The Gradey Dick Thread Part 2

[KL78192020]

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Whitmore already showing he can score at NBA level. Still only 19.

Another great play on the break right now. What exactly does Gradey do better than him? He would've been a steal at 13.

[Tha Cynic]

If you're stuck analyzing a player based off stats alone you're missing the bigger picture.

I'll say it first. I see Steph Curry all over his game. Now. Gradey isn't a generational talent. He's moreso a role player version. Steph has elite handling, passing, and obviously shooting chops that Gradey will very likely never have. But. The way Gradey navigates the court in conjunction with his shooting threat screams Curry to me. If his shot becomes consistent and accurate he'll become a lynchpin of a successful offense.

Whether he gets there is another matter, but, if he does, life's good as a Raptors fan.

It's why I think the Raps should go hard after Walker or Ausar. Defensive minded SF of the future with POA defensive capabilities. Both with strong vision/connective passing.

The issue is he doesn't move as quickly as Curry. So even if he can navigate screens well, I don't know how much he'll find himself open. Maybe a better comparison is Rip Hamilton with better 3 point shooting. He can use his length to get that shot off over players.

[Tha Cynic]

Everything about Gradey Dick is his lack of strength. He reminds me of Poeltl when he misses those bunnies inside, but with Gradey it's on the jumper and when he catches the ball. He just plays extremely soft. Hopefully that strength training really makes that length he has tighter.

[gbball]

First gleague game I got to watch this season. Product is absolutely horrible, from the players to the coaching to the reffing. This was bush league all the way around.

Team doesn't run jack for Gradey, they park him in the corner and far to much of his time on the court the ball is on the opposite side of the floor without a chance of him seeing it. He looks like a kid who has no idea where or when his shots are coming from. The one time they ran Gradey off a screen he got doubled an immediately made the correct read for an open 3. Gradey is the only guy on this team that consistently makes the correct next pass in a timely fashion. Not a good combo to have the guy you want getting the ball off good ball movement be the only guy moving the ball.

There is a reason we haven't seen JFL called up, when he wasn't completely invisible out there he became a tunnel vision scrub, he had a few nice plays towards the end but you can see the agenda he plays with. None of these guys want to pass to the scrawny white kid who got picked high, that they consider themselves better than. 90% of the team is just oozing with disdain and jealousy for Gradey.

In contrast to our treatment of our highly picked rookie, Bufkin is handed the ball and told to do whatever he wants out there. This is more conducive to his game, but still going to result in him having the opportunity to look good, where Gradey isn't given that chance. By the way Bufkin was horrible tonight, nothing he showed with the ball in his hands would transfer to the NBA right now.

Gradey still desperately needs to get stronger and just become more assertive in every area of the game. His shot just seems to lack kinetic pop right now, not alot of legs in it and to me his offhand seems "lazy" or something, like it's not guiding the ball as effectively as it did in college and high school. My biggest frustration with Gradey is his lack of hunger on the 3pt line, he's not hunting those shots like true 3pt shooters do, he needs to stop looking to defer or pump fake and start pulling the trigger in peoples faces like he doesn't care they are there. Gradey also needs to stop trying to put up a floater or get all the way to the basket if he is chased off the 3pt line, just pull up from 17 feet and drill it, that alone would cut down on his awkward looking plays and a bundle of turnovers.

Overall, like I said in earlier posts, Gradey is not built for the gleague. The 905 are terrible with or without him. The league itself is at such a low level in comparison to the NBA that it is almost worthless to evaluate players from there, you're just looking for a translatable skill from a guy with a decent attitude and the genetics to compete in the league, those guys are few and far between.

I agree with all of this. I haven't watched the game today, so I don't know what kind of makes he had inside the 3pt line, but a positive to me is that his 2pt shots efficiency has been solid.

He needs some positive to build on and I agree, he should hunt shots he feels comfortable taking...starting with midrange pullups. It seems like he can hit those in his sleep. Then he can extend out to 3.

[Boogie!]

Everything about Gradey Dick is his lack of strength. He reminds me of Poeltl when he misses those bunnies inside, but with Gradey it's on the jumper and when he catches the ball. He just plays extremely soft. Hopefully that strength training really makes that length he has tighter.

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

[Tacoma]

First gleague game I got to watch this season. Product is absolutely horrible, from the players to the coaching to the reffing. This was bush league all the way around.

