S&T With New Orleans: The Devonte Graham Thread

[fatlever]

The Devonté Graham Parkway

its funny for the locals

[BlackOutBuzz]

Article behind paywall, but the tweet gives some insight on Devonte's current mindset. I can't decide if he's selling himself short by not gunning for a starting spot, or showing maturity by realizing his role as a sixth man.

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[-Ian-]

The full article behind the paywall:

What's gotten into Devonte' Graham? Preparation, hard work, confidence and opportunity

Roderick Boone

Before joining Devonte' Graham in Charlotte and becoming a member of the Hornets, Terry Rozier knew a few things about him.

He wasn't complete impervious.

"I watched him at Kansas for sure," Rozier said. "but before I got on this team, I used to bust his ass."

Graham, off to a furious pace through the Hornets' first 10 games, is kicking a little tail himself these days. And his eye-opening start has his name being floated among the very — repeat, very — early candidates for consideration as the league's most improved player. Of course, we are barely 12 percent of the way into the season, and the Hornets appear destined to be among the Eastern Conference's cellar dwellers.

But so far, Graham has been the shining example embodying the two words the Hornets are banking on this season and beyond under coach James Borrego: player development.

In their seesaw early season — which has already featured three-game losing streak, a three-game winning streak and a three-game losing streak in succession — one of the Hornets' few constants has been the lights-out play of Graham. The second-year backup point guard has easily been the Hornets' best offensive option, dropping in long 3-pointers and regularly swooping to the basket confidently.

Graham is thriving off a fearless approach, one that led to his career-high 35-point outburst against Indiana last week. He's averaging a team-best 17.9 points per game to go along with 7.6 assists, while shooting a blistering 42.5 percent beyond the 3-point arc.

"I feel like in the NBA you've got to go out and play with that confidence because that's really what it's about," Graham said. "While being able to play in the system, within your team schemes and do all of that (is good), confidence is a huge part in any sport, really. And that's just what I try to do, is come out, shoot the ball with confidence, make plays with confidence and just show the coaching staff that I've got confidence. And I know that they have confidence in me and so do my teammates. So that's just how I try to play."

Just how key has Graham been for the Hornets? Consider the single-game individual high categories he leads them in:

• Points (35)
• Field goals made (10)
• Field goals attempted (21)
• Free throws made (11)
• Free throws taken (15)
• Assists (12)
• Steals (2)

Besides rookie defensive specialist Cody Martin, and excluding Nic Batum because he played in just one full game due to a fractured middle finger on his left hand, Graham is the only member of the Hornets registering a positive plus-minus ratio. His mark of plus-0.4 might not seem like much. But as a team, the Hornets are minus-7.4.

All that has some wondering if Graham should be in the starting lineup. Not him, though. He's good with things as they are. Call him Lou Williams Lite, paying homage to the LA Clippers' reigning, three-time Sixth Man of the Year.

"I like coming off the bench and trying to be that energy off the bench, that spark off the bench," Graham said. "I think Lou Will is one of the greatest to do that, and I try to watch film on him a lot."

Graham's hot start can be partially attributed to working closely with assistant coach Nate Mitchell throughout the offseason. Improving his shooting was among the biggest priorities, considering he canned just 34.3 percent of his overall attempts and 28.1 percent beyond the arc last season as a rookie. Mitchell had Graham firing from some three to five steps behind the 3-point line. The goal was to increase his range, which is evident now by how deep some shots have come from this season.

They also refined his game in a variety of facets, adding new wrinkles once they learned Kemba Walker — the franchise's all-time leading scorer — was heading to Boston. Such as coming off the pick-and-roll. And looking for his shot and figuring out the right play to make while rolling off the screens.

No wonder Walker cracked last week about Graham stealing some of his moves, noticing them when he had a chance to watch the Hornets' games whenever the Celtics weren't playing.

"I remember as soon as Kemba had got traded and stuff, my workouts had started changing," Graham said. "I was doing a lot of off the dribble between the legs, stuff that Kemba would be doing. I was like, 'This ain't me right here.' But it helped out a lot, the little bit I know."

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Graham's solid play gives Borrego the confidence to feature him on the floor with Rozier — something he suggested was distinct possibility during the Summer League in a chat with The Athletic and a combination we mentioned in July. Similar to the thought process he utilized a season ago with Walker and Tony Parker, Borrego enjoys the versatility he believes it offers. Having two ball handlers and two decision-makers provides him with various options.

He's trotted it out in all of their games, teaming them together for 152 minutes, and the Hornets' pace when they're a tandem is 101.75.

"I like getting Terry off the ball as we did last year (with Kemba)," Borrego said. "Devonte' can handle some. It allows Terry to play free. Over his career, he's been off the ball for a number of possessions. So he feels comfortable on and off the ball. But I like giving defenses two different looks with Terry, on and off the ball, and Devonte' allows us to do that."

"Defensively, they've both played very well. Terry can guard a number of two guards in this league. He's done it over his career, and I just like the pace they are playing at, those two guys together playing off each other on one side, and if we don't like that we'll play to the strong side with the other."

For Rozier, it allows him to shift into an aggressive mode where he searches more for his shot. He doesn't have to be quite as concerned with running the offense or setting up his teammates, distributing things within the flow. When Graham is on the floor, it's go time.

"I feel like it's pretty good," Rozier said. "It's another ball handler out there, a guy that's very smart and knows the game. So he makes it easier on all of us. When he comes out there, it's always good for me to slide over to the 'two' and let him direct things to make it happen for us.

