PG: The Immanuel Quickley Show

[Psubs]

Trading Jak has now become more important than IQ

Only because RJ is hurt. Shead playing with IQ seems to help. So when Barrett comes back, then what. I hate to say it, but this is going to be a situation where Quick either continues his improved play without Shead, or it becomes a him or RJ situation at the deadline. And there's little time left to decide based on play.

Maybe have RJ and Scottie bring the ball up and initiate offense?

[NinjaBro]

Why don’t you like giving Shead credit?

Everyone sees it, even Alvin and the broadcast mentioned it

few things i think shead helps with:

1) picks up the harder defensive assignment so quickley can recover more/wont have to chase curry around
2) brings ball up court vs pressure so quickley won't be as tired from sprinting up the court
3) mentally he knows he is more needed as a scorer tonight/easier to get in a rhythm scoring

Yup all that. I think when Quickley is running the point, he’s thinking too much about getting others involved and generally running the team. He’s constantly battling with himself whether to shoot or pass as the PG in the starting 5. But with nights like these with Shead starting, IQ knows his role more of a scorer.

Exactly, it's so clear that I can't believe it took Darko half the season to see it. When IQ is the lead pg he's fighting with himself to score or make the pass. He's always a second or 2 too slow to make the right play. Shead is more of a pure pg and that's what we need, on top of his relentless defense to alleviate Quickley. We have enough sample size and from the eye test to know IQ plays better with Shead taking over the pg duties.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Ive said often that the pressures to be a point guard and play that role offensively and defensively were leading to Quickley not playing to his strengths. When guys have long prolonged struggles, it’s often they aren’t trying hard enough, or are trying to hard. To IQ’s credit, I think he was trying too hard, which is commendable because of how much money he’s getting. He’s set for life, but he wants to do well and you can tell it wears on him. I don’t hate Quickley, I want him to succeed and help the Raps, but the overall competive ability of the Raps is my main concern, and for that we need IQ off ball
more. They need to address the glut of SG’s or decide some people just got to be healthy scratches.

[WuTang_CMB]

Fell asleep and missed this one, getting ready to eat a lot of crow for saying IQ’s not a great lead guard and more natural SG and how Jamal should play more so we have pg play. He had a crazy shooting night, I wonder if having Jamal play pg and have him freed up to play off the ball, helped?

The question will be how they keep a pg in the floor with IQ when RJ comes back.

100%. Shead takes pressure of him to create for others. IQ is at his best off ball like last night to get open looks. He hit an insane clip over 80% from 3. This is how he should be used. I get darko trying to expand his PG duties to get better but it is what it is.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

You can literally watch all his attempts. These are the same types of shots he takes every night, he just happened to hit his 3’s at a high rate like we expect him to.

This board can’t seem to analyze anything further than “SHEAD SHEAD SHEAD” though

I don't know what this means lol you gotta watch the games where Shead is the primary distributor. There's not really much debate how it takes less pressure off IQ and that he plays better off ball.

[YogurtProducer]

100%. Shead takes pressure of him to create for others. IQ is at his best off ball like last night to get open looks. He hit an insane clip over 80% from 3. This is how he should be used. I get darko trying to expand his PG duties to get better but it is what it is.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

You can literally watch all his attempts. These are the same types of shots he takes every night, he just happened to hit his 3’s at a high rate like we expect him to.

This board can’t seem to analyze anything further than “SHEAD SHEAD SHEAD” though

Why don’t you like giving Shead credit?

Everyone sees it, even Alvin and the broadcast mentioned it

I like Shead a lot. But every time IQ does something good it is NOT Shead being the reason why it happened

IQ is literally at a career high of having his 2pt and 3pt makes assisted. He is literally scoring off the ball at a higher rate than he ever has in his career. You can literally watch the highlights I posted, and there is maybe 1 play that can even slightly be attributed to Shead.

[WuTang_CMB]

100%. Shead takes pressure of him to create for others. IQ is at his best off ball like last night to get open looks. He hit an insane clip over 80% from 3. This is how he should be used. I get darko trying to expand his PG duties to get better but it is what it is.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

You can literally watch all his attempts. These are the same types of shots he takes every night, he just happened to hit his 3’s at a high rate like we expect him to.

This board can’t seem to analyze anything further than “SHEAD SHEAD SHEAD” though

Why don’t you like giving Shead credit?

Everyone sees it, even Alvin and the broadcast mentioned it

Cuz YP is always confused of what is actually going on.

