Preseason games discussion thread 2019

[scrabbarista]

I love it when announcers get excited for a contestant winning the same amount of money as they just made for announcing that the contestant won that amount of money. I call it the Pat Sajak Effect.

[Kabookalu]

Is there any other team that uses the jumbotron stream for preseason? I swear it's only the Spurs. Guess it's better than nothing, but it can be frustrating to watch.

[scrabbarista]

Zion is already having Steph-level gravity in this game. Getting double teamed when he runs toward the paint, even without the ball.

Spurs would rather give up wide open jumpers than let him catch the ball within ten feet.

[Duke4life831]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

[Funcrusher]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

[Funcrusher]

This is pretty ass

[scrabbarista]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

Yeah, he probably just isn't confident of where he's supposed to be yet. Nothing about him before these games has ever indicated that he's lazy. He's just trying to think his way to understanding what he should be doing, hopefully.

Otoh, you have a point on the times he's not exerting himself; but I think we should wait at least until the regular season before we really judge where he's currently at as an NBA defender, never mind where he'll be in six months or a couple of years.

[Duke4life831]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

He's getting steals and reading passing lanes well when he's in the paint. Outside on the perimeter though, he's getting lost 24/7 out there and blowing simple rotations. He lost Carroll I dont know how many times that first half. And like you said, transition and on ball it looks like he just doesn't care. Transition he just jogs and lets the ball go right by him and on ball, a guy makes one move and he just gives up and quits and fouls him.

Again a flat out stud on the offensive end, Im not taking that part away. I have yet seen a defender or team defense have any idea on how to stop him so far in the preseason. Its either an easy layup, or they foul him, or the defense over commits to him and because of his crazy gravity, everyone else gets easy looks. But as much praise as his offense has been getting, I definitely think his defense deserves a ton of criticism. Its been really bad.

[Duke4life831]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

Yeah, he probably just isn't confident of where he's supposed to be yet. Nothing about him before these games has ever indicated that he's lazy. He's just trying to think his way to understanding what he should be doing, hopefully.

Otoh, you have a point on the times he's not exerting himself; but I think we should wait at least until the regular season before we really judge where he's currently at as an NBA defender, never mind where he'll be in six months or a couple of years.

Im definitely not saying the book is written and he's a horrible defender. Its only his 3rd preseason game, so ya definitely lets wait and see. All Im saying is I think its fair with all the praise he has gotten offensively, to call out his bad defense. I dont know if its laziness or just conditioning, but he is putting the minimum amount of energy possible on that end so far 2.5 games into preseason. Hopefully this changes, because defense was one of his biggest selling points as a prospect.

[itrsteve]

Celtics exposed

[Barnzy]

Man Lonzo Ball sucks.

His shooting looks worse than last season.

[Duke4life831]

I am curious to see how long Melli keeps this level of play up. The way he has played so far this preseason, he seems like the ideal fit at the 5 next to Zion. Defensively it looks like he plays pretty smart defense. Love how he has been playing offensively.

[Funcrusher]

Zion's defense maybe just as bad as his offense is good. Man its rough watching him on that end. With that said, he looks pretty unstoppable on the offensive end. He either gets a clean look at the rim or gets fouled driving. The dude is going to live at the line.

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

He's getting steals and reading passing lanes well when he's in the paint. Outside on the perimeter though, he's getting lost 24/7 out there and blowing simple rotations. He lost Carroll I dont know how many times that first half. And like you said, transition and on ball it looks like he just doesn't care. Transition he just jogs and lets the ball go right by him and on ball, a guy makes one move and he just gives up and quits and fouls him.

Again a flat out stud on the offensive end, Im not taking that part away. I have yet seen a defender or team defense have any idea on how to stop him so far in the preseason. Its either an easy layup, or they foul him, or the defense over commits to him and because of his crazy gravity, everyone else gets easy looks. But as much praise as his offense has been getting, I definitely think his defense deserves a ton of criticism. Its been really bad.

Oh I agree, I have no problem calling him out on D (I'm not Clyde lol), I just didn't think it was quite as bad as you initially phrased it. But that could honestly just be splitting hairs, you're definitely right that it's concerning given defense was supposed to be part of the package with him.

[Duke4life831]

I think he's been below-average but that's an exaggeration imo. As a help defender/free safety playing the passing lanes he's still been solid (which has always been the strongest aspect of his game defensively). But on ball/on closeouts/in transition he's not exerting any effort, and it's definitely frustrating.

He's getting steals and reading passing lanes well when he's in the paint. Outside on the perimeter though, he's getting lost 24/7 out there and blowing simple rotations. He lost Carroll I dont know how many times that first half. And like you said, transition and on ball it looks like he just doesn't care. Transition he just jogs and lets the ball go right by him and on ball, a guy makes one move and he just gives up and quits and fouls him.

