Get Your Motor Running…
2019-06-10
When the Cavaliers wound up with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft, I think most of us couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. While most fans (at least the type of fans who take the time to read blogs like this) knew that the new lottery odds made the possibility of the Cavaliers dropping in the draft order more likely than ever before, I don’t think many of us thought that they would actually wind up with the fifth pick.
Still, while there seems to be clear drop offs after the first and third picks in this draft, history tells us that it’s more likely than not that one or two future All-Stars will be drafted with the fifth pick or later. The hard part is identifying who those future All-Stars are. If it was easy, then players like Draymond Green, Nikola Jokic, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Goran Dragic, and Manu Ginobili wouldn’t have been second-round picks.
When looking at players who have met or exceeded draft expectations, one commonality seems to stand out above all others, a tremendous motor, both in practice as well as in games . Jump shots can be fixed, shot selection can be altered, and defense can improve, but no amount of coaching can make a player care about basketball if they don’t already. All of the players listed above are known to be obsessed with their craft, with high on-court motors, allowing them to outperform what many thought they were capable of.
This type of work ethic seems to be the characteristic that Koby Altman and Dan Gilbert have place above all others when looking for players to add to the roster. It certainly applies to Collin Sexton. Whether you are a fan of Sexton or not, there’s no debating his work ethic and aggression. His desire to succeed also allowed him to alter and improve his shot selection as the season went on, even if it wasn’t what he was most comfortable doing. He stayed aggressive and was willing to alter his game in ways that helped his team more on the court. Those are things that winning NBA players do.
It’s possible that the Gilbert and Altman have adopted this philosophy based on the past two first round picks the team has made. Anthony Bennett is obviously one of the biggest busts in NBA history. While he had solid physical gifts, Bennett simply lacked the work ethic and passion for basketball needed to succeed in the NBA. No, the Cavs wouldn’t have drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo instead of Bennett, but it has since come out that Gilbert wanted to select Victor Oladipo, while Chris Grant favored Ben McLemore, and David Griffin and the rest of the front office preferred Bennett. While it took Oladipo five seasons and three teams to become a star, he has always been a solid player with a terrific motor.
One could make the case that the Cavaliers made a similar mistake with Andrew Wiggins. While Wiggins is reputed to have a good work ethic in terms of time he puts into his game, it’s fair to say that he often doesn’t play with a high motor during games particularly on the defensive end, where he was once thought to be a potential stopper. Considering he is owed over $121 million over the next four seasons, despite having a negative VORP over every season of his career so far, not having to pay Wiggins is yet another benefit of trading him and Bennett for Kevin Love.
When looking at this draft, three players seem to be in the conversation to be selected by the Cavaliers with the fifth pick in the draft; Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, and De’Andre Hunter. Both Culver and Hunter are said to be hard workers and the kind of players who would help set a culture of hard work for a team. Both also play hard on both ends, despite Hunter’s limits as a shot creator and Culver’s occasional defensive lapses. Either player seems to have the combination of talent and motor to be at least a solid rotation player for a long time. The same can be said for Brandon Clarke, the Gonzaga forward (and Nate Smith favorite), but it seems like Clarke will likely go a bit later in the lottery.
Meanwhile, Reddish is seen by many as the most talented of the players in the Cavs’ range due to his size, smooth style of play, and the fact that he was highly rated coming out of high school, but is that the truth? Yes he shooting stroke looks smooth, but he shot just 33% from deep this season. His dunks in an empty gym look great, but he shot a putrid 39% on two-point attempts this season. While Reddish had a few impressive performances, they were mixed in with too many games in which he simply faded into the background. It was somewhat similar to the way fellow former Duke player and former Cavalier Rodney Hood has both teased and frustrated fans over his career. Like Hood, Reddish is probably a good guy who does work on his craft, but he lacks the natural on-court motor that lets him assert himself in a game. This isn’t so much laziness as it is being a passive person.
Sometimes, when a player is generally mediocre and passive, teams look at his highlights and use them to project the type of player they think he can be. Despite the best efforts of both the player and the team, that almost never turns out to be true. No player is as good as their best moments or as bad as their worst ones. They are somewhere in between, hence the reason we look at scoring averages, shooting percentages, and other statistics that tell us what a player’s daily output might look like. Sometimes it seems that teams look at an underwhelming player with good highlights and like them better than a better play with less impressive highlights. It’s almost as if they think the lesser player has more room for growth. Chances are, the real truth is that lesser player simply isn’t as good and won’t ever be. It’s also unlikely that they will suddenly develop more than a player of similar age and experience level who has already worked hard enough to be better than them. That said, even if it is true and the underwhelming player has more room for growth, will it really be enough for them to overtake the other prospect who has been a better player and is already a few steps ahead of them? It seems unlikely.
