DS17Fanboy

Sometimes a little "break-out game" can be just enough to put a young and struggling but talented player over the hump. Specially when you do stuff like that against the Mitten and Tim Duncan. And more importantly, as a young foreign point-guard, your team players need to respect you and your abbilities. Specially if you want to be a floor-general and not just a lane-cutter. Leading a team is one of Dennis' natural strengths, but its hard to keep on delving into that tool-box when everyone sees you as a third string turnover machine who cant shoot the ball. So, in a sense it was like a vicious cycle where each bad game made him worse within the team. He needed a game where he really shines, to make everyone look at him with approval. I never quite agreed, but many here thought that early Sacramento game with the Cousins incident was enough for Dennis to lose some of his early mojo. There might be something to it as well. Young pro-sports ego's are a delicate thing. Im having my thoughts and prayers with Dennis' next game.

^ Thabo is also clicking well with Dennis and I think that will be a major factor in pushing Dennis's NBA career the right way. I see Thabo talking allot to Dennis in a very mentorish kind of way, not yelling etc but putting his hand on his shoulder and getting face to face with him etc. Thabo and Dennis are both German speakers and Thabo is a very weathered player and as we can all see now after his OKC stint, also a very talented basketball player.

Most important factor why Dennis has such a turnover prone game, is that he is a sick driver. One that still lacks allot of experience. He often chooses the wrong momentum or underway gets stuck. Yet that ability to drive is money. If he would just be another ball secure first PG with little TO'S he wouldnt play in NBA. I dont think "taking care of the ball" is such an issue. It is, but not as bad as it is made out to be. He has to play to his strengths if he wants to make it in the NBA, and also if wanting to advance a very limited Germany team, he needs to carry that load and be that factor that is hit or miss ATM. Specially as a bench guy he can be valuable shacking up defences, but surely as a starter he srsly needs to learn allot about "taking care of the ball", while choosing his moments to play to his A-strengths. If he had that he would be legit right now, but remember he's a nr17 pick at 21 and a Euro PG at PG(rare for good reasons). He's going against allot of odds, and I for one like he's showing so much heart and determination to stay on his type of game. The smarts will come...I hope.

I think his shrink team redirected his 90's Queensbridge/young b-ball millionairte/cat-genes often negative craziness into positive craziness, so that he goes all out the same way, but only that direction. I think they really messed with him. God only knows what kind of drugs CIA/exec-class have in stall.

He looks allot more bulky, while not looking too tierd, and while even improving his stroke and overall smoothness. Good job Dennis and physiscian staff!

He said it was to distinguish himself. I strung together the NBA part. Its on some stupid video interview somewhere.

He said its to distinguish himself from the 500+ other ones in the NBA. Its marketing I guess. These silly hipster teens...how about distinguishing yourself trough play. Not that he doesnt slowly... I think he might start the season 2nd PG ahead of Mack, to see what will happen this time.

While others in the east gotten better, I think the two main hurdles in the east to reach an NBA finals got allot worse. At least Miami is. I think they might become a lottery-team. And Indiana remains to be seen how they will bounce back from last years implosion, and without Lance and with a Hibbert who seems to walk like a grandpa all of a sudden. So it will be an interesting year to say the least and the Hawks are all in the mix. Also the Hawks have allot of young and still-young players who can reach a next level. Which likelyhood only increases seeing opportunities in front of them to make renowkn for themselves in the playoffs.

Didnt know anyone here knows Ademola Okulaja. I always found it sad he never got a real shot at the NBA. But good for him being an agent now.

Shawn Marion? No dont do it...plz

Loosing this game had nothing to do with Dennis TO's, which where relatively low, and except one I didnt see any bad ones. Rather ones where he hustles after balls and ping pongs posession and looses it. He actually showed a real grown man performance against Houston, doing the fundamentals almost perfectly. I think Bud likes this game of him the most. That all these "shooters" couldnt hit a lick on wide open shots isnt his fault. Maybe if his spin on passes bothers them, they should practice spot-up shooting with Dennis passing the ball. IDK whats wrong with them. I've seen many games where Dennis could have had 10+ assists if the shooters would have some decent percentage that night.

This will be a long summer, but I like the Ron Jeremy type of talent he displayed.

