It's only been a year and Brandin Podziemski is already Overrated

[Jester_]

Podz was subbing for Klay a bunch. That juiced his +- some. This year he isnt platooned with with Klay, so the raw +- should be more realistic.

In other words the rookie was outperforming Klay significantly. Sure it wasn't prime Klay—but still. In this last preseason game Podz led the team in plus-minus with something like +39 in 21 minutes. I'm very skeptical that will translate nearly as well against stronger opposition but it does show that his playmaking abilities with solid teammates are potent against weaker teams. He looks great to have on a second unit.

I actually wonder if playing with the likes of Podz and Spencer in practice give a boost to the other players in developing and adjusting to the system. This group seems to have pretty quickly adapted to the more fluid playing style.

Klay was complete ass last year

[EvanZ]

This team has big problems, no pun. They cannot start JK, Draymond and another big. But they need to start JK or it's going to cause team-wide problems. It will be a headache. They could try starting JK at the 4 and Draymond at the 5 but good luck doing that for an entire season. Draymond won't like it and can't handle it. They could try starting JK at the 4 and TJD or Looney at the 5, but...LOL nope.

The team is not constructed well. There are way too many smalls and no bigs that can shoot (**** if only we had a way to get someone like that hmmm). Instead we will almost 100% see lineups like this that are quite literally vomit-inducing:

Steph
Podz
Hield
Melton
GPII

God help us all to not go blind by December watching this.

Welp I’m blind.

[Jax_23]

Don't get me wrong, Brandin Podziemski is a solid player, a solid prospect.

Lacob:

“He does so many things well. He’s ultra-confident. He’s got an NBA body. He can get wherever he wants. He obviously can shoot threes. He can drive. He can pass. I mean, what can’t he do? We’re really excited. We think we’ve got a future All-Star. We really do.”

Nah dude he's a future journeyman.

What would this board be without someone creating a thread where everyone can squat and drop a giant steaming turd on one of the Warriors? Seriously, BP had a fine rookie season. He's just getting started. Give him at least a little time before you're claiming that he's "overrated" or a "journeyman" or whatever other label you want to tag him with.

Anyone who knows basketball enough can see the potential (or lack of it) in players. Criticizing players is part of the deal, you gotta be realistic about the talent so that the team can put out the best product. Using euphemisms and being soft doesn't do this team any favors. I also give long leashes to players who have proven over years they've got what it takes, have high potential, or are proven all-stars (i.e. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kuminga, etc.). BP is showing this year that he's been overrated by the FO.

[Jester_]

If he can somehow develop as a premiere perimeter defender, we'd have the next coming of Jason Kidd on our hands.

so many great gems in this thread from many of the usual suspects... I love this board lol

[Old_Blue]

If he can somehow develop as a premiere perimeter defender, we'd have the next coming of Jason Kidd on our hands.

so many great gems in this thread from many of the usual suspects... I love this board lol

This from the guy who compared Lauri Markkanen to "prime Nowitzki." That one will remain in my sig for a looooong time.

[Jester_]

If he can somehow develop as a premiere perimeter defender, we'd have the next coming of Jason Kidd on our hands.

so many great gems in this thread from many of the usual suspects... I love this board lol

This from the guy who compared Lauri Markkanen to "prime Nowitzki." That one will remain in my sig for a looooong time.

Umm no, I said he's a level below which he is. It's literally right there in your sig.

You're an idiot lol, take your L and sit down.

[Old_Blue]

so many great gems in this thread from many of the usual suspects... I love this board lol

This from the guy who compared Lauri Markkanen to "prime Nowitzki." That one will remain in my sig for a looooong time.

Umm no, I said he's a level below which he is.

My middle school nephew plays basketball. He's also "a level below prime Nowitzki." You want to trade for him too? I'm pretty sure he'd re-sign for a palett of Skittles.

[Jester_]

This from the guy who compared Lauri Markkanen to "prime Nowitzki." That one will remain in my sig for a looooong time.

Umm no, I said he's a level below which he is.

My middle school nephew plays basketball. He's also "a level below prime Nowitzki." You want to trade for him too? I'm pretty sure he'd re-sign for a palett of Skittles.

cringe

[Onus]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

[ShootersShoot]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

Hes a jack of all trades type of player..quality modern glue guy. I also think his 3pt% will come around. He was at 38.5% last year as a rook and was a 43.8% 3pt shooter in college.

Imagine trading him and wiggins for Lauri when we have jimmy and didnt trade any of the young guys at all.

[vvoland]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

Hes a jack of all trades type of player..quality modern glue guy. I also think his 3pt% will come around. He was at 38.5% last year as a rook and was a 43.8% 3pt shooter in college.

Imagine trading him and wiggins for Lauri when we have jimmy and didnt trade any of the young guys at all.

I was on the "podz is overrated" and "trade him last summer" bandwagons but I have to admit, we got super lucky (or smart, we'll see) that no one offered us a competent nba vet after the schroeder trade for JK and Podz. Had BKN, for example, backed off the draft compensation and just sent us Cam Johnson for those two plus filler at the nadir of Podz's and JK's value, we probably take it. I'm sure half the board still would.

[ShootersShoot]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

Hes a jack of all trades type of player..quality modern glue guy. I also think his 3pt% will come around. He was at 38.5% last year as a rook and was a 43.8% 3pt shooter in college.