Of course, a high motor is certainly no guarantee for success. Before the 2012 NBA Draft, I desperately wanted the Cavaliers to find a way to draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Kidd-Gilchrist’s defense, athletic play, and nonstop motor were enticing to me. His free throw shooting seemed to indicate he could develop an outside shot. The fact that he was a small forward and high school teammates with Kyrie Irving just added to the intrigue.
Kidd-Gilchrist wound up being taken with the second pick in the draft by the Charlotte Hornets (then the Charlotte Bobcats), one pick after his Kentucky teammate, Anthony Davis. While he hasn’t been a bust by any means, Kidd-Gilchrist hasn’t really developed much since college. He’s still a solid defender who rebounds and finishes well, particularly in transition, but that’s about it. He still can’t shoot, which has become a bigger issue as the importance of spacing and outside shooting is of greater importance in the NBA now than ever before, and still can’t really create off the dribble. Sometimes a motor just isn’t enough to turn a solid player into a great one. Maybe it’s what made them good enough to even be a solid player in the first place.
Still, it’s been said that the Cavaliers focus on “controllables” such as work ethic and character as they add players to rebuild both their team and culture. Hopefully, that truly is the case. While these things may or may not help them find whatever hidden superstars there are in this draft, it should help them find some talented young players who have the ability to be long-term pieces of this team and who can help set a culture of work and accountability that we would all like the Cavaliers to have.
HAHAHAHA Bray.
Man, Kawhi is playing hard.
Cousins with another big board and block on Kawhi who then maybe double dribbled
Tech, Bray…douche…
Lowry initiated that contact… BS call IMO
He caught him with a reach. Not much there before Lowry leans in but could have been called.
Agreed, but DUMB by Bray.
Fine, don’t get the dumb tech…Bray gets away with tons of uncalled fouls…if this series extends he may have to sit a game because he’s a freaking 3 year old brat…
Warriors still playing loose with the ball
And a really dumb needless foul by cousins
Another uncalled walk by Kawhi.
Bad foul by FVV. Kawhi Leonard rule. No space to come down.
Kawhi everywhere on D, and then FVV with another dumb foul.
Ha Leonard destroyed that.. curry should have just shot the layup
Toronto cannot let off the gas pedal like Houston . It’s not going to get easy. Dray and Klay and Steph are gonna be rabid animals for the remainder.
True. I question if they can stop the raptors and kawhi though. Eventually shooting could cool.
Cousins working on that Lakers deal
Boogie and Marcus Morris would be a really nice offseason for the Lakers…
Ibaka definitely the weak link this game.
Wow cousins providing big spark
Cousins finishing strong and a board
Cousins could kill them.on.d.
Durant grabbed what some might call his ankle (Achilles).
Huge difference between the Lebron Cavs and the Kawhi Raptors is the Raptors are still a good team when Kawhi sits…
Pretty rough last year when Lebron sat down.
Wow this could be a game changer. Wonder if he comes back in. Bad on raptors fans. That is pretty piss poor sportsmanship.
I guess, but a lot of that was probably people cheering the turnover and break…I’m sure there are a few idiots, because there always are…
Uh, no. They were straight booing when he was limping around.
I dunno. Cheering sort of picked up way after turnover as he was being helped by his teammates.
Bet Durant had a twinge there and got a little spooked…
Feel like raptors mostly getting shots they want against warriors d. Warriors just out scoring them with some incredible shot making right now.
This is a dangerous time for the Raptors right now. Dubs are hot.
Good Lord Thompson is on fire this series
Raptors with some good o boards
Three great shooters is so much more dangerous than two.
3pt revolution really has created value for good shooters
Especially if one is 6’11 and can pull up and shoot over everyone.
Gotta say hell of a rebound and finish by curry. Such a good boarding small guard. He really showed up this qtr
KD’s new nickname is franchise mode cheat code.
Why is Durant firing them up? Dumb.
Good call on Durant. Dumb foul
Wowser durant…
Huh. Did Durant get fouled or did he actually airball that?
Dray fouled Ibaka with his gunt.
I.mean yeah ibaka did lean in, but come on you are always going to be called for that.
Yeah, you leave your feet while offensive guy doesn’t, you don’t complain…but it’s Bray…
How was that not a walk on Kawhi?
Oh that was a dumb dumb foul by lowry
GS playing a half court game here, walking it up. I think they know they need to conserve energy.
Lowry needs to be smarter with his fouls…can’t afford those cheapies…
Moving screen on Looney.
Draymond patented moving screen.
