Monta Ellis thinks he's as good as Wade

[28renyoy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G9yS2-x5sA

"the only thing he has over me is 2 championships"

You HAVE to be kidding me

[NewYorkNoPicks]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

[Notorious D.M.C]

ahah glad the warriors traded that knuckle head

[1987_Lakers]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

Have you seen Wade these past few weeks? He is still clearly better than Monta.

[fpliii]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

:facepalm

[Young X]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic
:kobe:

[28renyoy]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

:biggums:

[IGotACoolStory]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

:coleman:

[NewYorkNoPicks]

Wades jumper still and always will be garbage and not a weapon in his arsenal.

Both players have relied on speed, blow by ability, and getting to the basket as their bread and butter.

One of the two is losing his athleticism while the other still has maintained it.

When Wade decides to develop a post game like Kobe, hell extend his time as a top level player. Hopefully that never happens because the guy is a piece of trash human being

[SacJB Shady]

Imagine he good we be with him still

[1987_Lakers]

Wades jumper still and always will be garbage and not a weapon in his arsenal.

Both players have relied on speed, blow by ability, and getting to the basket as their bread and butter.

One of the two is losing his athleticism while the other still has maintained it.

When Wade decides to develop a post game like Kobe, hell extend his time as a top level player. Hopefully that never happens because the guy is a piece of trash human being

We gonna ignore Wade is 100x the defender Monta is and a much more efficient scorer?

[28renyoy]

Wades jumper still and always will be garbage and not a weapon in his arsenal.

Both players have relied on speed, blow by ability, and getting to the basket as their bread and butter.

One of the two is losing his athleticism while the other still has maintained it.

When Wade decides to develop a post game like Kobe, hell extend his time as a top level player. Hopefully that never happens because the guy is a piece of trash human being


Monta Ellis is shooting 40% from the field, 32% on jumpshots, and 24% from 3

:bowdown:

[NewYorkNoPicks]

We gonna ignore Wade is 100x the defender Monta is and a much more efficient scorer?

Defender aspect yes... Would never call Wade some sevant in efficiency, the guy lived at the foul line from superstar calls for years

[NewYorkNoPicks]

Monta Ellis is shooting 40% from the field, 32% on jumpshots, and 24% from 3

:bowdown:

Pull up Wades stats on those aspects and provide a link; i want to see D-Whistles incredible jump shooting

[SacJB Shady]

Monta dominates wade. Wade gets called for fouls that aren't really fouls while monta gets knocked around and they don't call them

[Graviton]

Pull up Wades stats on those aspects and provide a link; i want to see D-Whistles incredible jump shooting
At Rim 89/116 .767%
3 to 9 ft 30/75 .400%
10 to 15 ft 16/47 .340%
16 ft to 3-pt 33/81 .407%
3-pt 7/22 .318%
51% FG
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01/shooting/2013/

[Whoah10115]

Wades jumper still and always will be garbage and not a weapon in his arsenal.

Both players have relied on speed, blow by ability, and getting to the basket as their bread and butter.

One of the two is losing his athleticism while the other still has maintained it.

When Wade decides to develop a post game like Kobe, hell extend his time as a top level player. Hopefully that never happens because the guy is a piece of trash human being



Wade is one of the better post-up guards in the league. Monta doesn't play any defense and Wade -at worst- is better than average. He's a better rebounder. He's a better passer. He's also much smarter...and Wade used to be a very good midrange shooter...that doesn't have anything to do with now but it's flat out inaccurate to say he's never had one.

[NewYorkNoPicks]

At Rim 89/116 .767%
3 to 9 ft 30/75 .400%
10 to 15 ft 16/47 .340%
16 ft to 3-pt 33/81 .407%
3-pt 7/22 .318%
51% FG
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wadedw01/shooting/2013/

Thanks dude.

