Originally Posted by
Pelicanidae
Exactly. I agree with Eman: the things Hayes is bad at right now are all things that can be coached, taught, or otherwise acquired. Rebounding discipline, firming up screens, additional strength from the weight room. But all the things he's good at right now are the little gems that great players have, but that cannot be taught.
That's feel, motor, anticipation, footspeed, height/length, quality hands, athleticism, unselfishness. All great players have at least a few of these traits, but if you don't have them there's nothing a coach can do to give you them. Coach Pop is a genius but he can't teach you to care, or to have better body control, or to be able to see a play before it happens. You've either got it, or you don't. Hayes does. That's huge, and if someone comes in with so much natural ability and potential then you do what you need to do to make them blossom. Who cares if it results in a couple of ugly games in the January of a rookie season?