The Unikornet

[m0ckduck]

Pairing Sampson and Olajuwon— while great for the Rockets— also probably didn't help Ralph's development. He was an odd, singular player who— as others have noted— didn't get a chance to develop his game properly in the packed-zone era of NCAA basketball. Probably Bill Fitch, the Rockets and the NBA as a whole could have used a few seasons to best figure out how to utilize Sampson. Instead, he got paired after one season with a low-post focal point player whose dominance in the paint relegated him to wingman status.

Sampson is the rare NBA star whose PPG decreased almost every year, nearly linearly. I remember being much more scared of 1983 rookie Ralph Sampson than 1986 Finals Ralph Sampson (esp. given that I wasn't Jerry Sichting).

 

[joe dokes]

We talked some about Sampson in the Wemby thread pre-draft. It's the best comp out there, imo. A few observations about that...

Ahh, I missed that. Sorry to eclipse Luke's moment in the sun.

 

[JakeRae]

He's somehow only 28, so it wouldn't be crazy for him to re-extend his range at some point. I don't see why he couldn't have a Brook Lopez type late career renaissance, if things broke right for him with his shot.

If you watch his early career highlights, he was a real shooter. This isn't some big guy winding up forever to take his 1.3 3s per game:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpdA51l9rUE

He has good shooting form, but his outcomes fell off a cliff after his first two seasons, and weren’t amazing even in those first 2 years although they were good. He’s become a really efficient player around the rim in Boston, although admittedly on low usage. I’m not convinced that Kornet shooting 35% from three (assuming he could get back there) is more valuable than his current .700+ TS% the last 2 seasons playing at the rim. I would expect him to try to add this back at some point, but there’s obviously something going on in practice that is causing him and the organization to focus on interior scoring rather than using him to stretch.

 

[bakahump]

Highlight film and all that.....but those werent cheap 3s. he was a step to 2 behind the arc for many.

 

[lovegtm]

He has good shooting form, but his outcomes fell off a cliff after his first two seasons, and weren’t amazing even in those first 2 years although they were good. He’s become a really efficient player around the rim in Boston, although admittedly on low usage. I’m not convinced that Kornet shooting 35% from three (assuming he could get back there) is more valuable than his current .700+ TS% the last 2 seasons playing at the rim. I would expect him to try to add this back at some point, but there’s obviously something going on in practice that is causing him and the organization to focus on interior scoring rather than using him to stretch.

No argument on any of that. It's just very odd to see a guy come into the league with good form and a quick release, shoot OK on high volume, stop being able to make them, and then never try again. I can't think of any other cases like that off the top of my head.

 

[benhogan]

No argument on any of that. It's just very odd to see a guy come into the league with good form and a quick release, shoot OK on high volume, stop being able to make them, and then never try again. I can't think of any other cases like that off the top of my head.

It's probably the only reason he received an opportunity in the NBA to begin with

I doubt he's completely lost it. Last night would have been a good time to put up 2-3 shots. BUT oddly it looks off-limits.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2017/02/03/how-vanderbilts-luke-kornet-became-top-3-point-shooting-7-footer-ncaa-history/97256966/

 

[DavidTai]

The expression on his face afterwards...

View: https://streamable.com/jhe2sr

 

[Ferm Sheller]

The expression on his face afterwards...

View: https://streamable.com/jhe2sr

Was that a travel (or otherwise illegal) because he effectively passed the ball to himself? (My basketball rule knowledge is sketchy, so I'm not sure.)

 

[DavidTai]

Was that a travel (or otherwise illegal) because he effectively passed the ball to himself? (My basketball rule knowledge is sketchy, so I'm not sure.)

I think him hitting the rim qualified it as a failed shot.

 

[DGreenwood]

Yeah, he missed a dunk, rebound, put back. That's how it breaks down.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I think him hitting the rim qualified it as a failed shot.

That would make sense, thanks. I hadn't realized that he hit the rim (I thought he just lost control), but after a couple of replays it does look like he likely did.