Imagine trading him and wiggins for Lauri when we have jimmy and didnt trade any of the young guys at all.

I was on the "podz is overrated" and "trade him last summer" bandwagons but I have to admit, we got super lucky (or smart, we'll see) that no one offered us a competent nba vet after the schroeder trade for JK and Podz. Had BKN, for example, backed off the draft compensation and just sent us Cam Johnson for those two plus filler at the nadir of Podz's and JK's value, we probably take it. I'm sure half the board still would.

I am not sure whether bkn for example undervalued our guys or we just werent willing to part with them. Podz value and moodys were pretty much rock bottom prior to kuminga getting injured. Wouldnt be surprised if other teams just didnt want them at the time.

[floppymoose]

Do
Not
Trade
the Youth. This team needs youth and draft picks.

[Onus]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

Hes a jack of all trades type of player..quality modern glue guy. I also think his 3pt% will come around. He was at 38.5% last year as a rook and was a 43.8% 3pt shooter in college.

Imagine trading him and wiggins for Lauri when we have jimmy and didnt trade any of the young guys at all.

I wanted Lauri but the price was too high. Thought Danny really fumbled by not getting the most he could. But we got lucky that Jimmy became available. We were not looking good there for a minute during the season.

[vvoland]

Podz leading the team in +/- again this year. He just fills so many gaps. He's not a no1 or no2 option but let him attack closeouts or a tilted defense and he seems like he thrives.

Also his defense has been good.

Hes a jack of all trades type of player..quality modern glue guy. I also think his 3pt% will come around. He was at 38.5% last year as a rook and was a 43.8% 3pt shooter in college.

Imagine trading him and wiggins for Lauri when we have jimmy and didnt trade any of the young guys at all.

I wanted Lauri but the price was too high. Thought Danny really fumbled by not getting the most he could. But we got lucky that Jimmy became available. We were not looking good there for a minute during the season.

Ainge overplayed his hand and should have gotten what he could for the great white hype before the max extension. Now, Lauri is a negative contract (to put it mildly) and it'll take him a strong 40 game stretch just to get back to neutral.

In terms of luck, we got incredibly lucky that we didn't trade the entire farm/boat/kitchen sink for PG (the worst contract in the nba?) and Lauri (bottom 5 contract in the nba?). Imagine sending out all of the draft picks, young players, wiggins and other salary filler for this version of paul george and lauri with a bad back? If we could have gotten both, even I would have agreed to it and that's despite loving JK and hating Lauri (or just not being excited about him as a winning player).

[ILOVEIT]

I was wrong.
Also wrong about Butler.
We were ALL right about Moody

[vvoland]

I know CDM (and others) were convinced that Podz's resurgence was due to him no longer playing PG (once we got schroeder) but I think it's the mask and not having to be the no2 offensive option. With Wigs, everyone on this team thought they were option no 2, JK, Moody, Podz, Schroeder, Buddy... all of them. Now, it's a clear hierarchy: Steph is #1, Jimmy is #2, and #3 is anyone having a good night. Some nights, Podz played most of the game as the no1 option as Curry was out or deferring out of hopelessness.

Now, he's not even sniffing the no 2 option and is killing weakside defenders that are preoccupied with Jimmy and Steph while Hield is occupying eyeballs on the perimeter.

[Onus]

I know CDM (and others) were convinced that Podz's resurgence was due to him no longer playing PG (once we got schroeder) but I think it's the mask and not having to be the no2 offensive option. With Wigs, everyone on this team thought they were option no 2, JK, Moody, Podz, Schroeder, Buddy... all of them. Now, it's a clear hierarchy: Steph is #1, Jimmy is #2, and #3 is anyone having a good night. Some nights, Podz played most of the game as the no1 option as Curry was out or deferring out of hopelessness.

Now, he's not even sniffing the no 2 option and is killing weakside defenders that are preoccupied with Jimmy and Steph while Hield is occupying eyeballs on the perimeter.

Being a pg in our system is overrated. Everyone brings the ball up and can pass the ball to the wing to start the action. The issue is who is breaking the defense down causing the defense to react. No one else could do it reliably outside of curry until butler got here. But that’s not what podz can do … yet? But podz never projected to being a no 1 option.

I think the best thing about podz is that he’s going to take the poa defender role but he’s also a smart help defender. Even though he’s not the best he hustles and tries and if he has both dray and jimmy behind him he looks like he can reliably do that.

If podz can hit his spot up 3 like he did against Dallas then he might just be the sg of the future. He just does so much on the floor.

[Twinkie defense]

[TB]

Two biggest things for Podz has been:

1) jumper confidence (and results obviously)
2) being a connector more than a primary playmaker

Those first 20 games this season totally tanked his 3 points percentage (around 20%) and his confidence as a primary playmaker when Steph was out of the game was kind of a disaster. But even during that stretch he was over 50% from 2 and had upped his FT percentage to around the 75% mark. And not to mention improved defense.

Since those 20 games (which coincided with Dennis taking over a lot of playmaking duties, and now Jimmy provides that) Podz has continued the 50% from 2, the 75% from the line, and the improved defense… only the 3ball has been at 42% over that stretch.

Just a totally different player when he is confident in his shot and can focus on just making the right team plays rather than carrying the load. And thats not to say he can’t grow into that… in fact we just saw him do that against the Lakers.