phoostal Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Let me start off by saying it was horrible to see the accident occur to DJ this summer. I wish him nothing but the best in his recovery and quest to make it back to the NBA. With that being said, let me ask everyone on this board a question: Why is it that most people on this board think DJ is some savior or the next best thing in Atlanta? I would like to believe that, but watching him play last year he did nothing to make me thing he is going to make a huge impact. Yes, he could spot up and make the three on occassion. I wouldn't say he is automatic from 3pt land, like some people feel that he is. I also haven't seen him take it to the hole with some authority but a hand full of times in his career. He just sits out on the perimeter. He also weighs something around 100lbs and that is soaking wet. Now, not only does he have to rehab, but still try to get some meat on that frame of his. This why I don't understand how alot of you think he is the answer to some of our problems. I think he is a mystery and the jury is still out on him as far as his career goes. I'm just not ready to crown him as the answer to all of our problems. I was just wondering because throughout the year I see numerous posts about if DJ was here we would be winning more, he would go strong to the hole and he is the 3pt shooter we need and so on. I just don't understand where that is coming from, please help me understand. Because in the two years he has played he has only shown some flashes of being a good player and nothing consistent to make me thing he is some sort of a savior for this team. Let alone one of our two best players. I would love to hear everyone's comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted March 10, 2003 Premium Member Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 I'm glad to see him back. I don't see him as a savior. I don't see him as a total loser either. I think of him as an above average role player. Sorta like Doug Christie 3 yrs in the league. Christie could have been much better than he is now. However, he had some coaches that limited him and didn't allow him to grow. I think DJ is on the same path. He has the potential to be the next Tmac. But, he has to work harder on his offensive game. As far as his size. He's 6'9 and he falls in between 205-215 lbs. It's interesting because Tmac is 6'8 218. I don't know how heavy DJ will be next season, however, I think he will be signed to the vet min. which would be a good move for the franchise if he is able to play and they can get him for 3 yrs. He brings more to the table than Ty Corbin Jr and CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoostal Posted March 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Well, I never said he was a loser. I think you nailed it by saying he is a possible above average role player. I think Christe was a good comparison. But DJ isn't at Christie's level yet. I hope when you were bringing up TMac you were joking. I maybe wrong, and I hope I am. But DJ is no where near TMac. I don't even see anything DJ does that resembles TMac. With the exception of his frame. But, TMac is more built than DJ. I live in Orlando and TMac has trainer through out the year and really hits the weights hard in the off season. I get to see his greatness year around, I wish somehow the Hawks good get him. But oh well, I just don't think DJ will ever be in TMac's level. But that doesn't mean I think he is a bad player, I think like you said a role player. Not someone who is going to single handly turn it around for the Hawks. Like some feel. But I will agree he won't hurt the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunt91 Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 If Dermarr can work on his ballhandling ability he would be a much better player. It makes you wonder how can a guy who was suppose to be a great player in highschool and could have declared for the draft after he completed highschool be the timid and uncoordinated player he has been so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDude Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 actually i was one that thought he had that tmac potential...he was a top 3 pick, has the size(except for bulk) and athleticism and was getting his shot....tmac did nothing spectacular until he ws the only name in the starting lineup and had to...so yes, i thought he had that potential BUT this injury is a major setback..not just because of the injury itself but because of the timing... he was about to come in and start after making great strides last year...he was motivated to work hard and was looking good from what i hear...now he has to worry about getting hit let alone concentrating on his ballhandling... his size makes good for defense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traceman Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 this team out tremendously. He has yet to reach his potential but he has shown flashes that show his vast potential. Did you see the little piece ESPN has been running recently regarding his accident and rehab? Even though he can't quite turn his head 100% yet, he was still knocking down 3's from DEEP with very little effort and he was dunking with ease. He dunked one after passing the ball between his legs. WITH EASE! If he can still do that, obviously, he hasn't lost a lot of his athleticism and that was one of my biggest concerns after his injury. DJ is still only 22 years old. As long as he is healthy, he is going to get a lot better, a lot bigger and a lot stronger. I think he has the potential to be this team's best all around player. Is he the next T Mac? No. But he still has a chance to be a very good player and I think he will certainly be a lot more than a role player before his career is done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 I once thought he would be a Sean Elliot type of player, but after this I don't know if he will ever even play another full season.IF he is to return next season a more experienced coach like Paul Silas is needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted March 10, 2003 Premium Member Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 I think he will play. He will probably come back stronger. One thing this has shown is that he definitely has will power. Never count a man with will power out. I have said that he is in the same place as Christie three years in..