New Poll: Everything Valanciunas - 2nd Team All-Rooke Selection.

**theycallmeZZ** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 08:51 PM

I never thought I'd be this happy watching Kleiza.

**enlightenment** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 08:51 PM

Hows JV doing? What are his stats currently?

**RandomGuy** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 08:52 PM

No good.

**enlightenment** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 08:58 PM

Stats?

**AJ360** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 08:59 PM

enlightenment wrote:

Stats?

No Good.

**enlightenment** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:00 PM

real helpful gentlemen!

**Jclaw** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:04 PM

ceez wrote:

wow who is this kleiza guy we should sign him

nobody saw this?

**joey_hesketh** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:07 PM

Matt52 wrote:

Things continue to look bleaker for JJ.

I don't know man, Johnson is still Casey favourite, despite the benchings.

He's taylor-made for DCase.

Johnson and Kleiza are a fun comparison, in that they're Black and White when you compare their respective strengths and weaknesses.

I would deem James Johnsons strengths far more valuable, and harder to come by, than Kleiza's.

I could see DCase and BC having a disagreement on which one to keep. haha

**joey_hesketh** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:09 PM

Jclaw wrote:

nobody saw this?

Now THAT is impressive.

**Matt52** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:16 PM

joey_hesketh wrote:

I don't know man, Johnson is still Casey favourite, despite the benchings.

He's taylor-made for DCase.

Johnson and Kleiza are a fun comparison, in that they're Black and White when you compare their respective strengths and weaknesses.

I would deem James Johnsons strengths far more valuable, and harder to come by, than Kleiza's.

I could see DCase and BC having a disagreement on which one to keep. haha

JJ isn't a shooter though. Statistically, isn't LK and JJ on the same level defensively despite the flashy stl/blk numbers from JJ?

**Nilanka** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:19 PM

I wonder if we're overvaluing Kleiza's role as Jonas's "mentor". Jonas seems to have a good grasp of English already, and seems to be somewhat familiar with the ritzy lifestyle (based on Colangelo's anecdotes). Does Jonas really need a Lithuanian confidant?

Maybe Kleiza really is a trade/amnesty option?

**joey_hesketh** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:24 PM

Matt52 wrote:

isn't LK and JJ on the same level defensively despite the flashy stl/blk numbers from JJ?

No. I'm not sure its even close. But maybe thats just me.
Johnson has a chance to be a Top 5 Wing Defender in the League in my opinion.

**Matt52** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:34 PM

joey_hesketh wrote:

No. I'm not sure its even close. But maybe thats just me.
Johnson has a chance to be a Top 5 Wing Defender in the League in my opinion.

I'm talking strictly numbers.

oppPER edge goes to Kleiza at 12.4 to JJ's 14.2 and net on/off court.

82games.com

Can you be objective here with JJ a part of your fantasy roster? jk

**joey_hesketh** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 09:46 PM

Matt52 wrote:

I'm talking strictly numbers.

oppPER edge goes to Kleiza at 12.4 to JJ's 14.2 and net on/off court.

But thats only ONE number. haha I think if you look at their entire repertoire, James Johnson has far more of a chance to be impact player on the Defensive End than Kleiza. One could argue that JJ already is an impact player on that end. I would.

And you can't really say 'forget JJs fancy Blocks/Steals', because those are where-in his impact lies.
His Steals were, for the most part, not taken to the detriment of the Team ie. straying from his man, playing lanes he shouldn't be; and Blocks are NEVER detrimental to the Team.
On top of those numbers, he's a far better help defender.

And his shot is improving.

Can you be objective here with JJ a part of your fantasy roster? jk

NEVER! He's a potential Keeper!

haha

**Jclaw** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 10:11 PM

JV just played 9 minutes tonight? 5 points. onwards and upwards (but between him and Kleiza combined...33 points!)

**blackjitsu** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 10:23 PM

Jclaw
JV just played 9 minutes tonight? 5 points. onwards and upwards (but between him and Kleiza combined...33 points!)

Yeah he had 4 fouls pretty quick. I thought at least two were good fouls where the guards blew by the defenders and he wrapped them up. 1 was a solid block attempt -- can't remember the other. He looked alright, but if you're the kid on a team where Darius Songalia(m/s?) is the third C off the bench...You are just not going to get fed the ball. Maybe against Nigeria if they can rest their key guys He'll get more burn/looks.

Kleiza was killing it in the first half. If he can keep healthy our bench just got a lot stronger.

**omgsomuchpotential** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 10:25 PM

I think Kleiza is slowly getting back to his pre-injury shape. Naturally, he might never be completely the same, but most of it is coming back with time and practice, in my opinion.

**stretch** · Tue Jul 3rd, 2012, 11:56 PM

In international play Kleiza is among the very best in the world. The NBA is a different story as we know.

I feel that expectations for Valanciunas' rookie NBA year are unrealistic and to a certain extent, unfair to JV. I hope that Raptors fans will have some patience as he develops his NBA game and realizes his potential. He will struggle at times.

**Sig** · Wed Jul 4th, 2012, 12:25 AM

Nilanka wrote:

I wonder if we're overvaluing Kleiza's role as Jonas's "mentor". Jonas seems to have a good grasp of English already, and seems to be somewhat familiar with the ritzy lifestyle (based on Colangelo's anecdotes). Does Jonas really need a Lithuanian confidant?

Maybe Kleiza really is a trade/amnesty option?

I'd rather keep him, I like him