Who has the best sophomore season?

[Buzzard]

"I think the East vs West bias is starting to become whiny BS."

That's the point I destroyed. I don't care about the rest of what you had to say. There clearly is a "bias" against West players because the competition there is so much greater. West domination has lasted 20 years and that's not going to change with these current crops of players.

Become is the key word. The East has won two of the past four championships, four of the past eight, so stop whining and start winning your own conference

Good luck to the Hawks. Good young core. I think they could even make the playoffs...because they're in the East.

I do think the media pundits are sleeping on them; 8th - 10th seed. It all depends on how the new players gel; and there are a lot of them.

[mariller]

In terms of individually turning a team around, Trae

I think Trae is about to do something; or at least get really close to doing something that has not been seen in the East in a very long time. Average 20 points and 10 assist for a whole season.

The Hawks will need Collins, Huerter, Hunter, Parker, Len, Reddish, Crabbe etc to play well but the playoffs are not out of the question. And that my friend would be a turn around.

John Wall did it in 2016/17, he was 0,1 point short in 2015/16. Doesn't seem like a very long time.

[Buzzard]

In terms of individually turning a team around, Trae

I think Trae is about to do something; or at least get really close to doing something that has not been seen in the East in a very long time. Average 20 points and 10 assist for a whole season.

The Hawks will need Collins, Huerter, Hunter, Parker, Len, Reddish, Crabbe etc to play well but the playoffs are not out of the question. And that my friend would be a turn around.

John Wall did it in 2016/17, he was 0,1 point short in 2015/16. Doesn't seem like a very long time.

I did not realize that. Its good info and thanks for correcting me.

[mariller]

I think Trae is about to do something; or at least get really close to doing something that has not been seen in the East in a very long time. Average 20 points and 10 assist for a whole season.

The Hawks will need Collins, Huerter, Hunter, Parker, Len, Reddish, Crabbe etc to play well but the playoffs are not out of the question. And that my friend would be a turn around.

John Wall did it in 2016/17, he was 0,1 point short in 2015/16. Doesn't seem like a very long time.

I did not realize that. Its good info and thanks for correcting me.

Yeah, he got forgotten reaallyyy fast.

[Knicks7Tape]

Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet

[stoo]

extremely solid class

[Heat4lyf]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

[DCRYsing89]

Doncic will be amazing, but I feel his numbers won’t be that different,
So in comparison won’t be a super large difference

On the other hand I think JJJ could breakout and is a possible fringe Allstar this season

[Slava]

JJJ will the best player of the lot.

[shmeakone]

I have a feeling Trae Young will be a bit underwhelming this year...

[Ball4life32]

I have a feeling Trae Young will be a bit underwhelming this year...

Why do you see him underwhelming?

[antonac]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

I feel people over-state his post ASB production. The numbers were good but lets pretend he's 26 and we're not just hyping up potential. The Hawks were awful as an offensive unit with him at the helm and he was turn over prone, he was streaky from three, and he is the worst starting defender in the league.

The potential is there and obviously some of these things will sort themselves out, not doubting his ROTY second place, but were these the qualities of a 25 year old PG you wouldn't be able to give him away.

he deserved second spot in the ROTY voting, but ROTY votes overlook winning impact and consistency in favour of glimpsed potential and highlights, but you do have to start factoring in those things as a player matures. I think he has a long way to go to iron those issues out of his game, and lets be honest, you put him on any play-off contending team and he makes them worse.

[Jadoogar]

I'm impressed Mitchell Robinson isn't winning, good job Realgm, proud of you

[3toheadmelo]

From Shams

2018 No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton appears primed for a big season. Suns officials, coaches and players all have raved about Ayton’s work ethic this offseason and believe he is going to have a monster campaign. He and Devin Booker will need to continue to build chemistry along with veteran additions Ricky Rubio and Aron Baynes and re-signed forward Kelly Oubre Jr. — with new coach Monty Williams providing a structure in Phoenix.

[Heat4lyf]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

I feel people over-state his post ASB production. The numbers were good but lets pretend he's 26 and we're not just hyping up potential. The Hawks were awful as an offensive unit with him at the helm and he was turn over prone, he was streaky from three, and he is the worst starting defender in the league.

