I sure hope he will be. I hope he will be far better.
But I think a lot of people on this forum are forgetting how hard it is for players to go from potential to reality.
It has very little to do with physical talent and proven skills. Players with those two things abound in the NBA. What determines whether you can become a go-to franchise player in the NBA is what happens between the ears. And that's why most players with "P" never get there.
Paul George shows signs of being able to step up and be the man. He's made some buzzer beating shots. He seems to have good judgment, makes some great passes, and has the range of weapons needed to be a team's leading scorer.
But not nearly enough evidence is in. He has not been asked to be our leading scorer. He has not yet had to shoulder any kind of burden like that. Danny has not been injured allowing someone like PG to step up.
It takes a certain kind of mentality—almost weird or antisocial—to be willing to step up as an alpha male and be "the man" on an NBA team. Take Dahntay Jones as exhibit A. He's certainly willing. We needed him to come in against the Thunder and finally put us on the board. Unfortunately, Dahntay doesn't have the tools to be the man. But my point is that this mentality is a bit rare.
Does Paul George have it? Don't know yet. Does Lance? No idea. Does Collison. Doesn't appear to be the case. Heck, my namesake was Exhibit A (Okay B) for having the talent and skills but not the mentality to be a franchise player.
So, let's not give up on Danny for potential just yet. I'd like to see Danny play better defense and I wish he passed better (he's not too bad) and had more weapons.
But guys with the ability to bring you 20 points day in and day out do not grow on trees.
Until we see a real leaf on the tree and not just a few buds, we better keep what we got, unless we trade for someone else averaging over 20 a night.
But I think a lot of people on this forum are forgetting how hard it is for players to go from potential to reality.
It has very little to do with physical talent and proven skills. Players with those two things abound in the NBA. What determines whether you can become a go-to franchise player in the NBA is what happens between the ears. And that's why most players with "P" never get there.
Paul George shows signs of being able to step up and be the man. He's made some buzzer beating shots. He seems to have good judgment, makes some great passes, and has the range of weapons needed to be a team's leading scorer.
But not nearly enough evidence is in. He has not been asked to be our leading scorer. He has not yet had to shoulder any kind of burden like that. Danny has not been injured allowing someone like PG to step up.
It takes a certain kind of mentality—almost weird or antisocial—to be willing to step up as an alpha male and be "the man" on an NBA team. Take Dahntay Jones as exhibit A. He's certainly willing. We needed him to come in against the Thunder and finally put us on the board. Unfortunately, Dahntay doesn't have the tools to be the man. But my point is that this mentality is a bit rare.
Does Paul George have it? Don't know yet. Does Lance? No idea. Does Collison. Doesn't appear to be the case. Heck, my namesake was Exhibit A (Okay B) for having the talent and skills but not the mentality to be a franchise player.
So, let's not give up on Danny for potential just yet. I'd like to see Danny play better defense and I wish he passed better (he's not too bad) and had more weapons.
But guys with the ability to bring you 20 points day in and day out do not grow on trees.
Until we see a real leaf on the tree and not just a few buds, we better keep what we got, unless we trade for someone else averaging over 20 a night.
Comment