I need more Moe and Russ in my life. Both guys who radiate energy
I love all the dunks, though that Nets D isā¦something. I think I saw that with Harden they are on pace to have the best offense of all time and the worst defense of all time. Hilarious.
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Last nightās game endorses this statement. 149-146 final and it was regulation, no OT. Thatās almost an all star game score
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Not a Michigan player, but somewhat related to our interests:
I really wish I was able to place a bet a few months ago on āXavier Tillman will dramatically outplay his draft slotā
Iād already be paying off.
The guy has/had 0 star potential, so people ignored him. He didnāt play in their first 5 games, he got put in the rotation in the 15 minute a game range for 6 games, and has seen that bump up to 27-28 since mid January, and heās started their last 5. Since his minutes bump, he averages 10.7 ppg, 7 rebounds, 1 block, and 1.7 steals per game. He has 12 assists to 4 turnovers, and the team is 6 points per 100 possessions better when heās on the floor on the year. Virtually guaranteed to be a productive rotation player for a decade.
Watch him stone CHRIS PAUL:
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Look at the feet. Thatās not something that should have escaped notice.
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Incredibly impressive, even when on old man Chris Paul. Tillman and Winston are the only two Michigan State basketball greats I couldnāt force myself to strongly dislike, and Iām so happy theyāre gone.
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Theyāre letting him shoot threes (he is not doing so acceptably right now) - I think there is a solid chance he just becomes PJ Tucker. That front-court of him and JJJ (despite being smaller heās probably the 5) would allow them to switch 1-5. And I will acknowledge that Iām tickled by the idea that the NBA is going to play a front-court tandem that Tom Izzo refused to play extensively in the Big Ten. Maybe just because the Grizzlies donāt own the rights to Ben Carterā¦
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OK. Since our last update:
Ignas Brazdeikis has been sent to the Knicks G-League affiliate. I imagine he is doing well there - he did last year. Still, he wasnāt playing, the Knicks are better than anyone expected, and with something to play for (even if itās the play-in game), developmental minutes arenāt there for the like of Iggy.
Joining Ignas in the G-League bubble will be Jordan Poole. Poole found himself as the odd man out for bench guard minutes, as the ball just didnāt go in enough for him. While theyāre better, the Warriors are in a similar spot of competing for the play-in game, and donāt have the minutes to grant struggling players.
Mo Wagner is again getting minutes, in fits and starts. After going scoreless in 10 minutes, he scored 17 (on 8 shots) in his next game, and seems to be in line, generally, for 15-17 minutes, but his fouling can limit that (he played only 6 one night because he committed 3 fouls in the span). The Wizards. Last night, Alex Len got 20 minutes and Wagner 0 in Chicago - so itās possible heās back in the dog-house. He hasnāt hit a 3 in his last 90+ minutes of game-time so his status as a āstretchā player is questionable at this stage. The reality is that he was a third option behind Robin Lopez and and Thomas Bryant, and when Bryant was hurt, and has since been removed from the rotation for a player they signed as a FA 11 days ago. They declined his option for a reason - their faith is gone - so heās just going to have to hope someone is willing to take a flier on him next year.
DJ Wilson is only getting mop-up duty, but in Milwaukee thatās been happening frequently. He hasnāt done much in his time worth remarking on. In the grand scheme, heās probably facing a similar off-season to Mo.
Caris Levert is still recovering from surgery. He has been in (non-participatory) attendance at recent practices and a game in Indianapolis, soā¦small steps.
Additionally on the wane is Glenn Robinson III, whose minutes have been cut in half as the Kings have leaned into larger (Bagley at the 4), offensive minded lineups - doing so has gotten them to wins in 7 of their last 8 and back into playoff contention. Robinson still has a comically low usage (14%) while his shooting splits are fine. Heās a defensive-oriented play but he wasnāt saving their defense on his own, and theyāve at least found lightning in a bottle by relying on him less. That, and the emergence of Tyrese Halliburton as arguably the leagueās best rookie west of Lamelo Ball has sapped his time. Grand scheme, he is what he has been - a fringe rotation guy.
To keep the bad news coming, Trey Burke has seen double-digit minutes only once since our last update. Part of this is that the Mavericks had lost a tremendous amount of rotation minutes to the Covid protocol, and Burkeās minutes have reduced since they returned. Heās also mired in a bit of a shooting slump (2 of his last 12 from 3). Iām not ready to write this off yet, but heās definitely going through a rough patch. While the absences were good for Trey, they were bad for the Mavs, who lost 7 of 8. Theyāve now won 3 of their last four, so hopefully Trey will at least have a role on a decent team.
Last time, we noted that all the aforementioned referenced absences were giving Tim Hardaway a larger offensive role, and with the exception of a nasty 0/12 night, had done pretty well with it. That trend continued, but heās still maintained the increased activity (and generally strong shooting) through their return - 43% from the floor, 39% from 3, and 4 games with 18+ points in his last 7. Tim has rarely put up many stats outside of his shooting and scoring, and that hasnāt changed, but heās on solid footing as a reliable starter on a solid team.
Duncan Robinson has shot 42% on threes since we last updated this, and his production/role/activity remains unchanged. Heās kept up last yearās break-out despite this season REALLY not being off to the start the Heat would have hoped for, as injuries have decimated them (Robinson leads the team in minutes played).
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These are unfortunately getting rougher as the year progresses. We need Caris back.
Poole gets a mention here:
Though Lin is in the spotlight due to his past NBA success, the Warriors need Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole to play well for Santa Cruz to show they have bright futures as pros. Poole led Santa Cruz with 22 points while playing a game-high 33 minutes. He went just 7-for-22 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep but did finish with a game-high plus-22 in plus-minus.
No mention of Todd. Iāll see if I can find a box score and post his stats in the other thread.
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Caris is a good dude
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Nobody deserves success more than him.
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Zavier Simpson for the āOKC Blueā with 7 assists, 1 turnover, +/- of +13 in 15 minutes in the first half of his first g-league game. And started over Ty Jerome too
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This probably belongs, going forward, in the G league thread. But re: Simpson, I could see how a guy like him could be super-valuable to G league teams down the line. An experienced guard and distributor to accommodate raw talent coming and going.
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I suspect he will make a fantastic coach one day.
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Harden with 14 assists midway through the third quarter for a Caris LaVert-less Nets against Golden State tonight. All in all we have to be happy for that trade, since it likely saved LaVertās life. And notions of Hardenās selfishness looking extremely exaggerated at this stage.
LeVert*
But yeah, big picture scope of life itās definitely a positive for him. And who knows, maybe itāll be a positive basketball move for him too. Even off the bench, it became less of a good fit for him in Brooklyn when Durant and Kyrie came in. Thereās only so much ball to go around.
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Wagner got the start today against the Celtics. Probably looked the best that Iāve ever seen him play in the NBA. Great defensive energy, forcing turnovers, setting screens, playmaking, and just generally being a nuisance. Finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Only played 22 minutes because Wizards blew Celtics out so Wagner didnāt return to the game in the 4th. Wizards announcers went as far as calling him the player of the game - to give you an idea of how much he was doing that didnāt show up on stat sheet.
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He also played 22 mins and only had 3 fouls - vs. his 2.6 fouls / 12.8 min average. I checked in on him late in 2nd qtr and he only had 1 so I figured he was having an above average game.