31% from 3, 34% from 10 to 15ft jumpers

[inclinerator]

this the same guy who said he was the 2nd best player in the league a few years back

[BrickingStar]

I like how he never mentioned defense at the end :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Beebo]

ahah glad the warriors traded that knuckle head

*looks at username and avatar*

:facepalm

[BrickingStar]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic
No he's you ****ing retard please back this statement up on how ellis is better than wade RIGHT NOW in the present. The only categories ellis has over wade is free throw shooting and 1 assist over him along with ellis playing 3 more minutes per game. Wade is better in everything else and it's not even close in terms of scoring efficiency, defense, and throwing sex parties. The biased knicks fan does it again :facepalm

[SacJB Shady]

Monta would not make a statement if he didn't believe it

[JerryWest]

Wade >>> everything except shooting

[eriX]

Thanks dude.

31% from 3, 34% from 10 to 15ft jumpers

so you pick the two worse % whilst ignoring the others and hope that makes your claim? Not to mention .318% does not round off to 31% :facepalm

:roll:

[AngelEyes]

He's wrong

/thread

[RoseCity07]

What an asshole.:oldlol:

[SacJB Shady]

If Dwade didn't have Shaq and Lebron he basically would be a Monta Ellis. Ellis has scored 25 plus points before. He could score more if he wanted to this year but is focusing more on getting the team involved.

Okay, now let me explain something. think about this fact. Last couple years on the warriors Monta Ellis had more assists than any other non point guard in the league not named Lebron James.

So if he's able to shoot well, if he's able to slash to the basket, if he's led the league in fastbreak points before, and has been top 5 in steals, how is he not comparable to Dwayne Wade? I just don't get it.

It's the same reason why Lee won't be an all star. Lee is doing everything. Tonight he outscored KG 20 to 6. He has been clutch. His team is winning. But see people are more attracted to the big names because of the media.

At the end of the day Monta didn't say he's better than wade. But he's similar.

[MichaelCheazley]

If Dwade didn't have Shaq and Lebron he basically would be a Monta Ellis. Ellis has scored 25 plus points before. He could score more if he wanted to this year but is focusing more on getting the team involved.

Okay, now let me explain something. think about this fact. Last couple years on the warriors Monta Ellis had more assists than any other non point guard in the league not named Lebron James.

So if he's able to shoot well, if he's able to slash to the basket, if he's led the league in fastbreak points before, and has been top 5 in steals, how is he not comparable to Dwayne Wade? I just don't get it.

It's the same reason why Lee won't be an all star. Lee is doing everything. Tonight he outscored KG 20 to 6. He has been clutch. His team is winning. But see people are more attracted to the big names because of the media.

At the end of the day Monta didn't say he's better than wade. But he's similar.
And that why hes been the playoffs once. Not even as a starter.

[Nash]

Wade is only behind Lebron and Durant. Put him in any other team he would be a 25-5-5 guy.

People need to stop looking at stats in stacked teams. Players shine more when they are alone, just look at Harden. Its not like the water in Houston made him top 3 SG, its the fact that he's the #1 option. Wade would be rated the same way if he wasn't playing with the best player in the world. Put him in any other team and we would be screaming "oh my god, he's back!".

[b1imtf]

If Dwade didn't have Shaq and Lebron he basically would be a Monta Ellis. Ellis has scored 25 plus points before. He could score more if he wanted to this year but is focusing more on getting the team involved.

Okay, now let me explain something. think about this fact. Last couple years on the warriors Monta Ellis had more assists than any other non point guard in the league not named Lebron James.

So if he's able to shoot well, if he's able to slash to the basket, if he's led the league in fastbreak points before, and has been top 5 in steals, how is he not comparable to Dwayne Wade? I just don't get it.

It's the same reason why Lee won't be an all star. Lee is doing everything. Tonight he outscored KG 20 to 6. He has been clutch. His team is winning. But see people are more attracted to the big names because of the media.

At the end of the day Monta didn't say he's better than wade. But he's similar.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:















:coleman:





******

[red1]

wade on a bum knee is better than monta ever was

[indiefan24]

Wade is def better than Monta at hosting sex parties

[chips93]

When Wade decides to develop a post game like Kobe, hell extend his time as a top level player. Hopefully that never happens because the guy is a piece of trash human being

you come across as a very resentful, spiteful, bitter person


Wade is def better than Monta at hosting sex parties

:biggums:

link?

