OT: Sioux Falls Skyforce

Heat_team02 · Post #1 » by **Heat_team02** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:02 pm

Thought I would start a thread to track the progress of the players.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/siouxfalls/schedule/

Game 1:

Shawn Jones didn't shoot it well but had 13 points, 19 rebounds in 36 minutes.

Tyler Johnson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals in 40 minutes.

Khem Birch has 8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in 39 minutes.

It was only the first game but from what I saw, Shawn Jones is the most NBA ready of the 3.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an4Sf268Fuw&list=TLEpQhJHBe9SY[/youtube]

Next Game: Saturday @ 7pm vs the Maine Red Claws.

Post #2 » by **DefenseWins** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:15 pm

Lmao in the first quarter Birch is eating up rebounds... OFFENSIVE rebounds... ugh

Jones looked bad in preseason, and he looks good here so... I wouldn't really read much into his game.

Johnson picked up from his DLeague summer play. Birch been consistent.

RexBoyWonder · Post #3 » by **RexBoyWonder** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:39 pm

I liked Birch even before the draft, the problem with is simple - he's not big enough.

Guy can rebound, block and defend very well against college/Dleague talent. If he was 4-5 inch longer he would be Deandre Jordan, no problem. But he's not. And his offensive skill just isn't high enough to be a NBA PowerForawrd as of right now. That's why we didn't keep him, he just can't be a NBA Center. Not enough size.

It doesn't mean he's an hopeless case, but it does mean he's a project and will have to prove he can develop his game in order to be in the league. My guess is our staff is hoping he can get a reliable mid range shot, that would make him less of a liability on offense. He did shot 70% FT last year, so there's hope.

Some of us made the mistake thinking he can be a defensive Center, but his real hope is to become a less talented but more athletic version of young Haslem. A PF that fights, defends, gets rebounds and score some garbage points and open shots others get him.

That's a good player to have in your rotation, but he won't be the Center we dream about.

RexBoyWonder · Post #4 » by **RexBoyWonder** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:41 pm

PS - I love Tyler Johnson's game. Would take him over Grenger/Dawkins today. Smart, plays hard, can get by anyone, can hit shots. Im positive he'll make the roster next year.

Post #5 » by **heat4life** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:05 pm

I'll sticky the thread since I know quite a few fans want to follow the progress of our young guys. If the thread becomes stale, then we'll let it go to the bottom.

RexBoyWonder · Post #6 » by **RexBoyWonder** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:36 pm

TJ to Birch repost

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH2i4IYo9yk[/youtube]

RJM · Post #7 » by **RJM** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:16 pm

Shawn Jones isn't NBA-ready. He showed that multiple times during preseason. We were done with him after maybe three games. It was down to TJ and Birch. Johnson's going to do well down in the D-League with Sioux Falls. It's the best place for him to really develop into a decent backup guard. Hopefully he does that. I expect an expansion of his performances in summer league and vs. San Antonio during preseason.

Johnson needs to continue to bulk up though. At his size, being able to jump high will only get you so far. He needs to establish a stronger core so he doesn't get knocked around by NBA guards, who will make short work with him. Just imagining his current state checking a Chris Paul or Deron Williams terrifies me. I mean, look at what Deron did to Shabazz last night before he stopped caring.

Post #8 » by **heat4life** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:19 pm

IMPORTANT
Everyone, please take a second to read the update on the "Miami Heat Board Rules" thread in the announcement section of the boards.

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1006839

Thank you,

--heat4life

Cmon_Son-_- · Post #9 » by **Cmon_Son-_-** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:10 pm

Khem Birch is like a poor mans Tristan Thompson. He needs to get stronger, once he does that he might have a shot on the roster.

eddieheatfan · Post #10 » by **eddieheatfan** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 8:27 pm

how many years/seasons do you guys expect to birch to mature in to a nba ready type of player?

