A lesson to be learned about Paul Millsap-ers

Another blog site we visit daily is Brian McCormick's. We call him the contrarian because of his many takes opposite that of conventional wisdom but we also find ourselves agreeing with him more often than not.

In the following, he offer his take on Utah Jazz frontcourter Paul Millsap and one of the 'holes' in scouting prospects -- whether it be for the NBA or the college ranks. That is, focusing on what someone can't do or is perceived at not being able to do at the next level rather than looking at what a player can achieve -- just what is transferrable.

Progress
Brian McCormick
December 18, 2008

One NBA General Manager gets it:

"If we were geniuses, we would have traded up to get [Millsap] early in the second round or late in the first round. A lot of people look at what a player can't do instead of what he can do,'' O'Connor said. "There was a trend there for about three or four years that maybe size was so important at that [power forward] position, but then you get a Leon Powe, you get a Paul Millsap and a Craig Smith and a Carl Landry ...'' All were "undersized'' second-round picks who have thrived as NBA power forwards.

And a coach who makes sense:

The mistake by other teams was ignoring Millsap's rebounding numbers, which tend to translate from college to the NBA.

"Guys who go after the basketball, if that's what they do well, they always do it at just about every level they play unless they're just totally out-sized," Sloan said. "It usually won't come to you unless you go after it, for some reason."

Then McCormick responds to a posted comment:

Brian McCormick said...

Again, the problem is that we do not know how to identify talent so people identify the most obvious things and the most measurable. I mean, people thought that Kevin Durant should not be a high pick because he couldn't bench 185 pounds because it is one measurable skill used to identify basketball talent. But, what in the world does a 185lbs bench press have to do with success on the court? You really want to pass on an 18-year-old kid who is 6'10 with long arms and a jump shot because he can't bench 185lbs?

People want length and height because coaches believe they can teach a player how to get offensive rebounds or how to be in the right spot. And, they figure that a tall, long guy with their tutelage will do this more effectively. The problem is that by the time a player reaches the NBA, they are, for the most part, what they are.

An aggressive rebounder will remain an aggressive rebounder.

We do not differentiate between talents and skills. Aggressiveness is a talent. Bench press is a skill which can be learned and developed through practice. Work ethic is a talent. You take someone with a great work ethic and you can make them stronger. You take a long, tall non-aggressive player without a work ethic and you still won't get an aggressive rebounder.

I don't see why so many people disagree with this basic concept.

Do bookmark Brian's blog.