EDIT: Seems like a suspect way of padding his offensive rebounding stats.

 

[The Raccoon]

Blocked by the rim, as the cool anouncers call it.

The NBA app (I assume thats the official data) tracked it as:
- Miss: Kornet Reverse Dunk
- Kornet Rebound
- Kornet Putback Layup

No Assist for Jrue of course...!

 

[Spelunker]

That would make sense, thanks. I hadn't realized that he hit the rim (I thought he just lost control), but after a couple of replays it does look like he likely did.

EDIT: Seems like a suspect way of padding his offensive rebounding stats.

a.k.a. the "Eddie Pinckney"

 

[DavidTai]

The one guy who was hitting free throws in the third today...

View: https://twitter.com/JackSimoneNBA/status/1743812001694957965?s=19

 

[DavidTai]

This clip includes the flex from making his first shot.

View: https://streamable.com/o8akqx

 

[bigq]

He is one of my favorites on the team just for the comic relief. .739 TS is a nice bonus.

 

[The Raccoon]

This clip includes the flex from making his first shot.

View: https://streamable.com/o8akqx

That's fantastic.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

The one guy who was hitting free throws in the third today...

View: https://twitter.com/JackSimoneNBA/status/1743812001694957965?s=19

He can't even do the ice in the veins gracefully - he got bumped into halfway through.

Luke feels like exactly the sort of third big you want. Can do a bit of everything except shoot from deep (for now), seems happy in his role and his sense of humor is clearly appreciated by everyone including his teammates. He had Blake must have had so many bits last season...

 

[Montana Fan]

This may sound suh, suh, suh, stupid but I’d prefer to roll with Kornet for the rest of this season unless the upgrade is substantial. He had a really good groove going during the first half of last season before Robb came back from injury. Wasn’t Robb’s fault and I was glad to have him back but Kornet never really found a consistent role for the rest of the season. He likely won’t be needed much in the postseason but he is delivering good value now and I see nothing barring injury that will prevent him from succeeding for the rest of the regular season.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

This clip includes the flex from making his first shot.

View: https://streamable.com/o8akqx

IIRC, wasn't that the play where Hauser was originally sent to the line? If so, Grande said that he was gesturing because IND wanted him to shoot the FTs, not Hauser.

 

[the moops]

IIRC, wasn't that the play where Hauser was originally sent to the line? If so, Grande said that he was gesturing because IND wanted him to shoot the FTs, not Hauser.

Yep. That was the start of the hilarity

 

[RorschachsMask]

View: https://twitter.com/alpacinogrunt/status/1743848546158203012

 

[the moops]

Not that there was much debate - Kornet's contract is now guaranteed for the rest of the season. Same for Lamar Stevens and Dalano Banton

 

[DavidTai]

The Vibes Crew.

View: https://streamable.com/swfmvd

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Brilliant.

I got the screen grab of their promotional pic. I wonder what they'll call their mixtape when it drops.

 

[chilidawg]

The Vibes Crew.

View: https://streamable.com/swfmvd

That's awesome.

 

[joe dokes]

Brilliant.

I got the screen grab of their promotional pic. I wonder what they'll call their mixtape when it drops.

View attachment 76744

 

[tims4wins]

I mean, they have to love the guy. Who doesn't??

 

[The Raccoon]

In the same interview he described how he "summoned DWhites abilities" when getting his first defensive transition steal of his life, a play he described as "pretty electrifying".
This is just great stuff!
Here are his on- and off court highlights.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

In the same interview he described how he "summoned DWhites abilities" when getting his first defensive transition steal of his life, a play he described as "pretty electrifying".
This is just great stuff!
Here are his on- and off court highlights.

Thanks for posting. Great stuff.

I wonder how many tips Wemby has lost this year?

 

[bigq]

In the same interview he described how he "summoned DWhites abilities" when getting his first defensive transition steal of his life, a play he described as "pretty electrifying".
This is just great stuff!
Here are his on- and off court highlights.

I am eagerly looking forward to the Weathering the Storm debut album and world tour. Pitchfork probably already has an AI review in draft.

