Cavatt
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Where are all the emoni bates interviews... Cavs are doing a terrible job at feeding my hunger.
I had not heard this from JB. Good to hear
Where are all the emoni bates interviews... Cavs are doing a terrible job at feeding my hunger.
...one thing we all like, he's really competitive on the ball & really active off the ball. - Darius Garland on Bates
That's great because some guys who see themselves as big scorers just stand around saving energy until they get the ball, then go to work on breaking down their man. The fact that Bates is "really active off the ball" means he understands the value of getting open for a catch-and-shoot, or a pump fake and drive against a close-out.
A guy who moves well off the ball and can shoot well from outside can score a lot of points.
Does "really competitive on the ball" mean he's working hard on individual defense or that he's a good offensive player with the ball in his hands?
Yeah I would temper my expectations regardless, because even if his basketball skills are more developed than expected, his body certainly isn't. He needs time.
he's wiry !!Yeah I would temper my expectations regardless, because even if his basketball skills are more developed than expected, his body certainly isn't. He needs time.
Really rooting for him but yes. The 3 is a freakin meat grinder at the NBA level. You have to be really mentally tough to play at that spot and it is even more of an initial challenge if you need physical development.
What Emoni really needs to is to shoot well from the jump. I think that will just help alleviate some of the pressure he will feel on the defensive end, especially against the cross section of bully like 3's.
I'm not sure he's going to be initially strong enough to create much at the NBA level but if he can shoot well on O and just be a high effort guy on D, he should be able to carve out a role.
You could play him at the 2 with Wade at the 3 and have enough length on the court to help cover his defensive shortcomings. Also, Wade’s typically not hunting his own shot and Bates always is. I think it would be more of a problem to pair him with Okoro or Struss at the 3.I do wonder if he will get Min at the 2