[red1]

you come across as a very resentful, spiteful, bitter person



:biggums:

link?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Ex-partner-says-Wade-had-sex-parties-smoked-pot?urn=nba,141002
http://deadspin.com/5150377/dwyane-wade-had-wild-marijuana-sex-parties-and-you-werent-invited

Legendary "marijauana sex parties". :rockon: This shit is going down in miami so you know some fit cuban bitches are showing up. Dwade da gawd, monta just mad he wasnt invited

[chips93]

Von Houtman rented Wade a $1.7 million, two-story condo in the Spear Building on Miami Beach for $20,000 in 2007 and '08. He turned it over to Wade and his childhood friend Marcus Andrews to use as headquarters for their marketing company, Wade Global Enterprises. But, according to Van Houtman, it also became a headquarters for sexy time

:banana:

[pauk]

Dunno about that, but i do see a resemblance in their gamestyles

[Whoah10115]

Wade is only behind Lebron and Durant. Put him in any other team he would be a 25-5-5 guy.

People need to stop looking at stats in stacked teams. Players shine more when they are alone, just look at Harden. Its not like the water in Houston made him top 3 SG, its the fact that he's the #1 option. Wade would be rated the same way if he wasn't playing with the best player in the world. Put him in any other team and we would be screaming "oh my god, he's back!".



Be quiet. You're so far up the king's butt that you wish him and all his soldiers nothing nut ass-cheek open love.

[longtime lurker]

If you disregard defense, playmaking, leadership and general success then yeah sure Montae Ellis is better than Dwyane Wade.


Wade is only behind Lebron and Durant. Put him in any other team he would be a 25-5-5 guy.

People need to stop looking at stats in stacked teams. Players shine more when they are alone, just look at Harden. Its not like the water in Houston made him top 3 SG, its the fact that he's the #1 option. Wade would be rated the same way if he wasn't playing with the best player in the world. Put him in any other team and we would be screaming "oh my god, he's back!".

Well how come Kobe is able to put up 30 5 5 on supposedly the most stacked team in the league? Playing on a stacked team should actually open up the game more for Dwade since there's less defensive attention and he's getting spoon fed with open looks from Lebron. Face it he's fallen off.

[che guevara]

:oldlol: This is the same guy who thought he was better than Lebron a few years ago. He's a certified moron/chucker. The dude never once put up numbers sniffing Wade's, let alone do anything else Wade does that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

Dude's having one of the most inefficient chucking seasons I've ever seen right now, there's a reason why Milwaukee's offense is complete shit. They're ranked 27th out of 30 in ORTG, at a garbage 101.7 points per 100 posessions; having two horribly inefficient offensive players as your leading scorers is going to lead to these kind of terrible results. The only reason they're doing anything is because they're a terrific defensive team.

[Michael_Wilbon]

Wade thinks he's as good as J.R. Smith

[red1]

:banana:
:roll: leave him a room for 10 seconds and before you know it there is a sex party

[BallsOut]

“I’m going to say LeBron James(notes) [third],” Ellis said recently. “He can do it all, pass, score, defend, block shots. No. 2, I would have to say, me. I can do a whole lot of things: defend, score, make passes, do whatever I need to do.
“No. 1, I’d say Kobe Bryant. There isn’t one player that can stop Kobe one-on-one. He has a lot of stuff. He can defend. And of course, he won four championships.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/26/monta-ellis-says-hes-the-nbas-second-best-player/

:applause:

[bdreason]

Monta could win a title with LeBron and Bosh.



And every NBA player who isn't garbage thinks he's the best player in the league. Confidence is what separates the scrubs from the good players at the NBA level. If you think your opponent is better, you might as well not even waste your time playing the game.

[eliteballer]

At this point Monta probably is slightly better, and most certainly more explosive/athletic

Classic example of a poster who doesnt understand the game. Monta may be even or more in terms of flat out scoring ability, but he doesn't have the IQ or overall(defense, playmaking) game that Wade has.

[Vertical-24]

Wade is only behind Lebron and Durant. Put him in any other team he would be a 25-5-5 guy.

People need to stop looking at stats in stacked teams. Players shine more when they are alone, just look at Harden. Its not like the water in Houston made him top 3 SG, its the fact that he's the #1 option. Wade would be rated the same way if he wasn't playing with the best player in the world. Put him in any other team and we would be screaming "oh my god, he's back!".

