2014-15 Sophomore Breakout Players

[Han Solo]

Caldwell-Pope is getting better.

[Brapman]

KCP's got a serious chance, one I'd bet in his favor on, to be a two way star in this league. He's a terrific defensive talent now - with some of the best ability I've seen to get through picks and stay (and recover) on his man. He plays incredibly hard all the time, and is learning (this is in process) to slow himself down on offense. The Pistons are playing him a ton of minutes - out of necessity because of the injuries to Meeks and Cartier Martin - but he's dealing with that and still showing a lot of breakout moments in terms of looking for and making his own shot. Within a couple seasons as he gets a lot stronger, he'll challenge (I think) Beal for top your SG in the league.

He's miles better than McLemore - although with Ben's recent better performances, and the comment here that he's playing great D - I'm going to make a point to watch him more closely. (Nice improvements from the Kings by the way).

[crosko42]

Olynyk is playing great basketball. Started every game for the Celtics as a stretch 5.

13.5pts/6.5reb/2ast/0.5blk/1st in 27 minutes.

70% TS (61/50/79), 20.3 PER, .162 WS/48.

His offense is amazing and he has great vision and passing out of the high post though it hasn't led to many assists, if you watch the offense with him in the game he is always making the right plays and moving the ball to the correct players.

His defense is a WIP. He is not used to being a rim protector or defending some of the leagues bigger pf/c. He is fouling a lot (5.0 per 36), but has bulked up compared to last season and if he continues to get bigger in the next 2-3 years he could be a force on both ends with his height/length, and his amazing shooting ability.

[Brapman]

I thought (and think) Olynyk can become a good pro. I love his offense. He'll never have the foot speed or agility necessary to become a good defender. Perhaps he'll become a Bill Laimbeer level defender - smart and physical - but that's not something I'd put my money on. I don't know if he'll ever be strong enough to be that type of player. However, he seems like a smart guy, and it's possible he won't be much of a liability at that end.

[Dcebucks11]

olynyk has looked great

greek freak is playing great

mcw looks like poop

[Cruel_Ruin]

McLemore is on the verge of blowing up. Getting stronger as the season goes on, and against mostly Western Conference playoff contenders. Last four games:

vs Phoenix: 15 points, 5/9 shooting (1/4 from three)

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

vs OKC: 16 points, 6/9 shooting (4/6 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bcZndsKUCU[/youtube]

vs Dallas: 17 points, 6/12 shooting (4/8 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpM4r-LcmgE[/youtube]

vs Memphis: 17 points, 6/12 shooting (3/6 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO7LMUtBjwA[/youtube]

He's got the sexiest looking jumpshot in basketball, plus has been busting his tail defensively, holding his opponent below their season averages in most categories and only 40.3% overall from the field.



Early contender for the MIP award. Kings fans are thrilled with his development so far.

[GallagherArt]

olynyk has looked great

greek freak is playing great

mcw looks like poop

**** dude, MCW returned amidst the Sixers' toughest stretches of the season, he's only been practicing for a week after months of rehabbing; those two games also happened to be against two of the better teams in the league back to back on their Texas road trip. Cut him some slack, give him time to return to form at least.

[Dcebucks11]

olynyk has looked great

greek freak is playing great

mcw looks like poop

**** dude, MCW returned amidst the Sixers' toughest stretches of the season, he's only been practicing for a week after months of rehabbing; those two games also happened to be against two of the better teams in the league back to back on their Texas road trip. There's been handful of games that Olynyk and Giannis have looked like poop as well, cut him some slack, give him time to return to form at least.

lol ik, im just not a fan of mcw's game.

[Dcebucks11]

McLemore is on the verge of blowing up. Getting stronger as the season goes on, and against mostly Western Conference playoff contenders. Last four games:

vs Phoenix: 15 points, 5/9 shooting (1/4 from three)

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

vs OKC: 16 points, 6/9 shooting (4/6 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bcZndsKUCU[/youtube]

vs Dallas: 17 points, 6/12 shooting (4/8 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpM4r-LcmgE[/youtube]

vs Memphis: 17 points, 6/12 shooting (3/6 from three)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO7LMUtBjwA[/youtube]

He's got the sexiest looking jumpshot in basketball, plus has been busting his tail defensively, holding his opponent below their season averages in most categories and only 40.3% overall from the field.



