RealGM

So we are nearly done with preseason. I want your take on where we stand at this point. Short takes, quick summaries, on strengths, weaknesses, the best personnel for starters going forward, and a summary. Here’s mine:

Strengths: Ball and player movement, bench, rookies, shooting.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, starting unit, bigs, defense.
Best Personnel Starting 5: Cody, Kemba, Miles, Lamb, Batum
Summary: Hornets will be fun to watch and can score in regular season action. They have serious issues with rebounding, defense and (prediction) crunch time execution. Coach needs to put our best/most talented players out front for majority minutes. Must make some trades to get more productive solid guys via giving up on Frank, MKG and (impossible but always hopeful) Batum. He should be a starter now but could really use a better 4 in his place with Miles at the 3.

starters are fine. once the rotation was established, they played chill like all starters typically do - the fact that we have the workings of a decent bench for the first time ever shouldn't lead to an immediate kneejerk though

definitely can't overlook what WHG does for this team. if he plays even passable defense consistently, we've got a great young big to work with going forward. for all the dirt MKG gets, he's the entire defense for the second unit lol. none of those guys can play any defense and marvin williams either was half assing it or slowing down as well.... if we trade MKG, we're gonna need a defender to take his place.

batum is a different player when he's healthy, but he's gotta stay healthy.

defense covers the corners way better than it ever did at least. transition defense seemed meh (considering it used to be outstanding) but its preseason and running that hard is meh.

i'm coming around on miles, but he and monk stay taking turns getting lost on defense between flashy plays lol

oh and shocking development - tony parker isn't dead

Bassman wrote:So we are nearly done with preseason. I want your take on where we stand at this point. Short takes, quick summaries, on strengths, weaknesses, the best personnel for starters going forward, and a summary. Here’s mine:

Strengths: Ball and player movement, bench, rookies, shooting.
Weaknesses: Rebounding, starting unit, bigs, defense.
Best Personnel Starting 5: Cody, Kemba, Miles, Lamb, Batum
Summary: Hornets will be fun to watch and can score in regular season action. They have serious issues with rebounding, defense and (prediction) crunch time execution. Coach needs to put our best/most talented players out front for majority minutes. Must make some trades to get more productive solid guys via giving up on Frank, MKG and (impossible but always hopeful) Batum. He should be a starter now but could really use a better 4 in his place with Miles at the 3.

WOW. I always knew we should've kept Clifford.

1. FAR more entertaining brand of basketball. Adding Miles Bridges dunks and more regularly featured Monk bombs makes fans more likely to buy tickets and more insane when cheering the home team. Kemba Walker was the only entertaining talent. Not anymore.

2. FAR more passing and team play. It's hard to believe that this is virtually the same group that finished bottom 5 in assists. The subtraction of Dwight is huge here. Cody works on behalf of his teammates, involves everyone and makes everyone more dangerous. Kemba has been relieved of iso duties because the coach actually knows how to run a team offense.

3. MUCH deeper bench. Before the seasons over, 2 of last season starters (MKG + Marvin) may be bench players. Can't say enough about the upgrade from MCW to Tony Parker. No longer does an opposing defense get to rest when Kemba sits. The offense is going to tax opposing defenders all game long. The third stringer Devonte Graham is better than any backup since Jeremy Lin.

Kemba:
Liked the way he eased into preseason taking it up a half gear or so each game. Really have huge hopes for him this year and him unlocking his true floor general potential playing in an up tempo team an really pushing the ball. Hope to see him recognize and reward those who run the floor with him. Already seems to enjoy throwing lobs to Bridges.

Parker: I really liked what we saw from him. His first game was rough, but since then he really looked solid. I can see him playing that reliable, bench scoring PG role that we had and then lost with Lin (maybe with the flair that Lin had, but a similar impact).

Graham:
Just looks so solid. As he showed in SL, this kid just belongs in the NBA. He had that 1 suspect preseason game (Vs the Heat I think?) but outside of that he was just fantastic. He reminds me of Jarret Jack - a guy who is a top shelf back up, can do a little of everything, might not be a full time starter but can easily fill in a starting PG should injury hit - and you wouldn't be too worried about him holding it down.

Lamb:
I know people like to rag on Clifford, but I think he did wonders for Lambs game. Lamb's BBIQ is so far ahead of where it used to be. He plays in the flow of the game so much more and just lets things come to him. He looks more and more effortless yet more and more dangerous. I used to cringe a little when I watched Lamb play, now I find myself enjoying him a lot more and the way he glides around and finds seams in the D to punish them.

Monk:
Said it earlier - I think he is reckless. Not Ben Gordon reckless, but really reckless. I enjoy watching him splash 3's or sky for a rebound/dunk etc and his willingness to drive and dish is great (some nice diagonal passing), but he plays to "street" and not enugh substance. He puts too much pepper on his passes, takes some bas shots, looks for something that isn't there by forcing it. That said, he is young and only a 2nd year player. I also think he needs an inbetween game. Its either bombing 3's or driving. I'd like to see some pull up J's from midrange etc.

Bacon:
I get it, he can score buckets and he drives like a champ, but I don't think he plays within the structure of a team concept with crisp ball movement, quick/smart decisions etc. I'm ok with him in limited bursts, but anything more than that I think kills our flow (even though he gets his).

Batum:
I think he has looked sensational this preseason. Pushing the ball, taking his shots - and his D is the best that I have seen him play since he has been with us. He looks a step quicker to me, his ball movement is there (as it always is). I think Bats is going to have a huge season.

