Minnesota Sports Forum

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

Carlos Danger wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

Not to hijack my own thread, but (going from memory) wasn't part of the problem also that Flynn came in as a P&R guy and got stuck in Rambis' Bermuda Triangle offense? Again - it goes back to "fit". Sometimes a player can look worse than they really are. That was Thad Young when he was here. And it happens to other guys too.

Camden wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

Still straying from the point, Cool. Bennett has been garbage and he hasn't shown anything close to Flynn's level of production. That;s the point I'm making. I was never a big Flynn guy myself, but come on... This isn't close.

Q12543 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

Wow, that sounds eerily similar to Zach LaVine. Just replace "small" with "skinny".

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Acknowledging Flynn's #'s weren't terrible his rookie year, I still thought he was an awful basketball player from the get-go. Terrible shot selection, forced most things, didn't create much for others, too small to be a good defender. And this was BEFORE his hip injury. He was one guy I would have given up on after his first 50 games. He's been proving me right since.

Wow, that sounds eerily similar to Zach LaVine. Just replace "small" with "skinny".

True, but one guy came into the league at age 20 and was allowed to play his natural position. The other at 18 and was thrown to the wolves at a foreign position. I'm willing to bet you Zach will still be in the league in 5 years. Maybe in a starring capacity.

TheSP wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:I think the Anthony Bennett situation is far more nuanced than some posters here treat it...his is not a black and white situation. On one hand you can't ignore the subpar stats he has put up his first two years, and his inability to stay healthy. He has not resembled a #1 pick in any way, and at close to $6 million a year and with Towns likely capable of playing the same position, it's easy to understand why Flip might have him on the trading block.

On the other hand, I can't group AB with three other famous #1 busts...Olawakandi, Darko and Bargnani. For one thing, there appears to be a huge difference in how the four of them approach being in the NBA. While the other three always seemed to project a casual, just happy to be there attitude, and didn't have the reputation as putting in a lot of effort, that isn't how anyone would describe AB. He seems to work on his body and his game in the off-season as diligently as anyone on our roster, and has also been praised for being a hard worker in practice. Next, while still modest, his stats clearly improved from year 1 to year 2. He raised his shooting percentage almost 7 percentage points in his sophomore season, and his per 36 stats were not horrendous...12.0 points and 8.7 rebounds. Not #1 pick numbers at all, to be sure, but at least decent 2nd year rotation player numbers.

The eye test for AB is mixed, but mostly negative, although sometimes I wonder how much of that has to do with how Flip directs him on offense. On the positive side, he showed a sweet touch and good form on his long 2-point shots in the first half of the year, and his dunks on the few times he actually went to the basket were often jaw-dropping. But at other times, and way too often, he seemed lost on both offense and defense.

I am far from giving up on AB. I sometimes go back and watch his college highlights (and his less frequent pro highlights), and nobody with an honest, informed opinion can deny that he has some impressive physical gifts. Jim Peterson says that AB lost confidence as the year went on, and I don't disagree. His form on his jumper looked the same, but it went in much less frequently the last half of the year. And it's baffling to me why he doesn't play inside more often (to that point, it's good to hear he is working hard on his post game this summer). There is so much potential there, and it frustrates me when he drifts on the court as he has a tendency to do sometimes.

After two injured and poor statistical seasons, GMs are going to be wary of giving up much for AB...even if they recognize his potential. That's why I'm not in favor of pulling the trigger on a trade...I much prefer seeing how he performs in a third year, although I fully recognize that Flip only has training camp and a few games at the start of the season before he needs to make a decision on AB's option...not optimal timing.

In two days, we are almost certain to add Towns to an already promising roster. While GMs spend more time looking at stats, I think players know who the real ballers are. I suspect if you asked KAT who he was excited about playing with this season, he would mention Rubio, Wiggins, KG, LaVine, Shabazz and...Anthony Bennett. There's no question he has seen all the highlight videos, and knows the kind of potential lurking there.

Like I said, AB's situation is quite nuanced. I understand why some would advocate dealing him for the likes of Vasquez...a 1-way journeyman PG. Better to get something for AB than to decline his option and let him leave for nothing. But my position still is to let the year play out. My expectations are balanced, but I also know that if AB could regain the confidence he had at UNLV, he could be a real X factor on this team.

The problem as I see it is his third year option has to be picked up before you know if he'll progress. If you keep him for his third year in the hope he does you almost have to pick up his option which means you're stuck with him next year if doesn't deliver on that promise.

Camden0916 wrote:Two years derailed by injury? So, his basketball ability isn't the problem. It's just bad luck, huh? That's delusional as fuck, but whatever you say.

khans2k5 wrote:

Camden0916 wrote:Two years derailed by injury? So, his basketball ability isn't the problem. It's just bad luck, huh? That's delusional as fuck, but whatever you say.

So injuries aren't an excuse for playing poorly? That's a nice double standard you got going for you.