And you forgot Kobe, he's easily better than ol boy Dwade. I agree with what you're saying though. Anyone could take a hit in the stats playing alongside the best player in the league...but if anything, I think playing with LeBron is helping him to extend his career. Bron provides a lot of relief for Wade, and he still has been injury prone. Picture him as the #1 option. He'd miss chunks of seasons at a time. Sure he could average 25 5 5 for 25-30 games but he'd be out the rest of the season so whats the point? Wade is the 2nd best shooting guard in the league when healthy and a top 10 player in the league when healthy. Irrefutable. But c'mon son.

[TheBigVeto]

Without David Stern's intervention, Wade would only have 1 ring anyway and that is by being Lebron's second banana.

So yeah, not much difference between Monta and Wade.

[SacJB Shady]

I bet wade is going to put the next buck game on his calendar to try to show up Monta

[SpecialQue]

Jennings, Ellis and Dunleavy are the REAL big 3 of the east.

[HiphopRelated]

I bet wade is going to put the next buck game on his calendar to try to show up Monta
He's outplayed him twice already, no need to mark anything

Wade is taking the least shots of his career since his rookie year and putting up 20ppg in the lowest minutes of his career.

Saying Wade should put up more when every year more people are brought in to the Heat who need shots is ridiculous.

Wade is still a top 5 1st option in the league.

[Clifton]

Both players have relied on speed, blow by ability, and getting to the basket as their bread and butter.
Wade's bread and butter is his bball IQ, mental toughness, and great skill finishing in the paint. All of which he will have when he's 60.

He needs to work on his off-ball and back-to-the-basket game if he wants to stay a perennial all-star into his 30s. But if he becomes a better Ron Harper? That's ok.

[MetsPackers]

If Dwade didn't have Shaq and Lebron he basically would be a Monta Ellis. Ellis has scored 25 plus points before. He could score more if he wanted to this year but is focusing more on getting the team involved.





:roll: :roll: :roll:

Wade was nearly MVP 08-09 at his peak when Beasley was the second best player on the team

Wade is a proven superstar and Monta freaking Ellis has no business comparing himself; he is no superstar or winner

[PJR]

Funny. If Monta Ellis was 3/4 the player that Wade is, he'd still be a Golden State Warrior.

/thread.

[SacJB Shady]

Funny. If Monta Ellis was 3/4 the player that Wade is, he'd still be a Golden State Warrior.

/thread.


No. Warriors needed size. Monta didn't have defense, we needed defense and also he was making Lee and Curry worse.

[PJR]

No. Warriors needed size. Monta didn't have defense, we needed defense and also he was making Lee and Curry worse.

Um..point exactly :oldlol:

[upside24]

We gonna ignore Wade is 100x the defender Monta is and a much more efficient scorer?
This. Wade is still a great player.

[longtime lurker]

And you forgot Kobe, he's easily better than ol boy Dwade. I agree with what you're saying though. Anyone could take a hit in the stats playing alongside the best player in the league...but if anything, I think playing with LeBron is helping him to extend his career. Bron provides a lot of relief for Wade, and he still has been injury prone. Picture him as the #1 option. He'd miss chunks of seasons at a time. Sure he could average 25 5 5 for 25-30 games but he'd be out the rest of the season so whats the point? Wade is the 2nd best shooting guard in the league when healthy and a top 10 player in the league when healthy. Irrefutable. But c'mon son.

Dude you're being generous. There are a shit load of players better than Dwyane Wade right now. His season has been kind of underwhelming.

[D-Rose]

Monte had an excellent season. Carlisle has done wonders for his career. :applause:

[stalkerforlife]

"Monta have it all."

Alpha talk.

Is it heart or a fart?

Dude had a good season.

[Dr. Ice]

Lol, nice bump.

[masonanddixon]

Monta will lead Dallas to a championship in 2014-2015

[Milbuck]

What a turn of events :applause:

Ellis is a stud...if Chandler's healthy and Carlisle can work the same magic he did with Ellis for Raymond Felton, that Mavs team is going to be a nightmare in the playoffs.

