My eyes are seeing the same thing as @Mediocre Man …DC looks gassed and definitely slows down after a few minutes playing. Sure he can play 31 minutes and put up solid stats, but what I’m guessing is his runs will be even more impressive as his conditioning improves.
I keep reading people writing “once Clingan will get in NBA shape he will be good” what does people mean by this? NBA shape means more muscles? Wouldn’t he be more slow with more muscles? or are they talking about resistance? but he was playing college basketball in the last two years and he’s been playing NBA basketball in the last months so it’s not like he was sitting on a desk working from computer he should already have NBA conditioning, am I wrong?! or do you guys think there’s margin of improvement in this sense?
Yeah he's been putting in way more minutes lately without putting his hands on his knees every time he gets down the floor on offense. Probably just needed to play enough to get his wind back after that last injury.
Physical endurance but also mental, as well. 260-280+ lb elite big men shoving each other around and jockeying for positioning is different versus the collegiate level. Then, getting that 260+ lb 7-foot frame to move at a fast pace for presumably 30 minutes a game over half a year with far less breaks in between games than during college.....that's also taxing. Then, it's a clicking of the tools thing, too. Being able to efficiently utilize what skills that you have so that they can function in the NBA takes some time. Again, you're going up against NBA big men that would be considered "College MVP level" big men were they to enter into the NCAA, certain tools you have are going to need adjustments.
No, he shouldn't be in shape by now. Rookies who have never played this many games should be expected to have conditioning issues this late in the season. The rookie wall is real.
Not remotely He has shit hands Zero offensive footwork in the post EXTREMELY slow footed Can’t seem to dunk a ball unless it’s a lob What he has is great instincts
Clingan just turned 21. One would assume a 60 year old long time NBA fan who has seen umpteen Bigs develop knows that it takes more time for them to fill out into their big frames and physically develop, but maybe the goal is to ignore the lessons time has taught them to be able to complain? Especially with sports fans, being upset about something/anything is the way some like getting a dopamine rush, so maybe thats whats happening here? Smh at those posters who seem to think the only way a player can increase their endurance is getting more NBA PT. As DC ages and continues to regularly do various aerobic activities including playing NBA games, like everyone else in the history of time his aerobic capacity will increase. If pointing out reality makes me a lemming in some posters eyes, thats on them for being so tied to their drama I was very happy when they drafted Donovan and he has exceeded hopes of where he would be this season. Like it or not, he's a big part of Portland's bright future STOMP
I'm sorry... what rock were you under way back when he was drafted at 20 y/old that you didn't know he was a project Big??? Regardless, I'm sure if you complain some more it will speed up the process STOMP