[traps#10]

few things i think shead helps with:

1) picks up the harder defensive assignment so quickley can recover more/wont have to chase curry around
2) brings ball up court vs pressure so quickley won't be as tired from sprinting up the court
3) mentally he knows he is more needed as a scorer tonight/easier to get in a rhythm scoring

Yup all that. I think when Quickley is running the point, he’s thinking too much about getting others involved and generally running the team. He’s constantly battling with himself whether to shoot or pass as the PG in the starting 5. But with nights like these with Shead starting, IQ knows his role more of a scorer.

Exactly, it's so clear that I can't believe it took Darko half the season to see it. When IQ is the lead pg he's fighting with himself to score or make the pass. He's always a second or 2 too slow to make the right play. Shead is more of a pure pg and that's what we need, on top of his relentless defense to alleviate Quickley. We have enough sample size and from the eye test to know IQ plays better with Shead taking over the pg duties.

Shead should be the first player off the bench if the team is struggling to play with IQ once everyone is healthy. Darko needs to maximize his offense with his substitution patterns. Also I do not want to see Dick and Walter on the floor at the same time ever unless it’s garbage time.

[YogurtProducer]

100%. Shead takes pressure of him to create for others. IQ is at his best off ball like last night to get open looks. He hit an insane clip over 80% from 3. This is how he should be used. I get darko trying to expand his PG duties to get better but it is what it is.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

You can literally watch all his attempts. These are the same types of shots he takes every night, he just happened to hit his 3’s at a high rate like we expect him to.

This board can’t seem to analyze anything further than “SHEAD SHEAD SHEAD” though

I don't know what this means lol you gotta watch the games where Shead is the primary distributor. There's not really much debate how it takes less pressure off IQ and that he plays better off ball.

IQ - 13 FGA, 10 assists. Pretty impressive to be "off ball" and still manage to put up that volume

The idea that last night he played any differently than he has the rest of the season is just insanity.

You guys are grasping at straws looking to find reasons why he played better last night. The simply answer is sometimes the correct one - and in this case is that he just hit the same shots he has been missing for a month.

[traps#10]

Ive said often that the pressures to be a point guard and play that role offensively and defensively were leading to Quickley not playing to his strengths. When guys have long prolonged struggles, it’s often they aren’t trying hard enough, or are trying to hard. To IQ’s credit, I think he was trying too hard, which is commendable because of how much money he’s getting. He’s set for life, but he wants to do well and you can tell it wears on him. I don’t hate Quickley, I want him to succeed and help the Raps, but the overall competive ability of the Raps is my main concern, and for that we need IQ off ball
more. They need to address the glut of SG’s or decide some people just got to be healthy scratches.

A player like Jrue Holiday would fit perfectly with IQ since he’s a true PG and big enough to guard any SG full time. I like Shead but it’s a size disadvantage on most nights if he’s starting with IQ.

[WuTang_CMB]

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

You can literally watch all his attempts. These are the same types of shots he takes every night, he just happened to hit his 3’s at a high rate like we expect him to.

This board can’t seem to analyze anything further than “SHEAD SHEAD SHEAD” though

I don't know what this means lol you gotta watch the games where Shead is the primary distributor. There's not really much debate how it takes less pressure off IQ and that he plays better off ball.

IQ - 13 FGA, 10 assists. Pretty impressive to be "off ball" and still manage to put up that volume

The idea that last night he played any differently than he has the rest of the season is just insanity.

You guys are grasping at straws looking to find reasons why he played better last night. The simply answer is sometimes the correct one - and in this case is that he just hit the same shots he has been missing for a month.

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[traps#10]

I don't know what this means lol you gotta watch the games where Shead is the primary distributor. There's not really much debate how it takes less pressure off IQ and that he plays better off ball.

IQ - 13 FGA, 10 assists. Pretty impressive to be "off ball" and still manage to put up that volume

The idea that last night he played any differently than he has the rest of the season is just insanity.

You guys are grasping at straws looking to find reasons why he played better last night. The simply answer is sometimes the correct one - and in this case is that he just hit the same shots he has been missing for a month.

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball.

Also helps that IQ didn’t have to face guard Curry and be his shadow for most of the start of the game. That alone can be draining. Darko probably just told IQ to do what he does best, take shots and score, don’t worry about getting others involved. Just play your natural game tonight.

[YogurtProducer]

IQ - 13 FGA, 10 assists. Pretty impressive to be "off ball" and still manage to put up that volume

The idea that last night he played any differently than he has the rest of the season is just insanity.

You guys are grasping at straws looking to find reasons why he played better last night. The simply answer is sometimes the correct one - and in this case is that he just hit the same shots he has been missing for a month.

