just be happy we will have three quality bigs."  I think that's missing the point.  In an ideal world, it wouldn't matter.  But Motiejunas is clearly a player with a fragile sense of esteem.  If you disrupt the status quo, you might lose him entirely yet again.

     

    For now, though, I'm just enjoying the ride.  I don't know when I'll feel entirely safe to trust Donatas Motiejunas.


    • 0

    #2 NorEastern

    NorEastern

      Junior Member

    • Members
    • PipPipPip
    • 373 posts

      Posted 05 December 2014 - 02:40 PM

      Thank you for an excellent post. But D-Mo did not just suddenly come alive. His defense has been phenomenal for a while now. But I do agree that something has clicked suddenly with more playing time. The tick-tacky fouls have mostly gone away. The shots that 10 games ago that were rolling around the rim are now dropping regularly. His rotations, shading and mobility on defense all seem a notch better now. D-Mo is a very unusual player in the NBA. A true lock down the paint center, with the quickness to defend the best power forwards in the league. For a man that is 7 feet tall and pushing 270 pounds, D-Mo's quickness and speed are incredible. And he can pass with the best bigs in the league.

       

      On the other hand small sample size warning. Let us see how he is doing in March.


      • 0

      #3 marbony81110

      marbony81110

        Rookie

      • Members
      • PipPip
      • 71 posts
      • LocationGermany

      Posted 05 December 2014 - 03:08 PM

      D.Mo has been playing well forz the time he has been afforded due to injuries. The problem is he is not a good fit playing with Howard. Jones fits that role so much better because he is a better shooter, ball handler and much more athletic. When everyone does get healthy D.Mo should come off the bench where he can be so much more effective with Kostas, Canaan, and Terry. That makes for a solid bench. I never would have had faith in that bench without the experience they are getting right now. Besides I still think Jones is the better player.
      • 0

      #4 NorEastern

      NorEastern

        Junior Member

      • Members
      • PipPipPip
      • 373 posts

        Posted 05 December 2014 - 03:32 PM

        There are a few things that Jones will never ever approach D-Mo in ability. Paint defense, playing center, post play, being able to guard elite power forwards in the league. Not even close. That being said I, like you, do hope that when Jones gets back he is the starter. Howard + D-Mo = 48 minutes of great paint protection. IMHO it does not get much better than that. Best to you sir!


        • 0

        #5 NorEastern

        NorEastern

          Junior Member

        • Members
        • PipPipPip
        • 373 posts

          Posted 05 December 2014 - 03:39 PM

          I would like to point out that most NBA statisticians feel that 20 games are the minimum needed before statistics overcomes the small sample size problem. It will be another 13 games before I can feel comfortable saying that D-Mo has actually turned the corner. So the Hornets game on December 31st is the point that I can actually determine if D-Mo is actually going to be very good in this league. I am optimistic.


          • 0

          #6 Alituro

          Alituro

            Advanced Member

          • Members
          • PipPipPipPip
          • 548 posts

            Posted 05 December 2014 - 04:30 PM

            Dmo's progression has definitely been refreshing. I think we all here agree that he is best suited at center as his natural position. You have to assume that the talent that we are seeing displayed has been there, although underlying, this entire season. If you look back at the games where he was paired with Dwight, with the exception of the GS loss, he has performed pretty very poorly on offense, even with around 30 minutes of play time. He and Dwight are both most effective operating in the same space. When Jones is back, it would be foolish to relinquish the starting PF spot and pair Dmo next to Dwight. We will run into similar problems like we had with Asik. I think Dmo's talents, are best used, going forward with a healthy squad, as 1st center off the bench, helping to keep Dwight's minutes down, keeping competent post offense and D when paired with Jones, and leading the post of the bench squad. A 28/20 Dwight/Dmo minutes split at C would be ideal, IMO.

             

            Unfortunately this strongly emphasizes our need for another PF, as well as giving us surplus back-up centers. I think freeing Al Harrington from China would offer a good, cheap, immediate fix.