Wow warriors casual with the ball
My only criticism of that foul, is if you’re gonna foul curry, hit him harder. Don’t give him anything weak.
Yeah I would call that. Curry didn’t kick his legs. Ball was released but FVV didn’t let him land.
Lol. Nice sell job by Curry, but dumb foul by Van Vleet.
That foul on Curry: exhibit A for what should not be called in the future.
Eh. That’s not nearly as egregious as the fake and flail.
Disagree. He actually didn’t kick out or jump in. FVV hit him on the arm. Don’t think it matters if after release.
According to the rules, that was a foul. I get it. But Curry hung his arm out there to get hit. He’s practiced that, I’m sure. It’s a crafty and smart way to play, but if I were King, I’d not have the refs call that (when the ball is half way to the hoop.) that didn’t change his shot in the same way that hitting him a split second after would.
True but it affected his landing. If you can’t land upright you may be at a disadvantage going back on d.
I’d have to see it again. I thought he fake fell to draw the foul, but I could be wrong.
I think it would be really hard to tell. Looked like he hit the arm enough to turn him
Raptors have to be the smartest team in the league since they picked up Gasol…the only dumb player they have is Ibaka…
Really dumb play by FVV right as I typed that…
Expect.raptors to pull away with Durant sitting
Man. Raptors D is amorphous.
Lebronesque shot by Kawhi there.
Cannot take the hotdog out of this GS team…
Yep playing real fast and loose with the ball. Raptors have had about two near steals and two or three actual ones.
Could end up being.their. downfall tonight.
That foul on klay was thin.
Don’t worry, I’m sure the refs have been instructed to ‘keep it fair’…
Meh. I think that probably gets called most of the time. But the foul wasn’t egregious certainly. That is if you’re talking about him fouling Gasol.
Warriors have gotten away with some really risky and casual passes.
Travel by Lowry on that jumpstop and change of pivot foot.
Wow that was a.beautful sequence off the Klay post for the curry layup. Raptors weathering.
2 on Klay…nice…
Durant does not seem rusty at all….
Durant opens so much spacing for them.
One of Kawhi’s few non strengths is his somewhat loose handle in traffic…Klay gets his hand on a lot, but he needs to be more careful…
I’ll settle for the Warriors losing game 5 by 30…
Love to see the Raptors actually get a hot start shooting for a change…
Nice piece, Mike.
People forget the other huge Cavs bust from that draft: Sergey Karasev. The next seven guys became NBA rotation players at some point (and several got massively overpaid) and the eighth became an star (Gobert).
Somehow the Cavs failed to develop young talent?
God, Karasev turned out to be a terrible pick. What an awful draft.
HEY BUCK —” HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OFF THAT MAGIC CARPET RIDE ” : )
Durant starting. If he is anywhere near in game shape and 75 to 80% GS probably has a decent shot to win and likely will at least be competitive. If GS came back and won this series I would find it really hilarious if Durant torched the last games leading to him possibly stealing finals MVP from Steph based on three games. Steph denied again would be pretty funny.
Pumped for tonight’s game. Hopefully Toronto puts the final nail on the coffin.
Also I think it’s fair to consider MKG a bust.
Disagree. He should be playing center.
Would a hypothetical 6-7 center who can’t score be worth the second pick in any draft?
He can score. He just can’t shoot. But point taken. I forgot he was second pick.
THE DRAFT -( IN ANY SPORT ) –IS A “DAMNED IF YOU DO——DAMNED IF YOU DON’T ” PROPOSITION————-USING THE “GREEKFREAK ” AS A PRIME EXAMPLE / IF HE DIDN’T PAN OUT –BUCKS ARE “DAMNED IF YOU DO “——-AS WE ALL KNOW NOW ALL THE TEAMS THAT DRAFTED BEFORE THE BUCKS ARE –” DAMNED IF WE DON’T ” ————–DO YOUR DUE DILLIGENCE IN SCOUTING / EVALUATING / ETC THEN ‘ROLL THE DICE ” HOPE FOR THE BEST
I am leaning towards preferring to trade back. Take a guy with some sort of floor in some aspect and then a reach for the stars guy. Then again maybe I am overthinking it.
If the Cavs could trade with the Hawks and grab Doumbouya and Clarke, I’d say that’s a home run. I doubt they’d get both of those guys, though…it’s a tough decision. Cavs definitely need a young talent infusion. I hope they can grab another first with the JR contract, even if they have to suck up some terrible contract.