Kornet put up a nice stat line last night with 6 points on 3-5 shooting, 9 boards (3 offensive), 4 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks in 30 minutes in his 2nd start of the season. I wasn't watching the game too closely but he seemed to be serviceable defending Wemby.

He is quietly having the best shooting season of his career with career highs in FG%, FT%, and TS%. He can pass the ball and set screens well and has good hands that enable him to be a good receiver in traffic. I'm not sure how to evaluate where he stands against other teams' third centers but Kornet fits in well with this Celtics team.

 

[chilidawg]

A little more Luke love:

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/1/18/24042493/luke-kornet-vs-victor-wembanyama-ol-reliable-vs-rookie-of-the-year-boston-celtics-san-antonio-spurs

 

[InstaFace]

I wonder how many tips Wemby has lost this year?

It's a sidenote, because if you're gonna take a tip-off you should want to win it, but... does the tipoff even matter? If I understand the official rules correctly, the team that loses the tipoff takes the ball to start the 2nd and 3rd quarters (and the team that wins it gets it to start the 4th).

Obviously it matters a lot more in overtime or for any jump ball, but the tipoff always seems like the only point is ceremony, not advantage.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

It's a sidenote, because if you're gonna take a tip-off you should want to win it, but... does the tipoff even matter? If I understand the official rules correctly, the team that loses the tipoff takes the ball to start the 2nd and 3rd quarters (and the team that wins it gets it to start the 4th).

Obviously it matters a lot more in overtime or for any jump ball, but the tipoff always seems like the only point is ceremony, not advantage.

short answer: no.

Apparently the 3X3 league has ditched jump balls in their entirety (opening possession determined by coin flip): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_ball.

But as you say (and as Scal said) - if it's there, I'm glad Kornet can tell his kids he won a jump ball off Wemby one day!

 

[m0ckduck]

Apparently the 3X3 league has ditched jump balls in their entirety (opening possession determined by coin flip): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_ball.

There was a time in the NBA— at least into the early 60s— when each quarter started with a jump ball. I remember reading an interview with Red Auerbach where he explained that part of the reason he wanted so badly to acquire Bill Russell— beyond the obvious, rebounding and defense— was wanting to win these jump balls, since there so many of them that controlling the extra possessions could legitimately swing games.

Edit: and before 1936, a jump ball happened after every made basket. Yawn.

 

[Montana Fan]

There was a time in the NBA— at least into the early 60s— when each quarter started with a jump ball. I remember reading an interview with Red Auerbach where he explained that part of the reason he wanted so badly to acquire Bill Russell— beyond the obvious, rebounding and defense— was wanting to win these jump balls, since there so many of them that controlling the extra possessions could legitimately swing games.

Edit: and before 1936, a jump ball happened after every made basket. Yawn.

Yep, the jump ball after every made basket was in my grandfather’s playing days. I’m old enough to remember the girls on our grammar school team playing 6 on 6 and 3 girls from each team played on the offensive end and 3 played on the defensive end.

 

[m0ckduck]

Yep, the jump ball after every made basket was in my grandfather’s playing days. I’m old enough to remember the girls on our grammar school team playing 6 on 6 and 3 girls from each team played on the offensive end and 3 played on the defensive end.

I guess it was really akin to hockey, where each [field] "goal" would be followed by a face-off of sorts.

 

[lovegtm]

Is there an available trade deadline center out there, for less than $10M, who would even be an improvement on Kornet? I can't think of anyone. He's a legit NBA center, and they could probably even win playoff games if he has to play 15-20 mins at some point.

 

[NomarsFool]

Yep, the jump ball after every made basket was in my grandfather’s playing days. I’m old enough to remember the girls on our grammar school team playing 6 on 6 and 3 girls from each team played on the offensive end and 3 played on the defensive end.

Tell me you are from Iowa without telling me you are from Iowa

 

[Montana Fan]

Tell me you are from Iowa without telling me you are from Iowa

Lol. Westwoods School in Forestville, Ct.

