The stage is set for OJ Mayo

[tron#1]

WARNING this will be a long post. i know we all are sad that Dirk had to get surgery and will be out for up to six weeks. Im a big OJ Mayo fan have been since he was in high school. for a player so highly regarded (by some) and IMO unfairly scrutinized (by most).... this is a golden opportunity. Coming into the league actually going through workouts with the likes of russell westbrook, eric gordon, derrick rose, micheal beasley, and kevin love mayo was seen as the best. one report stated he had the most polished overall game out of those in the draft. Mayo had two great years in the NBA (rookie and sophomore season) coming in second place for rookie of the year. i watched a lot of grizzlies games and he just looked out of place coming off of the bench. Seriously you dont send a player that did what mayo did his first two years to the bench for tony allen that you could bank on him missing an open layup at least once a game. the stage is set for Mayo to reintroduce himself to the basketball world. he has a starting slot and a green light. these weeks without Dirk can put him back in the place of one of the elite up and coming guards in the league. some quotes to sum up his game.

"There was no question that we were watching a player with a supreme work ethic, which becomes most noticeable when you take a look at the way he shoots the ball—showing outstanding mechanics that are identical every time, with terrific footwork, balance and arc on his shot, setting his feet instantaneously as soon as he catches the ball, and never looking rattled even when he has a man in his face heavily contesting his shot. Clearly this is the best part of his game"

"The first thing that stands out about Mayo in this setting is just how smooth and instinctive a scorer and overall player he is. Everything he does is extremely effortless—his footwork, balance, body control and ability to create separation from his defender and create a shot for himself"

"He has very good size at 6-5, with a terrific body". He’s a powerful athlete with outstanding body control and great ball-handling skills going either left or right, and excellent instincts finding and creating shots for himself, as well as for others. Mayo’s court vision is much better than his 2.9 assists per game would indicate. He brings the ball up the court regularly and for the most part looks quite unselfish executing his team’s half-court sets, making the extra pass and finding the open man when he’s trapped/double-teamed off a pick and roll play time after time, but too often only to see his teammates miss a wide open shot.”

"The silver lining from this season has to do with Mayo’s defense, which has been nothing short of outstanding so far, when he’s put his mind to it. He’s doing a terrific job putting pressure on the ball, denying space and overwhelming his matchups with his combination of size, strength, length and lateral quickness. The work he did on Derrick Rose in Madison Square Garden was particularly notable, rendering him fairly ineffective when were matched up against each other. Mayo still needs to show that same commitment on each and every possession, but the early signs have been fairly promising"

these quotes are from scouts from him when he was coming in the league. IMO they sum up the potential that not only is there but was shown his first two years in memphis. we live in the flashy sportscenter media era now. and if a player isnt giving out facials every night that players tends to be forgotten. ive heard the knock from people saying Mayo isnt athletic or explosive enough. i dont agree he is a power jumper as you will see in my closing videos. Mayo IMO needs the right coach to succeed.... is uncle ricky that coach? i hope so because Dallas is a class A organization and i would love to see him sign a long term deal and help the mavs climb back to the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTFgwfAcgS4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=034y_...eature=related