From Kevin Arnovitz’s piece over at ESPNLosAngeles.com:
Knowing one’s limitations as a player might be one of the least heralded attributes in basketball. It’s a quality that’s been absent on recent Clipper rosters, a primary reason the team has struggled to put up points despite plenty of competent scorers. But that acute awareness of his strengths and weakness is one of one Gomes’ defining traits as a player.”[The Clippers] aren’t looking for someone dominant at this position,” Gomes said. “Sure, if I average 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, that’ll be wonderful. But I feel like my best quality is my knowledge of the game. I don’t think I’m going to wow you athletically, but I can dabble in a little bit of everything.”Gomes’ humility isn’t an aw-shucks brand of athlete-speak and isn’t born out of a lack of confidence. He’s just far too versed in basketball to peddle anything other than devout truths, and he loves talking about the game. Gomes is happy to discuss his move to Los Angeles, the apartment he’s rented for himself, his wife, young daughter and mother-in-law. But what gets Gomes going, what he really loves to schmooze about is chalk-talk.
Ask him why the Timberwolves struggled in the triangle, and he’ll tell you the specific point in the sequence when defenses anticipated the action and clamped down on the offense. Ask him how his good friend Al Jefferson will fare in Utah’s flex offense, and he’ll speak in detail about how Jefferson will flourish and which reads will prove most difficult for the big man. Ask him about the particulars of his game as an NBA small forward, and Gomes is an open book.
“I’m not going to back guys down,” Gomes said. “But I’m going to turn, face up and use my quickness — get fouled, get to the rim, shoot my jumper.”
Since he came into the league from Providence College, Gomes has been tagged as the dreaded “tweener” — a player who straddles the small and power forward positions. The Clippers plan to use Gomes as a small forward, which he’s played the past two seasons in Minnesota. Gomes readily acknowledges that he’s not a prototypical 3. He’s confident in his ability to play strong, straight-up, one-on-one defense, but that certain assignments give him problems.
“At the 3, there are some nights where it might not work in my favor,” Gomes said. “But Carmelo [Anthony], I think I can guard him. I can guard guys like [Al] Thornton. I think I can do a solid job on [Paul] Pierce. I can guard guys who face up and attack you one-on-one. [Ron] Artest is a perfect matchup for me.
“Where I have limitations is with guys who get their shots by running off screens. [Kevin] Durant. A guy like Jason Richardson is tough for me.”
Gomes conveys a refreshing self-awareness that could be mistaken for self-deprecation. Coaches and general managers often characterize a player as a “glue guy,” but few NBA veterans are comfortable enough in their own skin to tout their intangible qualities as their strongest assets.
“You have to find a niche,” Gomes said. “Find something you do well to stick around in this league. That’s the case for all of us except for those 30 who can do everything. For the rest of us it’s about finding a way — knowledge of the game, smarts, those little things.”
To read more on Gomes and his approach to the game, go here.
27 Responses
RASUAL BUTLER SHOULD BE STARTING SF NOT GOMES WE DONT NEED SOMEONE WITH THAT KINDA OF MENTALITY. HE SHOULD HAVE SAID ILL GIVE IT MY ALL FOR THE TEAM AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SEASON. NOT A GOOD PICK FOR CLIPPERS IF HE HAS THAT MIND SET. HUMANS ARE NOT HINDER BY LIMITATIONS WE PUSHED PASS THEM THROUGH NEVER GIVING UP AND PRACTICE
Qlippers Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I rather have a guy who competes than a player who just talks a big game.
He’s an okay pick up for a team that has a solid rotation, not this team.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
OMG ID RATHER HAVE A PLAYER THATS GROUNDED AND REALISTIC THAN A TMAC THAT HE THINKS HE CAN STILL RUN A TEAM WHILE HOPPING ON ONE LEG. OMG OMG!
Smush Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
agreed.
laknights Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Feel that breeze over GRIFFINs head? The point Gomes was making is knowing your place, your strong points and weaknesses. That takes maturity, he has it, you don’t GRIFFIN, yet (?).
Josh Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 9:06 am
The point is not to make low percentage decisions. This something many players do not grasp, but the best players do. Baron Davis does not grasp this, and thus fails to get remotely enough out of his talent. It’s about putting yourself and your team in the best position to succeed by making decisions that are likely to maximize your and your teams strengths. Simple, smart, winning concept.
griffin Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Yeah he points out his weaknesses but. I dont see why its not to hard to practice and make those weaknesses into strengths through effort, instead excepting who you are and ablity as a player. Im not saying he isnt immature by saying this he just wants to do have the job and more of the pay. There are people who bust there buts in the nba and have good results. Al thorton was amazing his rookie year he was compared to kevin durant but he doesnt bust his but on the floor anymore and hes became just one of those average players.