Team doesn't run jack for Gradey, they park him in the corner and far to much of his time on the court the ball is on the opposite side of the floor without a chance of him seeing it. He looks like a kid who has no idea where or when his shots are coming from. The one time they ran Gradey off a screen he got doubled an immediately made the correct read for an open 3. Gradey is the only guy on this team that consistently makes the correct next pass in a timely fashion. Not a good combo to have the guy you want getting the ball off good ball movement be the only guy moving the ball.

There is a reason we haven't seen JFL called up, when he wasn't completely invisible out there he became a tunnel vision scrub, he had a few nice plays towards the end but you can see the agenda he plays with. None of these guys want to pass to the scrawny white kid who got picked high, that they consider themselves better than. 90% of the team is just oozing with disdain and jealousy for Gradey.

In contrast to our treatment of our highly picked rookie, Bufkin is handed the ball and told to do whatever he wants out there. This is more conducive to his game, but still going to result in him having the opportunity to look good, where Gradey isn't given that chance. By the way Bufkin was horrible tonight, nothing he showed with the ball in his hands would transfer to the NBA right now.

Gradey still desperately needs to get stronger and just become more assertive in every area of the game. His shot just seems to lack kinetic pop right now, not alot of legs in it and to me his offhand seems "lazy" or something, like it's not guiding the ball as effectively as it did in college and high school. My biggest frustration with Gradey is his lack of hunger on the 3pt line, he's not hunting those shots like true 3pt shooters do, he needs to stop looking to defer or pump fake and start pulling the trigger in peoples faces like he doesn't care they are there. Gradey also needs to stop trying to put up a floater or get all the way to the basket if he is chased off the 3pt line, just pull up from 17 feet and drill it, that alone would cut down on his awkward looking plays and a bundle of turnovers.

Overall, like I said in earlier posts, Gradey is not built for the gleague. The 905 are terrible with or without him. The league itself is at such a low level in comparison to the NBA that it is almost worthless to evaluate players from there, you're just looking for a translatable skill from a guy with a decent attitude and the genetics to compete in the league, those guys are few and far between.

Thank you. If [bolded text] is true then WTF is the point of having a g-league team if not to develop players we need to develop? Gradey should be #1 development priority and we should be running plays for him, not just feed him to the wolves down there.

Sounds like he's down there primarily for playing time, which he's not getting up here because of our need to win. But didn't we specifically hire a development coach in Darko? Sounds like making the play-in/playoffs trumps developing our lottery pick.

[bballsparkin]

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

I would think his lack of strength effects his play on the defensive side more. The shot is likely due to the different distance from college and some mental stuff plus strength.

edit: and of course the speed of game.

[hype_2004]

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

I would think his lack of strength effects his play on the defensive side more. The shot is likely due to the different distance from college and some mental stuff plus strength.

edit: and of course the speed of game.

It's all about STRENGTH, being stronger brings confidence, confidence brings assertiveness which enhances play making abilities. A skilled weak player will always gets abused by stronger less skilled players, Gradey's confidence is shot because he's intimidated by the bigger players he has to play against, there's no rocket science to it at all.

[Mark_83]

Everything about Gradey Dick is his lack of strength. He reminds me of Poeltl when he misses those bunnies inside, but with Gradey it's on the jumper and when he catches the ball. He just plays extremely soft. Hopefully that strength training really makes that length he has tighter.

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

Exactly. I don't know what exactly strength has to do with missing open shots.

[bballsparkin]

^^Let's hope he bulks up then.

[seanbig]

Did he get in a motorcycle accident aka Markell’s fultz so he. Can’t shoot anymore

[HumbleRen]

Everything about Gradey Dick is his lack of strength. He reminds me of Poeltl when he misses those bunnies inside, but with Gradey it's on the jumper and when he catches the ball. He just plays extremely soft. Hopefully that strength training really makes that length he has tighter.

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

Exactly. I don't know what exactly strength has to do with missing open shots.

Strength works in different ways, it’s not always noticeable such as mass and bulk.

From what I’m seeing, he seems to have a weak core and that can really limit your ability to transfer energy throughout your body, especially from deeper range.

I don’t think that’s the sole reason for his shooting woes, it seems to be more mental than anything but he’s 100% having issues gathering the energy to hit a consistent NBA 3.

[Mark_83]

Aren’t there skinny shooters out there?

I’m not sure why people keep attributing it to strength this is a player that all through his life was known as a shooter. The fact he suddenly can’t shoot is alarming and cannot be attributed fo strength. Again this is not some big man that needs to box out. It’s a guy whose main strength was shooting his whole life not being able to shoot. If he was weak and could shoot before it makes no sense to think the reason he can’t shoot now is because he’s still weak.

