Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Corey Maggette

Today’s post is about a man who is at long last getting sweet release from the clutches of the Smush Pot. A man unloved in this past summer’s free agent market. A man who never really found a big fan base in Los Angeles despite being the lone star on the Clippers to survive nearly a decade of Clipperdom while still putting up respectable numbers.

He is a man who lives at the freethrow line. Who has consistently been making himself into a better, more efficient player (True shooting percentage and 3 point percentage were the highest of his career last season, and he nearly tied his second highest PER despite playing on a comically injury-riddled team last season).

Sure, he seems to be always hurt (averaged only 65 games per season). Sure, he doesn’t seem interested whatsoever in playing a lick of defense. Sure he doesn’t pass (career 2.2 assists). Sure, the griping with his coach (Mike Dunleavy Sr.) the past couple of seasons seemed, well, unnecessary at the time.

But seeing how fast Elton Brand bolted town, the franchise’s classless brush off of Elgin Baylor and just knowing the way Donald Sterling has run his organization over the past, uh, I don’t know, forever, you would have to invariably start to think that, in a similar position, you would pull a Maggette too.

About the grumbling. I mean, it’s the classic case of shit or get off the pot with him. He’s been in trade talks for the past 5 years, nothing ever coming to fruition. You would grumble too.

Especially if you are the best offensive threat on the team not named Brand, and you were told by your coach that you were better suited coming off the bench. This from a team in the bottom half of the league in offensive rating and points per game.

And those horrific assist numbers? He’s really had no one to pass to. I mean, think about it. The disappearing act of Odom (his pre-2008 still smoking pot version)? Cuttino Mobley? The blackhole of Sam Cassell? The non-shooter in Livingston? Mr. career massive underachiever, Tim Thomas? The, gasp, bobbling, certainly-not-worth-even-a-lottery-pick-let-alone-a-number-one OlawoCandyman?

Uh, no thanks.

But, what about not playing both ways? Uh, when you’re consistently playing for nothing (seven of eight losing seasons) what’s the point in defending?

Okay, okay. That’s a negative attitude. “Be a team player!” critics will most assuredly cry out. Then we all must remember that he tried to do that. Begrudgingly sure, but he did try.

What did sacrificing for the team do for him? The 07 season ended with a losing record and his stats, across the board suffered as well. This offseason? Only one team was interested in his services.

So, that team player sacrifice thing is a fine line to walk. One Mr. Odom will be trying to balance this season. But at least he has championship aspirations. Even when the Clips were good in 06, they weren’t championship good.

So, despite going to, ugh, Duke, I think it’s time we all give Corey Maggette a break for goodness sake. I mean, he’s been a fringe all start talent who has been piddling away his career on the lowly Clips (yeah, I know, I still love them, but honesty is important) despite a career 18.2 PER.

In fact, the Smush Pot wants to say that Maggette, as long as he stays healthy (a career-long “if”) will push his scoring upwards of 26 points per game and could even challenge for a scoring title if the optimism gets really big.

He’s the go to guy (thanks Monta for riding that moped), who finally has found a place where they actually appreciate him. He doesn't have to play any D in the Nelly Ball system, but will get to jack shots up to his heart’s content.

He still probably won’t be an all star unless he’s leading the league in scoring (thanks Melo, Durant, Gay, Artest and maybe Josh Howard) but he’ll put up numbers worthy of a spot.

So let’s give this 28-year-old, who, might I add, will be entering his prime, a little more credit.

Well, at least enough to get him out of the Smush Pot.

We see ya Corey.

Represent in Oakland!

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