Almost everyone has something to prove

djsunyc · Post #1 » by **djsunyc** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 5:02 pm

iq - health and justify the contract
rj - oh, nobody wants me?
bi - health and becoming an all star
scottie - all nba and winning
the yoots on the bench - rookie deals vying for mins and then $$$s
darko - this is not shame - time to win!
bobby - i want the job mr. pelley!

from top down the entire team has something to play for - can't remember the last time our squad was like that.

Post #2 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 5:04 pm

Let's hope this has a positive impact on the team, that they're hungry and motivated, and getting after it start to finish.

I'm looking forward to seeing what our bench mob looks like this year. We do have some interesting pieces whose development I am keen to watch.

MEDIC · Post #3 » by **MEDIC** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 5:34 pm

I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.

Tor_Raps · Post #4 » by **Tor_Raps** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 6:10 pm

When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to prove lol.

If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.

kalel123 · Post #5 » by **kalel123** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 6:12 pm

Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.

kalel123 · Post #6 » by **kalel123** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 6:18 pm

Tor_Raps wrote:When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to provide lol.

If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.

Not if they make decision on Team President before end of offseason and that happens to be Bobby Webster with multi-year agreement.

This is why firing of Ujiri was really badly timed. Could've easily done the whole turn over of FO next offseason if things went south with this roster or have Webster continue on even without Ujiri for several more years if things go well. Now, it's all up in the air.

Tor_Raps · Post #7 » by **Tor_Raps** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 6:29 pm

kalel123 wrote:
Tor_Raps wrote:When your team has tanked in back to back years and now expects to win, youre damn right almost everyone has something to provide lol.

If the players fail then this entire management/coaching group fails and we're looking at a new management group next year.

Not if they make decision on Team President before end of offseason and that happens to be Bobby Webster with multi-year agreement.

This is why firing of Ujiri was really badly timed. Could've easily done the whole turn over of FO next offseason if things went south with this roster or have Webster continue on even without Ujiri for several more years if things go well. Now, it's all up in the air.

Totally agree... since MLSE has already screwed up, theyd be better served allowing the season play out. If we suck, hire a new president to do whatever they want.

If we do well then let Bobby have the President role. Otherwise it could be a AA/Shapiro situation where we create a very awkward situation. Sadly, I have very little faith in MLSE to do the right thing.

PoundTown · Post #8 » by **PoundTown** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 6:42 pm

MEDIC wrote:I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.

That team was very difficult to play against in the regular season but they played really hard both ways. This team will have to do that, and not just these bench guys, RJ, BI, quick too. And Gradey if he is going to have the bench role, All I care about is that he gives nothing less than 100 percent defensively every single play he’s out there. There are times that’s the case, and other times where it teeters off. RJ isn’t great there but I feel like the effort and focus is there; need that consistently from Gradey.

bboyskinnylegs · Post #9 » by **bboyskinnylegs** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 7:24 pm

I think the president decision will be made before the regular season starts

Dalek · Post #10 » by **Dalek** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 7:39 pm

Overall something to prove to me focus on a few keys:

Does this defense first philosophy jives with winning? If it doesn't we have already seen how bad the offense can look with our bench during Summer League.

Does the Darko system work with an ISO guy like Ingram?

Lastly, have to see if if CMB is really a high floor prospect? His offense looked below par in SL where the defenses are not typically high level:

10.5 PPG
5.5 REB
2.0 AST
2.5 TOS
.571 FG
.222 3P
.571 FT

If he needs G-League time then we might need to bring in some forward help.

bluerap23 · Post #11 » by **bluerap23** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:13 pm

MEDIC wrote:I could see them being a lot like that young fiesty Orlando team ftom a couple of seasons ago.

It should be about the same defence with better offence if healthy.

TheGeneral99 · Post #12 » by **TheGeneral99** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:18 pm

The one thing I like is that it seems everybody on the team expects to make the playoffs this year and do some damage.

Big difference from last year were it was obvious we were tanking from get go and you had Poeltl on media day saying that it doesn't matter if they win games.

Badonkadonk · Post #13 » by **Badonkadonk** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:33 pm

Talent wins ultimately, but I do like that most of the key guys are eager to prove something. I also like that nearly everyone is on the right side of the development curve. I think both of those factors will help skew towards a positive outcome for the talent we have.

Tripod · Post #14 » by **Tripod** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 10:26 pm

We are just so young there is still lots of upside thru this roster.

Ignoring Coach Temple, we don't have a 30 year old whereas lots of other teams have multiple 30 year old starters.

BI is our 2nd oldest at age 27. Hell Mamu is our 3rd oldest at 26.

With youth means inconsistency. But lots of our youth also has experience. But there is lots of upside still.

Time to win....including for Darko. 45-50 wins here we come!

Psubs · Post #15 » by **Psubs** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 10:33 pm

kalel123 wrote:Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.

But they are stacked so deep that even an injury to a starter shouldn't be devastating.

Godaddycurse · Post #16 » by **Godaddycurse** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 10:38 pm

Psubs wrote:
kalel123 wrote:Not gonna get my hopes up because injury part (for Quickley and Ingram) isn't something they have much control over. And things can go south pretty quick as we should all know by now.

But they are stacked so deep that even an injury to a starter shouldn't be devastating.

Unless it's to Poeltl

hyper316 · Post #17 » by **hyper316** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 11:46 pm

Temple has nothing to prove, he's an undercover assistant coach masking as a player to fit in and babysit the young players

Rainman66 · Post #18 » by **Rainman66** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 11:59 pm

IQ and RJ have the most to prove with the shortest leash imo, the healthy internal competition should make things interesting with Shead/Walter/CMB on the cusp for a bigger role in the rotation.

canada_dry · Post #19 » by **canada_dry** » Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:02 am

I agree with the general sentiment. Lots to prove.

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Thaddy · Post #20 » by **Thaddy** » Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:32 am

Great we'll have a bunch of guys looking for their own. Darko can't manage egos he seems like a pushover. It'll be a test for him.