Sophomore Impressions 2016-17

[Slava]

Granted it's not a lot of footage, but from what I've seen of Okafor, I'm actually impressed by his defense. He's not elite, but he's much better at it than what people say of it. He's not that bad defending the perimeter, and as far as interior protection goes, players are shooting slightly worse when Okafor contests the shot.

I'm pretty sure all the advanced metrics paint him to be a horrible defender, but they have a unique situation going on over there in Philly. They're starting 2 centers, and all their perimeter defenders are awful. Give him his own team and I can see him thriving as a defender.

His success or failure at NBA level will depend on him being atleast an average pick and roll defender and a very good passer to open shooters out of the double teams he will inevitably draw. Right now I see some improvements in passing albeit not much of a sample size but his pnr defense is just not good. Its not like they have utter duds on perimeter either, both Covington and McConnell are positive defenders.

[Wraps_fan]

The 2015 draft class seems to be textbook "boom or bust"

Booker is a 20 year old who's being asked to take 17+ shots a game, and even though he hasn't really been efficient, he's still showing promise. Obviously he shouldn't be a guy who needs to shoot that much, he's better served as a 3rd option

Porzingis has been great, KAT too. Russell has improved, albeit slightly. Myles Turner is very impressive, Lyles is solid. Norman Powell just needs consistent minutes to truly showcase himself, Richardson is a solid 2nd round pick.

And then you have the guys that just look completely lost or taking no steps forward in year 2.

Winslow has been absolutely catastrophic offensively. 11.8 points per game on 12.7 field goal attempts is insanely bad.

Hezonja, Mudiay, Caulie-Stein have taken a step back somehow, and a lot of other mid-late 1st round picks haven't done anything yet

Oh right, Jokic is a sophomore too, forgot he took a year to come over and he's pretty damn good too.

It's really funny how draft classes work, the 2015 draft class (plus Jokic) is looking like it's going to refill the league with really good bigs (KAT/KP/Jokic/Turner), the 2016 draft class gave us promising wings in Simmons/Ingram (Ingram's taking a little bit of time but he'll be fine) and the 2017 class will make the PG position even more stacked.

[Dan Z]

norman powell is averging 15/4/3 as a starter in 7 games. his 3 ball in money now and so expolsive. his defense is still legit. dude either starts or gets a dnp or plays 5 in garbage time... he is gonna be stud. gonna be pissed when a team like brooklyn throws a max at him next year lol

Yep. For a guy who has a hard time getting minutes he looks like a tough seasoned pro at both ends every time he gets on the floor. Gonna be a very good player in this league for a long time.

Watch on YouTube

Is he a free agent after this season?

[ensergiog]

Both Zinger and Kat are clearly at the top of their draft class but I am curious to see what you guys think of the other bigs that were apart of the draft. Has Okafor lost that position with the lack of big time minutes in Philly? How do you rank the next 3

Some stats this year:

Okafor - 11pts/5reb/1ast/0.4stl/1.2blk on 51/0/61 in 23mpg with 9.3FGA

Turner - 15pts/7.3reb/1ast/0.6stl/2.4blk on 53/38/80 in 29.5mpg with 10.7FGA

Jokic - 11.5pts/7.5reb/3.2ast/0.6stl/0.6blk on 57/28/80 in 24mpg with 8.1FGA

Personally I think Okafor has dropped below the other two guys. Turner is an absolute stud of the 3.

Turner and Jokic are future multiple all-stars.

Sent from my SM-G900M using RealGM mobile app

[The_Hater]

Both Zinger and Kat are clearly at the top of their draft class but I am curious to see what you guys think of the other bigs that were apart of the draft. Has Okafor lost that position with the lack of big time minutes in Philly? How do you rank the next 3

Some stats this year:

Okafor - 11pts/5reb/1ast/0.4stl/1.2blk on 51/0/61 in 23mpg with 9.3FGA

Turner - 15pts/7.3reb/1ast/0.6stl/2.4blk on 53/38/80 in 29.5mpg with 10.7FGA

Jokic - 11.5pts/7.5reb/3.2ast/0.6stl/0.6blk on 57/28/80 in 24mpg with 8.1FGA

Personally I think Okafor has dropped below the other two guys. Turner is an absolute stud of the 3.

Turner and Jokic are future multiple all-stars.

Sent from my SM-G900M using RealGM mobile app

That's a pretty fantastic rookie class when Okafor is the 5th best big man. Af best.

[PerkinsFor3]

I think this is a good time to re-evaluate the Devin Booker hype: So far, he's at: -1.0 OBPM, -2.4 DPBM, -3.4 BPM, -.4 VORP, TS% of of 49.7% & PER 12.8. Not great.

[PerkinsFor3]

norman powell is averging 15/4/3 as a starter in 7 games. his 3 ball in money now and so expolsive. his defense is still legit. dude either starts or gets a dnp or plays 5 in garbage time... he is gonna be stud. gonna be pissed when a team like brooklyn throws a max at him next year lol

Yep. For a guy who has a hard time getting minutes he looks like a tough seasoned pro at both ends every time he gets on the floor. Gonna be a very good player in this league for a long time.

Watch on YouTube

Is he a free agent after this season?

Team option for 17/18 iirc.

[gaspar]

Read on Twitter

29.0 ppg on .656 TS% in the last 4 games for Book

[grumpysaddle]

Read on Twitter

29.0 ppg on .656 TS% in the last 4 games for Book

21 of those in the last 6:55. And I think like 9 or 10 in the last minute and a half.

