NBA Preseason Games

Imbricus

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Didn't see a thread for this, and it seemed worth breaking out.

Among the rookies, Maledon had a nice line for the Thunder in 29 minutes last night: 7-14 overall shooting, and 2-4 from three with 5 rebounds for 20 points. Hopefully Danny knew what he was doing taking Pritchard, as there were still a few promising point guards on the board at that point. Maledon has good point guard size, at 6' 5" and of course was taken early in the second round.

Another rookie with a good line last night was Okoro of the Cavs: 6-9 overall and 2-4 from three, with three steals. He also had 4 turnovers, but it's a little early to read much into that.

Toppin had a few good moves in the Knick game on Friday, though he also had that ludicrous 3-pt. missed shot that SRN posted a clip of, in another thread.
 

BigSoxFan

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Vassell put up 12/6/2 with 3 steals and a block and no TOs for the Spurs. I think he’s going to be a good one. Probably moves into starting lineup as soon as Pop finds a taker for Gay or DeRozan.
 

nighthob

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Vassell put up 12/6/2 with 3 steals and a block and no TOs for the Spurs. I think he’s going to be a good one. Probably moves into starting lineup as soon as Pop finds a taker for Gay or DeRozan.
That was the guy I was hoping that Boston could trade up for. He would have been so perfect for the Jay-Crew.
 

Imbricus

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Avdija a perfect 6-6 from the field tonight against the Nets, and 3-3 from three. 4 rebounds, two assists. Not a bad night.

And in case anyone was thinking of leaving Markelle Fultz for dead, a reminder that he's only 22. And tonight he dropped in 21 points, was 2-2 from three, 9-19 from the field overall, with four assists and two steals. Nice to see the comeback he's engineered, after a rough start to his NBA career.

I'm probably in a minority, as I think he actually was injured and didn't have "the yips." I once had frozen shoulder, and after that experience, I was a full convert to the "the body is a mysterious thing" way of thinking.
 

Imbricus

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Another late first-round (or later) rookie point guard with a nice line in the preseason :) :

Flynn was 7-12 for Toronto, 3-8 from three, with 3 assists and 2 steals. Of course Toronto for a while has been "drafting above its weight," or however you'd describe that. They've been doing a great job of picking up useful players late in the first round or off the undrafted scrap heap.

Edit: to include second-round picks
 
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benhogan

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SoSH fav Max Strus drained 3 straight 4th quarter 3s for the Heat last night and ripped down 8 rebounds w/ 4 assists o_O

however he finished 3-11 on threes and a -22...

Duncan breathed a sigh of relief
 
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NomarsFool

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Teague's offensive contribution was a nice surprise, but I thought he looked pretty awful on defense. It seemed like whoever he was guarding was just blowing by him.

I know he didn't light up the box score, but I thought GW looked better on offense; e.g. he was doing other things on offense besides standing there and waiting to take open 3s.

I thought Tacko defended Embiid nicely - at least in one trip down the floor.
 
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Imbricus

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Yeah, looks like Teague will be a big negative on defense. His defensive rating last season: 116.1. As a point of comparison, here are some supposedly bad NBA defenders, and they're all around 111-115.
 

lovegtm

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Yeah, looks like Teague will be a big negative on defense. His defensive rating last season: 116.1. As a point of comparison, here are some supposedly bad NBA defenders, and they're all around 111-115.
I think he'll be a minus, but he was playing on some really bad defensive teams last year. I expect him to end up as merely mediocrely bad, which is sustainable on a 2nd unit.
 

NomarsFool

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The choice was more JT vs. BW. JT seems to have a much higher offensive upside with regards to driving and playmaking and getting to the line, but gives up perimeter shooting and defense vs. BW.
 

lovegtm

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The choice was more JT vs. BW. JT seems to have a much higher offensive upside with regards to driving and playmaking and getting to the line, but gives up perimeter shooting and defense vs. BW.
On a team with a lot of wing/big defense, I’m happy making that tradeoff at PG. And I like Wanamaker more than most here.
 

benhogan

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I'm assuming Brad's defensive schemes hide weaker defensive PGs? They hid Kemba last season to the 4th ranked defense. Plus CBS worked miracles with IT

I kind of liked Wannamaker (as a 3rd string PG) but Teague gives them a better ballhandler/dist than BW.
 

shoelace

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On a team with a lot of wing/big defense, I’m happy making that tradeoff at PG. And I like Wanamaker more than most here.
Agree with this completely, both with respect to Teague and Wanamaker. I remember that Matt Moore liked the Wanamaker signing for the Warriors, and I agree with him in this tweet that Wanamaker was good for the Celtics in the playoffs. Feels like most people on here were like tearing their hair out when he would come into the game, which I never understood.

