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**Dakota** · 10-11-2003, 09:26 AM

Is it just me or do you think Dahntay is really improving throughout this preseason. His first game he fouled out before the first quarter,but ever since it seems like he has been having better and better games. One thing about Dahntay is that he is not afraid to shoot at all during these games. I think the confidence he shows now will really help Hubie make a better judgement on him when the regular season pops up. Dahntay defiantly has me believing that he is an NBA player with starter potential.

**talula** · 10-11-2003, 10:17 PM

I also think Dahntay has been improving. He's still too physical, but he's starting to calm down. I'll admit that I was skeptical about Jones, and I actually thought Troy Bell would be leaps and bounds ahead of him, but so far it as been Jones who has been more more impressive. Everyone was talking about his lack of a jump shot, but his shot has been solid thus far. I also like the attitude he brings to the court.

**remy23** · 10-11-2003, 10:25 PM

I always believed in Jones but I still feel his situation is hopeless. Due to the Grizzlies depth, he will have to steal someone's spot to move up in minutes once the season starts. In a perfect world, I always thought with good playing time Jones could be like Rich Jeff with a better stroke (comparing Richard's rookie stroke to what Dahntay has now).

grizzhoops · 10-12-2003, 09:44 AM

Are we thinking that Wes Person is here for the entire season? I think he will be gone when Jones is ready to be the back up.

As for Troy Bell, he will be a solid contributor by mid season. Because he is a combo guard, it will take him a little long to adjust to a position. I think he will become a point guard in the mode of Gilbert Areas.

They are both competitors. Theron Smith will be looking a lot like Bo Outlaw with some offense by the end of the season.

All three players have great athleticism and can potentially play two positions. You put that with Miller and Battier's abilities to play multiple positions and you can create match up havoc.

c_dog · 10-13-2003, 12:23 AM

I think he'll get around 8 minutes a game as a spark off the bench. No heavy minutes unless we have a blowout then he can play garabage minutes.

grizzhoops · 10-13-2003, 05:56 AM

As the first sub at the the two, he'll get 15 - 20 minutes a game by the beginning of the second half of the season and will average 7 PPG from there on.

He will push Posey for his job next year.

Troy Bell will be a pass first, shoot second point guard by that time and will be challenging JWill for his job by trade deadline.

Bell and Jones both have a fighters determination and blood in mouth ready to battle attitudes (the reason they were drafted in the first round by the old warrior). Possey can hold his own in this warrior's environment but I worry about JWill. I hope he steps on up and shows some "in your face" courage that will allow him to move on to the next level.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 10-13-2003, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzhoops!
As the first sub at the the two, he'll get 15 - 20 minutes a game by the beginning of the second half of the season and will average 7 PPG from there on.

He will push Posey for his job next year.

Troy Bell will be a pass first, shoot second point guard by that time and will be challenging JWill for his job by trade deadline.

That seems very optimistic to me.

grizzhoops · 10-13-2003, 10:04 AM

Thanks. I'm not called an optimist very often. I just think I understand what West saw in these two. Jones started out at Rutgers and transferred to Duke. I have never heard of anyone transferring into Duke. It speaks for Jones' work ethic and determination. I think we can all agree that athleticism is vital component to being a success in the NBA.

When MJ showed up in Chicago, there was 24 y/o named Reggie Theus who was averaging 18 PPG and looked like a future all-star. MJ changed the plan because of his desire to win. Theus hadn’t missed a game in four years and was shooting over 48% for the four years before MJ came to town. I’m not suggesting that Jones is even going to resemble MJ but neither Person nor Possey are Theus either. Jones has great athleticism and has been schooled in the fundamentals at Duke. And, with the Grizzlies focus on developing their young talent (the shot doctor and Hubie particularly), Jones will become average shooter.

Like Jones, Bell is survivor. I believe, that in April, his transformation into a point guard will be hard to believe (like Arenas).

IMO, the driving factor for these two being in Memphis is Miller and Gasol’s limited defensive abilities. Both Miller and Gasol are fundamental sound offensively. They both share the ball and have a multitude of ways to score. It has been suggested that Miller would play a lot of point forward, so what does JWill do in this scenario, shoot or set picks. Miller is going to be monster. He has range on his jumper, he can score coming off a pick or off the dribble, and he can take it to the hole. Oh and he can pass the ball. Its hard to defend a guy like that. Gasol and Miller become the half court inside-outside game and Jones/ Possey, Bell, and Swift will wreck havoc on the break (Miller & Gasol can do that too). Jones, Possey, and Bell defend as if their lives are at stake as well and that’s the type of player that really successful teams in the NBA have. When you consider that four of these six are Jerry’s kids, I think the idea is validated. Watson, Battier and, maybe Big Jake have a role in this future as well because Jerry likes the first two and he traded for Jake (but he may be stop gap). To me this is all too logical and I have never cared about what West was doing because I haven’t liked the Lakers since Lew Alcindor moved to LA. Oscar and Lew were great together. During Showtime, two Tar Heels played a vital role. I think they were there because they played for the most successful coach of that time like Battier and Jones did in the present. They are taught to have a winning attitude which they have brought with them.

Shoot holes in this logic because I’m open to rational basketball but I’m a fan of the game and I’m from the Mid South. I’m not a fan of any particular player on the team unless they are delivering Ws because I want Memphis in the finals regardless of who takes them there. Memphis needs a successful franchise and Jerry West has done a great job of building the franchise up without any resources to work with.

