So I watched the highlight clip. I ffwd through the entire first half. I watched all of the second half. Every highlight with the exception of the last jump shot was first half.
So, based on not seeing the first, I would say he was ok in the first. 2 nice drives and a corner 3.
2nd half I stand by what I saw. He was not very good and stood out to me as a fish out of water and probably the weakest player on the floor for the hornets.
I thought Bouknight looked good in comparison to how he has played in the past. This was absolutely a step in the right direction. He looks less lost, more confident, more effort and energy. I credit Clifford helping him with his mental game.
Bouk is immature. He’s 22 with the maturity level of a 17-18 year old. It is what it is. He has the gifts and physical tools to be successful, but the problem is between his ears. He’s got to take steps in maturity and the mental game.
He did show more effort on defense but still below average . But it was a inprovement over the other games . His shooting was better the box score says that . But it was only average at the end of the game . Once Martin , Melo, and Terry get back . I don’t think he sees the floor unless he gets a lot better the next couple games. He is no where close to DSjr Oubre, even Meladone. adding in Melo . Martin , Terry , I don’t see no playing time. It in my openion would be a good time to trade him and try to get a asset. I really think he needs a fresh start all so.
I think we just watch things with a different framework. From reading your Hornet’s posts since 1973, I think you evaluate players based on a standard baseline competency framework, where if a guy hasn’t met this minimum threshold, there’s not enough free time in this world to worry about them until they can prove they can even reach that level.
I tend to view things in a more dynamic viewpoint, taking in growth, potential, or whatever other external factors may be in play.
So Bouk of course has been below the competent NBA contributor level for most his career, except for a couple glimpses. We don’t need to waste time on fool’s gold, right? But for me, while he has an admittedly low baseline, he went from actively hurting the team and being a net negative while on the floor, to being a positive contributor on the floor for 8 scoring plays directly caused by him on these highlights, and a couple of really good (surprisingly to me for sure) defensive stops, which shows that side is in him too.
Yes, an 18 point offensive impact isn’t the hugest deal (but pretty good per 17 minutes), but I think for him, it was a big leap from where he started, even this year, so I was just acknowledging the difference.
All I want to see is a continued upward contributing trend. He has physical talent, I just like watching to see if the mental ability with Cliff’s guidance can get him over the hump into a nice, rotational player.
Good post. I used to see it the way you do. Now I see it like a rookie has about until year 3 to become a functional player and then the value starts to decline as their pay increases. In a case like bouknight, he has little to no NBA rotational skill set. If he improves a bunch this year he gets close to a 7-9 guy off the bench. Then you have 1 year of that production, then you are talking about extensions.
I see all these players as value slots in the larger cap game combined with talent on the court and where that talent fits in the roster needs.
Looking ahead there are at least 2 maybe even 4 players that bouknight is competing against and right now he doesn’t even have close to the skill set.
It has nothing to do with liking these guys. I am rooting for all of them to become successful and get paid, but in terms of the direction of the hornets a player like bouknight (imo) is futureless on this roster.
If this were the warriors, sure play out his contract and see what he becomes. But this team needs stars first and he isn’t one
Ok, I gotcha. So you kinda watch the team with a GM type of eye. Keep from getting too attached to a player just cause you like them. In business to win. I respect that.
Since I have no power to make moves, I like to collect all the little Hornets pieces as my own, and they’re part of the family until they prove themselves useless, then I’m done. I think my quickest judgment was by the 2nd month of Sam Vincent, it was so obvious he wasn’t it.
I think Gary Neal, Morrison, Byron Mullens might’ve been easy calls too. Batum and Boris had at least 2-3 years before they had to go.
I view it more like Chef. I really don’t put many players in just because i like them . Kemba I overated because we talked so much made me think he was better than he really was . Hard to not like Kemba. DSj like Bouknight never fit til he come hear . Thats why i think Bouknight needs a change to find that perfect fit. His chances hear are slim to none . He has better odds on a team needing three point shooters and scorers. Like the Spurs might be a good spot for him. After four years chances of making it the league are a lot tougher and more teams right you off. Just like DSj was all but done til we picked him up and he seams to be a fit. Monk was lucky to get signed by the LA Lakers and carved a fit. Now hes trying to maintain his two year contract. It’s not that much differance from G League to All star Fit and money and role and timing play big parts in a players carer all so. A player who was a star in college can fall out of the NBA in just a few years . Morrison as a example
Excuse me, what the fuck did you just say about Bobcats legend, Byron Mullens?
