CDR is Not Kobe Bryant
by Mark Ginocchio
Jan 29, 2010 Chris Douglas-Roberts
I just wanted to post a quick reaction to something that caught my eye in last night’s mailbag from Dave D’Alessandro. In a response to one question, where a reader asks if Chris Douglas-Roberts could be an effective sixth man, Dave D. suggests that CDR’s recent struggles and lack of aggression may not be the result of a concerted effort by the coaches to keep him from shooting (as some fans keep suggesting with this “Yiki” nonsense), but rather some kind of silly little boycott CDR is trying to orchestrate on the court:
But it’s pretty obvious to me that he is playing to prove that they need him — not being aggressive, not looking for shots, going through the motions — and failing badly. That’s why I’d bench him.
If this is true – and I have to admit, while observing CDR’s rampant immaturity/arrogance via Twitter recently I honestly can’t say I doubt D’Alessandro’s claims here – then that is simply one of the stupidest things a player of CDR’s caliber has ever done.
The “prove my teammates need me by not shooting” strategy may have been most famously employed by Kobe Bryant in Game 7 against the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 playoffs. After scoring 23 points in the first half of the decisive game, Kobe apparently had had enough of teammates/fans/pundits/whoever suggesting he was too selfish with the ball, so he only took three shots for the rest of the game and made some cryptic comments about trying to get “everybody involved” in the second half.
I guess CDR deserves some credit for seemingly pulling a stunt like this during meaningless games in a 4-40 season, rather than a decisive playoff game. However, it is still foolish and potentially career threatening for a guy who has otherwise proven zip in his NBA career. Consider when Kobe pulled this off, he had already won three championships (with Shaq, natch) and was considered by many to be one of the league’s most prolific scorers and defenders. Chris Douglas-Roberts is a guy who struggled to see any time his rookie season, is considered by many critics to be a one-dimensional player who can only score points at the rim and has never been known as anything special on the defensive end.
In other words? CDR, you’re not Kobe Bryant and you’re probably never going to be Kobe Bryant. So, knock it off.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:02 AM
I am totally on board with just getting rid of him. His attitude stinks, bragging about being the last to leave the gym when he doesn’t do anything on the court. He’s got such a gigantic view of himself, I hope some player absolutely lights him up to show him his place
January 29th, 2010 at 9:46 AM
Another chance for you to slam CDR. I think YOU should knock it off. CDR’s stats (NBA.com) prove the Nets need him. CDR’s performance October-December prove the Nets need him. CDR’s college pedigree – First Team All America Final Four Team leader – prove that the Nets need him.
This whole media-created scenario that villifies CDR based on SELECTIVE excerpts from his Twitter page (for gosh sakes) is mean and personal.
I wish CDR could stoop to your level and sue for defamation.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:18 AM
With CDR’s obsession with his “haters” he just might do that. Oh and you know who else has college pedigrees? JJ Redick and Tyler Hansbrough. All stars for sure.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:49 AM
No CDR is not Kobe. I really don’t think he is tanking this season, especially considering the crappy play by the captain and others on this team.
CDR is the lowest paid player on this team and gave the most effort for the first 25 games of the season.
CDR is an all american
CDR was the main scorer on a final 4 team.
CDR shot 54% for his college career.
CDR was picked in the 2nd round, he has something to prove.
Many people including you guys have accused KiKi of being a bad coach with an agenda. Its not that he’s being frozen out of the offense but there are very few plays “run” for CDR.
In wednesdays game there was a play ran for CDR.
Brook had the ball and CDR came off a screen for an in rhythm jumpshot.
No CDR is not Kobe but his hard work is documented and the stats prove he is worthy of being in the starting lineup.
Would you rather have Courtney Lee, who can hit a jumpshot, disapears totally on offense, runs from the camera after a loss and cries because he gets traded?
Or an All American that can get his own shot, set up his teammates, play defense, and at least try to be a leader?
I want the guy that is making less than 1 million, that has to supplement his income by doing a radio show.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:12 AM
DJ – there are a number of outlets that are reporting that CDR is rubbing the FO the wrong way with his actions on and off the court. How do you address that? So I’m supposed to be impressed with a guy that gives max effort only when it benefits him and then takes his ball and goes home once things go against him?
And while you continue to slam Courtney – the guy at least play some defense from time to time. He’s not a star, and I don’t think he’s even a starter in this league, but if CDR can only be effective when he’s holding the ball 20 percent of the time, that’s going to be a problem given his offensive limitations.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:40 AM
give him some time man ! , how would you feel or play with a team that has only won 4 games in the NBA!!!, cmonn cut the man some slack, i wouldnt be surprised when we have a better team next year and hes the one droppin about 20+ a game
January 29th, 2010 at 11:46 AM
I hope so BrS. Despite the criticism, I’m rooting for the guy. There’s just nothing worse than watching a guy who looks like he’s dogging it out there. And clearly I’m not the only one who thinks so, so there has to be something to it.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:14 PM
“DJ – there are a number of outlets that are reporting that CDR is rubbing the FO the wrong way with his actions on and off the court.” (Mark Ginocchio)
Really? What are these “outlets” reporting FO problems with CDR? PLEASE CITE THEM. Otherwise, that statement is just your way of trying to legitimate your negative opinion of CDR and using this site to do so.
