People were asking about any definite signs of improvement from Upshaw. There's finally one good piece of evidence that he's picking things up. He's scoring efficiently now. He started off scoring very inefficiently and not getting many shots off. He has 10 games of 50%+ shooting on the season, and five of them are in his last five games. He has hit double digits in 6 of his last 9 (he played a total of 25 minutes in the three he didn't reach double figures). In his last 10, he's averaging 17 minutes, 9 points and 5 boards.
Not only that, I'm not seeing any hesitation with his moves. Looks more confident and sure of himself.
Guys here's a link to Harrison Faigen's interview/analysis on Robert Upshaw. Out of respect to Faigen, I'm only linking part of it so that you guys will click the link. I loved this write up. This is top notch stuff.
He does look much improved in that video above. I don't know if he's NBA ready, but he has to be closer with the D-League time he's had. I'd certainly bring him up and give him a shot over Sacre, shame he wasn't cut when we had the chance.
I'd call him up post All-Star break some time. @trodgers knows more than us about this stuff. Last I saw I thought t said Upshaw wasn't quite ready but showing improvement. I'd certainly like to see him tested in the NBA a bit at some point this year.
The D-league site on NBA.com does "projections" for players. Vander Blue's per36 projection in the NBA is 13 points, 4 boards, 4 assists on 40% shooting. In the NBA, he has averaged per36: 11 points, 5 boards, 4 assists on 32% FGs. I include Blue only to give you a sense of the accuracy. Upshaw's per36 projections are: 9 points, 8 boards, 2.2 blocks on 43% FGs. Those are pretty darn close to Hibbert's: 10 points, 8 boards, 2.3 blocks, on 44% FGs and Nance's 10 points, 9 boards. Sacre is 8 points, 7 boards, 40% Fgs. Do I think Upshaw is good enough to earn PT on a team giving Sacre 5 minutes a game on average? Yes. Do I still think he'll be a good player? I see him as a solid bench player, and I'd like to see him get that PT.
reading that article, maybe byron is not that bad, with the effect on upshaw that he might've had. did the tough love attitude trickle down to the d-fenders? maybe byron's car hit upshaw's, gave him a little rear-ender. he told him, "hey, kid, i believe in you. just not yet, though. you still smell like poo." or marijuana... whatever you smoked in college. maybe byron is what held upshaw back from the ledge.
Can't link it on my phone, but Steve Kyler said that we are done with Upshaw even though he is part of our D-League squad.
Upshaw had a nice game again. 19 minutes, 12 points, 6 boards, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal. He's up to: 5.66 Scoring 1.49 Passing 3.54 Hustle 79.9 Overall Rating He's also at 16.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per 36.