I get the gist. Its kind of like that baseball movie with Charlie Sheen. Sometimes you need to gamble when absolute talent with unquestionable behaviordoesnt want to come your way, like chronically.... Then you got to take a gamble. But I'd rather say Lance Stephenson, not Lamar Odom...I mean its a ballsport, not rocket science, not even a classroom project. These guys made it this far and they couldnt have when just being "mental midgets" and such. He's also 3 years without other trouble. I dont get it. Its a chance for a big ticket. A good chance. A chance. Without them good luck Hawks. But at this point its meaningless. Ferry would have to show real interest if a ego guy like that even considers the Hawks.

get lance

I like watching John Salmons. He looks way to cool to be named John Salmons. He looks like he knows kung-fu as well.

Maybe superman Lebron starts a trend and gets sheeple like Dwight thinking again about playing for their hometown.

It is. Why not kill him, or better yet end your NBA.tv subscribtion so you never have to see the man. You cant live life like this and you cant run a business like this.

Well, I dont defend him. My stepfather almost broke my mothers back once etc, but life is to short and precious for holding grudges. I thought when I grow big enough I will woop his ass, but I didnt since we where long gone and the consequense would be crimminal charges or what have you on my own. How would that make things better? How would a mother feel when her son is ruining his future? He also has two children with my mom, much younger than me. I was like the big brother/cool substitute father. I never said a bad word about that man to them, knowing him much differently when he was a workaholic/alcoholic/women and child beater. I wanted these kids to be having a chance to grow a healthy distant relationship with their father. Which didnt happen, but he send child support like he was supposed to and my mom financially eagirly needed. So all in all everyone is a winner. We all made something out of ourselves. If I had kept grudges and went Lance Stephenson on him he would get my ass improsned and might stop sending that money that got my little sister to a conservatorium, who btw exames this coming saterday. Holding grudges is not good and stands in the way of rationality. The Hawks need to be rational risk tackers, and after 3 years of staying from trouble I view Lance as a rational risk to take.

Truth is the Hawks wont be considdered by a Lebron, Melo, Howard, or Paul. You can either suck real hard and get even luckier the next year by drafting a Michael Jordan, or you take your chances with a guy like Lance. He could be a big ticket at a managable price. To me it seems exactly what the Hawks need. He could bust, not fiiting into his demanded role, but thats the risk part....and the what Hawks can get part....and the managable salary part. If you pick between Lance and Deng for the same salary the decision should be clear.

IIRC K-mart shot more from deep early in his career, and Payne is still only 23, with allot of physical talent, needing to find his way in the NBA and might be banging allot more in the future. Maybe its just this stretch forward NBA game of today that had him thinking to adjust his game, shoot more and stay slimmer. Back in the days he might have been more keen to build some powerful stiff arms and stuff. But yeah, it was the goatie and bald head that got me thinking about k-mart...that...and sick dunks...and his power dribbles. This pick might actually be a steal. Sure hope it will. I liked what another poster said btw, that SF are very available in free-agency, that 6-10 PF are high priced as FA's, and that Brand, Antić, Ayón had way to many minutes. Also Millsap is perhaps overvalued ATM being an allstar, on a one year contract, and needing more cash on the next. I can see what Ferry was thinking.

Imagine Lebron and Melo heading west. The east is enough of a joke as it is. I like the NBA etc system with 8 best teams from east vs 8 best west etc, its what I grew up on and I dont want to see it go, but when the east continues this way the arguments for breaking up the system become stronger and stronger. So no, let Melo join Chicago as long as we get Lebron.

k-mart?

Im a Mavs fanboy and I love this trade. Mavs are all out to win anyway, not to develop picks and Larkin. Calderon's defense really hurt us as much as I like his shooting and low turnovers. Its just to much non-defense together with Ellis(maybe Lowry can be lured). As long as Chandler stays healthy(knock on wood) he will be a huge upgrade on a position with only overpaid assets like Gortat or Monroe. This move leaves opportunities to also upgrade SF and/or PG.

Whats wrong with being a "good player" when your not on a maximum contract? Teague is a nice piece to have in your starting line-up when you also have others taking a similar or more load. I dont think a Melo or Lebron would be anxious to join a team that has Schröder running the PG. Schröder is very talented but not ready. I think Lebron had enough of Cole/Chalmbers and Melo enough of Felton. I think Teague has some attraction-power in free agency.

Yeah, Cantona is a great example of an oldschool °10. Lots of talent wrapped in some crazy and lazy, acting diva, but making great use of those massive little overweight but powerful hams. I wont comment on the karate chopping people part....Im more the Muay Thai type.