I feel like we are terrifyingly strong!
(Monthly ticket requested!)_3 786: 265: Everyone…
I feel like we are terrifyingly strong!
(Monthly ticket requested!)_3 Since Roger joined the Hawks, he has led the team to draft quite a few players.
Although Roger had the privilege of controlling the team’s draft picks, his priority in this area even surpassed that of Lenny Wilkens, the head coach.
But never once did Wilkens express dissatisfaction with this.
It wasn’t just because of Roger’s prestige, but also because Wilkens agreed with Roger’s vision.
The players Roger thought were good, Lenny Wilkens also found them good.
Paul Pierce and Shawn Marion were both successful draft picks by Roger.
But Michael Reed was the first player Wilkens thought Roger misjudged.
If Reed had entered the draft in 1998 or 1999, his stock would have been totally different.
He would definitely have been a lottery pick, possibly even top-five.
But he chose to enter the draft in 2000 after his junior year, which made him fall directly to the second round.
The reason being, Reed’s scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals data in college steadily declined each year.
In his sophomore season, he had a shooting percentage of 46% and 34% from the three-point line, making people believe he had developed a shooting skill.
However, in his junior year, Reed’s shooting percentage dropped to 43%, with a three-point percentage falling to 31%, and it was the lowest with the fewest attempts in his career.
This meant his shooting was not up to NBA standards, and he was just a slasher.
The awkward thing was, Reed’s athletic ability wasn’t so outstanding, and his finishing skills at the basket were quite average.
In the three years at NCAA, his routine was well understood by others, leading them to give him space on defense, causing his scoring and shooting percentages to become increasingly embarrassing year by year.
Such an average athlete at finishing in the paint and as a slasher was virtually useless in the NBA.
Look how fast Grant Hill’s first step is, how agile AI’s dribbling is, how strong Paul Pierce is, only those guys can be competent slashers in the NBA.
Therefore, after his junior season, Reed’s potential was basically figured out, and his stock rapidly declined.
Even Lenny Wilkens wasn’t optimistic about Reed; in team training, he couldn’t break through anyone—except Jeff Hornacek.
But it’s normal for Roger to misjudge; only Elgin Baylor could be consistently accurate in matters like the draft.
Besides, it’s just a second-round lottery ticket, not a big deal if it doesn’t hit.
Yet, after Michael Reed joined the team, Wilkens still discovered a shining point in him, which was diligence.
He was extremely hardworking, training every day without fail, almost obsessively honing his shooting, constantly studying the game footage of various off-ball shooters during breaks.
Watching game footage is something easily overlooked by players; whether it’s Jordan or Roger, they not only hone their physique but also learned a lot from the tapes.
This diligence made Lenny Wilkens think Michael Reed might still have a chance.
Although Michael Reed’s shooting form was shockingly ugly, almost like putting the ball on his shoulder and flicking it with his wrist.
But considering that even Marion with his Picasso-style shooting form could make progress, Lenny Wilkens still held a sliver of hope for Reed.
Watching Reed train hard, Jay Herd smiled and said, “Look, it’s really him.
If that kid can truly develop a long-range shot, he could fill in for Jeff when he rests.
That way, we can extend the duration of the half-circle tactic, increasing the time Roger abuses opponents with isolation.
Though he’s a minor player, his improvement could impact many things, solving our big problem.”
“Impossible, Gaddy,” Lenny Wilkens waved his hand, “If he could develop a shot, he would’ve done it in college, why wait for the NBA?”
“It’s different, in college he always used his right hand for shooting, also trained with the right, but now he’s training with his left hand, he might actually develop it with his left.
Though he’s ambidextrous, as far as I know, he’s left-dominant.
Just like Chris Munning can’t shoot accurately with his right hand.
Besides, if you think he can’t develop it, why care so much about him?”
No, no, no, I don’t care at all.
I made a bet with Roger that he’d definitely not make it.
For $5000, I have to keep an eye on his training progress at all times.”
Although Lenny Wilkens wasn’t as extremely abusive to his players like the old weirdo George Karl, as a stubborn old-school coach, he also didn’t like to easily praise players.
After saying this, Lenny Wilkens and Jay Herd closed the gym door, ready to leave Emory Healthcare Center.
Although Michael Reed didn’t stop training, he heard the entire conversation between the two coaches just now.
Thus, he decided to train for two more sets tonight!
Think I can’t develop a shot?
Reed recalled what his father had once told him, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, including myself.
You have to believe you are the best, you yourself have to believe it.”
Just wait and see Lenny, wait and see!
On the other side, after walking into the parking lot, before Jay Herd got into the car, he couldn’t help but ask Lenny Wilkens, “You know Michael could actually hear our conversation just now, right?”
Lenny Wilkens stopped, turned back to look at the strong man who once created the “Jay Herd Moment” during his player days, shook his head, “How would I know if he’d hear our conversation.”