"Juan is just a fantastic competitor," coach Steve Kerr said. "He's one of our smartest players in terms of just having a feel for the game at both ends. I love Juan. In my book, he's not a two-way player, he's a big part of our team and showed why tonight. What a skill to be able to not even be active for 10 days or so and come in and prepare day after day for his chance and his chance comes and he comes out and kills it. That's who Juan is and that's why we love him."
This is just a teaser from The Athletic article today. I know quite a few people here have a subscription to the site. Great article describing the work that Juan put in and how luck also played a part in getting his chance.
https://theathletic.com/2365185/2021/02/04/warriors-juan-toscano-anderson/
Quote from: Jockey on February 04, 2021, 06:14:08 PM
"Juan is just a fantastic competitor," coach Steve Kerr said. "He's one of our smartest players in terms of just having a feel for the game at both ends. I love Juan. In my book, he's not a two-way player, he's a big part of our team and showed why tonight. What a skill to be able to not even be active for 10 days or so and come in and prepare day after day for his chance and his chance comes and he comes out and kills it. That's who Juan is and that's why we love him."
This is just a teaser from The Athletic article today. I know quite a few people here have a subscription to the site. Great article describing the work that Juan put in and how luck also played a part in getting his chance.
https://theathletic.com/2365185/2021/02/04/warriors-juan-toscano-anderson/
Solid article.
Juan will start for the Warriors tonight on TNT. He should see a ton of minutes in the next few weeks as Paschall, Wiseman and Looney are all injured.
Wojo unleashed Juan.
For so many athletes, luck and opportunity are so huge. There are players out there who are better than Juan but simply will not get the same kind of opportunity.
Congrats to Juan for taking advantage of his chance. I always liked the passion and hustle he brought when he was a Warrior. If only he had the same skill package then that he has now!
Another great game tonight. Amazing story.
Quote from: MuggsyB on February 04, 2021, 09:10:11 PM
Another great game tonight. Amazing story.
Only went 2/4 from 3.
Off game. Haha.
Its really crazy to see the role hes created for himself.
Very happy for Juan. 14 pts, 8 rebs, 5 assists and 2 blocks tonight. They also mentioned the article in the athletic and spoke very nicely about him.
He also played 40 minutes..
Quote from: MU82 on February 04, 2021, 07:54:02 PM
For so many athletes, luck and opportunity are so huge. There are players out there who are better than Juan but simply will not get the same kind of opportunity.
Congrats to Juan for taking advantage of his chance. I always liked the passion and hustle he brought when he was a Warrior. If only he had the same skill package then that he has now!
I think Juan heading to Mexico to play really made a huge difference, versus the standard G League path. For someone who is looking to develop more than just scoring, I think other professional leagues are superior for that development compared to the G League, especially if you're not lined up for a two-way or slated to be a top 1 or 2 guys in a team.
Go develop your game for a year or two, then gun at summer league
Quote from: MU82 on February 04, 2021, 07:54:02 PM
For so many athletes, luck and opportunity are so huge. There are players out there who are better than Juan but simply will not get the same kind of opportunity.
Congrats to Juan for taking advantage of his chance. I always liked the passion and hustle he brought when he was a Warrior. If only he had the same skill package then that he has now!
Juan improved, but his baseline level of talent was always there in its raw unrefined form . Juan just worked very hard at refining his skills to create the package he has now and most importantly embraced his role as a junk yard dog defender.
Juan also has two big factors in his favor. The coach loves his style of play and the best player on the team enjoys playing with him. In the NBA that will take you places.
Quote from: Herman Cain on February 04, 2021, 09:52:12 PM
Juan also has two big factors in his favor. The coach loves his style of play and the best player on the team enjoys playing with him. In the NBA that will take you places.
Yep. Kerr's comments remind me a lot of things Sloan said about Wesley 15 years ago.
More surprising 2NBA: Juan or Dwight?
He is finally living up to his high school highlight videos.
Quote from: TSmith34 on February 05, 2021, 06:52:55 AM
More surprising 2NBA: Juan or Dwight?
I'd say Juan by quite a bit
Quote from: Herman Cain on February 04, 2021, 09:52:12 PM
Juan improved, but his baseline level of talent was always there in its raw unrefined form . Juan just worked very hard at refining his skills to create the package he has now and most importantly embraced his role as a junk yard dog defender.
Juan also has two big factors in his favor. The coach loves his style of play and the best player on the team enjoys playing with him. In the NBA that will take you places.
I can't tell if you're suggesting that Buzz for 3 years and Wojo for 1 somehow did wrong by Juan, but he didn't just "improve." He has improved a zillion-fold. He is nothing now like he was then.
Quote from: JWags85 on February 04, 2021, 09:16:58 PM
I think Juan heading to Mexico to play really made a huge difference, versus the standard G League path. For someone who is looking to develop more than just scoring, I think other professional leagues are superior for that development compared to the G League, especially if you're not lined up for a two-way or slated to be a top 1 or 2 guys in a team.