View: https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/1330319705467355136


Really weirdly divisive player on this forum. Dude isn't a star obviously, but he's a solid defender, great free throw shooter, pretty good at hitting 3s, and has the ability to get to the bucket in certain situations. I literally do not understand why anyone would actively dislike this player, especially when he seems like a good dude and makes no money, but sometimes we're all watching different games.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Agree with this completely, both with respect to Teague and Wanamaker. I remember that Matt Moore liked the Wanamaker signing for the Warriors, and I agree with him in this tweet that Wanamaker was good for the Celtics in the playoffs. Feels like most people on here were like tearing their hair out when he would come into the game, which I never understood.

View: https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/1330319705467355136


Really weirdly divisive player on this forum. Dude isn't a star obviously, but he's a solid defender, great free throw shooter, pretty good at hitting 3s, and has the ability to get to the bucket in certain situations. I literally do not understand why anyone would actively dislike this player, especially when he seems like a good dude and makes no money, but sometimes we're all watching different games.
You are spot on that Wanamaker elicited a lot of strong reactions for a player of his caliber. In short, its a function of usage - its unfair to expect or ask Brad Wanamaker to be your first or second bench option overall (not for ball handling or specific match-ups). However the Celtics routinely used him in that very role for most of last year out of necessity. If anything, that is an indictment on Ainge and the C's front-office for failing to secure more bench help.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are likely viewing him as the third or fourth guy off the bench which makes a huge difference and is in line with Wanamaker's skill set.

In short, you are correct in that Wanamaker has value but he was miscast in his role in Boston.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Since going to Cleveland, Drummond averaged 1.8 3PA per game. He was 1/2 from 3 last night. 3/4 from the line. It would be something to watch a guy put in the work to change from a sub 40% FT shooter to a 60% FT shooter start hitting 3s at an acceptable rate. If Drummond hit 3s at a 35.7% clip, that means he hit 3s at a better clip than he hit FTs in 2015-16. If he hit them at a .381+ clip, that would mean he hit 3s at a better clip than he did FTs for his first 5 seasons. Has this ever been done at any time of volume?

The Bulls starting lineup has a lot of talent too. Lauri, Patrick Williams, LaVine, Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr. Jesus. Could they actually sneak into the playoffs?
 

Sam Ray Not

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Christian Wood 27 pts 10 reb (and counting) in 24 minutes in his Rockets debut. Still no idea WTF Detroit was thinking there.
 

benhogan

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Christian Wood 27 pts 10 reb (and counting) in 24 minutes in his Rockets debut. Still no idea WTF Detroit was thinking there.
I'd go bad on Troy Weaver, but the man recruited Carmelo, so I'll bite my tongue.

Wood was the best signing of the offseason IMO
 

BigSoxFan

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Another really good game for Devin Vassell

18/6/3 with 2 steals. 9 in 3 games and only 1 TO. Spurs got a good one.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Another really good game for Devin Vassell

18/6/3 with 2 steals. 9 in 3 games and only 1 TO. Spurs got a good one.
Ty Haliburton looked fantastic tonight, too. So smooth, smart, and skilled on both ends of the floor. He's gonna be better than De'Aaron Fox in like five minutes if he isn't already. The Knicks passing on him and Vassell in favor of a stretch 4 who can't shoot or defend any NBA position is just so Knicks.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Clippers coming out after one of the most embarrassing playoff performances in NBA history and getting waxed in all three of their preseason games doesn't seem like the best look, even if it is only the preseason. Show a little pride or passion or joy or something, Kawhi and PG!
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Ty Haliburton looked fantastic tonight, too. So smooth, smart, and skilled on both ends of the floor. He's gonna be better than De'Aaron Fox in like five minutes if he isn't already. The Knicks passing on him and Vassell in favor of a stretch 4 who can't shoot or defend any NBA position is just so Knicks.
I didn't see tonight's game but Haliburton looked like he knew what he was doing the game before. He is definitely one to watch - as a side note, I expect the Kings to be annoying in that they have enough talent to stay with teams but its not clear if they can do anything more. I will watch precisely because of that. And also Nemanja, who would look nice in a Cs city edition jersey come the deadline.
 

lovegtm

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Beat me to it. It was on efficient shooting too: 8-13 from the field and 2-4 from three. He's going to be someone to watch.
If Herro and Vassell both pan out in consecutive years I am going to slit my wrists.
 