            • 0

            #7 marbony81110

            marbony81110

              Rookie

            • Members
            • PipPip
            • 71 posts
            • LocationGermany

            Posted 05 December 2014 - 08:38 PM

            There are a few things that Jones will never ever approach D-Mo in ability. Paint defense, playing center, post play, being able to guard elite power forwards in the league. Not even close. That being said I, like you, do hope that when Jones gets back he is the starter. Howard + D-Mo = 48 minutes of great paint protection. IMHO it does not get much better than that. Best to you sir!


            of course Jones can't match D.Mo in post defense or playing center...He is taller and heavier than Jones. As far as guarding elite PFs, the Rockets have no one that can do that...maybe Howard. D.Mo fairs better guarding PFs in the post because he is bigger but Jones fairs better guarding shooting PFs because he is more athletic. Neither of them can truly guard an elite PF solo. They have faired well with team defense but if they try to play straight up D with no help it doesn't end well. Both players have their strengths and weaknesses. Neither are the complete solution to guarding elite PFs.
            • 0

            #8 thejohnnygold

            thejohnnygold

              Veteran

            • Moderators
            • 4,134 posts
            • LocationAustin, TX

            Posted 05 December 2014 - 09:23 PM

            December 22nd is a big day for D-Mo.  We play the Blazers.  I don't expect him to shut down Aldridge (who does, really?), but I do want to see him play tough D and force him to earn his points the hard way.  Plus, I'm pretty excited to see D-Mo posting up Aldridge.  Can't wait to see that game!


            • 0

            #9 NorEastern

            NorEastern

              Junior Member

            • Members
            • PipPipPip
            • 373 posts

              Posted 05 December 2014 - 09:58 PM

              @JG. Yep. That is going to be a true test. IMHO LMA is the perfect power forward for D-Mo to guard. Big, not incredibly fast, and one of the top mid-ranged shooters in the league. Size, positional defense and quickness are the necessary ingredients for a successful defense. I am looking forward to watching it. Even with my trepidation.


              • 0

              #10 NorEastern

              NorEastern

                Junior Member

              • Members
              • PipPipPip
              • 373 posts

                Posted 05 December 2014 - 10:04 PM

                @ Marbony D-Mo pretty much shut down Blake in the first half of the clippers game. 2 points in 11 minutes. And when D-Mo sat all hell broke loose. We shall see how he does against LMA, Bosh, etc. The jury is still out.


                Edited by NorEastern, 05 December 2014 - 10:04 PM.

                • 0

                #11 thenit

                thenit

                  Advanced Member

                • Members
                • PipPipPipPip
                • 671 posts

                  Posted 06 December 2014 - 03:42 AM

                  Just want to add one point, Jones is not the better shooter. So far his percentage is on a very small sample size but the just the arch and technique of the shot, Dmo has the edge and I think has a better chance of being more consistent. Jones release must be one of the slowest in the NBA.


                  • 0

                  #12 Lucas Daniel Uribe

                  Lucas Daniel Uribe

                    Newbie

                  • Members
                  • Pip
                  • 25 posts
                  • LocationTygh Valley, OR

                  Posted 06 December 2014 - 10:08 AM

                  For 2 years I have heard of his potential, but could never understand NBA Basketball. He would frequently commit silly fouls and he would find himself on the bench. He has been really good, contesting other bigs. I as a Houston Rockets fan am glad he is showing his teammates that he is serviceable. You are right Rahat, his self esteem is at an All Time High right now, but can he continue doing this for the rest of the regular season and into the Playoffs. The Rockets beat a good team in Minnesota with 4 bench guys finishing the Overtime Period. I am praying that these guys playing right now can bring it to the Playoffs and an NBA Finals Appearance and the Larry O'Brien Trophy. #RedNation #RedRowdies
                  • 0

                  #13 NorEastern

                  NorEastern

                    Junior Member

                  • Members
                  • PipPipPip
                  • 373 posts

                    Posted 07 December 2014 - 05:20 AM

                    I would guess after the Suns game tonight, right about now.