Go develop your game for a year or two, then gun at summer league
Great comment. Playing in other countries with more established pros could definitely help a lot of these guys.
Some kids are just really late bloomers. They figure out the weaknesses in their game and they improve it. Some kids long for their high school days of dunking on kids who barely made the team. Back when they were the biggest fish in a little pond.
I would have said Buycks till recently where Juan's getting legit time and looks on a decent team unlike last year where it was essentially forced because of injuries.
For me Buycks always seemed to have a game more suited for the NBA than college. He thrived in more of an iso type of environment and faster paced.
I remember when Juan was signed for training camp by the Warriors. I thought it was a nice bone they were throwing to a local player. It's been awesome to see Juan take that opportunity and run with it.
The comparison to Wes' start is spot on. He does the little things and brings a ton of energy. Someone the coach can count on. He seems to fit in the mold of why NBA guys like players from the Buzz era.
Quote from: cheebs09 on February 05, 2021, 08:36:00 AM
For me Buycks always seemed to have a game more suited for the NBA than college. He thrived in more of an iso type of environment and faster paced.
With Buycks, the ability was apparent. He had the athleticism, the shot, and the instincts. The only thing he didn't have was enough control over his game. He was a bit too playground. That's why he thrived so much in the Milwaukee Pro-Am. And going to France, improving his handle, and really learning to be a point guard, all that focused the raw ability that was always there.
Juan still shocks me. I mean, after his high school mixtapes, sure, but while he was here he never seemed to have the tools to play at that level. I feel it has to be a combination of the amount of work he put in and maybe a bit of misuse here. Regardless, kudos to him for how far he's come.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on February 05, 2021, 07:37:51 AM
Chris Crawford
If you google him it says
education: office of residence life
Amal McCaskill resurfacing after an extended absence was surprising to me.
Quote from: Galway Eagle on February 05, 2021, 09:40:32 AM
If you google him it says
education: office of residence life
That's what google said yesterday for the guy who donated the 31mill
Weird
Copa.
Quote from: MU82 on February 05, 2021, 07:51:25 AM
I can't tell if you're suggesting that Buzz for 3 years and Wojo for 1 somehow did wrong by Juan, but he didn't just "improve." He has improved a zillion-fold. He is nothing now like he was then.
Great comment. Playing in other countries with more established pros could definitely help a lot of these guys.
Buzz and Wojo did well by Juan. He started the majority of games he played.
What I am saying , is that Juan's basic length, hustle , aggressive defense etc was there in a very raw form in college.
Obviously, no one knew how much Juan would progress . Basically, he spent the last 5 years 100 percent of the time working on his game converting himself from a college glue guy to an NBA glue guy
I am hoping Juan can get a guaranteed contract with The Warriors after this season is over.
Quote from: Herman Cain on February 05, 2021, 12:04:44 PM
Buzz and Wojo did well by Juan. He started the majority of games he played.
What I am saying , is that Juan's basic length, hustle , aggressive defense etc was there in a very raw form in college.
Obviously, no one knew how much Juan would progress . Basically, he spent the last 5 years 100 percent of the time working on his game converting himself from a college glue guy to an NBA
I am hoping Juan can get a guaranteed contract with The Warriors after this season is over.
I'd guess he'll get one before the end of this year. They will likely convert his two-way, in my opinion.
Quote from: BM1090 on February 05, 2021, 01:54:05 PM
I'd guess he'll get one before the end of this year. They will likely convert his two-way, in my opinion.
One of the great things about Juan's situation is he gets real minutes and starts when there are injuries. He is not out there in garbage time .
Quote from: Herman Cain on February 05, 2021, 12:04:44 PM
Buzz and Wojo did well by Juan. He started the majority of games he played.
What I am saying , is that Juan's basic length, hustle , aggressive defense etc was there in a very raw form in college.
Obviously, no one knew how much Juan would progress . Basically, he spent the last 5 years 100 percent of the time working on his game converting himself from a college glue guy to an NBA
Fair.
VERY raw.
Juan has had to play quite a bit of 5 for the Warriors due to injuries, and in the most recent postgame interview session he credited what he learned at Marquette with helping him do it.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on February 05, 2021, 07:37:51 AM
Chris Crawford
Crawford was a solid pro. Went for 40 a couple of times. And, I don't believe he was on scholarship at MU. Baseball contract covered tuition, or something like that.
Quote from: Marq3332 on February 09, 2021, 06:37:46 AM
Crawford was a solid pro. Went for 40 a couple of times. And, I don't believe he was on scholarship at MU. Baseball contract covered tuition, or something like that.
All around good and humble guy too. Not a bit pretentious. I happened to be close enough to him at Selection Show watch party in '97 to be able to strike up a conversation with him. He was very nice and humble, didn't mind at all spending a few minutes conversing with a dork rabid fan like me.
John Cliff was the same, but didn't have an opportunity to chat him up that day too.