[Kingsfans818]

Nba 2k14 -- every time
You play with monta Ellis -- mark jackson mentions this

[KingPush]

Nba 2k14 -- every time
You play with monta Ellis -- mark jackson mentions this
u sure its mark jackson?

[R.I.P.]

Well what a difference two years make. Now he

[Dresta]

He is still a much worse player than Wade though... Far worse regular season numbers and far worse playoff numbers. Monta sucks balls.

[pastis]

He is still a much worse player than Wade though... Far worse regular season numbers and far worse playoff numbers. Monta sucks balls.

wade is better than ellis. but.....wade is an ec hero.

[Dresta]

Yeah.. because Monta was areal star playing in the EC: was shooting under 50TS% :lol

[Marlo_Stanfield]

dat crazy ass nikka Montay be much better than D-Fade at this point in time:coleman: :biggums:

[LA Lakers]

dat crazy ass nikka Montay be much better than D-Fade at this point in time:coleman: :biggums:
His name is his name. Props for recognizing The Wire my man. Long Live Omar Little.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

His name is his name. Props for recognizing The Wire my man. Long Live Omar Little.
Omar call me out?? yall nikkas didnt tell me??
my name IS my name:coleman: :coleman:

[nathanjizzle]

he really is as good.

[ArbitraryWater]

Lol..

2013/2014 marks the first season of Monta being better :lol :applause:

More to come... and yes, Monta easily been better the last year..

[ArbitraryWater]

He is still a much worse player than Wade though... Far worse regular season numbers and far worse playoff numbers. Monta sucks balls.

:facepalm

You think Wade was a better player in 2014?

You're lost dude, lost.... Lost every sense of objectivity, you ****ing clown.

[Dresta]

:facepalm

You think Wade was a better player in 2014?

You're lost dude, lost.... Lost every sense of objectivity, you ****ing clown.
erm... quite easily actually:

Wade: 19/5/5/2 on 59TS% PER of 22, playoffs: 18/4/4/2 on 56TS% PER of 18.5

Monta: 19/4/6/2 (more turnovers) on 53TS% PER of 16.8, playoffs: 21/2/3/1 on 51TS% PER of 15.4.

Monta with lower win shares overall and much lower WS/48. Could Monta ever put up 20/4/5/2 on 62TS% against the Pacers? He hasn't had a playoff series anything close to that good in his entire career.

That IS objectivity, and by every objective statistical measure Wade was superior to Ellis; you are arguing your subjective and biased opinion directly contrary to that objectivity, and then claiming objectivity for yourself :facepalm.

[ArbitraryWater]

erm... quite easily actually:

Wade: 19/5/5/2 on 59TS% PER of 22, playoffs: 18/4/4/2 on 56TS% PER of 18.5

Monta: 19/4/6/2 (more turnovers) on 53TS% PER of 16.8, playoffs: 21/2/3/1 on 51TS% PER of 15.4.

Monta with lower win shares overall and much lower WS/48. Could Monta ever put up 20/4/5/2 on 62TS% against the Pacers? He hasn't had a playoff series anything close to that good in his entire career.

That IS objectivity, and by every objective statistical measure Wade was superior to Ellis; you are arguing your subjective and biased opinion directly contrary to that objectivity, and then claiming objectivity for yourself :facepalm.


That's where stats fool you.

Put Wade on the Mavs and they wouldn't make the playoffs... not very close either.

Piggybacking off LeBron is easy, but being 1B on a team means taking risks and a heavy load.. Monta took over games come playoff time while for Wade people freaked out once he hit 25 points...

Didn't have a 30 pt game while Monta scored 29 twice on 50+% against the Spurs.. There is no way he shits the bed, in fact, he DIDNT, like Wade did..

I'm kidding a lot with the Kobe rode Shaq, Kobe did his thing, but Wade has rode LeBron harder these last 2 years than anyone ever.

He just showed up when he wanted to.