                    • 0

                    #14 Matt Maloney's Ghost

                    Matt Maloney's Ghost

                      Rookie

                    • Members
                    • PipPip
                    • 57 posts

                      Posted 07 December 2014 - 06:18 AM

                      Just a quick question,

                       

                      In the future, when the Rockets need a bucket, and when Harden is struggling, 

                       

                      Would you feel more comfortable with D-Mo in the post?

                       

                      Or Howard in the post?

                       

                      I would say D-Mo. And hopefully Howard wouldn't have a problem with that if the team decides to go that way.


                      • 0

                      #15 thenit

                      thenit

                        Advanced Member

                      • Members
                      • PipPipPipPip
                      • 671 posts

                        Posted 07 December 2014 - 03:45 PM

                        Dmo is the better post up choice, but if we run the PnR howard is the better roll man.


                        • 0

                        #16 thejohnnygold

                        thejohnnygold

                          Veteran

                        • Moderators
                        • 4,134 posts
                        • LocationAustin, TX

                        Posted 07 December 2014 - 07:37 PM

                        Just found this....thought I'd share.

                         


                        • 2

                        #17 thenit

                        thenit

                          Advanced Member

                        • Members
                        • PipPipPipPip
                        • 671 posts

                          Posted 07 December 2014 - 09:54 PM

                          HAHA, I guess we found the secret of his improvement, so imagine if he goes hockey style during the playoffs. He will be the finals MVP


                          • 0

                          #18 Cooper

                          Cooper

                            Senior Member

                          • Members
                          • PipPipPipPipPip
                          • 1,290 posts

                            Posted 07 December 2014 - 10:32 PM

                            Can you go to dmo in the post if howard is with him on the floor? Pure speculation since we've seen basically none of this in games that matter but I would say that might clog up the paint too much and reduce effectiveness of whoever you do chose to go to. I could see Howard accepting dmo getting post touches but can't see him riding the pine in big moments for dmo to be able to excel. 


                            • 0

                            #19 ale11

                            ale11

                              Advanced Member

                            • Members
                            • PipPipPipPip
                            • 707 posts
                            • LocationMontevideo, Uruguay

                            Posted 08 December 2014 - 02:59 AM

                            Can you go to dmo in the post if howard is with him on the floor? Pure speculation since we've seen basically none of this in games that matter but I would say that might clog up the paint too much and reduce effectiveness of whoever you do chose to go to. I could see Howard accepting dmo getting post touches but can't see him riding the pine in big moments for dmo to be able to excel. 

                             

                            The problem wouldn't be keeping Howard on the court (it's not like Black spaces up the floor more than what Dwight might), it's whether he'll be pouting he should be the one getting the ball instead of D-Mo....I really really hope he understands that when it comes to posting up, Donatas is soooo much better, but his ego might take a hit when the media starts mocking him for being basically the third option behind Harden's isos and Motiejunas' post ups. I know he cares more about winning, but it must hurt to know that someone who makes almost 20 times less money than you is the preferred option in that scenario


                            • 0

                            #20 Steven

                            Steven

                              Veteran

                            • Members
                            • PipPipPipPipPipPip
                            • 2,008 posts

                              Posted 08 December 2014 - 03:46 AM

                              The problem wouldn't be keeping Howard on the court (it's not like Black spaces up the floor more than what Dwight might), it's whether he'll be pouting he should be the one getting the ball instead of D-Mo....I really really hope he understands that when it comes to posting up, Donatas is soooo much better, but his ego might take a hit when the media starts mocking him for being basically the third option behind Harden's isos and Motiejunas' post ups. I know he cares more about winning, but it must hurt to know that someone who makes almost 20 times less money than you is the preferred option in that scenario

                              D-Mo keeps playing like he is, he will be offered a max contract in two summers.
                              • 0




                              1 user(s) are reading this topic

                              0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users