Early contender for the MIP award. Kings fans are thrilled with his development so far.

hes looking a lot more confident now. good to see

[GallagherArt]

lol ik, im just not a fan of mcw's game.

Believe me, I'm well aware.

[Ice Trae]

Still early but Schroder has been solid so far. His defense has been great and he's gotten A LOT better at finishing around the rim. He also added a pull up midrange jumpshot to his offensive game. I hope he can keep it up

[Orens]

Alex Len.
It's not about the stats as the way he affects the game using his physical tools (got much stronger and fluid than last season).
He's going to be an amazing two-way center.

[DaddyCool19]

Still early but Schroder has been solid so far. His defense has been great and he's gotten A LOT better at finishing around the rim. He also added a pull up midrange jumpshot to his offensive game. I hope he can keep it up

If he could make a 3 Pointer here and then that would make the NBA fans in Germany happy. He looks like he doesn't have confidence in his 3 point shot.

[ufsports]

Maybe this class wasn't so bad after all!

[baubo]

I came in expecting some really big numbers, but they all seem pretty meh-ish. Perhaps last draft produced a lot of solid players but lack the star quality. Anyway, to add a Rocket to the list, 2nd round pick Isaiah Canaan who spent last year in the D-League and came in to be Lin's replacement. So far,

24mpg/9.1ppg/2.0rpg/1.6apg/.582 TS%
In fact, Per-36 he's not far off from Lin of last year, except for assists, Lin was 15/3/5, Canaan is 14/3/2.

I doubt he'll put up much counting stat this year after Beverley returns. But may get some burn after the deadline if the Rockets deal Terry as an expiring.

[laploutocratie]

Rudy Gobert if he gets the minutes. I've never seen a guy with so much length and vertical coverage. He makes his peer centers look like midgets.

[DarkAzcura]

I came in expecting some really big numbers, but they all seem pretty meh-ish. Perhaps last draft produced a lot of solid players but lack the star quality. Anyway, to add a Rocket to the list, 2nd round pick Isaiah Canaan who spent last year in the D-League and came in to be Lin's replacement. So far,

24mpg/9.1ppg/2.0rpg/1.6apg/.582 TS%
In fact, Per-36 he's not far off from Lin of last year, except for assists, Lin was 15/3/5, Canaan is 14/3/2.

I doubt he'll put up much counting stat this year after Beverley returns. But may get some burn after the deadline if the Rockets deal Terry as an expiring.

Olynyk is averaging 14.4 PPG on 70.2 TS%. That is crazy. He's averaging 18 PPG per 36 and could probably be averaging 20PPG right now if his shot selection wasn't so damn selective.

[J-Ves]

Rudy Gobert if he gets the minutes. I've never seen a guy with so much length and vertical coverage. He makes his peer centers look like midgets.

I still cant believe he went so late in what was considered a very weak draft. When his measurements came out I couldn't decide if Adams or Gobert was the better center prospect and figured there was no way he would slip out of the mid teens.

Regarding my team's pick, Porter continues to play well. He is scoring very efficiently with a 62 TS% and other than rebounding, he has improved every other part of his game from last year, including upping his assist rate and limiting his turnovers. Right now his offensive rating is 119.

[BruceO]

yeah otto has some things working for him. He has the type of length that worked for paul george, plus he has an extremely high basketball iq. He also is amazing from midrange already. This guy will be all star level one day.

Also a fan of the olynyk clinic. Thought he'd be amazing scorer in the NBA. In the past drafts I liked him, enes Kanter before and cousins and they all doing decent right now so in happy

[Johnlac1]

Shabazz Muhammad had 18 pts in 13 minutes last night. If he gets the time, he will score. I know many people gave up on him after his frosh year, but he has all the tools to be an excellent scorer.