"In college, I played the 'two,' I played the wing with (Chris) Jones, So I'm kind of used to it. High school, same thing. I just get more into a scoring mentality. Like I said, I let him do his thing, though, because he's very smart. he knows what guys like."

Graham enjoys it, conjuring up visions of his days in Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

"I feel like with me and Terry on the court together, we play well together." Graham said. "You've got two guys who can handle the ball. It reminds me of just like when I was at Kansas playing with Frank (Mason III). So it makes it easier, I feel like, to get the ball, get out on a break. It might be a little harder for us to rebound, but a lot of times teams are playing small when that's happening anyway.

"I feel like it gives us a better chance to get off the dribble and then we both can spread the floor and knock down shots. It helps us make plays for other guys."

As an integral cog of the team's young core, along with Miles Bridges, Dwayne Bacon, PJ Washington and Rozier, Graham is on a trajectory that's encouraging for a franchise in need of something positive to grasp. He's doing it all and is garnering notice.

Just don't expect his head to balloon. It's not his style.

"People been giving me little shouts on Instagram, texting me, saying good going and stuff like that," Graham said. "It's a good feeling, but you can't let it get to you. It's a long season, and you've just got to keep going, stay focused and locked in. And that's what I'm trying to do."

[fatlever]

how about "Golden Graham: the Devonte Graham Thread"

[BigSlam]

how about "Golden Graham: the Devonte Graham Thread"

Simplify it:


“Golden: the Devonte Graham Thread"

Because of the pop culture reference and the fact that the kid is just........golden.


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[penquin11]

Love the nickname. Love the reference.

[Robot Rock]

Hopefully it's GrahaMVP by the end of the season.

[MasterIchiro]

Kupchak passed on SGA in favor of Miles Bridges. But he also came away with Devonté in the same draft. I will take this package and run. It's not often you get 2 starters from the same draft.

Devonté leads the Hornets in points and assists. And it looks like he's our starting PG, bumping Rozier off ball.

[bravor]

Not sure where to post this question, but when Hornets FO will be able to hold extension talks with Monk and Graham representatitves ? And what kind of extension could they get here ?

[UNCNYC]

He liked coming off the bench. Starting him means we are going to have to pay him more. I would have rather us start Monk and keep Graham as a 6th man.

[BigSlam]

Not sure where to post this question, but when Hornets FO will be able to hold extension talks with Monk and Graham representatitves ? And what kind of extension could they get here ?

Pretty sure Graham can be extended this July if the Hornets wanted to lock him up early.


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[Snidely FC]

Five players rank in the top 10 in the NBA in both total assists and total 3-point makes: Harden, Lillard, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving ... and Golden Grahams.

The Ringer has Devonte' as one of the Players Putting Themselves on the Map see the rest here: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/11/15/20963675/luka-doncic-malcolm-brogdon-brandon-ingram-nba-surprises

[Snidely FC]

Zach Lowe complimenting Graham in this morning's 10 Things I Like...

Graham spent the summer strengthening his legs so he could put more power into the off-the-bounce 3s that would make or break his career, Borrego says.

And then, boom. Graham is averaging 18 points and seven dimes per game, and he has hit 41% on 3s. Charlotte has scored 106 points per 100 possessions with Graham on the floor, and a pathetic 93 when he sits.

He has been better than Rozier (by a lot) and everyone else on Charlotte's roster. The next step is getting more comfortable finishing in the paint, but Graham has arrived.

read the rest here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28117649/ten-nba-things-like-including-electric-ja-morant

[HornetJail]

ball security needs to improve big time. both him and Rozier are coughing up the ball at a pretty unnerving rate lately

[DY_nasty]

you don't go from not playing to everything we're currently asking of him without turning the ball over

[SWedd523]

you don't go from not playing to everything we're currently asking of him without turning the ball over

Agreed.

Second round pick played less than 15 minutes a night in about half of the possible games his rookie season

to

33 minutes a night, main offensive weapon, averaging 18/7/4/1 per game

but man... "he needs to cut down on the turnovers" lol. He's still at over 2:1 margin (7.1/3.3) for what that's worth

Kyrie 3.00
C. Paul 2.71
Lillard 2.48
Simmons 2.26
Kemba 2.24 (on 4.7 assists per game)
Doncic 2.16
Devonte 2.15
T. Young 1.85
Westbrook 1.73
Harden 1.44

To me, it seems like he's in pretty solid company, all things considered

[BigSlam]

you don't go from not playing to everything we're currently asking of him without turning the ball over

100% valid point.


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[HornetJail]

you don't go from not playing to everything we're currently asking of him without turning the ball over

oh I absolutely agree, that will be the next step of his development

[MasterIchiro]

The NBA has to pay attention to the Charlotte Hornets because Devonté Graham is winning Most Improved Player. They have to at least say something nice about us or else it devalues that award. The narrative going into the season was that losing Kemba makes Charlotte the worst team in the NBA. But All-NBA Kemba has been replaced by someone claiming a high profile award. So the narrative has to shift. The team is far from a wasteland/wreckage. He's not only likeable and sportsmanlike, he shares the ball. And Kemba likely speaks highly of Charlotte. If we add a solid free agent and a lotto pick we are relevant again next season. If this is the Hornets bottomed out post-Kemba, I will take it.

[BlackOutBuzz]

https://www.nba.com/article/2019/12/04/charlotte-hornets-devonte-graham-feature

Nice article on Golden's background; didn't know how contentious the App State situation was.

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