Drafted 17th, awesome. How many is he averaging in the NBA? And by how many, I mean, how many games a season has he even played in the NBA?
say what you will about Willis....
- Thread starter ulismyman
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Drafted 17th, awesome. How many is he averaging in the NBA? And by how many, I mean, how many games a season has he even played in the NBA?
cutnets you really going to compare Willis to a James Young? wow this is getting crazy now. James Young was and is a world class player. meaning he can go anywhere in the world and play. Young gave so much more then some flashy dunks or bad entry passes when he was here. Young new how to compete and was not afraid or soft. some of you are not doing Willis any justice putting him on a level with the likes of a James Young.
I hope Willis gets it. but if he doesn't by this year no way he even sees the floor next year. and that's what will be better for this team. what's best for this team this year is to get Poy in playing shape and get Mathews as ready as possible for March. and that takes clock. I don't blame Cal. if I had a kid who has been here 3 years and still struggling, I probably wouldn't have a lot of trust in him either.
I hope Willis gets it. but if he doesn't by this year no way he even sees the floor next year. and that's what will be better for this team. what's best for this team this year is to get Poy in playing shape and get Mathews as ready as possible for March. and that takes clock. I don't blame Cal. if I had a kid who has been here 3 years and still struggling, I probably wouldn't have a lot of trust in him either.
What does James Young do so much better than Willis? And yes Im being dead serious. I think you are an average fan, you get wowed by dunks and lobs and don't really understand the game. Chapman (despite his penchant for stealing), said many times that he loves Willis' game and that Derek will be in the NBA one day. James Young has played majority D-league. The guy can't even be considered an NBA'er at this point unless you consider the D-league the NBA. I consider the D-league to be the D-league.
Say again, what does James Young do better than Willis? Dunk? Awesome man, guess because he can dunk he will be a better player. What good does being drafted 17th overall do if you are in the d-league for your career. Willis shoots it as well as Young, certainly passes better than Young, has every bit the mid-range game, and can finish at the rim. You say Willis can't defend, who the hell has Young ever guarded? Every watched Young make a post-entry pass?
Last question; if Young is so much better than Willis (who many have said has NBA potential), then why is Young struggling so hard to make it into the league?
Its so easy to say "Young was drafted 17th overall, so there is no doubt he is better than Willis", but when you sit and break down their game, is Young really better? How?
First off, I never said Young was some awesome, super-duper superstar so tone down the embellishments. I said he was better than Willis offensively, and that's an undeniable, non-debateable fact.
Also, Young offered way more than just an awesome dunk. To even attempt to imply that's all he offered is preposterous. You're going a little strong with the hyperbole as well. And Goodwin? What does Goodwin have to do with anything? Who was even talking about Goodwin? That's a strawman way out of left field if I've ever seen one.
This debate ended before it even started. Two measly comments in, and you're already embellishing, trying to put words in my mouth, busting out over the top hyperbole and bringing up weak strawman arguments because you know you're full of b.s.
I'm not trying to hate on Willis whatsoever, but if you seriously think that Willis offers just as much as Young to a basketball team, then I seriously question your knowledge and there's absolutely no reason to further this conversation.
I've been saying this all along, and it is still true. That Willis, along with Matthews, and Humphries, and even Hawkins (& was hoping Mulder) all provide something the others don't, but also have some HOLES in their games that will limit their PT in some games. As a group they compliment each other, but don't expect any one of them to come out an be "THE 7th man". So their individual PT will be opponent/matchup driven, also affected by how they're practicing/playing at that time.
We needed Humphries bulk to slow down Plumlee vs Duke, and will need that in other games too.
We have needed Matthews quickness and energy at times, and will need that in other games too.
And we have needed Willis scoring at times, and will need that in other games too.
So yes, Willis has/provides some positives, mostly on the offensive end of the court (and he isn't horrible on defense). But we don't have 300 minutes to divide up, we have 200; and we have games to win.
We needed Humphries bulk to slow down Plumlee vs Duke, and will need that in other games too.
We have needed Matthews quickness and energy at times, and will need that in other games too.
And we have needed Willis scoring at times, and will need that in other games too.
So yes, Willis has/provides some positives, mostly on the offensive end of the court (and he isn't horrible on defense). But we don't have 300 minutes to divide up, we have 200; and we have games to win.
First, I played college basketball. I understand the game.
Young right now is playing for the Celtics in the NBA. He played 31 games last season averaged about 10 mins per game. He is however behind Evan Turner. Not because Brad Stevens hates one and dones but because Turner is better.
He scored 20 points in 9 mins of play the other night vs New Orleans.
If you think Willis and Young are on par talent wise you would be the worst GM ever.
This. The fact that the OP used last night's game to start this thread is utterly baffling. WTF was he watching? Last night Willis played quite poorly on both offense and defense, and the other forwards in that game were clearly far better on both offense and defense.
Makes you wonder if the OP even watches these games that he's posting about. it's like he was so eager to start yet another Willis-cheerleader thread that he didn't bother to notice what actually happened in the game.
