Stephen - Just want to say beforehand, don't take this the wrong way because I'm not trying to attack you or be a jerk or anything like that. I just thought this should be pointed out. Fair?
Anyhow, in your newest
Downtown Journal article, you talk about McCants:
http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?publication=downtown§ion=94&blog=277
Surprisingly, I find myself wanting to give Rashad McCants a compliment. As most know, I haven’t been thrilled with McCants throughout the year, even criticizing him the night he put up 33-points against Sacramento. Yet, Shaddy deserves credit for his attitude since his “demotion” from the starting lineup. He hasn’t complained (much) and upon entering the game, it’s easy to notice in most instances he is attempting to make the right basketball play. Certainly, he has his moments where he takes a bad shot or gives up a costly turnover, but the frequency of the negatives has decreased. If this development continues, McCants would be well on his way to being a more than valuable role player on this squad.
- Two things stick out (bolded above.) First off, from everything I can remember, you have been anything but critical of McCants. Remember this summer and the big debate we had after watching McCants in the Summer League? I was really down on McCants and you were defending him to the max. Perhaps you have been a bit more critical since the season started, but you were a staunch supporter not too long ago.
- Also, I won't dispute the fact that you say he hasn't been complaining about his demotion. I don't know what goes on in the locker room and you do... and you are probably very well correct. Perhaps he doesn't complain publically, but he is BY FAR the biggest complainer/whiner on our entire team out on the court. He complains to the coach, and complains to the refs up and down the court. He complains that he doesn't get foul calls, and worse, he complains every. single. time that he gets a foul called against him. I'm sick of it. How does he think the refs will ever take him seriously when he complains every time he gets whistled? The thing is, his defensive fouls are terrible and very deserved. He is an atrocious defender and I don't know where he gets off.