Quote from: Marq3332 on February 09, 2021, 06:37:46 AM
Crawford was a solid pro. Went for 40 a couple of times. And, I don't believe he was on scholarship at MU. Baseball contract covered tuition, or something like that.
I think this was Richard Shaw
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=shaw--003ric
Quote from: mdubs on February 09, 2021, 08:52:59 AM
I think this was Richard Shaw
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=shaw--003ric
I believe both of them were on minor league baseball contracts
Quote from: brewcity77 on February 05, 2021, 09:33:33 AM
With Buycks, the ability was apparent. He had the athleticism, the shot, and the instincts. The only thing he didn't have was enough control over his game. He was a bit too playground. That's why he thrived so much in the Milwaukee Pro-Am. And going to France, improving his handle, and really learning to be a point guard, all that focused the raw ability that was always there.
I'm sorry, are you talking about DJ?
Quote from: 4everDawson on February 09, 2021, 05:27:46 PM
I'm sorry, are you talking about DJ?
I can see the comparison, but I think Dwight and DJ were different in that regard. Both had the raw talent. Dwight's problem was control, DJ's problem was the ability to perform consistently. I routinely think DJ Carton is the best player in the Big East*. The problem is the asterisk. He's only the best player in the Big East for about 5-10 minutes per night. During that stretch, he will put the team on his back, throw down dunks that are the closest things to Ja Morant we've seen since Joey was posterized, create shots for others with slashes and passes, hit floaters and layups on drives, and make threes, all the while hounding his man on defense and creating a couple of those opportunities when he jumps lanes on the defensive end. But it's fleeting.
Dwight had NBA talent without NBA control. DJ has NBA talent, but only for a few minutes at a time. Unfortunately, those respective limitations have kept each player from reaching their potential here.
Quote from: brewcity77 on February 09, 2021, 07:53:45 PM
I can see the comparison, but I think Dwight and DJ were different in that regard. Both had the raw talent. Dwight's problem was control, DJ's problem was the ability to perform consistently. I routinely think DJ Carton is the best player in the Big East*. The problem is the asterisk. He's only the best player in the Big East for about 5-10 minutes per night. During that stretch, he will put the team on his back, throw down dunks that are the closest things to Ja Morant we've seen since Joey was posterized, create shots for others with slashes and passes, hit floaters and layups on drives, and make threes, all the while hounding his man on defense and creating a couple of those opportunities when he jumps lanes on the defensive end. But it's fleeting.
Dwight had NBA talent without NBA control. DJ has NBA talent, but only for a few minutes at a time. Unfortunately, those respective limitations have kept each player from reaching their potential here.
The underlined is incredibly frustrating. DJ shows flashes of brilliance; especially those drives where he has a lightning-quick first step, great ball and body control in traffic and a strong finish. Then he reverts to the guy with the loose handle who dribbles around the perimeter and defers to other guys to create something.
Dunno if it's a confidence thing, a deference to upperclassmen or what, but he would be amazing if he could get past it.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on February 10, 2021, 09:32:07 AM
The underlined is incredibly frustrating. DJ shows flashes of brilliance; especially those drives where he has a lightning-quick first step, great ball and body control in traffic and a strong finish. Then he reverts to the guy with the loose handle who dribbles around the perimeter and defers to other guys to create something.
Dunno if it's a confidence thing, a deference to upperclassmen or what, but he would be amazing if he could get past it.
If we got 25-30 minutes per night of good DJ, he would be a lock for Big East Player of the Year and in the mix for First Team All-American and National Player of the Year. It's both amazing and frustrating to see how good he can be but how inconsistent that good is.
Quote from: brewcity77 on February 10, 2021, 11:57:18 AM
If we got 25-30 minutes per night of good DJ, he would be a lock for Big East Player of the Year and in the mix for First Team All-American and National Player of the Year. It's both amazing and frustrating to see how good he can be but how inconsistent that good is.
Or maybe some folks would rip Wojo for AGAIN letting one player dominate the offense and the ball, and maybe some teammates would gripe about it.
But yes, I absolutely agree that DJ can be frustrating and agree that it would help our team if he were more engaged a lot more of the time. He is so obviously our best player, and I agree he has All-BE talent.
Quote from: MU82 on February 10, 2021, 12:34:58 PM
Or maybe some folks would rip Wojo for AGAIN letting one player dominate the offense and the ball, and maybe some teammates would gripe about it.
But yes, I absolutely agree that DJ can be frustrating and agree that it would help our team if he were more engaged a lot more of the time. He is so obviously our best player, and I agree he has All-BE talent.
I get the hyperbole, but DJ isn't as high a usage player as Markus was, so I don't think that would be such a problem. When good DJ is good, it's just as much his shot creation for others as his own production that elevates.
Quote from: brewcity77 on February 10, 2021, 01:39:54 PM
I get the hyperbole, but DJ isn't as high a usage player as Markus was, so I don't think that would be such a problem. When good DJ is good, it's just as much his shot creation for others as his own production that elevates.
I really wasn't using hyperbole. But good points.