Summer League Game 4: Pistons vs. Hornets

[tmorgan]

Kennard obviously isn't the most athletic guy, but he really seems to "feel" the game really well. He plays an old man's game based on reading the floor, anticipation and guile. That could be the HS QB experience - where he was all-state in Ohio and received scholarship to play QB in college as well.

has a little Ginobili in him. my main concern is him to be relegated in a corner waiting for a drive and kick that won't happen.

If that's how he's used, he's going to be a marginal player at best. So yeah, that's something to judge SVG on in the future.

Kennard is an offense creator, primarily for himself, but also for others. He's going to need to adjust to a taller, longer, quicker league, for sure, but he may have it in him to do so. You don't see shot creation (making separation, getting people off-balance, quick release, great body control) like his very often.

[hoophabit]

35% on the college 3 is not that great. We're supposed to excoriate our FO because they made a call between two similarly rated players? Mitchell shot 5/15 last night (although to be fair 2/4 on 3s) with 4 TOs. Still, he had a pretty good overall game. Mitchell will be a good player, and would have been a fine pick. If Kennard were stinking up the place I'd get this angst, but it seems strained when Luke is playing a heady, all-around game, and has been a pleasant surprise in the areas that were supposed to be his weaknesses. Over all of this is the annual caution: It's only SL.

on 6.6 attempts????

As a coach you should look at that and understand, that is too many 3 pa for a player who can do much more with the ball, and that when he figures out what a "good shot" is , his efficiency will improve. That at least is a indicator there's tools to work with

Difference between Kennard and Mitchell is Kennard is hitting 44% on 1 less attempt per game, which imo is elite level, especially when you look at how he got those shots off in little space

Thanks for expanding on my points, but I think we're pretty much in agreement? Kennard hasn't been 'other-worldly' with his shooting, but his overall team play has been pretty good. Defense has been solid. Head in the game. I think that was more the reason he was a star quarterback and a good fundamental basketball player. He wasn't one because he was the other, but he was both because you could expect him to have his head in the game. If he can take this play to training camp, secondary ball-handler and playmaker looks like a pretty big need on the Pistons IMO. If he can drill the long one with good regularity, all the better.

[Montanabadboy]

35% on the college 3 is not that great. We're supposed to excoriate our FO because they made a call between two similarly rated players? Mitchell shot 5/15 last night (although to be fair 2/4 on 3s) with 4 TOs. Still, he had a pretty good overall game. Mitchell will be a good player, and would have been a fine pick. If Kennard were stinking up the place I'd get this angst, but it seems strained when Luke is playing a heady, all-around game, and has been a pleasant surprise in the areas that were supposed to be his weaknesses. Over all of this is the annual caution: It's only SL.

on 6.6 attempts????

As a coach you should look at that and understand, that is too many 3 pa for a player who can do much more with the ball, and that when he figures out what a "good shot" is , his efficiency will improve. That at least is a indicator there's tools to work with

Difference between Kennard and Mitchell is Kennard is hitting 44% on 1 less attempt per game, which imo is elite level, especially when you look at how he got those shots off in little space

Thanks for expanding on my points, but I think we're pretty much in agreement? Kennard hasn't been 'other-worldly' with his shooting, but his overall team play has been pretty good. Defense has been solid. Head in the game. I think that was more the reason he was a star quarterback and a good fundamental basketball player. He wasn't one because he was the other, but he was both because you could expect him to have his head in the game. If he can take this play to training camp, secondary ball-handler and playmaker looks like a pretty big need on the Pistons IMO. If he can drill the long one with good regularity, all the better.

Kennard hit 48% from 3 on 4.6 attempts per game over 5 Summer League games, averaged 17.2, what exactly do you consider "otherworldly"? I'm pretty well thrilled with his shooting and overall play.

[Blkbrd671]

on 6.6 attempts????

As a coach you should look at that and understand, that is too many 3 pa for a player who can do much more with the ball, and that when he figures out what a "good shot" is , his efficiency will improve. That at least is a indicator there's tools to work with

Difference between Kennard and Mitchell is Kennard is hitting 44% on 1 less attempt per game, which imo is elite level, especially when you look at how he got those shots off in little space

Thanks for expanding on my points, but I think we're pretty much in agreement? Kennard hasn't been 'other-worldly' with his shooting, but his overall team play has been pretty good. Defense has been solid. Head in the game. I think that was more the reason he was a star quarterback and a good fundamental basketball player. He wasn't one because he was the other, but he was both because you could expect him to have his head in the game. If he can take this play to training camp, secondary ball-handler and playmaker looks like a pretty big need on the Pistons IMO. If he can drill the long one with good regularity, all the better.

Kennard hit 48% from 3 on 4.6 attempts per game over 5 Summer League games, averaged 17.2, what exactly do you consider "otherworldly"? I'm pretty well thrilled with his shooting and overall play.

to be fair, i believe Kennard struggled his last 2 games and came out smoking this one