Maybe but the 4 games before the break (Spurs, Mavs, OKC, GS) is no cake walk. That 7 game road trip, with the first home game immediately after (1 night off only) against OKC will be tough. Although if we can go 4-4 in that stretch......we would be in good shape.
Jake is starting to give us what we were trying to trade for. Crazy that he was sitting on the bench the whole time. Time will tell if he can consistently perform even close to what we're seeing now. The fact that he isn't a one trick pony is a good sign he can do it. Either way, Jakes name in any trade should be deleted unless it's just a no brainer.
I think it was Olshey that mentioned a year or so ago that Layman was probably overrated as a shooter and underrated in everything else. He didn’t put it in those words, but that was his drift. I always thought he was pretty solid on the defensive end, even when he was struggling with his shot. Now he’s taken a big step on that end as well. He works his ass off defensively, and minus a couple mental lapses where he loses his guy, he’s been solid imo. His rebounding has improved as well. His total rebound % has gone up 3%. His contested rebound % jump is even more impressive; from 12% to 29.5%. Now that’s still below the rates of Moe and Aminu, but those guys are plus rebounders, and I’m really just pointing out the improvement.
This is sooo dumb, but how many high flying white dudes have there been in the league? 1. Layman 2. Plumlee 3. Chambers 4. Brent Barry 5. Majerle 6. Budinger Is that it?
How about Rex Chapman? Haven't looked into 'the numbers' or anything, just basing it off of my (obviously faded) memories of watching Rex play. Chapman was an extremely fiery character, whereas Jake is much more laid back. The thing that's really standing out to me though, is that the list of guys that have been in the league, that can do what Jake can do--WITHOUT the ball, mind you--is not a very extensive one. His movement off the ball, combined with his ability to shoot AND to be a threat at the rim, in the manner that he is? I mean, you see guys all the time that are, either, a threat from deep, or at the rim, but rarely both. I sure as fuck wouldn't want to be chasing this guy around for 25 minutes a night, while he dunks on me (or my teammates) or as he rains threes from the perimeter, as I struggle to navigate through screens/defenders!
Yeah that’s the thing I like about Jake and why I’m optimistic he’s not just a flash in the pan. Even if his shot isn’t falling he can still be a weapon offensively. It also makes capping his ceiling difficult. He has all the ability to become an impact starter, he really does, and I don’t think we’ve seen everything he has to offer either. I think he can also develop into a playmaker.
Jake can score in so many different ways, it is almost criminal we don't have plays to get him to the rim or get him wide open for great shots. Plays with Nurk at the top of the key. Plays where he can back door cut opposite strong side Plays where he can just stay in the corner and take 3s. I honestly believe, we need to find a way to limit the number of shots CJ takes and give those shots to Jake. Instead of seeing CJ go 5-20 or crap like that, I rather put Jake (even at the #2, because he can't defend worse than CJ) and go from there. I want Jake to get 10+ shots, 20+ minutes every night, regardless.
It does seem like there’s a more concerted effort to get him looks lately. At the same time, there’s still this underlying feeling I have that Stotts will abandon it as soon as Layman has an off night or two. The same feeling I have re: playing through Nurk. I’d argue that both those guys are a bigger reason for our recent success than CJ, yet neither has the same level of trust from Stotts. Not sure they ever will, but I hope I’m wrong.
Jake needs to work on his 3 point shot. If he could get it up around 40% he will be absolutely lethal. He has so many ways to create open 3's for himself. He's quick, ALWAYS moving, great back-door threat, can drive and finish, is long, fairly quick release, even showed the ability to step back 3. There are so many things to love about Jake... he's a natural.
The other area he might be short in, and this has surprised me, is he might not be as mentally tough as he needs to be. He needs to stay positive and on an even keel when things don't go right.
True CJ had 2 games in November where he was in the 5-20 crap range... But from December 1st on.....he is mostly shooting over 50% when he takes that many shots: Here they are: 11-23, 12-20, 9-21 10-20 16-27 11-22 14-21 13-23 9-20 , 17-26 13-24 I am all for Jake getting more shots. but there are other players other than CJ that would make more sense to shoot less. I get the hate for CJ is at an all time high, which is fucking idiotic IMO, but he is not taking 20 shots every night. There are plenty of nights he is only taking 12-14 shots. Bottom line we don't have to find a way for it to happen, it already is happening.
and yet his shooting efficiency and scoring efficiency is up and his highest in his career and his shot attempts is the lowest since he has been a Blazer.
Finally came up with who Layman reminds me of. Many of you youngsters probably never saw him play, but Laynan exhibits some similarities to Billy Cunningham in his early years with the Sizers. Also, Jim Paxson was similar as well as he moved and cut extremely well off the ball also.
Actually Jake doesn't remind me of many white players....his style of play is similar to a young Grant Hill before injury in my view...he moves without the ball like Rip Hamilton
