I like him. As for Stotts, he's done well in the short term. Now let's see how he does as top teams take us seriously, instead of entering the game overconfident. Stotts won't look as great then.
That is true on the offensive end. As long as players are expected to play both ends of the court, Klay is still the better over-all player. We used to have a guy very much like CJ - his name was Zach Randolph. This forum HATED him. Funny how times and expectations change!
I doubt anybody has a simple answer to that one. In any event, that doesn't contradict the argument that Stotts has done a good job!
Nobody disagrees with that assessment. What I take issue with is the implication that the axiomatic "unlikelihood" of CJ becoming an all-NBA player somehow suggests that we need a different direction in the current team build, when in fact all avenues of procuring multiple all-NBA players are similarly unlikely. As it stands, our most likely method to obtain a second all-NBA player is for one to develop from within, and of the players we have, CJ is the most likely candidate to achieve that status. @Nikolokolus making a point of telling us all how unlikely that may be without providing a preferable alternative is nothing more than pointless negative fatalism.
I believe the comparison is that both are offensively talented, even unguardable, but sub-par at best on defense.
Think about it. Zach and CJ are both somewhat under-sized for their position, and neither blow you away with their athleticism. As a result, both struggle on defense. On the flip side, both worked hard to hone their skills and become lethal weapons on offense. Both consistently put the ball in the hoop against bigger, more athletic defenders. The difference is that fans cheer when CJ drops 30 on somebody. If Zach did that, he was accused of being a selfish ball-hog. IIRC, you weren't part of this community back then. so you really can't appreciate how overwhelming the venom was.
I despise people involved in dog-fighting. As for CJ's position on pot and hookers - I couldn't care less.
Zach turned himself into an above average defensive player (he still isn't stellar but that is because now father time is finally catching up but there was a period there a few years ago where his defensive stats were good). CJ has more drive (imo) than Zach. CJ will be better than average in this area within 2 years I would bet.
I remember things a little differently. The fans LOVED Zach during the Dallas series and for a season or two after. In a supporting role, he was great. It was when he became the number 1 option and the face of the team that things went downhill. When all the off-court shit started, the fans turned on him. And yes, at that time Zach was a selfish ballhog. I seem to recall him winning the Black Hole Award one year (worst FGA/AST ratio). Yes, C.J. can get his own shot, but he's a MUCH better distributor (4.3 apg) than Zach ever was in a Blazers uniform. And then, there is the lack of leadership, immaturity and off court legal issues that were part of the whole Hoops Family package. In that regard, C.J. is the exact opposite of young Zach. BNM
That was ignored because it was insinuated that the on court analogy is the reason why he was hated. That simply is not true.
OK, I will let this drop, but with one last observation - bagging on Zach for his passing is like ripping CJ for his rebounding. Very few players are good at everything.
