<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW @ Feb 20 2008, 11:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Best surprise of the night. I haven't followed him. I only know his reputation. Tonight he lived up to that as a terrific defender. He also hit a couple of nice opportunity jumpers. If he can give this on a regular basis, the change in the trade will be a blessing in disguise. Now if only Thorn could get us a dead eye shooter before 3:00 PM tomorrow! Oh, and though it's only one game, I have no problem saying Hassell is MUCH better than Wright. Wright hasn't defended that well his whole time here.</div> What you saw tonight is exactly what he brought to Minnesota all those years he's been there. Especially that one year KG got MVP - Hassel was their best perimeter defender, and an important part to that team. I'm sure he can give this on a regular basis. He's a total upgrade over Wright. The fact that he's only 28 only makes it 10x better.
hassell is like a smarter and more experienced hassan adams but less athletic...he is ferocious on defense! he's already one of my favorites... wright uses his superior lateral movement, footspeed and balance to pester an offensive player much like jkidd...he is always in an offensive player's face...i dunno why he is so uncoordinated on offense...
Slept through the game--but there's no reason to denigrate Wright! He is a very solid defender in his own right. That's his only skill; at least give him credit for it!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Feb 21 2008, 03:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>what did he say about the capital? hassell has always been solid</div> He said Hassell's nickname is "The Capital" becuse Trenton is the Capital of NJ. That caused Marv to be silent for about 15 seconds before making a strange, soft groaning noise.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Feb 21 2008, 12:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I said this before. "The Capital" (LOL) is better than Wright in every way except he is ridiculously overpaid. I'd much rather have him on the floor than that scrub Devean George.</div> Watch Hassell resurrect his career here while George slips away to the retirement home!
i loved it when hassell was already bumping nocioni out of position even before he got an airborne pass coming to him...he never gives an inch! he is also always there to try an take a charge...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Slept through the game--but there's no reason to denigrate Wright! He is a very solid defender in his own right. That's his only skill; at least give him credit for it!</div> Wright is pesky and moves his feet very well. But what I noticed with Hassell is that, despite looking less athletic than Wright, he manages to stay just as close to his man and his sheer bulk keeps guys from being able to move him. He's a power defender with veteran respect from officials, apparently, and is allowed to be physical. If last night was any indication, he will be a substantial defensive upgrade over Wright. Vince compared Hassell to DA in that he's one of those tenacious, disruptive defenders guys you just don't want to see guarding you because you know you are in for a very long night. I'll also point out that he showed considerable team defensive intelligence, especially on that crucial stop at the end where Gordon drove and the ball wound up going inside for what looked like a wide open dunk and Hassell read the play, darted in and deflected the pass, preserving the win. I'll reserve judgment for a few more games, but he looks like a big upgrade over Wright overall.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW @ Feb 21 2008, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy @ Feb 21 2008, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Slept through the game--but there's no reason to denigrate Wright! He is a very solid defender in his own right. That's his only skill; at least give him credit for it!</div> Wright is pesky and moves his feet very well. But what I noticed with Hassell is that, despite looking less athletic than Wright, he manages to stay just as close to his man and his sheer bulk keeps guys from being able to move him. He's a power defender with veteran respect from officials, apparently, and is allowed to be physical. If last night was any indication, he will be a substantial defensive upgrade over Wright. Vince compared Hassell to DA in that he's one of those tenacious, disruptive defenders guys you just don't want to see guarding you because you know you are in for a very long night. I'll also point out that he showed considerable team defensive intelligence, especially on that crucial stop at the end where Gordon drove and the ball wound up going inside for what looked like a wide open dunk and Hassell read the play, darted in and deflected the pass, preserving the win. I'll reserve judgment for a few more games, but he looks like a big upgrade over Wright overall. </div> I saw that too. He'll do well here because Frank values team defensive concepts and players with good Bball IQs.