Posted on August 19th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Well i am glad he can gaurd AL THORTON, that really makes me feel good…HAHA
Posted on August 19th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Totally unrelated to this article, but Rudy Fernandez wants out… we should make a push for him. Though I am a bit turned off by him whining about his PT. Rly.. 20+ mins is good in a team as stacked as Portland.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
He wants out-out, like back to Europe out. Not traded to another team that will play him out. And if he was unhappy in portland, imagine the psycho drama wed have with him.
Chandler Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I like rudy fernandez a lot, and i think he would make a good player, if he was given the space and the minutes.
watching him play ball against team USA… He’d be a monster on the right team.
i was thinking about this as well… we have eric gordon at sf, and we have no reason to trade him… HOWEVER, Pau Gasol is in LA…. aren’t those spanish guys buddy buddy with each other?
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Eric is a 2, but Rudy can play 2 and 3. And we do need a 3. Especially one who can put the ball on the floor and hit from range. But so far, it doesnt seem like Spanish players work out in the NBA unless their last name is Gasol. None of the other players that have come over have really worked out and most think Ricky Rubio will never come to the NBA as long as his rights are held by Minny.
jgroove Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
The reason Rudy didn’t get more minutes is he doesn’t play good D and rebound for a 2/3. That’s our problem at the position now. Rudy is basically a shorter and tad more athletic Vladimar Radmonovic (who could at least rebound when he tried).
Chandler Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 12:54 pm
my bad, my sf comment on gordon. my finger slipped from the g to the f.
Posted on August 19th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Agreed W bongstradamus in both comments.
Posted on August 19th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Gomes sucks.
Josh Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 9:07 am
More sophisticated analysis.
Posted on August 20th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Anybody see Sofo in that brawl. Today, I’m glad he’s not a Clipper.
Joey D Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Sorry for the (previous) off-topic post by the way.
Gomes seems like a smart guy based on DJ Fosters post. He’s right that there are only 30 or so guys (and that’s probably too generous — I think its more like 10-15) in the league that can do it all/carry a team. It’s incumbent for everyone else to know they’re role and focus on doing it well. It’s that kind of self restraint that made EJ so appealing in 08-09 and the lack of it that made Baron so frustrating. I don’t know how I feel about Gome’s game yet, haven’t seen him enough, but there’s nothing wrong with a man knowing himself.
Josh Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
NIce post. I agree.
Posted on August 20th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Nobody was wowed when we signed him, but after reading this article, looking at his numbers, realizing that he’ll be another guy thatll help spread the floor and a possible threat from the 3pt (.372) we’ll be ok with him.
Posted on August 20th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Increase prayer in Clipper nation to three hours daily; it will take a miracle from God that will then change the ownership and things will ripple from there. Until then it doesn’t matter what player coach or general manager they get.
dial4bux Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Amen, brother
Posted on August 20th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I was not blown away by the early sighning of Gomes. Gomes appears to be a solid pro. I believe that the combination of Butler, Gomes, and the rook will get what we need from the 3 done. I think that the competition for playing time will make all three better. This in combination with a lot of open looks caused by the Clippers front line of Griffin and Kamen. The three that comes of the bench with Deandre will be one of the focal points of the offense.
I think that we still need another big. I hope that one is signed before the season starts. We will be a solid team. chemistry and coaching should make the Clippers a contender.
griffin Reply:
August 20th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I couldnt say it better i agree
Posted on August 20th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
A Star is Born from Chris Sheridan from Madrid
Whose stock has risen in the past week?
The coaches have been raving lately about Eric Gordon, who was on the cut bubble when the team held a minicamp in Las Vegas last month, “because we didn’t know him as well,” Krzyzewski said.
“He’s really had a terrific practice every single day, and every day he’s produced, he’s just been steady. And he’s a guy that doesn’t need the ball long. On our Olympic team, Carmelo Anthony didn’t need the ball long, and that helps. He’s been very good. Very good. I won’t say anybody’s made the team until we’re down to 12, but he’s been very good. I’ll leave it at that.”
jgroove Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 2:41 pm
He played very well defensively. His jumper looked scary, but his d was good. Curious if Curry makes the cut. He makes every jumper, but his d is very weak, esp vs. sub-par Lithuanian guards today.
Boy, this team could use Blake. Do we know why he’s not with this team? Did the Clippers not insure him? Kevin/D.J. – can we get an answer?
Posted on August 21st, 2010 at 10:54 am
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