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This is the downside to Cal if you wanna call it a downside. The stigma is lets get these players to the league fast ready or not. Lamb, Liggins,Teague,Twins,Dakari, Young...none of them had any business leaving early. They played on other teams would never even be mentioned. Now Ulis will suffer...got no business being anything but 4 year player. SKAL no business going pro either...Poy same thing....but it is done...wheels in motion they will all leave
What you said perfectly describes Skal & Lee.......except they can hit a 3, or can't keep the opponent from taking the ball away from them
I think he's improved his overall game to this season and he looks a lot more comfortable out there, but lets not act like he is just killing it out there. For having the reputation of being a great outside shooter, he sure has missed a good chunk of open/good looks. I know as a team were struggling with that, but when your MO is being a shooter you got to take advantage of your chances to stay in the rotation.
He's earned his minutes, but he has Matthews right behind. Matthews right now is one of the few guys playing with a lot of energy. So unless Willis starts taking advantage of his chances, his minutes will go down some. Hopefully he keeps working and Cal can use both Willis and Matthews for different situations, as both can bring a unique skill set.
He's earned his minutes, but he has Matthews right behind. Matthews right now is one of the few guys playing with a lot of energy. So unless Willis starts taking advantage of his chances, his minutes will go down some. Hopefully he keeps working and Cal can use both Willis and Matthews for different situations, as both can bring a unique skill set.
Absolutely serious. Maybe you haven't paid close enough attention?
Of course if you have a counter-argument have at it.
Willis is playing well both on offense and defense, at least pretty close to his ability level. He feeds the post better than anyone else out there! But Mathews is playin well too! I do think Willis would play even better with more time. But that is the case with about all of them! Cal sees things differently than I do and that is probably a very good thing!
Out of curiosity, where does this supposed "reputation" come from?
Because the actual facts sure as hell do NOT back it up. Truth is, Willis has NEVER been a good shooter here. He's a friggin 29 percent career three pt shooter, and only 30 percent this season. In what delusional world must one be living in to think that's a "great outside shooter"? I thought that if a player misses over 70 percent of his shots from a spot, not only is that considered quite bad shooting, but it's perhaps a spot he should stop shooting from.
As far as I can tell, the Willis/ace shooter thing is basically just a myth concocted by some fans pretending he's what they want him to be, rather than what he's actually been.
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Skal and Lee are not being put out there to hit a 3 nor are they being hyped up to be lights out shooters.
I think you might have used too much of the same dye that Willis tried.
Because murray is 100 times better than willis. It's not that hard to understand. Take your willis blinders off.
Umm cutnet ill answer your question. Young is playing in the best league in the world playing for one of the most historical organizations in the world. You fing kidding me with this. Sad part is Young is getting more PT and contributing just about as much as Willis. Young is on a border line NBA playoff team while Willis is struggling to contribute on a college team that is wide open for someone to step in and take those available mins.
Does that answer your question?
Does that answer your question?
Willis is a good player. He is limited on defense but the entire team seems to be. He is not a good 3pt shooter but no one else on the team is either. So playing Willis a lot of minutes right now might win some more games in the short term, but would the team be a better version of itself when it matters in March. I don't think so. Skal, Poythress, Lee, and Mathews all have much more potential than Willis. And the only way for them to reach their potential and for this team to be as successful in March as we all hope, is for those players to get minutes. I do think that Willis deserves a little more time than he gets but 10 - 15 minutes is about right for him.
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Why do some feel to build one player up (Willis) they must tear other players down (Poy, Murray, Skal, James Young)?
Guess that's the nature of the board.
I would like to see Willis get more minutes. But I have concerns if he does, but those concerns are valid with others as well.
Guess that's the nature of the board.
I would like to see Willis get more minutes. But I have concerns if he does, but those concerns are valid with others as well.
I think it honestly comes from his limited playing time and all those practice reports people read where it says Willis doesn't miss. It also doesn't help when some in the media like to say Willis would start for any team not named UK. I do agree that his shooting touch has been blown out of proportion, and I've fallen for it as well. Willis is a good to decent player, but he will never be the man on any top D1 team. He's a serviceable bench player who can be inserted into a role player from time to time.
I will say I think he's pushed himself a lot since last season. He looks a lot more comfortable out there and doesn't panic when the ball is in his hands. He deserves credit for that, but as you said some (myself included) have tried to define him as a can't miss shooter. He's not, but at least he's been working on other aspects of his game to keep some PT.
Skal was being hyped as the #1 selection in the draft & is playing far from it
How many dropped or muffed passes did Lee have again last night
Why do some people insist on judging a person's
value in cbb by what his pro projections are?
What Willis does or does not do after cbb does
not have any bearing on our games this year.
Who will be the better pro should not over ride
current performance.
UMMMM. IDK thats what everyone does? Scouts grade college players based on their production in college.
Willis couldn't match Young's college production either.
Some people want Willis to be something hes not.
Actually, that is highly debatable, IMHO. Show us some stats to back up you claim.
Mathews is playing well but he isn't the minutes that should be taking.
I'm sort of sick about what Poythress "will" give us or what he "will" be. What Poythress is at this point is an athletic bench power forward who still insists he has a permieter game and is wildly inconsistent. Who played better in the UCLA game? Poythress was terrible and I thought Willis outplayed him in pretty much every category. Yet Willis continually gets the hook and Poythress is left to clang easy misses, dribble the ball off his feet and miss bunnies against superior athletes while taking ill advised and poor three pointers.
I know what Cal sees in him and hopes what he can do and bring; everyone does and has. But the time I think is past. I do hope this last game though is a turning point for him and he can finally put it together because I would love to see that because it would help the team especially with how weak Skal is playing and how limited Lee is offensively...but I've been fooled before and maybe it's time to give others ample opportunity to perform.
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