<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Gerald Green, a potential pick for the Jazz with their No. 6 selection, said Tuesday that he is only doing what his agent says when telling teams he won't play other prospects 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 in advance of next week's NBA Draft. "If it was me, I would," the Houston, Texas, high school star said. "But my advisers really insist that you don't go against others, just for the simple fact (of) risking injury. But, if it was up to me ? I don't care." So instead of going through a typical Jazz workout, Green ? after dinner with Jazz brass on Monday night ? took part in shooting drills and agility drills during a Tuesday-morning audition. Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said Green's work was "terrific" but suggested the 19-year-old isn't exactly a polished product. "From a basketball point of view, he's behind a little bit as far as teaching goes," O'Connor said. "But he responded extremely well, which is something we really wanted to see. . . . We wanted to see how he responded to some coaching." Green, who originally committed to Oklahoma State, said deciding to turn pro was "one of the toughest decisions I ever made in my life." Now, he vows to bring "a lot of fire, a lot of energy" to whichever NBA team drafts him. Green already has worked out for New Orleans and Charlotte, the draft's Nos. 4 and 5 picks, respectively, and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are rumored to be exploring a possible move to as high as No. 3 to get the McDonald's All-American. The quiet, respectful teen said he has additional visits planned with Portland, Toronto and New York. The Trail Blazers originally told Green not to bother if he wasn't willing to compete against other prospects, but since then they decided to bring him in anyway.</div> Source
"<u>From a basketball point of view, he's behind a little bit </u> as far as teaching goes," O'Connor said. "But he responded extremely well, which is something we really wanted to see. . . . We wanted to see <u>how he responded to some coaching</u>." Then he should go to college and catch up!!! Of course he's gonna respond to coaching.. Pay me all that money and I'll do anything the coach wants. Throw the garbage, do the laundry, wash cars. hahahahhaha. Well, what better way to see if he's coachable than to see him play for Roy, Tubby Smith, Pitino, Keady, Coach K... the list goes on.
I am typically not high on "projects" but a BIG deal is does the guy have the drive,ambition to do whatever to be as good as possible,and Green appears to have worked hard to become a player with real skills,not just physical tools. Green has tools but if you look at his numbers,he pays his dues on the boards,he's had a lot of assists,and you don't get a 3pt shot like his without serious time invested. When I saw Marvin W play I was real impressed with the physical tools-not impressed with the skills and the on the court effort. I am sure R Williams coached him on the basics of rebounding-but it didn't show. Most no-talent HS guys can at least play some D,it is not hard to have adequate D,yet Marvin often seemed to skip that part. Considering all that,were I picking 2nd,I'd take GG,who can be a starter very soon,ahead of Marvin who will discover he can't coast on raw talent...but then he will be building his game from the ground up,and I'd have to ask whether he,at some point,does commit 100% to becoming a star. So far Marvin has had a free ticket while Taft took a big hit as a slacker who had put out less than full effort. It will be different once in the league...just ask Darko.
