Michael and I are joined for the first part of the podcast by NBA Analyst Gerry V, who breaks down what he saw from Vasquez, Rivers, Davis, Smith, Lopez and Aminu for us. Michael and I then continue to review the week, talk all about Eric Gordon, and then preview the upcoming game.
It’s been a great first week. Re-live it!
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16 responses to “In the NO Podcast Episode 93: Gerry V – and Michael will not Apologize”
Lopez is the Hornet’s second best scorer per 48 minutes played, after Smith, and he pulls down plenty of rebound (second highest rebound rate on team) and block/alters a lot of shots. He is 4th on the team in PER. Lopez starts and plays 26-36 minutes/game. Clearly he is not the guy who struggles to get, say, 10 minutes a game and plays only against teams with true centers.
Michael, even though it’s early, it’s clear you were wrong about Lopez. When will you address this is a post?
If Lopez is better than Smith or Anderson after 40 games this year, I will say I was wrong. I don’t understand why you guys get so much joy out of somebody being wrong, but I have no problem saying it if it makes you all happy. I still don’t believe I will be saying it, though. People wanted me to say I was wrong when we started 11-1 and I said we would be a one and done in the playoffs that year, but I didn’t have to because the NBA season is a marathon and in the end the future usually plays out like the past.
If you guys think that those ugly shots Lopez has on the low block will continue to pour in at this rate and teams won’t learn real quick that they can expose him in the pick and roll, then you can believe that. I don’t after three games.
But hit me up after 40 and if he is the 2nd or 3rd best big on this team, I will say I was wrong and you guys can have your party. Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong and for Aminu, Lopez, and Vasquez to play like studs. Heck, I wish I was wrong on Gordon. I am sure if he had played the first three games and lit it up, Ryan and I would be getting plenty of comments on how we were wrong on that too. But if I am right, I highly doubt anybody brings it up, just like they never brought up my realistic and objective analysis of the 2010-11 Hornets, or the fact that Ryan was dead on with his wins prediction of last years team after we started 2-0 and people on this site were talking playoffs as if it was a given.
I don’t like the way you are recasting what you said about Lopez in the off-season. You said Lopez would average about 10 minutes a game and only start/play much against teams with true centers.
Now you make it sound like you said he would be the 4th best big on the team, and that isn’t correct. You had him as practically useless, not worth $5M/year, and a situational player who would only play against the dieing breed of “true centers”.
I wouldn’t be calling you out on this if you weren’t so adamant about it in the off-season and preseason.
P.S. Monty said he wanted length and Lopez gives him that, plus other things. Lopez may be here to stay (and start).
I think it’s too early to make a call about Lopez… however, I’ll be looking forward to Mac eating crow about my boy Lillard! 21-9-4 over his first 3 is no fluke. Efficiency and turnover #s not great, but as a rookie, hardly to be expected at this point.
I believe you are misremembering, exaggerating my stance. Here it is in writing:
http://www.hornetsreport.com/showthread.php?73371-Robin-Lopez-should-be-Hornets-Mike-Karney-Heath-Evans&highlight=Heath+Evans
Put that up on 10-10, 3 weeks before the season started. I believe I will feel the same way at the end of the season, if Lopez has exceeded that, I will eat crow and will be happy to do so.
I don’t understand why you guys get so much joy out of somebody being wrong
It’s not just when a pundit is “wrong”, it’s when a pundit is *wrong*.
Also, 504ever might be confusing you with one of the other writers; I do recall lots of… not “hate” of RoLo, but certainly dismissiveness and the assertion that he’ll be as much a hindrance as help.
I understand. And I have been wrong before, and I guarantee I will be wrong again many times. But I will put a lot of time and work into giving an informed opinion. It would be so easy to just always say what people want to be here, and I know if I said, “The Hornets will be great this year, and every player will be great….” I wouldn’t get called out and asked to apologize when I am wrong, but do people really want that?
Being objective and sometimes criticizing Hornets players won’t win be popularity contests, but I think that is the right way to go about my role here. And believe me, every time the data comes back and tells me Gordon will continue to get hurt or Aminu won’t be starter material or Lopez won’t be great, etc. I really, really hope I am wrong. I am dying for a Hornets dynasty.
Michael, own up. Stop being a girl.
((Note: Not the real 42. What a bad impersonation… And what’s so bad about being a girl? I’m a fan, myself!))
LOL Pessimism usually is realism which is why most people have to have some sort of substance to escape from the harsh realities and have a “good time”. Thanks for answering my question, another great podcast guys and big shoutout to my boy Gerry V, he’s like our Yoda, so wise! On the whole Monty putting Gordon out there thing I think his comments on the matter were overblown. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k3dxAiuA3k&feature=g-hist On the video he seems understanding of it and states he wouldn’t want to push a player out there if they don’t feel ready because he felt he cut off 4 or 5 years of his career doing that. I love Monty as a coach, his understanding of players and his willingness to admit his own faults and hold the team accountable is amazing. Most coaches get the job and act is if they’ve made it, Monty sees that he needs to improve and in another interview admitted that he’s had talks with Gregg Popovich this summer to get some pointers. The future is bright! Geaux Hornets!
Listening to Gerrys V’s comments on GV, my first thought was, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
Have to play with minor pain? Why does EG pop instantly into my mind?
Jason Smith’s low minutes is probably because of his still-sore shoulder.
You have to explicitly *state* that you’ll be 100% honest?
Having dismissed EG, I’m not pulling my hair out over him.
“All I can do is hope…” Spit in one hand, hope in the other; which hand fills up first?
The “white gloves and pink drawers” comment was probably the culmination of his frustration with EG’s softness.
Regarding the original CP3 trade: did Dell on his own have the leverage to make a better trade?
Peja, though, was *old*. EG is young.
Watching Lopez play offense is a struggle. If he is not 5 feet from the basket he really struggles with foot work and having a go-to-move. Most of the jumpers he is taking are ugly and not really his game.
Listening to Gerry V is a treat
Listening to Gerry V talk is a treat
Gerry V is making us all so much more knowledgeable , I love it! That goes for in-game announcing, his radio shows, and in the podcast. Podcast may be best of all because without any time constraints he can get deep into some subtler points and really explain what he sees in detail.
Hearing him talk about the Hornets, and basketball in general, helps me get so much more out of watching the games. I’ve always been able to appreciate their skill and athleticism, even when I didn’t fully understand it, but now I think I have a much greater appreciation of the intelligence and strategic thinking of both the players and coaches.
In summary, I am happy right now about the Hornets, about this podcast, and about Gerry V!
Lopez has been a nice addition….he is young and I have seen improvement with his footwork just from preseason until now. regarding footwork and his offensive play …He is not bad for a center, certainly not as bad as many others that start in this league. He has played well off the ball and is crashing the boards. Is this to say he is going to average over 10 points per game and have HUGE numbers rebounding? No. And really does not need to in this deep rotation of bigs. Though, the improvement is obvious.
I think one of Vasquez’s improvements this year is that he appears to be using his size to help overcome his lack of quickness. Jerry V hit on this a little bit in mentioning his long strides. He also seems to have a good wing span. So he’s been getting that long stride out in front of his defender and putting the ball out front past the defender and been able to drive on them that way rather than through quickness. If he could really develop his 3-point shooting to draw the defense out tight to him, this could open up the floor more, and he could be a respectable NBA ball handler. He has the vision already.