Post by KruPaxson on Aug 30, 2007 18:29:41 GMT -5
When players come into the league, coaches are always looking for an edge to improve the players they have. Coaches often move players around, some young players grow, and others add weight. Coaches have failed to look at long term affects of players changing but rather the short term immediate impact. Players that enter the league at the age of 18 years old can have the potential to grow another two inches in height. Many coaches love the idea of making a player bigger always thinking with the mentality of bigger is better but is it?
Some players can benefit from increasing their height while others it may be detrimental to their development. Players must have the frame to withstand an increase of 1 inch, meaning that the player's body must be developed well enough in strength and weight in order to grow an inch and be able to perform at the same position. Usually guards that receive the increase suffer the most as their body frames are not ready for such a difference. For instance Jamal Crawford was a guard in BBS who was rated extremely high in potential but grew 2 inches coming into the league to make him 6'7 as opposed to 6'5. His body frame became extremely weak and emaciated and his development suffered as a result. His inside game never developed because he was too weak and awkward his handles also took a hit as he had "Bambi" syndrome as he didn't yet grow coordinated into his own body frame. Some also credit the lack of development of Kevin Garnett to the same Bambi syndrome. He was oversized at the SF but too weak at the PF. What coaches fail to realize is the fact if they increase a player by an inch or 2 he must have the frame for it or you must dramatically be dedicated to the weight room and add 3lbs each year but that still hurts as the developmental years will be wasted by then. On the contrary if you were to add an inch to a player like Shaq this would only be a benefit to him since his frame is already strong and bulky.
Weight and inches also play into factors of position changes. Some GM's are inclined to move a player if his defense increases at another position but fail to think of what impact that may have on the players other attributes. Certain positions stress certain attributes such as PG being passing, perimeter defense, among others. Many position changes occur from PG to SG and vice versa and SF to PF and vice versa. This can really impact a player harshly. The most drastic changes occur from when GM's decide to play a big man at the SF position. If you look at players past the immediate impact is success at the big men dominate at the SF position but long term it really affects the player. If you look at some cases Alonzo Mourning and Antonio Mcdyess both were dominant inside players but both of their ratings took hits and weren't the same scorers for much longer. Their rebounding also took a hit with the move or just the playing time at SF. These players were post low block players and they would use their strength and size to dominate SF but over time their inside dominance would decrease as their play became more balanced inside and out. They were no longer stressing that low block but more midrange and SF is just a softer position than PF/C which would explain this. A player recently who can exhibit the same results is Craig Smith. Smith leads the league in FG% and has been a force since he was drafted last year however Smith is PF but has played SF and what happen to Smith this TC? His inside scoring rating decreased despite an upgrade given to that same rating last season. Results are not always negative as a player like Rasheed Wallace benefited from the change his outside scoring was strong enough to develop and was balanced enough to welcome the change.
Players that usually move from PF to C usually see a decrease in handles and quite possibly even a drop in rebounding. Players must be strong and heavy enough to play the position or else the results will not be beneficial.
Players from C to PF have to be athletic enough to keep up with the speed of quicker PF's. Hands must be there and rebounding could benefit from the change.
SG to PG the players outside shot will not develop as strong if the player were to stay at SG but the players handles, passing, and speed may improve over time and immediately the player may become a better defender.
You can look up and down the league at some players and wonder what if...
What if AK played SF instead of PF his whole career...
What if Zo played C instead of SF/PF his whole career...
so on and so on...
so before you decide to make a change think about the long term affects you might cause to the player.
Some players can benefit from increasing their height while others it may be detrimental to their development. Players must have the frame to withstand an increase of 1 inch, meaning that the player's body must be developed well enough in strength and weight in order to grow an inch and be able to perform at the same position. Usually guards that receive the increase suffer the most as their body frames are not ready for such a difference. For instance Jamal Crawford was a guard in BBS who was rated extremely high in potential but grew 2 inches coming into the league to make him 6'7 as opposed to 6'5. His body frame became extremely weak and emaciated and his development suffered as a result. His inside game never developed because he was too weak and awkward his handles also took a hit as he had "Bambi" syndrome as he didn't yet grow coordinated into his own body frame. Some also credit the lack of development of Kevin Garnett to the same Bambi syndrome. He was oversized at the SF but too weak at the PF. What coaches fail to realize is the fact if they increase a player by an inch or 2 he must have the frame for it or you must dramatically be dedicated to the weight room and add 3lbs each year but that still hurts as the developmental years will be wasted by then. On the contrary if you were to add an inch to a player like Shaq this would only be a benefit to him since his frame is already strong and bulky.
Weight and inches also play into factors of position changes. Some GM's are inclined to move a player if his defense increases at another position but fail to think of what impact that may have on the players other attributes. Certain positions stress certain attributes such as PG being passing, perimeter defense, among others. Many position changes occur from PG to SG and vice versa and SF to PF and vice versa. This can really impact a player harshly. The most drastic changes occur from when GM's decide to play a big man at the SF position. If you look at players past the immediate impact is success at the big men dominate at the SF position but long term it really affects the player. If you look at some cases Alonzo Mourning and Antonio Mcdyess both were dominant inside players but both of their ratings took hits and weren't the same scorers for much longer. Their rebounding also took a hit with the move or just the playing time at SF. These players were post low block players and they would use their strength and size to dominate SF but over time their inside dominance would decrease as their play became more balanced inside and out. They were no longer stressing that low block but more midrange and SF is just a softer position than PF/C which would explain this. A player recently who can exhibit the same results is Craig Smith. Smith leads the league in FG% and has been a force since he was drafted last year however Smith is PF but has played SF and what happen to Smith this TC? His inside scoring rating decreased despite an upgrade given to that same rating last season. Results are not always negative as a player like Rasheed Wallace benefited from the change his outside scoring was strong enough to develop and was balanced enough to welcome the change.
Players that usually move from PF to C usually see a decrease in handles and quite possibly even a drop in rebounding. Players must be strong and heavy enough to play the position or else the results will not be beneficial.
Players from C to PF have to be athletic enough to keep up with the speed of quicker PF's. Hands must be there and rebounding could benefit from the change.
SG to PG the players outside shot will not develop as strong if the player were to stay at SG but the players handles, passing, and speed may improve over time and immediately the player may become a better defender.
You can look up and down the league at some players and wonder what if...
What if AK played SF instead of PF his whole career...
What if Zo played C instead of SF/PF his whole career...
so on and so on...
so before you decide to make a change think about the long term affects you might cause to the player.