Dom

[mikem91288]

Hey all. I was checking out the Bucks summer league stats last night. Here's the deal. Dom is one of two point guards on the summer league roster. He is getting the most minutes. In all but one game he had 5 or 6 assists. Looking at the official Milwaukee roster, they only have one PG (Jennings) under contract. I'm not trying to jinx Dom, but he has a real shot here. What do you think? If he keeps getting minutes will we see him in the BC as Brandon's backup this fall?

[QuetteHoops]

Very, Very doubtful

[martyconlonontherun]

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=21059.0

He has a shot, but I personally don't think he did much to impress in Vegas. I thought he played hard and was a leader that both teams recognized. Several coaches from both teams went out of their way to talk to him and say good game after the two I was at last week. That said, he made a lot of turnovers, never dispelled his bad shooting label, and showed his height problem by not being able to defend some last minute shots.

[GB Warrior]

They'll have to look elsewhere. Because the Bucks obviously need a PG to backup Jennings, and although James can play the kind of defense that Skiles likes to see, he needs to be able to do something else when he's on the court. As a Bucks fan, I'd rather see a seasoned veteran at the position. As much as I'd love to see James do something in the league, he just doesn't have it.

[MUfan12]

I don't think you'll see him as the backup, but it wouldn't shock me if he was the 3rd PG. Would cost half as much as Royal Ivey made last year.

[NersEllenson]

As much as we all like Dominic - from what I've watched in Summer League, don't see him making the NBA/Bucks.  Good leader, but does not have that 1 dynamic skill that sets him apart.  Decent passer, decent pentrator, decent defender - but not exceptional at any, and with his shot being so inconsistent..just don't see it happening. 

[mu-rara]

Can a guy still develop his shot at this stage, or is it past that point....

[martyconlonontherun]

Can a guy still develop his shot at this stage, or is it past that point....

Yes, M. Redd went from a scorer/average shooter in college to a deadly 3 point shooter in his prime. However, D. James has an uphill battle in that he doesn't have an elite skill as someone had mentioned. If he did, then teams would be willing to let him develop since he makes up for it in other ways.

[MUfan12]

Can a guy still develop his shot at this stage, or is it past that point....

I don't think it's a lost cause, but it'll be a process. It's one thing to overhaul a shot on the practice court, but at game speed the old habits tend to sneak back in.

I just wish TC and co. didn't screw with his jumpshot after his Freshman year. He was a decent shooter then, and regressed badly after that summer.

[hoops12]

You can always improve your shot! He is never going to be a pure shooter, but he can improve his mechanics every year. If you read some of the previous articles and messages on Dominic, it showed that he shot the ball very well last year. When he was at Marquette, he was a full time student/athlete, and everything else that goes with college. Now, he is just a professional basketball player. Every aspect of his game can continue to improve.

I know I'm a little biased, but I would have taken Dominic over Luke Ridnour even last year. Dominic is a better athlete, much, much quicker, a better defender, a better playmaker and finisher in the paint than Ridnour. If Dominic is able to put the ball in the hole at a decent rate, he would help the Bucks out.

[NersEllenson]

I just wish TC and co. didn't screw with his jumpshot after his Freshman year. He was a decent shooter then, and regressed badly after that summer.

I don't know if TC and Co. did mess with his jumpshot after Freshman year, but we all know that his shooting really, really regressed as a sophomore, junior, senior - as compared to his freshman year.  I'd be a little surprised if TC and Co. did mess with shot, because James shot the ball quite well as a freshman..as I recall.  Eventually, it becomes a mind fu$k to have your shot tweaked, etc..you stop shooting naturally and begin to think your way through the shot - and that is destined failure..

[mu-rara]

I know I'm a little biased, but I would have taken Dominic over Luke Ridnour even last year. Dominic is a better athlete, much, much quicker, a better defender, a better playmaker and finisher in the paint than Ridnour. If Dominic is able to put the ball in the hole at a decent rate, he would help the Bucks out.

???  Really.  DJ may develop into a NBA PG, but Ridnour is there already.  No way I would take DJ over Ridnour at this point in his career.  If DJ makes the Bucks, he is an end of the bench project (this year).

[mikem91288]

I see all of your points about him not being a spectacular shooter, but I am simply pointing out they only have one PG under contract and he is getting most of the minutes at PG in Vegas, therefore I think the Bucks are seriously thinking about him. Maybe I am wrong, and just a dreamer but he's not getting the Ricky Franklin treatment (i.e. a courtesy roster spot for a local player they will never consider bringing on the team).

[wadesworld]

I know I'm a little biased, but I would have taken Dominic over Luke Ridnour even last year. Dominic is a better athlete, much, much quicker, a better defender, a better playmaker and finisher in the paint than Ridnour. If Dominic is able to put the ball in the hole at a decent rate, he would help the Bucks out.

Wow. I couldn't disagree more. Ridnour was a great shooter and knocked down some clutch shots. He is also probably 6 inches taller than Dominic. I loved Dominic at MU, but he is not an NBA player, unfortunately. I don't think there's a single thing James does better than Ridnour. He was a lockdown defender at MU, but trying to guard a guy like Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, Steve Nash, etc. is a whole different beast than guarding even the best college PGs, such as Levance Fields. You have to be more than just a pure athlete to make it in the NBA when you're only 5'8". Unfortunately that's what Dominic is. There's a reason Ridnour's been a borderline starter for years and James plays overseas.

[GOMU1104]

I know I'm a little biased, but I would have taken Dominic over Luke Ridnour even last year. Dominic is a better athlete, much, much quicker, a better defender, a better playmaker and finisher in the paint than Ridnour. If Dominic is able to put the ball in the hole at a decent rate, he would help the Bucks out.

Did you even watch any Bucks games last year?  DJ has done nothing at the professional level to show that he is better than Ridnour at any of those skills that you listed.

[MuMark]

I would also take Ridnour but James is not 5'8. He is the same size as I am. I know this because I have talked to him face to face a number of times. I am a shade over 5'11.

DJ is a better defender then Luke(which isn't saying much since Ridnour is not a good defender at all) other then that LR has him in all other categories.

[augoman]

I was told Friday pm by someone in Bucks admin that they have zero interest in DJ, and were signing a third year player today as back-up point.

[mu-rara]

I was told Friday pm by someone in Bucks admin that they have zero interest in DJ, and were signing a third year player today as back-up point.

Did they bring him in as a favor?

[bma725]

You have to be more than just a pure athlete to make it in the NBA when you're only 5'8".

You might want to check the official measurements from the Draft Combine a few years back.  James was measured at nearly 6'0.

[77ncaachamps]

DJ is about 5'10". (edit)

I'm 5'9" and looking at my pic with him from Vegas, he's about my height.

I wished that he'd look to shoot his jumper more during the NBA summer league, but he didn't. He played it safe and just defended, controlled the ball, ran the point, and tried not to screw up. That's great and all, but in the NBA you need a scoring PG as well as those other strengths.

Maybe he's not confident in his jumper. I don't know.

[copious1218]

I was told Friday pm by someone in Bucks admin that they have zero interest in DJ, and were signing a third year player today as back-up point.

Any idea of who and how acquired?

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Keyon Dooling has apparently signed.  He seems like a good fit.  Now the Bucks need a 3rd stringer.....Diener???