I dunno. I think Sekou and Clarke could be very gettable with 8 and 10. First three are likely a lock for Zion, Morant, and Barrett. Gotta think Garland is going to the Suns or Lakers based on the promise rumor so top 6. That’s 4 picks. 4 (if Lakers didn’t make the promise to Garland), 5 (if we were to trade back), and 7 are likely to include at least two of Hunter, Culver, and White. LA probably takes whoever NO wants, likely someone with a jump shot. Or takes a guy that can contribute immediately and fits with… Read more »
I think Sekou or Clarke, or maybe both, are going to get snagged by someone much earlier than the draft wonks project. I think both may be gone by the 10th pick. Just a feeling I have.
Could be. I think Clarke would be more likely.
I’m inclined to agree with you on Clarke But who knows. There are a lot of good players in this draft and a lot of lock busts who are inextricably valued (Hachimora, anyone?)
I honestly don’t know much about Hachimura. Watched him against Duke and he looked really excellent that game. Had some big defensive plays. Good offensive game. I was impressed then. Seemed to play some bully ball. He had some good moments on offense against a tough Texas tech d and against FSU from what I can remember. Only games I watched. He had a good mid range j and form in the games I watched. Don’t remember him shooting outside much or making any threes. Probably has to extend his range. But a guy that has a solid mid-range game… Read more »
Mike Schmitz’s (formerly of dx express now with espn) scouting videos for White, Culver, and Hunter are up on youtube. White seems intriguing, but seems to have eerily similar issues and strengths as Sexton. Based off his height he seems like he could be an acceptable pairing. But he is not really a point or at least is way raw on basic pg p and r reads, running a team, decision making, and basic defensive fundamentals, reads etc. Not sure those guys would work together either defensively or offensively since neither really seems to have any pg instincts (at least… Read more »
Hunter is a physical specimen as far as his strength, length, and frame and has decent athleticism. Absolutely elite on ball defender who can legit switch onto five positions on ball right now. Shuts people down. Not a great off ball defender. Very accurate standstill shooter. Release is slow. Doesn’t really catch and shoot on the hop. Good finisher at the rim off getting setup or blow bys on closeouts, or getting the ball on the move. Basic pullup game. Very very poor handles. Cannot really create his own shot save for very predictable left pull ups. Not a shooter… Read more »
Nice piece Mike. I hope they do their due diligence regarding the intangibles like work ethic for every prospect they consider.
LOVE THE MUSIC —MANY FOND MEMORIES !!!!——AGREE COLLEGE STATS CAN BE DECEIVING ——REALLY IS CRUCIAL TO DO YOUR SCOUTING HOMEWORK —ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE LOTTERY PICKS —-NOT TO MENTION THE # 1 PICK : (
NOMAD.. you didn’t take magic carpet rides, did you?
Good stuff, and totally agree. However this made me go take a look at Bennett’s college numbers. 16pts and 8rbs a game in only 27 minutes. Also had shooting splits of 53/38/70. That’s….pretty good.
He had decent numbers. Dunno how strong their schedule was as far as who the played. Sports ref says 64/347 SOS. I don’t know how that SOS compares to the typical SOS elite schools in power five conferences. Duke’s SOS this year was 5th of 347. Numbers might say something but it doesn’t necessarily translate if there isn’t the will to improve and work once a player gets drafted. Bennett did not do anything over that summer and came in way out of shape even after his shoulder injury from what I remember. Ballooned up in weight. Apparently did not… Read more »
DXpress scouting video pointed out no motor and little effort on d. The off court motor as far as a guy’s passion or will to be a gym rat is probably only something you could tell by interviews, word of mouth, watching practices, and individual workout sessions.
The Bennett pick was really indefensible with Oladipo sitting there. I watched Dipo a ton in college, he was always the most competitive guy on the court every game. Instead, they take a tweener who was a dog on the court. I’ll never understand what the Cavs FO saw in that dude. In that draft, with the information available at the time, you take Oladipo 10 out of 10 times.
Reddish is a guy I would not touch, as I say for the hundredth time.
Yeah I think most people wanted Dipo.
I actually remember where I was the moment they picked Bennett because I was out of the country talking to a buddy via skype who was watching that draft in the background.
I remember saying something to him along the lines of “Wait they didn’t take Dipo? Ok who did they take? Anthony Bennett? Who in the hell is Anthony Bennett?!!!”
We were both furious in the moment and we basically spent the rest of the call trashing the cavs FO.
I remember I wanted Oladipo but Nerlens Noel was definitely the consensus top pick.
Noel was if you were okay with his injury and not being ready to play for a while. The Cavs weren’t in that mode. They were in ‘win now’ mode…so they take Anthony freaking Bennett.
The injury sort of changed that I think.
Oladipo was the ONLY option at #1 for that draft. The Cavs blew it…