Morgan has been a good European player for awhile, before spending most of last season injured.
Where is Xavier if he’s not in the g league? (He’s not on their list)
I answered my own question: he’s not currently on a roster
I’d think he can play somewhere if he wants.
g-league season hasn’t started. Would expect Simpson to be there
One minute into the 2nd quarter and Houstan already has 7 points vs. the Knicks.
On today’s pod, Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux spent awhile discussing Franz. Nate referred to him as “one of the premier catch and go offensive players in the league”, noting his ability to eliminate floater range with his super long arms and really diverse/accurate layup package. Also called him “absolutely fearless”. The words “really impressive” were mentioned a few times.
Franz’s three isn’t falling so far, but he’s taking 38% of his shots inside three feet, and shooting 63% (basically, a similar profile/accuracy as Giannis’ year 21 season). Giannis is now an unheard of like 80%. Not to say Franz will get there, just to say, he’s doing well.
Caught a little bit of Magic vs Cavs last night, when Franz, Houstan and Levert were all on the court the same time. Franz actually played PG in a short sketch that Magic did well, and delivered a dime to Houstan for an easy two.
Caris Levert going off tonight against the Celtics. 40 points and counting.
Caris likes playing Boston.
Poole going off vs the Pistons.
Giving our guy DrayDray a little something extra to think about tonight.
of course Caris follows up the 40 piece with an 0fer 
The drip boys!
Day after getting their ass kicked in football and assaulting our players, some Sparty that sounds like a grown man can’t resist yelling ‘Go Green’ after a kid yells ‘Go Blue’. Sheesh.
Two weeks in…
Moussa Diabate has played 6 minutes in 2 games. He made the one shot he attempted (it was an and-one), and has 2 boards, an assist, and a steal. On this team, his minutes, as we see, are going to be limited barring injury this year.
Caleb Houstan sits on the periphery of the Magic rotation. Oddly, his playing time seems to wax and wane with how many guards they have available (it makes sense, though he’s not a guard - you can say the same thing for Bol Bol here, who is now starting as a SF). When 3 of Suggs, Anthony, Ross, and Hampton have been available you don’t see him much, but with Suggs having a longer term injury, Hampton working through stuff of his own, and Fultz yet to play a game…he’s had some opportunities. Unfortunately, the team is starting to take a look more at two-way signee Kevon Harris (who is an actual guard) for these minutes, as he got 17 minutes to Houstan’s DNP in the last game. In his time, Houstan had played in 4 of their 7 games (again, fringe of the rotation), made 2 of his 10 threes, and is shooting 26.7% from the floor (he is 2/5 from 2). He’s also at a Mo-Wagner-esque 5 fouls per 36 minutes, suggesting some sort of an over-match there.
Continuing in the “Just A Shooter” vein (though not as hapless on defense), Isaiah Livers has played every game for the Pistons since missing their opener. His pure FG% will never look that great given his shot profile (23 3’s, 5 2’s attempted), but he is largely knocking down his threes, shooting over 39%. With 90% of his makes assisted, he is basically a catch and shoot guy. He does’t put up much in box score stats in his 18 minutes per game (6 points, 2 boards per game), and advanced stats suggest the defense here is iffy (admittedly way too early to put much stock here) but he is at least delivering upon his primary skill - something Houstan is searching for.
After a command performance at Euros, Franz Wagner’s season is off to a start similar to his freshman campaign, with two distinctions - one positive, one not. To start with the bad news, his three-pointer hasn’t fallen in the first 7 games. He’s shooting 19.4% from 3 on 1 additional attempt per game (up to 4). He’s still efficient inside the arc (54%), led by 69% at the rim, which is his most frequent shot zone. The other interesting thing here is that the Magic (again, remember the absolute absence of guards) is his increased play-making role, with mixed results. His assist rate is up 4 points (and pure assists up over 1 per game), while his turnover % is up 6 (and up nearly 2 per game). I think the Magic’s lack of guard shaped/skilled people and further absence of people who can fulfill the role is going to produce some funky results in Orlando, where right now most of the play-making is falling to Wagner, Banchero, and Carter (all over 3 assists per game). His TS% is down to 49%, but that’s being anchored by his three-point shooting.
Jordan Poole is off, also, to a similar start to last year, with near identical counting stats (18 ppg), but with an additional assist and a half per game (he has not seen Wagner’s TO bump, but also plays on a functional team). Other than than, we’re discussing a near carbon-copy of last year’s year-end stats, which is obviously a big positive (18 points, 5.5 assists, and an additional steal per game)…so not much else to say here. Carry on Jordan!
Moritz Wagner is on the Magic, but is yet to play due to an ankle injury sustained during Euros. Check his cameo in “Hustle”, where he plays “The German Jordan”, an incorrigible, uncoachable nightmare!
Caris Levert’s start is EXTREMELY weird, but I think the best thing to say is that he’s fulfilling the role they need from him, especially with Darius Garland out. To start with the positive - he’s been (unsustainably) unreal from 3 - 16/33 (48%). The three has always been inconsistent for him throughout his career, and this is pretty good. With Garland out, he is admirably plugged the playmaking gap (always his best trait as an NBA player) - up to nearly 7 assists, and under 3 turnovers to go along with it. Just really good play on-ball. That won’t be his role with Garland back (he’s theoretically going back to SF), but still. The weird part is the 21.4% from 2. Obviously, it won’t stay there, but he’s 33% at the rim, and mid-teens from floater and mid-range jumper range. His always respectable free-throw rate and shooting has maintained. Lots will change between now and his season-end stat line, but he’s off to a good start. (admittedly, the 6/8 from 3 and 11/12 from the FT line against Boston is going some work here)
Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract and status was based on his ability to touch 40% from three over the course of a season, and while he’s not there (35.5%). But, back in his bench role, he’s off to a better start than last year’s struggle. Additionally, his shooting at the rim (always a strength) has been strong, and he’s even nearly doubled his FT attempts from 2 years ago thus far, where he makes virtually everything. Overall, he’s not what he was two years ago, but he’s closer than what he was last year.
With Tyler Herro now starting, and Max Strus showing no slow-down from last year, Duncan Robinson is in full on “trade showcase mode” with, his minutes dropping to 12 per game, 8th on the team. While his three point shooting has been fine (36%) it’s not where it needs to be to cover for the rest of his deficiencies, and its hard to see him fetching what the Heat would want if it doesn’t improve. What’s interesting is that his 3 point attempt rate is at a career low (12 points lower than before), and his two-point rate has nearly tripled…but he’s shooting 36% from 2. He needs some improvement.
I’m not a Pistons obesssive and have only watched 2 games thus far this year, but I don’t think Livers defense is bad. I haven’t been watching for that specificially, but I usually do see him make a good defensive play or two a game. I am so happy to see him carving out a role that projects him as a long-career guy as long as he can stay healthy, which is of course the big question. I hope that for him that takes some of the sting away from losing out on a real shot at winning the whole thing as a senior and a captain. I remember what an incredible kick in the nuts that was for me/us as fans, when the news broke. It must have been a million times worse for him.
Livers is a good NBA player
They’ve been having Livers defend guards a lot too. I specifically noted it against Golden State when they were putting him 1-on-1 with Curry to start defensive possessions. The staff seems to have a lot of confidence in Livers’ defensive ability.
Yeah, I think there is a strong possibility that the fact the Pistons are 28th in defensive efficiency is doing a lot of work there (ie, pretty much everyone involved will look bad on the defensive metrics).
Look, Livers is probably my favorite Michigan player, period - I hope all works out aces for him.
One of my favorites too.