Wade can't be better when he did this in the Finals vs Spurs:
G2: 14 points vs Spurs
G4: 10 points on 3-13 23%
G5: 11 points on 4-12 33%

G4 after 3 quarters: (Heat down 24 - Game over) 4 points on 1-10
Wade goes padding for 6 points and ups his efficiency

G5 after 3 quarters: (Heat down 19 - Game over) 8 points on 3-11
Hits a 3 in garbage time

That's what bums do, bums. Players that shouldn't be in the league, none the less in a finals game.

[To4]

I agree..

[Dresta]

That's where stats fool you.

Put Wade on the Mavs and they wouldn't make the playoffs... not very close either.

Piggybacking off LeBron is easy, but being 1B on a team means taking risks and a heavy load.. Monta took over games come playoff time while for Wade people freaked out once he hit 25 points...

Didn't have a 30 pt game while Monta scored 29 twice on 50+% against the Spurs.. There is no way he shits the bed, in fact, he DIDNT, like Wade did..

I'm kidding a lot with the Kobe rode Shaq, Kobe did his thing, but Wade has rode LeBron harder these last 2 years than anyone ever.

He just showed up when he wanted to.

Wade can't be better when he did this in the Finals vs Spurs:
G2: 14 points vs Spurs
G4: 10 points on 3-13 23%
G5: 11 points on 4-12 33%

G4 after 3 quarters: (Heat down 24 - Game over) 4 points on 1-10
Wade goes padding for 6 points and ups his efficiency

G5 after 3 quarters: (Heat down 19 - Game over) 8 points on 3-11
Hits a 3 in garbage time

That's what bums do, bums. Players that shouldn't be in the league, none the less in a finals game.
You cherrypick stats selectively from a couple games in a single series (using it to justify a player being worse) and then go on a subjective and unsubstantiated diatribe against a guy you have an open agenda to disparage, and you have the cheek to question my objectivity?

Look, i can do it as well if i select Wade's first 3 games against Indiana (you can look them up), and then compare them against some of Monta's playoff games:

game 1: 11 points 4/14 shooting (28%), ONE assist, 1 TO.
game 4: (Dallas lose homecourt): 20 points, 6/20 shooting (30%), 3 assists, 4 TOs
game 7: (when SA actually played like they did vs. Miami in the finals): 12 points, 3/11 shooting (27%!!), 2 assists, 2 tos

Monta didn't play well at all :confusedshrug: - it was Dallas's bench doing all the damage (yet they wouldn't make the playoffs with Wade and Carlisle and Dirk, without the almighty Ellis saving the day :bowdown: ).

Wade running the pickndpop with Dirk would be dangerous; Ellis could only manage a measly 3apg while dominating the ball on a Dallas team filled with great shooters.

[DMAVS41]

I love Monta...but he's getting over-rated here.

Wade is still the slightly better player.

It's just different standards.

Ellis puts up 20/2/3 51% TS in the playoffs playing on a team that is perfectly built for him and getting all the sets run for him as well...and everyone thinks he's great...

Wade puts up 18/4/4 56% TS in the playoffs playing on a team that remains a bad fit for him and forces him to play off the ball constantly...and he is horrible.

We are grading Wade on superstar standards and not Ellis. That is the difference.

Wade, even with his dip defensively, still guards as well or better than Ellis also.

I love Ellis, and I think he's going to be great for us next year, but lets not go crazy here.

[Deltron3030]

Shouldn't you always think you are better than the next person? If i were in the NBA I'd be on youtube saying I'm better than Kobe (probably am too).

[Legends66NBA7]

You think Wade was a better player in 2014?

He was. Even with the shit load of games he missed, anyone would take Wade over Ellis.

But really now, if were saying Ellis is better than Wade... then so is DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson, Lance Stephenson, and Bradley Beal. Might as well throw in Joe Johnson.

Are they all as good or better than Wade ? Really doubt people are going to agree.

[Lord Bean]

Wade >>>

[R.I.P.]

He was. Even with the shit load of games he missed, anyone would take Wade over Ellis.

But really now, if were saying Ellis is better than Wade... then so is DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson, Lance Stephenson, and Bradley Beal. Might as well throw in Joe Johnson.

Are they all as good or better than Wade ? Really doubt people are going to agree.

Wade was on vacation the whole season, while other stars carried a heavy workload and he still couldn