[gaspar]

Back-to-back 39 pts games for Booker in Mexico!

[magnumt]

More wins for the Suns!

--Mags

[Mr Puddles]

Booker has been amazing lately, 31 ppg, 55% FG, 60 % 3PG (on attempts) over the last 5 games.

People were overreacting on him at the start of the season. Booker is the 13th youngest player to play in the NBA this year - younger than a lot of guys who were drafted this year under the label 'high-upside players' like Jaylen Brown and Cheick Diallo. Meanwhile he was thrust into becoming the team's go-to guy on offense whilst starting the season with a foot injury. Of course there is going to be an adjustment period for him where he grows more comfortable with his role, discovers his shot selection etc.

My take on Booker has been that he's not going to be a superstar, but that his ceiling is going to be a legit number 2 option. Having watched him play every game this season, that opinion remains unchanged.

Fun Booker fact: as of right this week he holds the record for most points ever scored in a quarter by a player who is not legally allowed to drink yet (29 in the 4th, against Dallas)

[Merc_Porto]

KAT last 5 games

24.4 PTS
14.2 REB
3.2 AST
2.0 BLK
57.8 FG%
88.5 FT%

[NaturalBuns]

I think this is a good time to re-evaluate the Devin Booker hype: So far, he's at: -1.0 OBPM, -2.4 DPBM, -3.4 BPM, -.4 VORP, TS% of of 49.7% & PER 12.8. Not great.

Hmm idk Booker and kat to me are going to be Allstars. Booker has been up and down but he's 20 not 25.

He will be fine

[PerkinsFor3]

I think this is a good time to re-evaluate the Devin Booker hype: So far, he's at: -1.0 OBPM, -2.4 DPBM, -3.4 BPM, -.4 VORP, TS% of of 49.7% & PER 12.8. Not great.

Hmm idk Booker and kat to me are going to be Allstars. Booker has been up and down but he's 20 not 25.

He will be fine

Hes been fantastic lately. But up to a few games ago his numbers werent good.

[DaleyBlind]

I think this is a good time to re-evaluate the Devin Booker hype: So far, he's at: -1.0 OBPM, -2.4 DPBM, -3.4 BPM, -.4 VORP, TS% of of 49.7% & PER 12.8. Not great.

Hmm idk Booker and kat to me are going to be Allstars. Booker has been up and down but he's 20 not 25.

He will be fine

Hes been fantastic lately. But up to a few games ago his numbers werent good.

Been injured most of the year though.

[Marcus]

Booker has been amazing lately, 31 ppg, 55% FG, 60 % 3PG (on attempts) over the last 5 games.

People were overreacting on him at the start of the season. Booker is the 13th youngest player to play in the NBA this year - younger than a lot of guys who were drafted this year under the label 'high-upside players' like Jaylen Brown and Cheick Diallo. Meanwhile he was thrust into becoming the team's go-to guy on offense whilst starting the season with a foot injury. Of course there is going to be an adjustment period for him where he grows more comfortable with his role, discovers his shot selection etc.

My take on Booker has been that he's not going to be a superstar, but that his ceiling is going to be a legit number 2 option. Having watched him play every game this season, that opinion remains unchanged.

Fun Booker fact: as of right this week he holds the record for most points ever scored in a quarter by a player who is not legally allowed to drink yet (29 in the 4th, against Dallas)

Who said Chieck Diallo was a high upside pick?

[Klomp]

KAT last 5 games

24.4 PTS
14.2 REB
3.2 AST
2.0 BLK
57.8 FG%
88.5 FT%

Last 16 games

22.4 ppg
13.8 rpg
4.0 apg
1.7 bpg
50.2 FG%
87.7 FT%

Wolves are 8-8 in the stretch, including wins over current playoff teams Atlanta x2 (22-17), Milwaukee (20-18), Houston (31-11) and Oklahoma City (24-17). And could've/should've been even better over that stretch.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Mr Puddles]

Booker has been amazing lately, 31 ppg, 55% FG, 60 % 3PG (on attempts) over the last 5 games.

People were overreacting on him at the start of the season. Booker is the 13th youngest player to play in the NBA this year - younger than a lot of guys who were drafted this year under the label 'high-upside players' like Jaylen Brown and Cheick Diallo. Meanwhile he was thrust into becoming the team's go-to guy on offense whilst starting the season with a foot injury. Of course there is going to be an adjustment period for him where he grows more comfortable with his role, discovers his shot selection etc.

My take on Booker has been that he's not going to be a superstar, but that his ceiling is going to be a legit number 2 option. Having watched him play every game this season, that opinion remains unchanged.

Fun Booker fact: as of right this week he holds the record for most points ever scored in a quarter by a player who is not legally allowed to drink yet (29 in the 4th, against Dallas)

Who said Chieck Diallo was a high upside pick?

I believe it was the writers at Horse 'n Hound magazine.

The point was more that Booker is younger than -or practically the same age as - a lot of players who were drafted this past summer moreso based on upside rather than actual production... Just to put his current production somewhat into perspective about what's realistic to expect at this point.

[K_chile22]

Current top 10 Sophomores in WS.
Nice to see 2 Rockets in there. Montrezl is also top 6 in WS/48, BPM, VORP, and PER. Pretty good season for the young guy. Took advantage of his opportunity