surve
There are always going to be comparisons. We do it everyday. It doesnt mean anything. The media HAS to do it to because thats their JOB. I didnt neg you or anyone else, I rather offer my points of debate.
My problem is people that jump on or off someone’s bandwagon so quickly. Mayo was compared to Lebron because of how good he was at such a young age. Players to max out at a certain point however.
If I remember correctly, a couple of years ago, people were talking about Gay and Mayo just like people talk about Griffin and Gordon (look how that took a turn), Irving and Thompson, or whoever is a good young up and coming tandem. Next year it could be Kemba Walker and Anthony Davis, etc…. The point is, the league is too volatile to put any stake in that kind of talk, but as soon as things go awry, then let the bashing begin.
As a rookie, OJ Mayo avg 18.5ppg….in 82 games. Next year…17.5ppg….in 82 games. Go back and check….but the only players that average over 18ppg as rookies are ROYs or close runner ups. I dont know what you guys think this is, but to avg 18ppg over your first 164 games in the NBA is not easy, especially citing the glaring deficiancies you say he has. (Slow first step, lack of explosiveness, cant finish around the rim, doesnt get to the free throw line, etc….) I wonder how he scored all those points…and even more interesting, how many could he score if he improves on some of those facets. He is not very old….only 24.
So again, why does OJ Mayo suck so much?
A few months ago, I suggested that Jeremy Lin should be the starting PG for the NYKs. I dont think people took Lin as serious as I did, but after he got in the lineup, things got blown way out of proportion. Before that time, you wouldve thought someone was crazy if they offered Mayo straight up for Lin, now its not so crazy. Mayo is a proven player but he just doesnt fit with the system and coach.
Chips fall where they will. Saying Gibson is more productive than Mayo is relative to their situations. If Gibson had started with the wrong team he may not even be in the league right now. You cant say imagine Love with Gasol and ZBo either because the NBA doesnt work like that. Chances are one of those players wouldve been moved or never even signed.
All in all, the assessments Mayo’s strengths and weaknesses are only applicable to the Grizzlies and the personnel they have to work with. When he gets to play elsewhere maybe we will see a different player…..like we saw with Billups. Chauncey was also a 3rd overall pick and it was about a good 7 years before he became a player of impact…and his career started out slower than Mayo’s. Or we could confirm that it may not be the system but the player himself and his role with whoever he plays with will be in limited or specific capacity.