Chad Ford: OJ Mayo

by Blazermaniac77 on May 29, 2008 10:59 PM PDT

Before the last few months I did not like OJ Mayo at all, I thought he was not right for the Blazers chemistry and that he would be a cancer on our team. However through out the season I had the opportunity to watch at least parts of 6-8 USC games and I saw a player who was not the flashy guy we saw clips of on ESPN when he was in high school. I saw a player who played exceptional defense, trusted his teammates at times too much, and I saw a fight in him that I couldn’t help but wish more players on the Blazers had.

I have been one of the louder voices when it comes to pro trading up to draft Mayo and I to be honest I recently have even said to friends and family that I have started to come to the realization that we wont make a move for him. I started to listen to all the people who said he was a bad guy. Then I read this article tonight by Chad Ford, here are some of the highlights-

“His confidence is interpreted as arrogance. When he shoots the ball, he's selfish. When he passes it, he's criticized for not shooting it. When he wins, he's showboating. When he loses, the fingers collectively point his way.”

“He averaged just 2.1 turnovers per game. His 3-point shot started falling with more regularity -- he shot 54 percent from 3-point range in his last nine games. And he started scoring at a greater clip, scoring 24 points per game.”

“Background checks found surprising things, too. Mayo scored 29 on his ACT and made the honor roll at USC. Floyd gave glowing reviews about Mayo's maturity and leadership on the team. There were no off-court incidents that people could point to, and his humility and calm demeanor, among those who know him, came through as well.”

"He's a hard worker," Grover said. "He works as hard as anyone. He's a quick learner. He's great with the other guys. He's polite. He's punctual. He takes nothing for granted. He thanks you for everything. We've had zero problems with O.J. He's a great kid."

Grover has worked with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and he trained Dwayne Wade in similar pre-draft workouts. He says Mayo has a similar "it" factor to those players.

"His knowledge of the game is so deep. By January he will have picked up all the little tricks that the veterans do. Some guys never pick that up."

“"I don't like to talk about myself," he says.“It doesn't matter what other people think. I know that. I just want to play basketball, this is my dream. I know I need to get better. I want to get better. I know it takes hard work. I just want to win."

“There aren't any guards in the draft with a more complete game than Mayo. He can defend, facilitate and score in multiple ways. And there aren't many prospects more NBA-ready than he is. He's shown he can persevere through the intense media and fan spotlight and other distractions, too. “

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftWatchMayo-080523&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fdraft2008%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftWatchMayo-080523

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I read the article

I’m sure Mayo isn’t as bad as he’s made out to be. On the other hand, there is ample evidence that his judgement is iffy.

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on May 30, 2008 6:41 AM PDT reply actions

Iffy judgement... in perspective...

OJ Mayo may have iffy judgement, BUT what teenager do you know that doesn’t?

Athletes like Mayo are pressured from so many directions from the time they hit puberty. How much additional pressure are put on these guys by over-scrutinizing their every move? Media attention and the inability to report whole TRUTHS rather than simply snipets of information.

Personally, I wouldn’t and can’t point my finger at a teenager and say “Dude, you have totally iffy judgement.” I would rather find out what drives a kid and what expectations, dreams and motivations a kid has that you can work with and mold.

Not to say that you look the other way if a kid is consistently getting in trouble with the law, doing/selling drugs, beating women, getting in fights… that is bad-boy stuff that you stay away from. Knocking up a girl or accepting an envelope with $400 cash in it from a booster… WHOOPITY DOO DAH. That is where I turn the other cheek.

Mayo is a GAMER. His upside is unbelieveable and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he is the most productive and popular player in this draft. I could see Chicago taking him at #1, Miami taking him at #2 or any team trading up to #2 or #3 to get Mayo.

by Portland Dynasty on May 30, 2008 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Just the fact that people are even semi-worried about his past and character

should say a lot. You sure didn’t here this kind of stuff about Channing Frye, James Jones, Brandon Roy, LMA, G.O., etc. etc. when they were coming out of college.

The players that are the biggests busts in the league are the ones who get infatuated with the high roller life (see Damon Stoudamire, Darius Miles, et. al)

Hopefully O.J. doesn’t, but only time will tell.

Current team + Greg + Rudy = Blazers losing narrowly to the Spurs in the 2008-2009 Western Conference Finals. Book it.

by prezofdeath on May 30, 2008 7:44 AM PDT reply actions

hear* not here

Current team + Greg + Rudy = Blazers losing narrowly to the Spurs in the 2008-2009 Western Conference Finals. Book it.

by prezofdeath on May 30, 2008 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions

I understand your point of view.

I’m not sure about James Jones but the other 4 you mentioned seemed to have had a pretty stable childhood. It seems as though Mayo has been used and manipulated since he was very small, or young I guess. I’m actually pretty surprised he’s done as well as he has. I’ll bet that in an environment like the Blazers he would do well.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on May 30, 2008 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions

They also weren't prodigies.

You don’t hear things about people if they’re not under the microscope. Mayo is. I’m sure there is truth, but that truth seems to come about because of a lack of guidance and mentorship. the blazers can give that to Mayo.

Mayo is the best player of the draft. I think he’ll show that his first year if he’s given 20-30 minutes to play.

"I got the goose bumps." - Rudy translated by Alamart

by ratbastird on May 30, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

oh yeah...

and he’s not with the Knicks. Bad situation for someone like him.

"I got the goose bumps." - Rudy translated by Alamart

by ratbastird on May 30, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

I like Mayo

I think a Mayo/Roy backcourt could be awesome. I also think the ‘problems’ are wildly overblown.