 

[Saints Rest]

Yep, the jump ball after every made basket was in my grandfather’s playing days. I’m old enough to remember the girls on our grammar school team playing 6 on 6 and 3 girls from each team played on the offensive end and 3 played on the defensive end.

Wasn’t there a variation of this where each team would have players on their own sideline (a La football) and the ball could be passed to those players as well?

 

[Montana Fan]

Wasn’t there a variation of this where each team would have players on their own sideline (a La football) and the ball could be passed to those players as well?

I don’t recall that. I wasn’t aware of the 6 on 6, with 3 on 3 half court, model until Junior High which for me was 76-78.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Is there an available trade deadline center out there, for less than $10M, who would even be an improvement on Kornet? I can't think of anyone. He's a legit NBA center, and they could probably even win playoff games if he has to play 15-20 mins at some point.

None that I can see and the thing is, even if there was a marginal talent upgrade that fit within their financial constraints, the chemistry component feels significant to actually make the move.

The thing with Kornet is that he certainly doesn't have the athleticism that most of his peers do but he always seems to be in the right position. He does get beaten like any other NBA player but its typically more a function of that player making a play versus Kornet being in the wrong spot. If Brad decides to upgrade him, the existence of Kornet on this roster is reason enough to trust the move - it will just be surprising given his play thus far.

That said, the Kornet segments on the championship season review will be absolute gold so I am really looking forward to them.

 

[lovegtm]

None that I can see and the thing is, even if there was a marginal talent upgrade that fit within their financial constraints, the chemistry component feels significant to actually make the move.

The thing with Kornet is that he certainly doesn't have the athleticism that most of his peers do but he always seems to be in the right position. He does get beaten like any other NBA player but its typically more a function of that player making a play versus Kornet being in the wrong spot. If Brad decides to upgrade him, the existence of Kornet on this roster is reason enough to trust the move - it will just be surprising given his play thus far.

That said, the Kornet segments on the championship season review will be absolute gold so I am really looking forward to them.

He wouldn't be the 1st 7-2 guy to find a way to be a functional NBA center without extreme athleticism. And he's definitely not a stiff: he's coordinated, just doesn't jump out of the building.

 

[Saints Rest]

I don’t recall that. I wasn’t aware of the 6 on 6, with 3 on 3 half court, model until Junior High which for me was 76-78.

Maybe it was just a way to play basketball in gym with 25 kids. . . .

 

[joe dokes]

I don’t recall that. I wasn’t aware of the 6 on 6, with 3 on 3 half court, model until Junior High which for me was 76-78.

My sister, now 68, played the 3-3 in the late 60s/early 70s in JR high and HS (the only places where girls played). She is quite tall, played "offense," and recalls fondly the "I didn't have to play defense" era.

 

[DavidTai]

Celticsblog on Kornet breaking up the Rockets' runs.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/1/22/24046582/boston-celtics-luke-kornet-houston-rockets-joe-mazzulla-dillon-brooks-amen-thompson-jayson-tatum

 

[Kliq]

He wouldn't be the 1st 7-2 guy to find a way to be a functional NBA center without extreme athleticism. And he's definitely not a stiff: he's coordinated, just doesn't jump out of the building.

I actually think he gets off the ground pretty easily for a player his height. His lack of athleticism is more apparent when he is asked to cover space quickly on the perimeter.

 

[benhogan]

Is there an available trade deadline center out there, for less than $10M, who would even be an improvement on Kornet? I can't think of anyone. He's a legit NBA center, and they could probably even win playoff games if he has to play 15-20 mins at some point.

He's earned the spot (3rd Center). CJM needs to continue to throw him rotational minutes against opposing bench players

Would love to see him launch a few 3s, if he is left wide open for a Corner3.

 

[lovegtm]

I actually think he gets off the ground pretty easily for a player his height. His lack of athleticism is more apparent when he is asked to cover space quickly on the perimeter.

Yup, and that limitation (covering the perimeter) applies to basically anyone the Cs could acquire.