Exactly. I don't know what exactly strength has to do with missing open shots.

Strength works in different ways, it’s not always noticeable such as mass and bulk.

From what I’m seeing, he seems to have a weak core and that can really limit your ability to transfer energy throughout your body, especially from deeper range.

I don’t think that’s the sole reason for his shooting woes, it seems to be more mental than anything but he’s 100% having issues gathering the energy to hit a consistent NBA 3.

I think the whole he's struggling cause he's skinny narrative is cope. There are several players who are his exact height and weight, and many more who are very skinny relative to their height (Boucher weighs less, has less muscle than Gradey and he's at least 3 inches taller) who can still manage to shoot. It's mostly mental imo. Maybe getting stronger will make him more "confident" but I think the strong desire to attribute his shooting struggles to strength is that strength is easily fixable, whereas if it's mental then things become more complicated and there's more uncertainty.

[Tha Cynic]

Exactly. I don't know what exactly strength has to do with missing open shots.

Strength works in different ways, it’s not always noticeable such as mass and bulk.

From what I’m seeing, he seems to have a weak core and that can really limit your ability to transfer energy throughout your body, especially from deeper range.

I don’t think that’s the sole reason for his shooting woes, it seems to be more mental than anything but he’s 100% having issues gathering the energy to hit a consistent NBA 3.

I think the whole he's struggling cause he's skinny narrative is cope. There are several players who are his exact height and weight, and many more who are very skinny relative to their height (Boucher weighs less, has less muscle than Gradey and he's at least 3 inches taller) who can still manage to shoot. It's mostly mental imo. Maybe getting stronger will make him more "confident" but I think the strong desire to attribute his shooting struggles to strength is that strength is easily fixable, whereas if it's mental then things become more complicated and there's more uncertainty.

It's not about him being skinny. The way he shoots, it looks like he's not getting enough energy into his jumper on long range shots. I agree that it's not all strength though - you can clearly see that in the way he plays. He looks very rushed out there right now. But the strength should hopefully help him gain some confidence. He seems to be doing better on his midrange shots right now, so that's a good sign.

[lobosloboslobos]

CONFIDENCE

I don't know why anyone is talking about anything but this. When you're 19 and you arrive in the man's league to get dissed and benched and demoted despite having played maybe 100 minutes in the league then guess what you can easily lose confidence.

I have literally never heard Darko say a single positive thing about Gradey. He has obviously lost his confidence. That is the problem here. People wondering why he can't shoot all of a sudden, and why he hangs back and is afraid to step up. THAT is the obvious reason. Just compare the energy and balls he had in his first games as a Raptor. Totally unafraid. Now he's scared crapless. That is 100% on the team jerking him around so much. Sucks.

[Rumi]

Never liked the Grady pick and don't see him becoming anything more than a fringe bench piece in the league at best.

Surprising, too, as I had tons of faith in our drafting and we have sucked.

[anotherhomer]

Did he get in a motorcycle accident aka Markell’s fultz so he. Can’t shoot anymore

it's a fare miss for the FO for sure

[gbball]

After watching the game, Gradey was one of our better players along with Nowell. He definitely had some nice flashes. He didn't make most of his 3's but his defense was pretty solid and he had 2 nice contests at the rim. One for a block and the other called a goaltend.

One of his 3s was a 30 footer that he hit with ease. He also hit a midrange pullup that he looked like he could hit in his sleep. This alone, makes me think he's not on the Malachi Flynn trajectory. Malachi never became automatic from the midrange. But Gradey looks like he'll hit those with his eyes closed. The problem comes when he tries to move to quick or do too much, like make a quick pass without reading the defense well enough or try to get all the way to the rim instead of pulling up. He still gets surprised by the length and athleticism getting blocked about 2 or 3 times on good defensive plays. He needs to find his spots and understand how much time and space he has/needs to get shots off.

The 3pt shot needs to come around, it's not there now, even in warmups from what I could see during halftime.

He doesn't hunt for his shot and he's not trying to will the team to victory, but you can see the talent he has. Right now, he seems to be mostly trying to fit in.

[billy_hoyle]

Strength is for the defensive end. Once he stops getting abused there, he will calm down and hopefully hit some open shots. He's in his head right now.

Maybe he will come out of it, maybe he won't. Bust if he doesn't.

[deeps6x]

Did he get in a motorcycle accident aka Markell’s fultz so he. Can’t shoot anymore

Slept with a witch who cursed him?