My concern would be more with ANY player of his caliber/type: can he slide into a team and not be the man? That’s not a knock on him at all, and not wanting to be just another cog in the machine is not really all that selfish in the context of the NBA. But could Dwayne Wade play with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden? Could James? Bryant?

I bet Mayo wants to be one of those guys, and I don’t blame him: they make a lot more money! But that type of focal-point player is not what we’re looking for, I think. Certainly if he fell into our lap I would be pretty happy about it, but if we’re giving up valuable pieces there’s different players I would go after, just based on what we already have.

by matthewcc on May 30, 2008 7:44 AM PDT reply actions

Academic excellence

I’d want to see a transcript before glowing about his academic excellence. It might be unfair, but in only one year of college you never know what courses the guy took. Honor roll for some course loads just means he (probably) showed up to class, or that he at least showed up on key days.

by Devenex on May 30, 2008 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions

whoops

meant to reply to fisheyes below :P

by Devenex on May 30, 2008 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions

From an interview I saw,

He was taking JUNIOR level math classes as a freshman.

No one else on USC basketball team was doing that.

Current team + Greg + Rudy = Blazers losing narrowly to the Spurs in the 2008-2009 Western Conference Finals. Book it.

by prezofdeath on May 30, 2008 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions

Junoir level at USC means high school

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on May 30, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions

he also was in senior English in the espn60 special on him
this kid is smart and from the interviews i have seen he seems to be a shy kid who is trying to be sincere but not be taken advantage of

by blackandwite323 on May 30, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Widely Overblown...

I like Mayo too, and I agree that all his stuff is widely overblown.

Widely.

by Portland Dynasty on May 30, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Falsehoods and rumors wander halfway around the world...

before the truth even gets its boots on.

Thank you for your report and discussion, Blazermaniac. Mr. Mayo appears to have been treated unfairly in the media. I am especially impressed with his academic excellence.

Nature bats last.

by fisheyes on May 30, 2008 8:20 AM PDT reply actions

I'm not sure, but I don't think you used the sarcasm button, fish. Apparently Mayo did extremely well on his ACT's.

That ref who trained Vlade Divac to flop has really changed the course of the poor kid’s career. I said somewhere else that I thought he’d thrive in a culture that a team like the Blazers could provide. He’s been used since he was a small child by anyone who thought they could make a little money off him. Cheese. I recognize that I’m jumping into the fray to protect anything I think needs to be protected, but give the kid a break. Other than standing by while an amateur ref tries to make a name for himself, what has he really done wrong except to be born, very talented, into a very dysfunctional situation.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on May 30, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions

A Spanish journalist nicknamed Divac

the NBA Gassman

"If OJ Mayo falls to the 2nd round We should risk one of our 3 second round picks on Mayo". Mortimer.

by amlmart1 on May 30, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Ha ha! Yep. Vlade emoooootes!!!!!!! A term for that here in america is "chewing up the scenery".

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on May 30, 2008 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Mayo will be better than Rose

if he’s not now. OOoooh, that one’s probably going to make people think I’m an idiot. Well, I am, but that does not mean that I’m not not right. Yeah, I don’t get it either. Still, watch. In five years you’ll agree.

I would like Mayo on our team more than anyone else in the draft. More than Harris, Calderon or Hinrich. He’s my second choice next to Paul (who I don’t think is a good fit for us, but anyway…)

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on May 30, 2008 9:26 AM PDT reply actions

I agree

Mayo has been unfairly criticized. It’s especially bad here as Blazer fans are extra paranoid about the slightest whiff of trouble. It’s actually starting to get embarrassing. Mayo has the exact skill set you want from a guard to play alongside Roy and we are whining about rumors from High School. I repeat “rumors from High School”. Lighten up you prudes!
I think this kid is going to awesome as a pro and him coming to a team like Portland would really help him out and set him on the right path. It seems like people are scared that he becomes another Kobe Bryant. If that happens, trust me, there won’t be a problem. He’s hugely talented. And on the offchance it doesn’t work out, we have great trade bait!
Draft Mayo!

by BlazerD on May 30, 2008 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree... Mayo > Rose.

Mayo > Rose
Mayo > Beasley

But, In the case of top 3 picks, it might come down to position preference.

by Portland Dynasty on May 30, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Heavily disagree...

Great players raise the play of their teammates in big games and big moments. Rose led Memphis to the championship game, Mayo lost in the first round. In high school, Rose took down mighty Oak Hill Academy virtually singlehandedly, Mayo’s team lacked that signature win and lost to Rose.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Mayo will be a fine player. But, I think if you think he is better than Rose right now, I think your kidding yourself and probably buying into the Mayo hype right now. Yeah, at the end of the season Mayo was tremendously underrated, but now every expert/pundit has recognized this and are now overrating him. My guess is that he will fall somewhere in between.

by The Graduate on May 30, 2008 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

1. derrik rose had CDR, Joey Dorsey, and other good players at memphis
2. oak hill was rated the most athletic basketball team in the country for sparq training

by blackandwite323 on May 30, 2008 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Mayo would be awesome, but...

In one interview I saw he was asked if it was more important to him to be drafted as high as possible or to be in the right situation. His answer was as high as possible. That sounds like a “me first” player to me.

"I'm polymerized tree sap and you're an inorganic adhesive, so whatever verbal projectile you launch in my direction is reflected off of me, returns to its original projectory and adheres to you." - Sheldon

by TubbaDubba on May 30, 2008 10:51 AM PDT reply actions

I saw that interview also. Maybe, after he reflected on the question, O.J. thought

that his response encompassed both possibilities. He doesn’t seem like much of a chatterbox to me. Speaking from that viewpoint, as I can, you try to get the most said with the fewest words possible.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on May 30, 2008 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions