Zach starts at PG tonight

[AbeVigodaLive]

Wow, it looked like LaVine struggled big time at the point. I appreciate that Flip is willing to toy with some different ideas and throw the kid out there to test him - that's part of the deal in pre-season - but, oof, the box score did not look good.

He struggled in his first game start at the point? OMG, never play him there again!

To be fair... would you say the same thing if they started Gorgui Dieng there?

I remember making a quip about LaVine's poor passing in college and somebody told me Flip was planning on trying him at PG. I thought they were kidding.

Apparently, they weren't. I have no confidence in the kid. I guess I could see him become a Gerald Green type of SG down the line if he progresses. But as a PG in any way... no. Not at all. Granted, I have to see him play in actual games but by what I've seen thus far and what he's produced in preseason NBA and college basketball thus far... the guy is one of the least accomplished picks in recent Wolves history.

[KiwiMatt]

Wow, it looked like LaVine struggled big time at the point. I appreciate that Flip is willing to toy with some different ideas and throw the kid out there to test him - that's part of the deal in pre-season - but, oof, the box score did not look good.

He struggled in his first game start at the point? OMG, never play him there again!

To be fair... would you say the same thing if they started Gorgui Dieng there?

I remember making a quip about LaVine's poor passing in college and somebody told me Flip was planning on trying him at PG. I thought they were kidding.

Apparently, they weren't. I have no confidence in the kid. I guess I could see him become a Gerald Green type of SG down the line if he progresses. But as a PG in any way... no. Not at all. Granted, I have to see him play in actual games but by what I've seen thus far and what he's produced in preseason NBA and college basketball thus far... the guy is one of the least accomplished picks in recent Wolves history.

If LeVine can develop into a (post 2012) Gerald Green I'd be happy. Ya know?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Wow, it looked like LaVine struggled big time at the point. I appreciate that Flip is willing to toy with some different ideas and throw the kid out there to test him - that's part of the deal in pre-season - but, oof, the box score did not look good.

He struggled in his first game start at the point? OMG, never play him there again!

To be fair... would you say the same thing if they started Gorgui Dieng there?

I remember making a quip about LaVine's poor passing in college and somebody told me Flip was planning on trying him at PG. I thought they were kidding.

Apparently, they weren't. I have no confidence in the kid. I guess I could see him become a Gerald Green type of SG down the line if he progresses. But as a PG in any way... no. Not at all. Granted, I have to see him play in actual games but by what I've seen thus far and what he's produced in preseason NBA and college basketball thus far... the guy is one of the least accomplished picks in recent Wolves history.

he's 19 years old and didn't start in college. Good lord do people's opinions change on a daily basis. The guy was clearly the biggest project in the draft. Give him a few years was the opinion then.

Then the dunks videos come out. "man this guy is going to be the next big thing! the next Kobe!

Then summer league. "man this guy is ready to contribute from day one. He's got such a sweet stroke and can really run an offense"

Preseason happens. "Man this guy cannot play point guard. I just hope he can be Gerald Green one day."

so stupid

[AbeVigodaLive]

Wow, it looked like LaVine struggled big time at the point. I appreciate that Flip is willing to toy with some different ideas and throw the kid out there to test him - that's part of the deal in pre-season - but, oof, the box score did not look good.

He struggled in his first game start at the point? OMG, never play him there again!

To be fair... would you say the same thing if they started Gorgui Dieng there?

I remember making a quip about LaVine's poor passing in college and somebody told me Flip was planning on trying him at PG. I thought they were kidding.

Apparently, they weren't. I have no confidence in the kid. I guess I could see him become a Gerald Green type of SG down the line if he progresses. But as a PG in any way... no. Not at all. Granted, I have to see him play in actual games but by what I've seen thus far and what he's produced in preseason NBA and college basketball thus far... the guy is one of the least accomplished picks in recent Wolves history.

he's 19 years old and didn't start in college. Good lord do people's opinions change on a daily basis. The guy was clearly the biggest project in the draft. Give him a few years was the opinion then.

Then the dunks videos come out. "man this guy is going to be the next big thing! the next Kobe!

Then summer league. "man this guy is ready to contribute from day one. He's got such a sweet stroke and can really run an offense"

Preseason happens. "Man this guy cannot play point guard. I just hope he can be Gerald Green one day."

so stupid

My little cousin is only 16. Maybe the Wolves should put him at PG. He's only 16... he HAS to get better, right?

And don't single me out and then use OTHER people's quotes about LaVine. I don't care about dunk videos; never have. Never will. As such, I've never offered over-the-top praise for LaVine in any way.
I don't care about measurements or athleticism unless it's been proven that the player can use them to their advantage.

For example, Wes Johnson was a former much ballyhooed prospect around these parts. And I ripped him for being 23 without ever scoring more than 16 ppg at ANY level, even high school. I was ripped because "he just needs time" and "he has all the tools." Either you have it (and can show flashes of it) or you don't.

