If I could, I would lock Vando in a room and show him Dennis Rodman game film until he gets how he can impact the game on the offensive end without scoring the ball. Count me with those that want to keep him and let Handy develop him further.
Maybe Phil can make a call for us... assuming he has cell service in Montana. We can pay Dennis in chips at Caesars. Have him come in for a couple days and show Vando what to do and how to do it.
Rodman was a physical freak during his time though. He was more athletic, and had better lateral quickness, than most bigs in the 90's. Vanderbilt plays in a different era..we have centers playing like point guards. He can still be a star in his role as a 20 minutes a game player.
still think his arrival completely changed our defensive complexion, and that's why we were good and won two rounds of the playoffs. we can't lose that identity because we can't find ways to make him work offensively.
He is just scratching the surface of what he can be. Seems to have a good attitude and work ethic. get him in the gym and develop him.
You know that's interesting, in the last game in Denver, Van Gundy was talking about how AD was out early shooting 3's. That he didn't stop shooting until he hit 100 3's, from different spots on the floor. Ironically his last shot in that game was an open 3.
Still love Vando. He does need to improve his jumper, but I can say this about half the guys in this League.
DLo’s inability to shoot played Vando off the floor. Still think he would’ve been valuable on Murray over the course of a 6-7 game series for us. Hope he comes back after working on spot up 3’s and pump fake, one dribble pull ups.
underplayed angle, imo. one of the reasons we worked after the trade wasn't that we got shooters everywhere (beasley barely made anything, bamba never played, etc.)--we still started two (three, if you count lebron) non-shooters. just vando is 6'9" and plays defense. we know how to function with a couple guys who aren't shooting threats, we just can't have one of our few shooting threats disappear completely like dlo did vs. denver. it would have been different if denver was devoting multiple defenders to make that happen, but they just let dlo take himself out mentally.
He is another one that will be huge for us during the regular season. if he wants to play more than about ten a game in the playoffs he better be working. Plus we can do better at mitigating his poor shooting. Setting a lot of off-ball screens and constantly moving would help. That will wear him out the way he plays defense but we can maximize the time he is in there. Or he can come back a better shooter.
I see him having an amazing regular season next year. A 12/9 avg with 3 stocks a game. It's a totally different game during the regular, just by having energy you get a lot. I believe he will work in his game during the summer This type of context is the ideal for a young player. He knows where he will be next year and knows exactly what the team needs from him. So he will be locked in for 6 months preparing to play that role. Same applies to Reaves or Rui. This post trade deadline period was perfect to prepare next season.
Really hoping he develops a respectable 3 point shot this offseason. Kind of like Ariza's first stint here. That changes everything for us.
Kind of a no-brainer to keep a player as talented as he is at that price, even if it’s mostly just one side of the ball. Offense can be worked on.
Awesome …. keep at it. Hit the weights some too long as he’s healthy. But he’s jaking it effort wise to not be primal screaming and mean mugging at the scrubs with the foam bats when he scores over them like Russ in the off season.