The potential is there and obviously some of these things will sort themselves out, not doubting his ROTY second place, but were these the qualities of a 25 year old PG you wouldn't be able to give him away.

he deserved second spot in the ROTY voting, but ROTY votes overlook winning impact and consistency in favour of glimpsed potential and highlights, but you do have to start factoring in those things as a player matures. I think he has a long way to go to iron those issues out of his game, and lets be honest, you put him on any play-off contending team and he makes them worse.

Let's not pretend he's 26 then

[kg01]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

I feel people over-state his post ASB production. The numbers were good but lets pretend he's 26 and we're not just hyping up potential. The Hawks were awful as an offensive unit with him at the helm and he was turn over prone, he was streaky from three, and he is the worst starting defender in the league.

The potential is there and obviously some of these things will sort themselves out, not doubting his ROTY second place, but were these the qualities of a 25 year old PG you wouldn't be able to give him away.

he deserved second spot in the ROTY voting, but ROTY votes overlook winning impact and consistency in favour of glimpsed potential and highlights, but you do have to start factoring in those things as a player matures. I think he has a long way to go to iron those issues out of his game, and lets be honest, you put him on any play-off contending team and he makes them worse.

What does this even mean? He's not either of those things.

Judging him based on made-up criteria is the essence of moving goal posts to match one's argument.

[Ball4life32]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

I feel people over-state his post ASB production. The numbers were good but lets pretend he's 26 and we're not just hyping up potential. The Hawks were awful as an offensive unit with him at the helm and he was turn over prone, he was streaky from three, and he is the worst starting defender in the league.

The potential is there and obviously some of these things will sort themselves out, not doubting his ROTY second place, but were these the qualities of a 25 year old PG you wouldn't be able to give him away.

he deserved second spot in the ROTY voting, but ROTY votes overlook winning impact and consistency in favour of glimpsed potential and highlights, but you do have to start factoring in those things as a player matures. I think he has a long way to go to iron those issues out of his game, and lets be honest, you put him on any play-off contending team and he makes them worse.

Post all star break Hawks were #2 in the NBA in PPG at 119.9. They were #2 in the NBA in made 3’s per game at 15.3 and finished 10-14.

Trae averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds with a .576 TS% /118 OTRG in 33.1 minutes per game.

Imo that’d be impressive for a 26 year old...but Trae was a 20 year old rookie. Either way the Hawks were much better offensively with him on the floor pretty much since mid December....

[kg01]

Let's not pretend he's 26 then

Eggsactly!

[Buzzard]

I picked doncic
But don't sleep on young, he was beasting and feasting post ASB

I feel people over-state his post ASB production. The numbers were good but lets pretend he's 26 and we're not just hyping up potential. The Hawks were awful as an offensive unit with him at the helm and he was turn over prone, he was streaky from three, and he is the worst starting defender in the league.

The potential is there and obviously some of these things will sort themselves out, not doubting his ROTY second place, but were these the qualities of a 25 year old PG you wouldn't be able to give him away.

he deserved second spot in the ROTY voting, but ROTY votes overlook winning impact and consistency in favour of glimpsed potential and highlights, but you do have to start factoring in those things as a player matures. I think he has a long way to go to iron those issues out of his game, and lets be honest, you put him on any play-off contending team and he makes them worse.

Post all star break Hawks were #2 in the NBA in PPG at 119.9. They were #2 in the NBA in made 3’s per game at 15.3 and finished 10-14.

Trae averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds with a .576 TS% /118 OTRG in 33.1 minutes per game.

Imo that’d be impressive for a 26 year old...but Trae was a 20 year old rookie. Either way the Hawks were much better offensively with him on the floor pretty much since mid December....

Trae is going to kill it this year. Anyone who thinks differently drinks way to much ESPN kool-aid instead of watching him play. No one player can stay in front of him and he gets where he wants at will; while also seeing the floor like very few in the league.

Maybe the Hawks don't make the playoffs but that will have more to do with his supporting cast than how he plays this season.