BigSoxFan

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If Herro and Vassell both pan out in consecutive years I am going to slit my wrists.
Yup. Although we have no proof that Ainge had the ability to trade up and nab either of them. Sounds like he was definitely trying this year and Vassell very well could have been the target. He is basically what you get if you could combine the best attributes of Langford/Nesmith.
 

Kliq

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Cesar Crespo

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KZ Okpala is currently 8/14 and 5/9 from 3 with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists a steal and a block
Precious Achiuwa currently has 13 points, 14 boards, 2 assists on 5/7 shooting.

Max Strus is 8/10 and 6/8 from 3 for 22 points.

It's just one game and it's preseason, but I hate Miami.
 

lovegtm

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Yup. Although we have no proof that Ainge had the ability to trade up and nab either of them. Sounds like he was definitely trying this year and Vassell very well could have been the target. He is basically what you get if you could combine the best attributes of Langford/Nesmith.
Yeah this wasn't an "Ainge should have done something" thing, more of a "sucks that MEM and SAC picks ended up exactly out of range" thing.
 

BigSoxFan

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Yeah this wasn't an "Ainge should have done something" thing, more of a "sucks that MEM and SAC picks ended up exactly out of range" thing.
Yeah and wasn’t 12-14 decided by coin toss in 2019? Just awful luck all around.
 

Kliq

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Interesting to see how OKC is using Aleksej Pokusevski. Basically like using him as a giant wing; he's only 18 and he's very skinny (although to me it looks like he has added some weight since he played in Europe) but he runs the floor incredibly well for his size and seems to have excellent handle and footwork. His shooting form is inconsistent, at least from what we can see in this video. He will be interesting to watch since he has a chance to get some real minutes in OKC.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz6MvkBkHHo&feature=emb_logo
 

nighthob

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KZ Okpala is currently 8/14 and 5/9 from 3 with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists a steal and a block
Precious Achiuwa currently has 13 points, 14 boards, 2 assists on 5/7 shooting.

Max Strus is 8/10 and 6/8 from 3 for 22 points.

It's just one game and it's preseason, but I hate Miami.
I was pissed when Okpala went 32 and Boston got Edwards at #33. Okpala had those great measurables, 6’7” with a +7 wingspan and great athleticism. He has elite 3&D potential.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Credit where it’s due, this is a really nice dime:

View: https://twitter.com/johnschuhmann/status/1340481851341860864?s=21


Functional and not just flash- the no-look and one motion off the dribble keeps the the defenders off guard and prevents them from anticipating the pass, which allows him to sneak it through. Bird and Magic would do that, but I can’t say I remember one that was a long scoop bounce pass with the English to hit his man in stride like that.

Of course, Lamelo did shoot 1/10 last night...
 

Cesar Crespo

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I was pissed when Okpala went 32 and Boston got Edwards at #33. Okpala had those great measurables, 6’7” with a +7 wingspan and great athleticism. He has elite 3&D potential.
It's amazing how Miami finds all this talent. Part of it is Miami had playing time to devote to their "lesser" prospects because they didn't have many vets hogging up playing time. Sometimes I think the C's play whoever gives them the best chance to win now at the detriment of the future.

Some of the talent isn't even all that hidden either. They were hand gifted Precious and I think he's going to fit in extremely well in Miami. If his 3 point shot develops, ugh.

Miami and Denver are just really good at drafting.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Credit where it’s due, this is a really nice dime:

View: https://twitter.com/johnschuhmann/status/1340481851341860864?s=21


Functional and not just flash- the no-look and one motion off the dribble keeps the the defenders off guard and prevents them from anticipating the pass, which allows him to sneak it through. Bird and Magic would do that, but I can’t say I remember one that was a long scoop bounce pass with the English to hit his man in stride like that.

Of course, Lamelo did shoot 1/10 last night...
For the preseason, he was 6/8 from the line and 5/22 from 3. 8 FTs isn't a sample size but I'm guessing LaMelo a better FT shooter than Lonzo? How much better? Lonzo is pretty bad. I'm indifferent on Melo. I didn't know how to rank him coming in but he just turned 19, has great size, great vision, decent rebounder. At the very least, he's going to be one of the more exciting players to watch. His passes/playmaking reminds me of Jason Williams a bit.

Also, NO is going to be really interested if they go with the Adams/Zion/Ingram/Ball/Bledsoe starting lineup. They better hope Lonzo and Ingram continue to hit 3s like last year, and if they do, that lineup could cause a lot of problems for other teams. They have Redick off the bench but I don't know how long that will last.