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball

Ah yes the "I disagree with you so instead of discussing in bad faith I am going to accuse you of not watching the game or not playing ball". We can literally go watch the damn highlights and see how he scored.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGM&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

4 transition 3's
1 pull up 3
1 out of bounds play
1 three created by Barnes against a zone
2 floaters (created by IQ)
2 mid rangers

You guys are reading WAY to deeply into this. These are the exact types of shots IQ has been taking all season, and typically missing. Now he just had a good game of hitting them and suddenly the entire narrative changes somehow.

IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Weird. Wonder how he ended up 10 assists.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=AST&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game

[deck]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

check that:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Whats crazy here too is that his one missed 3pt attempt was a corner fade-away that he was forced to take on a broken play as I recall.

[TheGeneral99]

Missed this game, but man we needed this win with all our injuries on a tough road trip.

[WuTang_CMB]

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball

Ah yes the "I disagree with you so instead of discussing in bad faith I am going to accuse you of not watching the game or not playing ball". We can literally go watch the damn highlights and see how he scored.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGM&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

4 transition 3's
1 pull up 3
1 out of bounds play
1 three created by Barnes against a zone
2 floaters (created by IQ)
2 mid rangers

You guys are reading WAY to deeply into this. These are the exact types of shots IQ has been taking all season, and typically missing. Now he just had a good game of hitting them and suddenly the entire narrative changes somehow.

IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Weird. Wonder how he ended up 10 assists.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=AST&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game

Here's the numbers you need to understand.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[WuTang_CMB]

IQ - 13 FGA, 10 assists. Pretty impressive to be "off ball" and still manage to put up that volume

The idea that last night he played any differently than he has the rest of the season is just insanity.

You guys are grasping at straws looking to find reasons why he played better last night. The simply answer is sometimes the correct one - and in this case is that he just hit the same shots he has been missing for a month.

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball.

Also helps that IQ didn’t have to face guard Curry and be his shadow for most of the start of the game. That alone can be draining. Darko probably just told IQ to do what he does best, take shots and score, don’t worry about getting others involved. Just play your natural game tonight.

Ahh didn't even come to think of that. Another reason why he had "fresher" legs. Shooting such a fine line with how good your endurance is its crazy.

[MEDIC]

We need a backup C & another PG with size.

What is Delon Wright up to these days?

[YogurtProducer]

Here is IQ's 3 point attempts from a 2/10 game he had last week. Don't these types of shots look familiar (oh - they were the same as he took last night):

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3A&GameID=0022500560&PlayerID=1630193&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

Or an 0/6 night last month:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3A&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500451&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

Or a 3/11 game vs Charlotte:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3A&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500516&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

Seems like a lot of off-ball, catch and shoot, or transition 3's.

[YogurtProducer]

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball

Ah yes the "I disagree with you so instead of discussing in bad faith I am going to accuse you of not watching the game or not playing ball". We can literally go watch the damn highlights and see how he scored.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGM&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

4 transition 3's
1 pull up 3
1 out of bounds play
1 three created by Barnes against a zone
2 floaters (created by IQ)
2 mid rangers

You guys are reading WAY to deeply into this. These are the exact types of shots IQ has been taking all season, and typically missing. Now he just had a good game of hitting them and suddenly the entire narrative changes somehow.

IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Weird. Wonder how he ended up 10 assists.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=AST&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022500618&PlayerID=1630193&RangeType=0&Season=2025-26&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612761&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game

Here's the numbers you need to understand.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

So he has more usage (and therefore more points) and is less efficient with Jamal?

Yeah.. this is not the gotcha you think it is.

IDK how you watch that tweeted video with a straight face and think Shead had ANYTHING significant to do with any of those buckets

[traps#10]

Watch the game Yogurt lol
When you have another guy bringing the ball up the floor and setting up the offense, it not only takes the pressure off but it also helps your legs - aka helps you hit your shots. This is what happened last night. IQ was taking some nice pocket passes, running to the corners and playing free just hitting shots and not worrying about setting guys up all the time.

Not sure if he understands if he doesn’t play ball.

Also helps that IQ didn’t have to face guard Curry and be his shadow for most of the start of the game. That alone can be draining. Darko probably just told IQ to do what he does best, take shots and score, don’t worry about getting others involved. Just play your natural game tonight.

Ahh didn't even come to think of that. Another reason why he had "fresher" legs. Shooting such a fine line with how good your endurance is its crazy.

There’s a reason why “scorers” don’t tend to match up on D against the opposing scorer or asked to be the primary defender against the best scorer of the other team. Unless you’re an A+ elite like Jordan, Kobe etc.

The proof is in the pudding, IQ is not a natural PG but more of a scorer who plays better when he’s not asked to have the weight of running the team on his shoulder.