Emmanuel is OBVIOUSLY a flawed project, based mainly on his lack of a consistent NBA jumper, and his enigmatic inability to finish at the rack on nicely executed drives.
However, it is worth noting, that as far as pure point skills were involved, vis a vis, being the rudder, making passes that set up his team mates, all through the pre-season, Mudiay showed his best in fourth quarter runs, anchoring comebacks.
Also, as BoD points out, we have seen players in Burke and Vonleh who were big time washouts in their previous stops, now showing a higher degree of competitive acumen and skill, wherein they have made palpable contributions, and project as solid, effective role players if not starters.
Hey, are we going to write guys off after what, five preseason games, three regular season. That is BULLSHIT. No one has that prescience, not even our Coach, but then we are talking about a handicapper who, my personal affection notwithstanding, professes to be happy we are 1-2 rather than 3-0, and who never fails to dismiss Enes Kanter to extoll the virtues of a raw project in Robinson and project him as a starter in months to come, so that tells you all you need to know.
Fizdale has shown an interesting degree of patience and ruthlessness, and while he is not going to give ANYONE a hall pass, even a pet project such as Knox, who responded to a run of crummy games and a benching, by coming back with a solid effort against the Nets, he is working on everyone's confidence, and trying to figure out what buttons to push, when to stroke and when to slap.
We have seen palpable improvement in the overall games and leadership of both Timmy and Enes. We have seen players such as Doston step out of oblivion and make a significant contribution. We have seen Fizz put significant trust in a career role player such as Baker when injuries took Mudiay from the rotation. We have seen him fishing around trying to push Hezonja's buttons to balance his talent and physical gifts with his confidence and execution.
And of course, Lance Thomas gets dissed and dismissed by all but his Head Coach.
We will have a much clearer idea as to who is chicken salad and who is chicken shit, come XMAS.
Until then, everyone on the roster is a work in progress.
A little patience, thank you very much, and no premature, presumptive Fatwahs based on such scanty evidence.