Comments on: The Donte Greene Experiment: Developing an NBA Player http://www.trainforhoops.com/developing-an-nba-player/ Practice in Proportion to your Aspirations. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:06:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.trainforhoops.com/developing-an-nba-player/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Brian Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:09:07 +0000 http://www.trainforhoops.com/?p=550#comment-152 As a young player, I couldn't shoot the ball outside of 8 feet from the basket. But I wanted to play with my older brother and his friends. I did exactly what you said. I learned to play great defense and rebound the basketball. After awhile the older guys starting picking me as the 4th or 5th guy but they were picking me; I found a way to get on the floor. Young kids rarely want to do other things like defend, rebound, set screens or pass. As a young player, I couldn’t shoot the ball outside of 8 feet from the basket. But I wanted to play with my older brother and his friends. I did exactly what you said. I learned to play great defense and rebound the basketball. After awhile the older guys starting picking me as the 4th or 5th guy but they were picking me; I found a way to get on the floor. Young kids rarely want to do other things like defend, rebound, set screens or pass.

]]> By: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s Off-Season Workouts | Train for Hoops http://www.trainforhoops.com/developing-an-nba-player/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s Off-Season Workouts | Train for Hoops Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:06:59 +0000 http://www.trainforhoops.com/?p=550#comment-151 [...] week, I outlined some ideas for the Sacramento Kings’ Donte Greene, a multi-skilled forward who seems to possess all the [...] [...] week, I outlined some ideas for the Sacramento Kings’ Donte Greene, a multi-skilled forward who seems to possess all the [...]

]]> By: admin http://www.trainforhoops.com/developing-an-nba-player/comment-page-1/#comment-146 admin Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:33:57 +0000 http://www.trainforhoops.com/?p=550#comment-146 Tom Ziller linked the article on SacTown Royalty and there were several comments: http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2009/6/8/903231/brian-mccormick-on-the-development#comments One good point was that a player should stick to his talents and great defenders usually show a predilection toward defense. I disagree. As I wrote in the post, I believe defense is mostly about attitude. Nobody considered LeBron James a great defensive player until this season. He watched Kobe during the Olympics and decided that he needed to improve his defense. He made a commitment. He took it personally. Those are the exact things that I mentioned in relation to Greene. Also, Bruce Bowen was a scorer in college. The players who stick as role players in the NBA find a niche and fill it. Guys like Bowen realize they are not going to make money for their scoring ability because there are dozens of players who are better scorers, so they become lock-down defenders. Guys like Korver and Kapono get paid because they can knock down threes and spread the court. Guys like Milsap get paid because of their relentless hustle and rebounding. Guys like Anthony Johnson stick in the NBA because they can run a team, are professional and do not make bad mistakes. If Greene thinks he should be a star and continues playing like that, I think he'll be out of the league in two years. Dave Berri said that Greene was the 4th least productive player in the NBA: http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-bottom-10-and-one-big-reason-why-the-celtics-are-having-problems/ However, I do think Greene can make himself into a valuable player. However, first he has to get on the court and I believe he is in an enviable position because with Lewis' and James' success, teams need a big, athletic defender to defend these types of hybrid forwards who are too big for typical swingmen, but too athletic for typical posts. Greene has the size, length and athleticism to be one of these defenders. He is NOT one now. However, it is within his ability to become one if he decides it is important to him to play consistent minutes. Because, personally, I think small forward is the Kings' biggest weakness, even more than point guard. But, Greene has the potential to be that guy if he wants to play. If he earns minutes through his defense, and adds value when his contract expires, then he can get more rhythm and latitude offensively. His ceiling, I think, is a poor man's Kevin Durant. However, if he stays on the same path, we'll be watching the Donte Greene Show live from Istanbul, Turkey in 2 years. Tom Ziller linked the article on SacTown Royalty and there were several comments:
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2009/6/8/903231/brian-mccormick-on-the-development#comments

One good point was that a player should stick to his talents and great defenders usually show a predilection toward defense.

I disagree. As I wrote in the post, I believe defense is mostly about attitude. Nobody considered LeBron James a great defensive player until this season. He watched Kobe during the Olympics and decided that he needed to improve his defense. He made a commitment. He took it personally. Those are the exact things that I mentioned in relation to Greene.

Also, Bruce Bowen was a scorer in college. The players who stick as role players in the NBA find a niche and fill it. Guys like Bowen realize they are not going to make money for their scoring ability because there are dozens of players who are better scorers, so they become lock-down defenders. Guys like Korver and Kapono get paid because they can knock down threes and spread the court. Guys like Milsap get paid because of their relentless hustle and rebounding. Guys like Anthony Johnson stick in the NBA because they can run a team, are professional and do not make bad mistakes.

If Greene thinks he should be a star and continues playing like that, I think he’ll be out of the league in two years. Dave Berri said that Greene was the 4th least productive player in the NBA: http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/the-bottom-10-and-one-big-reason-why-the-celtics-are-having-problems/

However, I do think Greene can make himself into a valuable player. However, first he has to get on the court and I believe he is in an enviable position because with Lewis’ and James’ success, teams need a big, athletic defender to defend these types of hybrid forwards who are too big for typical swingmen, but too athletic for typical posts.

Greene has the size, length and athleticism to be one of these defenders. He is NOT one now. However, it is within his ability to become one if he decides it is important to him to play consistent minutes. Because, personally, I think small forward is the Kings’ biggest weakness, even more than point guard. But, Greene has the potential to be that guy if he wants to play.

If he earns minutes through his defense, and adds value when his contract expires, then he can get more rhythm and latitude offensively. His ceiling, I think, is a poor man’s Kevin Durant. However, if he stays on the same path, we’ll be watching the Donte Greene Show live from Istanbul, Turkey in 2 years.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.trainforhoops.com/developing-an-nba-player/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Anthony Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:04:45 +0000 http://www.trainforhoops.com/?p=550#comment-144 FYI - Durant is not from Baltimore. But Rudy Gay is. And that would be a good step for Greene. He is talented but has no plan when he steps out on the floor - he just is active and does stuff. FYI – Durant is not from Baltimore. But Rudy Gay is. And that would be a good step for Greene. He is talented but has no plan when he steps out on the floor – he just is active and does stuff.

]]>