It’s totally hypocritical of you to say you’re “rooting for the guy” when you seize every opportunity to slam him. Careful your nose doesn’t grow.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Both Al Iannazzone and Dave D’Alessandro have reported as such in their blogs this week. Go to their web sites and read them yourself, or click on the links in Nets on the Net.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:53 PM
How does his play in October-December show that we need him? We sucked then too. Like Branch Rickey said, we can finish last with you, we can finish last without you.
Well no s*** they’re going to look at selective tweets. Do you expect them to observe every “I gots da world on mah back city a Deeeetroit on mah back gonna make some $$ imma smart guy i no how to handle da media always first in the gym always last out oh no i gots da damn flu yes yess!!!” tweet?
http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2010/01/mails_in_the_halfway_edition.html
“With regard to CDR, he still uses his code phrases when he voices his displeasure, and that’s fine — it’s getting easier to tune out. But it’s pretty obvious to me that he is playing to prove that they need him — not being aggressive, not looking for shots, going through the motions — and failing badly. That’s why I’d bench him.”
There’s your damn source
January 29th, 2010 at 12:59 PM
I like CDRs game. i dont think hes doggin it on the court just to stick it to the coach or the team. i honestly just think that hes not getting the ball in his hands enough on offense. Hes a scorer and that about it so we need to support his strength by giving him the ball and letting him make a play. I think Sebastian was right from the beginning of the season when he said that CDR should be the sixth man cuz he will be able to have the ball in his hands more often with the second unit cuz hes really the only one who can create his own shot
January 29th, 2010 at 1:06 PM
I really don’t care about what the writers say. Yes they get to know these players and go to practice, but I’m paying to watch these horrible games. I have to pay 4 dollars a month to get yes network but they won’t broadcast games in FL, so I paid for NBA league pass. I watch everygame. Even the 30 point blowouts.
KiKi changed the offense when Yi came back. Period.
Not because the offense wasn’t working, he changed it to feature Yi. The players sense these things in pratice and in the game.
DH has hinted to this change as well as CDR.
You hear it more because CDR is on twitter.
What else does he have todo when he’s feeling the recession and can’t feed his tigers. This guy might be found eaten by his own pets because he can’t afford to feed them.
What is CLees excuse?
“I have an opportunity to showcase my talents” CLee said it this week and in training camp. Where is it?
So KiKi continues to reward players that deont earn a starting spot, how should the othe players feel? CDR is playing out of position, guarding bigger players, and getting knocked around in the paint.
If CDR was so bad why hasn’t KiKi taken him out of the starting lineup?
January 29th, 2010 at 1:19 PM
DJ – you win for saying this in your comment: “What else does he have todo when he’s feeling the recession and can’t feed his tigers. This guy might be found eaten by his own pets because he can’t afford to feed them.”
Seriously, I got nothing. You win.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:16 PM
@eastrutherfordslightlyoverweight great job basically summarizing the entire content of cdr’s twitter feed. Only thing left out is his tweets bragging about all these women wanting to marry him and how guys got his jersey for christmas. And of course all his hater tweets.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:50 PM
There’s a term for a person who gives intense effort, bitches and moans about problems, and then stops giving any effort. Not to mention being preoccupied with intimacy(the marriage tweets)It’s called borderline personality disorder, and you really don’t want to have to deal with it.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Hey, Mark Wu JJ’s got game this year. refer to last night clutchness against the C’s. Last time I check Tyler was doing good too but I don’t follow the pacers much and I know he’s been up and down. He could be struggling right now for all I know but he’s his moments (probably against the nets anyway)
Beh CDR’s a little lost right now. I don’t think he’s not trying doesn’t seem like the sort of guy. But who knows? I’ve liked him from the start esp with that small contract and steal in the draft best thing we can do is lay off and hope he figures it out.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Lol, this can’t be serious. To think that CDR is slacking off just to prove a point is ridiculous.
Think about it, this is a professional league, not some middle school basketball team. NBA players are getting paid, and unless they’re Kobe Bryant, they know that playing poorly or displaying poor attitude could result in a disastrous impact on their career and their monetary fortunes (especially if you’re a 2nd-year, 2nd-round draft pick player.)
From what I see, most NBA players are not stupid enough to take a risk like that. Judging off the little I know about CDR (and his superior spelling abilities for an NBA player), he seems like a pretty smart guy that would not put his career on the line.
Really, the reason he’s not playing well is just because of his basketball abilities at the moment. He started off the season hot, but it won’t be several years before he can maintain that for an entire season.
Add to the fact that he is way too lean to be playing at the 3 and that he has been pushed off as a primary option on offense, and you get the struggling CDR of today.