Rookie Ladder: Ed Davis

[Multipaul]

So tell me you would give Oden an incomplete too?

I doubt that Blazers fans would give him an incomplete.

It is what it is at this point. You can't wipe away missed games because of injury in evaluating a player. Injuries are part of the game. Players like D. Fisher, A. Miller who never or rarely miss games at add a lot of value to their teams because of it.

I am hopeful Davis plays in all the remaining 41 games.

As far as his shooting goes it too is pretty much what it is. He had a NBA father and a great college program to teach him how to shoot.

In my book the "raw" doesn't apply to Davis. Lack of actual NBA experience yes but "raw" no, not when you have his background. There should be no excuses for him not being at least an average shooter from beyond nine feet. He has had plenty of opportunity to learn from the right people and so far despite years of it has not shown that it has made him an acceptable shooter from more than nine feet.

Of course like I said he does not have NBA experience so his shooting should improve somewhat as he gets more of it, but raw no way.

Hey paeson, lets clear this up.

If your dad was a famous pastry chef, and you spent your childhood watching him bake pastry, and eating his biscuit mix, doesn't mean you will grow up to be Betty Crocker by default.

Ed has had to work hard, and it shows. Just cuz he went through a good college program and had a baller dad doesnt mean he should be a great shooter. Everyone is different, that's what makes the world great isnt it.

[Apollo]

Not to mention that he plays within his abilities. He knows he's not a good shooter and so he keeps it close to the bucket. I don't see the offense hurting when he's on the floor. He doesn't need to score the ball from everywhere on the court, his thing is in the paint. We should hope and pray that he continues to center in on scoring in the paint and low post defense. When I hear all this criticism about Ed's and DeMar's mid-range and perimeter shooting I just have to chuckle. We've been watching this team play like London Silly Nannies for going on a decade and suddenly Colangelo starts bringing in guys who want to bang in the paint, who don't want to settle for jump shots, who want to play the odds and they get criticized for not being able to shoot outside. Give me a break. If they develop outside shooting then great, if not I don't give a crap as long as they keep improving around the bucket. Guys, jump shooting teams don't win Championships. Tough teams win championships. I want the guys looking for contact on my team. The Raptors have a great staff. Ed can learn shot mechanics but you can't teach his God given natural abilities.

[Multipaul]

Not to mention that he plays within his abilities. He knows he's not a good shooter and so he keeps it close to the bucket. I don't see the offense hurting when he's on the floor. He doesn't need to score the ball from everywhere on the court, his thing is in the paint. We should hope and pray that he continues to center in on scoring in the paint and low post defense. When I hear all this criticism about Ed's and DeMar's mid-range and perimeter shooting I just have to chuckle. We've been watching this team play like London Silly Nannies for going on a decade and suddenly Colangelo starts bringing in guys who want to bang in the paint, who don't want to settle for jump shots, who want to play the odds and they get criticized for not being able to shoot outside. Give me a break. If they develop outside shooting then great, if not I don't give a crap as long as they keep improving around the bucket. Guys, jump shooting teams don't win Championships. Tough teams win championships. I want the guys looking for contact on my team. The Raptors have a great staff. Ed can learn shot mechanics but you can't teach his God given natural abilities.

+1

The Raps have seen their fair share of players regress into average jump shooters...Vince..Jamario...heck, Sonny...keep these guys banging hard to the bucket. Hopefully soon they will "earn" the respect of the refs as Jack would say.

[joey_hesketh]

Ya I for one am glad he's not turning out to be our next Kris Humphries. He takes good shots within the offense. He gets ZERO plays run for him, so when he scores, as I said above, its nothing but a bonus for the squad on the floor.