LaVine averaged 2 assists as a primary ballhandler in high school. He regressed horribly as a college freshman until he was rendered a liability during the most important stretch of the season. And he's looked horrible as a pro dishing the ball.

You can't create a PG out of a guy who looks great in warmups but hasn't proven at any upper level capable of making much of his athleticism. Gerald Green was an athletic guy who had no clue how to play at first. You don't make guys who can't get the most of their ability in charge of getting the most of others. Heck, this board praises Rubio for all those intangibles every day... now they're unimportant?

Eventually, Green found one tangible skill to make him a rotation guy in the NBA. But it wasn't easy and it didn't come without a lot of work. I don't understand the LaVine at PG experiment when he's so much of a project at so many other parts of the game already.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Wow, it looked like LaVine struggled big time at the point. I appreciate that Flip is willing to toy with some different ideas and throw the kid out there to test him - that's part of the deal in pre-season - but, oof, the box score did not look good.

He struggled in his first game start at the point? OMG, never play him there again!

To be fair... would you say the same thing if they started Gorgui Dieng there?

I remember making a quip about LaVine's poor passing in college and somebody told me Flip was planning on trying him at PG. I thought they were kidding.

Apparently, they weren't. I have no confidence in the kid. I guess I could see him become a Gerald Green type of SG down the line if he progresses. But as a PG in any way... no. Not at all. Granted, I have to see him play in actual games but by what I've seen thus far and what he's produced in preseason NBA and college basketball thus far... the guy is one of the least accomplished picks in recent Wolves history.

he's 19 years old and didn't start in college. Good lord do people's opinions change on a daily basis. The guy was clearly the biggest project in the draft. Give him a few years was the opinion then.

Then the dunks videos come out. "man this guy is going to be the next big thing! the next Kobe!

Then summer league. "man this guy is ready to contribute from day one. He's got such a sweet stroke and can really run an offense"

Preseason happens. "Man this guy cannot play point guard. I just hope he can be Gerald Green one day."

so stupid

My little cousin is only 16. Maybe the Wolves should put him at PG. He's only 16... he HAS to get better, right?

And don't single me out and then use OTHER people's quotes about LaVine. I don't care about dunk videos; never have. Never will. As such, I've never offered over-the-top praise for LaVine in any way.
I don't care about measurements or athleticism unless it's been proven that the player can use them to their advantage.

For example, Wes Johnson was a former much ballyhooed prospect around these parts. And I ripped him for being 23 without ever scoring more than 16 ppg at ANY level, even high school. I was ripped because "he just needs time" and "he has all the tools." Either you have it (and can show flashes of it) or you don't.

LaVine averaged 2 assists as a primary ballhandler in high school. He regressed horribly as a college freshman until he was rendered a liability during the most important stretch of the season. And he's looked horrible as a pro dishing the ball.

You can't create a PG out of a guy who looks great in warmups but hasn't proven at any upper level capable of making much of his athleticism. Gerald Green was an athletic guy who had no clue how to play at first. You don't make guys who can't get the most of their ability in charge of getting the most of others. Heck, this board praises Rubio for all those intangibles every day... now they're unimportant?

Eventually, Green found one tangible skill to make him a rotation guy in the NBA. But it wasn't easy and it didn't come without a lot of work. I don't understand the LaVine at PG experiment when he's so much of a project at so many other parts of the game already.

high school stats really? Who cares? Your clearly projecting Lavine as the wrong type of point guard. He's not a Rubio 10+ assist guy. He projects to be more the scoring PG that gets a few assists like a Westbrook or a Lillard. Those guys are right around the 4-6 assist a game average, I don't think that's outlandish as a projection for Lavine.

[Monster]

Abe has been consistant on hois stance on Lavine. He isn't impressed he wants to see him develop.

Here is the deal with LaVine he played for a deep college team with one of the most unique players in all of college basketball that happened to be the PG. LaVine is wildly talented and Flip said something like you love and not love Zach sometimes in the same play. The highlights from college I watched initially I wasn't impressed with his ball handing. I watch more and it became apparent he was a lot better than I thought. Then he played the PG position reasonably well way better than anyone else on the roster although that might not have been saying much.

Can he play the PG at this Level? Probably. Malcolm Lee seemed to be worthy of being able to do it for short stints so I'd say LaVine may be able to play minutes there. If I can have my shooting guard play as a PG sometimes that's a good thing. Even with a PG like Rubio it can be nice for him to run down the court a few times without having to bring the ball up. In addition having developing half decent PG abilities in a legit SG that's good stuff. I don't think Zach can be a Westbrook level PG but maybe he can develop into a legit one. I doubt it but I think Flip wants to develop his guard skills in general which sounds like a good idea to me even if he never averages more than 3 assists a game from even the SG spot.