**Dakota** · 10-13-2003, 11:22 AM

Quote:

As the first sub at the the two, he'll get 15 - 20 minutes a game by the beginning of the second half of the season and will average 7 PPG from there on.

reasonable

Quote:

Troy Bell will be a pass first, shoot second point guard by that time and will be challenging JWill for his job by trade deadline.

hahaha unreasonable

What makes you think Troy Bell will be ready to handle the starting job after a half of season. What about Earl Watson?? I don't understand why people still doubt J-Will after all that he has done. Each year he was with the Kings there team won more and more each year. When Will first came to Sactown they were a perennial loser. That half-year season with him and Webber made the Kings an every year playoff team. The first year he was with the Grizzlies they won 23 games. It wasn't a franchise best but the team they had that year was substanially worse than those of the past with Bibby and SAR. The Grizz teams with Bibby and SAR won at best 23 games in all there years there. I think J-Will has proved that he helps teams win and improve year after year. They improved 5 games last year when many people doubted them winning over 20. I guess Will will always have to prove himself because no one is ever going to have full confidence in him. Welll, I have full confidence in him and his ability. At least he knows there is one fan out there who believes

grizzhoops · 10-13-2003, 12:02 PM

Let's see. Fg 38.8% last year, 38.4% career; 3FG 35.4% last year, 31.1% career (averaging over 5 shots per game both career & 02-03); FT 84% last year, 78.4% career (1.7 shots both career & 02-03); 1.2 steals last year, 1.5 career; 2.2 turnovers last year, 2.8 career; assists 8.3 last year, 7.0 career; PPG 12.1 last year & career.

He shoots free throws well but doesn't get to the line much. Reduced turnovers and increased assists which are good throughout his career. Shooting percentages low. 3FG low for career, better but not good for 02-03.

IMO, he needs to improve his shooting percentage a lot to earn his $6.1M.

He is an exciting player but so is Curley Neal. He needs to get more serious and play within his limitations. I hope he does because he is genuine and likeable because of it.

**Dakota** · 10-13-2003, 01:20 PM

Quote:

He needs to get more serious and play within his limitations.

ummm why do you assume that he does not play serious?? I think 3.76 assists/turnover last season is playing serious while within his limitations buddy. I think that more than makes up for the bad shooting percentage. He's more of a plus to this team than he is a negative. You didn't stat the improvement of wins either.

Quote:

IMO, he needs to improve his shooting percentage a lot to earn his $6.1M.

Being a pass-first point guard means that the team doesn't need your scoring win ball games. J-Will is a pass-first pg. Even though J-Will has a bad percentage shooting the ball it doesn't reflect how clutch he was in ball games. Sports Illustraded rated him one of the "clutchest players" in its magazine last year. Also they rated him "Mosted Improved" as well.

now

**HKF** · 10-13-2003, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grizzhoops!
As the first sub at the the two, he'll get 15 - 20 minutes a game by the beginning of the second half of the season and will average 7 PPG from there on.

He will push Posey for his job next year.

If he pushes for Poseys' job, did it really make sense to sign Posey for so many years then. They might as well have started Battier w/ Miller and let Smith and Jones back them up. If that is the case, there was no reason to sign Posey.

There doesn't seem to be enough minutes to go around and Theron Smith was real good at Ball State. If he is healthy he is a terror with an solid all-around game.

Mr Black · 10-13-2003, 02:19 PM

I believe everyone has a valid point concerning Dahntay Jones and his progression with the team.

I think it was a good idea to sign Posey though. Posey is a young veteran who can simply play "D". Along with Jones, Battier, and Miller, Posey can create matchup problems for other teams.

Both Posey and Jones aren't great jumo shooters, but Posey takes the pressure off of Jones to come in and be a consistent threat for the team. Also with more players under their belt, the organization has more options as far as what trades they can make.

West doesn't like Swift anyway and is using the preseason as an audition for Swift. I believe he will be traded along with another player, maybe Watson or Posey.

If Jones panes out, he can be the starting shooting guard. His athletic ability is quite similar to Desmond Mason. Troy Bell can be the backup point. His game is similar to Bobby Jackson. Bell is a player that can come in and provide a spark of the bench. Bell can play "D" and score in bunches.

Nothing may come of all of this. These are just my thoughts.

**HKF** · 10-13-2003, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Black!
I believe everyone has a valid point concerning Dahntay Jones and his progression with the team.

I think it was a good idea to sign Posey though. Posey is a young veteran who can simply play "D". Along with Jones, Battier, and Miller, Posey can create matchup problems for other teams.

Both Posey and Jones aren't great jumo shooters, but Posey takes the pressure off of Jones to come in and be a consistent threat for the team. Also with more players under their belt, the organization has more options as far as what trades they can make.

West doesn't like Swift anyway and is using the preseason as an audition for Swift. I believe he will be traded along with another player, maybe Watson or Posey.

If Jones panes out, he can be the starting shooting guard. His athletic ability is quite similar to Desmond Mason. Troy Bell can be the backup point. His game is similar to Bobby Jackson. Bell is a player that can come in and provide a spark of the bench. Bell can play "D" and score in bunches.

Nothing may come of all of this. These are just my thoughts.

So you see Jones as being a SG and Miller being the SF. So Battier would continue to be the sixth man then.

I guess that could work, but Jones is gonna have to show some huge improvement. In your opinion, who would you see West trading Swift for, and what position would he be looking for.

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