>game wise. This was also the same place that Tmac was in after his second season. I think Christie missed the mark. He could have been a great combo gaurd, but he kept the title of defensive specialist and settled with that. However, DJ has great offensive ability and potential. It's just gonna take work. Tmac got to where he is now because of hard work. Let's see if DJ gets there or if he goes the way of Miles and Bender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Mule Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 He just wasn't mature as a Hawk player -- He had a lot of natural ability but he hadn't learned to harness this ability and make it work for him. We saw flashes of this when he would suddenly explode to the basket for a dunk -- When he would use those long arms and his quickness to shut down an opponent when he was playing on defense. We saw him bury the long three out of the corner, the ball going "Swish" softly thru the net. We also saw him when he was out of position, missing the shots and allowing the opponent easy shots. When he did things without thinking about it, simply acted and reacted by instinct, he was awesome. Being so young and not having the experience, sometimes he thought about what he was to do or really didn't know what to do at that paticular moment, then the play was over -- Early, silly mistakes and fouls that veteran players had suckered him into were coming less and less frequent. We watched as this kid grew, matured and we hoped was ready to make solid contributions to the team this year. Then, the accident. There is a fine line between winning and loosing. I believe that a healthy DerMarr would have made enough difference for the Hawks this year to have changed several of our games that we lost into victories. You do the math. Hawks present record is 24-39. Turn 8 of those 39 losses around. Hawks still have 31 losses. Not really great, that's true. But, then our total record would be 32-31 !! Could DerMarr carry the Hawks? No. Would he have been an all star this year? Probably not. When healthy, is he the greatest thing going? Hardly. Could he have made enough difference in this team so that they could have won eight of the games that they lost this year? Yes, I believe he could have. Would he have continued to improve this year? Continue to mature? Make the Hawks more competetive? Yes! A healthy DerMarr would have been the difference that we needed in so many games this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted March 10, 2003 Premium Member Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Lon Kruger was his coach. Lon didn't do anything to help build DJ. Half the time, he'd bench him. DJ stepped up his game and Lon played him along with TY Corbin Jr... Mainly because the season was over. However, we saw many sorry jokers play in front of DJ. The fact that Lon doesn't teach role or responsibility probably really hurt DJ's development. Both DJ and DIon spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to get on the court instead of actually learning. Lon's true miscoaching ability showed true because it was easy for a CBAer to come in and get a starting position with Lon. Mainly because he didn't teach much offense and defense. All he wanted was player who would hussle. That's classic of a coach with no gameplan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Playmaker0017 Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 Phoostal, An above average role player is what this team is lacking. That above average role player could be the savior of our team. Not because they are an amazing asset in and of themselves, but that they find a way to create a cohesive unit by bringing the skills that they have. Play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoostal Posted March 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 This team needs a lot more than just DJ. They need to make some adjustments to the entire roster and coaching staff. If DJ were here today this team isn't any closer to getting to the playoffs. Maybe they would have two to three wins more. I don't think having DJ is going to make to make the chemistry of this team any better. But that is just my opinion. You maybe right, but not from what I'm watching every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 It seems like the Hawks are looking for a Kings type of offense.....The problem is that nobody on the Hawks is even as good of a passer as Vlade. Shareef is not a natural SF, but a undersized PF.Do you think trying to defend the atheletic SF's is going to improve his defense? The problem with Robinson is that his paycheck is way above his talent level.If we only had Odom instead we would be alot better right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDude Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 anybody know if that espn special will come back on? i'd love to see that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted March 11, 2003 Premium Member Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 NBA tonight might replay today at 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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