Cmon_Son-_- · Post #11 » by **Cmon_Son-_-** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 1:44 am

eddieheatfan wrote:how many years/seasons do you guys expect to birch to mature in to a nba ready type of player?

Can't really put a time limit on it but I always felt like the NBA is all about opportunity. There's alot of good players in the Dleague just needs a team to give them a shot and some playing time.

RexBoyWonder · Post #12 » by **RexBoyWonder** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 9:23 am

Cmon_Son-_- wrote:
eddieheatfan wrote:how many years/seasons do you guys expect to birch to mature in to a nba ready type of player?

Can't really put a time limit on it but I always felt like the NBA is all about opportunity. There's alot of good players in the Dleague just needs a team to give them a shot and some playing time.

If he's not coming during the year or this summer, he's not coming here, ever.

He's not 18.

Heat_team02 · Post #13 » by **Heat_team02** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 1:02 am

Game is Live

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vP-gdUiUp0[/youtube]

gom · Post #14 » by **gom** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 5:18 pm

7'0", 235 lb, Center, Hassan Whiteside looks like an interesting prospect. He is an unrestricted free agent. 25 years old. He used to play on a pretty bad Kings side.

Here are some other D-League players (not on NBA contracts - e.g. Tyler Ennis of Suns) that are having good starts:

Seth Curry - Erie (SG) 24 years old
Doron Lamb - Tex (SG) 23 years old
Elijah Millsap - Bak (SG) 27 years old
Andre Emmett - Fwn (SG) 32 years old
Manny Harris - Lad (SG) 25 years old
DJ Steeley - Del (SG) 24 years old
Chris Allen - Sxf (SG) 26 years old <<=== Played terrible last night.

Joseph Harris - Sxf (GF) 27 years old

Earl Clark - RGV (C) - 21 years old (6-10, 225 lbs)

Damien Wilkins - IWA (PF) 34 years old
* James McAdoo - San (PF) 24 years old (6-9, 225 lbs)

Jarell Eddie - Aus Spurs (SF) 23 years old
Patrick Christopher - IWA (SF) 26 years old
Renaldo Balkman - Tex legends (SF) 30 years old
Roscoe Smith - SF - LA Defenders

----

I don't think with the D-League prospects age is that important. I wouldn't think to find many NBA starters in the D-League that are older, but a role player that can (for example) guard the rim is a good find no matter how old.

gom · Post #15 » by **gom** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 5:27 pm

^ I posted above to try to change the mindset a little. I know we have an investment in Birch, Johnson, Jones, and Drew II, but we can actually sign any unrestricted free agent from the D-League.

RexBoyWonder · Post #16 » by **RexBoyWonder** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 6:38 pm

We talked about Hassan Whiteside since 2010, my god.

1) There's something seriously wrong with him if we didn't give him a chance by now (And no other NBA team did either, in spite of how rare true sized Centers are)

2) I can't believe that it's 4 years later and we're still desperate for ANY Center prospect that could give us any hope.

Just unbelievable. And quite sad.

gom · Post #17 » by **gom** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:05 pm

RexBoyWonder wrote:We talked about Hassan Whiteside since 2010, my god.

1) There's something seriously wrong with him if we didn't give him a chance by now (And no other NBA team did either, in spite of how rare true sized Centers are)

2) I can't believe that it's 4 years later and we're still desperate for ANY Center prospect that could give us any hope.

Just unbelievable. And quite sad.

Don't get too broken up. He had 4 fewer years of experience in 2010.

gom · Post #18 » by **gom** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:32 pm

Hmmmm....

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... -Whiteside

Dupas · Post #19 » by **Dupas** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:51 pm

What can we expect from him?

gom · Post #20 » by **gom** » Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:55 pm

Dupas wrote:What can we expect from him?

Check out the Skyforce/Energy game. He is good on the inside. At the very minimum, he can be in the big rotation so that guys like Vucevic have some company. It's a bandage, though, not a solution. The patient will still bleed a lot. <- what a dummy, this guy Gom