Again a flat out stud on the offensive end, Im not taking that part away. I have yet seen a defender or team defense have any idea on how to stop him so far in the preseason. Its either an easy layup, or they foul him, or the defense over commits to him and because of his crazy gravity, everyone else gets easy looks. But as much praise as his offense has been getting, I definitely think his defense deserves a ton of criticism. Its been really bad.

Oh I agree, I have no problem calling him out on D (I'm not Clyde lol), I just didn't think it was quite as bad as you initially phrased it. But that could honestly just be splitting hairs, you're right that it's concerning given defense was supposed to be part of the package with him.

I could be a little too harsh, but right at the start of this half, gives no effort to stop Murray on ball, then loses Lyles on the perimeter and Lyles got the wide open 3 (missed it). Of course I was expecting him to look like a rookie on defense, but didnt think it would be to this level.

[zimpy27]

He's getting steals and reading passing lanes well when he's in the paint. Outside on the perimeter though, he's getting lost 24/7 out there and blowing simple rotations. He lost Carroll I dont know how many times that first half. And like you said, transition and on ball it looks like he just doesn't care. Transition he just jogs and lets the ball go right by him and on ball, a guy makes one move and he just gives up and quits and fouls him.

Again a flat out stud on the offensive end, Im not taking that part away. I have yet seen a defender or team defense have any idea on how to stop him so far in the preseason. Its either an easy layup, or they foul him, or the defense over commits to him and because of his crazy gravity, everyone else gets easy looks. But as much praise as his offense has been getting, I definitely think his defense deserves a ton of criticism. Its been really bad.

Oh I agree, I have no problem calling him out on D (I'm not Clyde lol), I just didn't think it was quite as bad as you initially phrased it. But that could honestly just be splitting hairs, you're right that it's concerning given defense was supposed to be part of the package with him.

I could be a little too harsh, but right at the start of this half, gives no effort to stop Murray on ball, then loses Lyles on the perimeter and Lyles got the wide open 3 (missed it). Of course I was expecting him to look like a rookie on defense, but didnt think it would be to this level.

He has been much worse on that end than expected.

I'm most surprised that Zion hasn't registered a single block in 4 preseason games. He averaged nearly 2 a game in college.

Maybe he just isn't trying on that end because it's preseason?

[Duke4life831]

Oh I agree, I have no problem calling him out on D (I'm not Clyde lol), I just didn't think it was quite as bad as you initially phrased it. But that could honestly just be splitting hairs, you're right that it's concerning given defense was supposed to be part of the package with him.

I could be a little too harsh, but right at the start of this half, gives no effort to stop Murray on ball, then loses Lyles on the perimeter and Lyles got the wide open 3 (missed it). Of course I was expecting him to look like a rookie on defense, but didnt think it would be to this level.

He has been much worse on that end than expected.

I'm most surprised that Zion hasn't registered a single block in 4 preseason games. He averaged nearly 2 a game in college.

Maybe he just isn't trying on that end because it's preseason?

Ive barely seen him even leave his feet to contest a shot in the paint. Im hoping its just a preseason thing, but really its the constant blowing rotation and leaving his man wide open on the perimeter that is bugging me the most. Whoever his man is, has been wide open all preseason out on the perimeter and you see a ton of really late and lazy closeouts by him.

[God Squad]

Man Lonzo Ball sucks.

His shooting looks worse than last season.

Absolutely not. He looks much improved, hes even hitting his free throws at a decent clip. Mind you haven't seen today game against the spurs, but overall hes been better.

[Funcrusher]

NAW you're my spirit animal

[zimpy27]

I could be a little too harsh, but right at the start of this half, gives no effort to stop Murray on ball, then loses Lyles on the perimeter and Lyles got the wide open 3 (missed it). Of course I was expecting him to look like a rookie on defense, but didnt think it would be to this level.

He has been much worse on that end than expected.

I'm most surprised that Zion hasn't registered a single block in 4 preseason games. He averaged nearly 2 a game in college.

Maybe he just isn't trying on that end because it's preseason?

Ive barely seen him even leave his feet to contest a shot in the paint. Im hoping its just a preseason thing, but really its the constant blowing rotation and leaving his man wide open on the perimeter that is bugging me the most. Whoever his man is, has been wide open all preseason out on the perimeter and you see a ton of really late and lazy closeouts by him.

He's been going 100% on offense, probably just needs conditioning for NBA. It definitely seems like an effort thing and it's possible he was told to go hard on offense and relax on defense by the pelicans coaching staff.

[perempe20]

how expensive are the tickets for the preseason? lots of empty seats everywhere.