Bridges:
What can I say? Probably not much because I am very biased. I lobbied hard for this kid after his freshman season and lost total interest in the draft when he pulled out and went back to college. I was so thrilled when we drafted him this yeas and can't remember being this excited about one of our draft picks in a long time. I really, really like this kid. And that just increased during SL and preseason. I hope he gets the opportunity to get a lot of PT during the season. Good things happen when he is on the court. I also think he is our best defender. We've already seen him defend all positions 1 through 5 and he does it very well. I'm super high on this kid.

Williams:
Looking like he's going to be reduced to a catch and shoot stretch PF and so long as he is hitting them that's all good. The leadership and energy he provides also accounts for something. He's very hard not to root for because he seems so likeable.

MKG:
Oh man, I don't know what to say. I want him to do well, I like him as an energy man off the bench (not even a 6th man), but I'd be lying if I said I am not worried about him and how he fits. In a very reduced role in a spread open offense that provides a lot of driving lanes he can be impactful. He rebounds like a champ and plays balls out, but outside of that, he's essentially the same guy we drafted when we couldn't draft Davis.

Zeller:
His screen setting is still there. He still rolls well and the 3pt stroke is nice, but our rim protection sucks. He is such a hard worker and plays super physical, but he was made to look like a b*tch against someone like DeAndre Jordan. Still, hard not to like Cody.

WIlly:
Really impressive. Kind plays like Al Jefferson did (which people hated) but it's effective and productive.

Kaminsky:
Blows.

Biz:
Also blows.

Kemba finally looks like he’s going to have a bit of a supporting cast and an offensive system that isn’t so damn easy to defend. What impressed me the most is JB’s willingness to move guys to positions and roles where they fit best based on their play and not on their history. I also like how he’s realized that Frank is awful and doesn’t deserve heavy minutes. What a total liability on both ends of the floor.

We are way better at PG this year. I won’t say we are as good there as the Kemba/Lin season but Graham looks like he can develop into a great PG option for us. He brings even more offensively to the table than Tony does right now, but it’s hard to say he’s the better backup PG just yet.

Miles Bridges should have everyone excited. Let’s remember he’s a rookie with zero regular season games played so far. But what he’s shown in preseason and summer league has got to have you excited. He is very active and explosive. The most explosive player this franchise has had since Gerald Wallace except he’s more of a playmaker and has a way better shot. He’s also broader so he can be more like a Larry Johnson / Gerald Wallace hybrid.

Willy has the backup center spot locked up and gives us something offensively at the C spot we’ve never had before. He’s going to make a difference for us this year.

Marvin is officially just a stretch PF option now. Still a good leader and has a big role on this team but Miles should see more of his minutes as the year goes on.

Monk is an exciting player and his playmaking ability will help us a lot. He just needs better shot selection and I agree with Slam, would love to see him work on a mid range game.

I'm here for the Frank takes.

It was always going to end this way from the moment we made the pick. Deep down we've always known.

-Basically everybody looked ready to contribute except Frank, Biz and the 2-way contract guys. I'm afraid we'll never find a use for Frank at this point, in the last game Macura looked roughly as useful which is not a great sign. Biz is just going to be a big body who will be ready when called upon. I still think he can have a role if we need to protect the paint and rebound but Borrego obviously knows what he offers and did not need to see it in preseason.

-Parker and Willy look better than expected, and they play really well together. I hope TP can finally solve our backup PG issue. Willy seems to have put in a lot of work over the summer, if he can keep hitting threes like he did in preseason that will be big.

-Both rookies looked ahead of schedule. Miles seems like a potential star once he figures it all out, the only nit-pick as of now is that he still gets lost on defense a lot but when he's in the right spot he guards well. He just needs to learn, and he will. Graham could probably be a decent backup right now but I'm fine with Parker getting minutes to start since he has also looked good. I'm hopeful Graham can take over the backup spot next season as a young and intriguing upgrade when TP slows down. Graham also makes me confident we can give TP 'maintenance' days on back-to-backs without everything falling apart.

-Monk showed flashes. Borrego's system seems to work much better for him, I'm always pleasantly surprised at his willingness to pass. Still a bit out of control, but the good seems to outweigh the bad. If he can eventually differentiate between when he needs to force the issue and when he should let things develop for a second he will become an even better player. Right now he's just living off talent, and it's an exciting style.

-Zeller is so important to the team. I really hope he can stay healthy all year.

-Marv's stroke looked good, but he also looked a bit old on the defensive end. I also think he might cede his starting spot to Miles later on in the year, but for now I like all the young guys together in the second unit.

-Lamb is still looking good, he's going to have a 15ppg+ season with the starters (already averaged 13ppg last year) and people will realize he's improved a lot since his OKC days.

-Batum still threw several dumb passes but it was less often so I was happy with him. I liked a couple specific instances where Borrego pulled him aside during free throw attempts and then he immediately attacked the defense the next few possession. It seems like the coach is not just going to let him play space cadet all night, if he's just floating out there he will have his attention grabbed and refocused. I still hate that contract but hopefully Borrego can be a good change for Batum.

Braggins wrote:I'm here for the Frank takes.

It was always going to end this way from the moment we made the pick. Deep down we've always known.

its one thing to look bad but his confidence is shot too

I'll feel like it's a major win if one of MKG (injury) or Frank (confidence) turns into a consistently reliable player.

yosemiteben wrote:I'll feel like it's a major win if one of MKG (injury) or Frank (confidence) turns into a consistently reliable player.

Im one of the few that isnt worried about MKG. He'll play a key role harassing opposing scorers for 20-25 mpg imo. Hes strongest in the areas where the team is the weak and we have two stretch 5s to offset his lack of shooting.

I didnt watch any of the preseaon because it sucks ass but im excited for the lineups that are designed based on the their skills and having young players that can really play and our depth.

i dont know if we are going to win more games but we will be more fun

We have the most depth I've ever seen, and though it's early it looks like we picked two studs up in the 2018 draft. I'd say the glass is half full here.