Been watching the games on ESPN3 -- the Russians play great team ball. They don't have great talent but they use what they have well. And AK is a great teammate. I can't believe how many points he is scoring on alley-oops. He's averaging nearly 20 a game over four games -- today he had 25 plus four steals. No, this is not the NBA but I don't see why he cannot be an important piece of the team going forward. He's not as athletic as he was but a better player. Watching these games makes me realize it really was the coaching as well as DWill's "attitude" that diminished AK's recent years in the NBA -- injuries had a role too -- but he's not injured right now and playing well.
AK and Russian team
- Thread starter write4u
- Start date
www.espn3.com, then just click on "replays". All of Euro games are there as on-demand re-runs.
Because the site became infected with DWill fans and Loozer lovers, and Jerry's system was better suited to their talents. Consequently, AK was turned into a role player. Actually, that is what AK is, a role player, but an extremely good role player, a number 3 option that is good as a number 3 option could be, if used properly. Jerry also did not use him well, and I think Jerry admitted this on more than one occasion. Plus you had DWill's huge ego, which has become more blatantly obvious, since he was traded - note the many comments from sportscasters - and you can see how this happened, though it seemed that DWill and AK had come to terms the last couple of years and did play well together. But it was their initial interaction that led to AK's meltdown. AK is also injury prone, partly because of his all-out style of his play. In recent years, you can see that he is more under control, and though the injuries have also diminished his athleticism a bit, he still is quite athletic.
And Sepanol, you wouldn't believe all the crap and insults I took on this site from the DWill and Loozer fans for defending AK or saying that DWill was "freezing out" AK or Jerry was not using him properly, and the so-called mods and admins never backed me up when I complained, at times even joining in. When I retaliated in kind, I got warnings yet so far as I could tell, they did nothing about all the racist and homophobic comments and innuendos sent my way because they continued unabated.
The big flap was when one of the former mods and the infamous Aint became buddies, and I believe, and still do, that they are one and the same person, but I won't go into that because Colton investigated it and didn't find the evidence, so he thought I was being paranoid. That's water over the dam, but I still don't like how they let the site turn into a pissing match.
Things are quiet now; there isn't much to talk about. Wonder what the site will be like, once NBA basketball is back.
The big flap was when one of the former mods and the infamous Aint became buddies, and I believe, and still do, that they are one and the same person, but I won't go into that because Colton investigated it and didn't find the evidence, so he thought I was being paranoid. That's water over the dam, but I still don't like how they let the site turn into a pissing match.
Things are quiet now; there isn't much to talk about. Wonder what the site will be like, once NBA basketball is back.
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
Guess who's back. Back again. Ain't is back. Grab a friend. Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back...
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
We've been using the coaching excuse for 6 freakin' years to excuse AK's 70% effort. How about the lack of an outside game? How about the pouting if he doesn't receive enough "touches?" Sure he gets a few steals and 1 1/2 blocks per game. The blocks are either from the weak side or when he gets beaten but then manages to get his hand on the ball. But for every block, he gives up 10 easy shots, either by getting taken off the dribble or allowing to much space and giving up an uncontested jumper. AK is a below average one-on-one defender. Offensively he has one move: drive wildly into the lane and throw the ball up in the air hoping the ref will bail him out. Sometimes works at home. Free of Sloan, AK would go back to chucking up wild 3's. I'd rather have CJ throwing up those shots (and I despise Chucker Smiles).
Besides, this team is >2 years away from contending. AK is well into his decline. You want to waste development time of Hayward and Burks, not to mention long-term salary space for a guy who will be well lpast his useful years when the team is ready to make the next leap into possibly contending? Better to let CJ have some minutes - or even Millsap - at the 3. You'd at least be building up some trade value with those players and perhaps get a mid-1st at the deadline.
InGameStrategy
Well-Known Member
The poor shooting is mostly on AK; the blame for not receiving touches is shared with the point guard and the coach.
Well, your ranty prediction on treys hasn't happened yet.
Since the February 11 game, Kirilenko shot 3's an average of every 22 minutes of play, vs. 1 trey every 20 minutes for the entire season. In other words, his rainmaking has gone down.
No.
But Burks and Hayward aren't gonna play 48 minutes each.
And CJ isn't exactly the perfect piece in that 2-3 triumvirate. Neither is Millsap.
MVP
Well-Known Member
Nice to see somebody who understands the right reasons ( people ) which turned ALL-star, all defensive team member and the only person in NBA history with 5x6 game into role player. To bad you needed to watch games now when for me it was obvious during 2007 Eurobasket after AK won gold with Russia and MVP title of the tourney.
AK homers are the worst. Everything out of their brain on the matter sounds like an abused spouse rationalizing why they're getting abused.
The guy is on the wrong side of 30 and a tremendous disappointment. He's not going to suddenly be the player we wanted him to be, especially not when he's more concerned with WOW than he is ball (to believe otherwise is denial). He hasn't shown a bit of improvement in 7 years, I don't want his crap habits around the young players.
The guy is on the wrong side of 30 and a tremendous disappointment. He's not going to suddenly be the player we wanted him to be, especially not when he's more concerned with WOW than he is ball (to believe otherwise is denial). He hasn't shown a bit of improvement in 7 years, I don't want his crap habits around the young players.
MVP
Well-Known Member
Not everyone. Only Sloan and to lesser degree DWill.
MVP
Well-Known Member
Somehow Sloan, Miller and O'Connor where not concerned about " lack of outside game" when they handled him maximum contract. Somehow lack of that did not prevent him to become MVP of Eurochampionship and win gold with Russia team.
Sure if Jazz plan to rebuild and miss playoffs couple years in a row while developing rookies than it is smart for them not to get AK back. Sucks for us fans though to endure another season or two with no playoffs. And contenders? Forget about it, how we can be contenders when there is not a single potential superstar on the roster.
Joe Bagadonuts
Well-Known Member
There was a time I would have argued for AK, but as far as I'm concerned that tattoo on his back says "UNDERACHIEVER" in all caps. The idiocy represented by that decision boggles the mind.
MVP
Well-Known Member
lol, you know the answer, why even bother watching some Euro games when they think Sloan can do no wrong. Until AK kicks Jazz *** playing for other team they will never think outside the box.
Yea AK had nothing to do with his performance in the NBA. How about the fact that he didn't work on his game? Besides the fact that Euro ball is NOT the NBA. The NBA is the top league in the world and AK is not one of the better players. He is a role player in the NBA and he could have been an All-star if he actually worked at it. I guess Carlos Arroyo sucked to because of bad coaching and bad teammates but when he plays internationally he looks like a potential superstar. You cannot compare the leagues because they are different in too many ways.