The Gradey Dick Thread Part 3

[God Squad]

I won't say 15, but he has put on some muscle.

I don’t think 15 lbs is a stretch. His arms, shoulders, back, legs, backside are all noticeably larger.

Ayyooooo!

[Scase]

I think the point that Trent didn't give us many assists or boards is significant. Gradey seems likely to give more of both. And when you are in the mix for boards, you will cause a few deflections as well. And while Gary had some steals, he also was a gambler who was exposed just as often. Just playing team defence conservatively would be helpful

When individual players rebound and hustle like Gradey does it leads to more luck with loose balls and offensive rebounds recovered for the entire team. When coaching, I love active players with a high motor because they occupy defenders and draw attention, which means other players on your team aren’t being paid attention to, and those players can then sneak in for cuts, putbacks, open threes, etc. It makes a huge difference.

Can't game plan for chaos, active hands baby!

[WuTang_CMB]

I believe Gradey can produce better on both ends at age 21 and only in his second year in the league than a guy like Gary. Which is why bringing him back wasn't in the cards anymore.

[Kevin Willis]

Dick definitely got bigger, let's see how consistent his performance is. He's already really tall for his position, more size would only help.

[Chandan]

Dick definitely got bigger, let's see how consistent his performance is. He's already really tall for his position, more size would only help.

Whole size matters a bit, it's how u use it that counts.

[OakleyDokely]

He’s been in the gym over the summer, and we’ve seen footage of him on the court too, now that his injury has healed. According to him during the Raptors’ Media Day, he’s gained 13 pounds since his last NBA outing in April. The extra muscle should help him on drives and cuts, and hopefully defensively as well. Yet another thing that points to what will shape up to be a promising sophomore season.

https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/10/7/24264278/toronto-raptors-player-preview-gradey-dick-2024-25-nba

[ForeverTFC]

I hate to be that guy and I loved what I saw from him last night, but it would make me feel a lot better if he hits a couple 3s consistently per game...

[Duffman100]

I hate to be that guy and I loved what I saw from him last night, but it would make me feel a lot better if he hits a couple 3s consistently per game...

It would be pretty funny if he ended up a better player than projected but a worse 3 point shooter than projected.

[OakleyDokely]

From January on last year, he shot close to 40% from 3. He averaged 2 made 3s per game over the last 41 games of the season and he was one of the best corner 3pt shooters in the league overall last year, despite the very slow start.

[WuTang_CMB]

Put on more size yet looks noticeably quicker. I just think he's catching up to his body at only 21 and getting better understanding of where to go on the floor and when. That quicker reaction will help his game.

[Scase]

I hate to be that guy and I loved what I saw from him last night, but it would make me feel a lot better if he hits a couple 3s consistently per game...

It would be pretty funny if he ended up a better player than projected but a worse 3 point shooter than projected.

This would be prime Raptors luck lol. I wonder if the extra weight is impacting his shot, or should just be a weird pre season situation with janky lineups.

[ATLTimekeeper]

They're developing him like they did with Desmond Bane. The shots will fall, eventually. He's a more interesting player in the limited SL and pre-season run than he was last year or at Kansas. It's pretty clear by how he's guarded, even in pre-season, that his 3PT shot is a threat.

[OakleyDokely]

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

[Scase]

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

I think people are a bit gun shy since he's yet to show consistency on it, I'm not super concerned and have faith he will settle into a good %, but it would be nice to see him hit some shots early on. Hell, even from a confidence standpoint, it'd be good for him to start dropping them in.

I won't judge the kid too harshly until we get to see him in a consistent lineup with a proper offensive scheme, so likely not until the mid point of the season, assuming he is starting or getting 20-25mpg.

[Vampirate]

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

I think people are a bit gun shy since he's yet to show consistency on it, I'm not super concerned and have faith he will settle into a good %, but it would be nice to see him hit some shots early on. Hell, even from a confidence standpoint, it'd be good for him to start dropping them in.

I won't judge the kid too harshly until we get to see him in a consistent lineup with a proper offensive scheme, so likely not until the mid point of the season, assuming he is starting or getting 20-25mpg.

Honestly, the fact that he went 5/9 but 0/4 from 3 is more of a good sign.

We know the 3 point shot is going to drop, so him scoring in other ways is good. He's been a great FT shooter so 1 game isn't a tell all.

He also provided 4 rebounds and 5 assists so he's more than just a shooter.

One factor might be he could be one of those players where he's cold for a stretch, then heats up and hits everything.

Regardless one game positively/negatively is nothing to really grow any judgements on, especially in the pre season with most of our lineup out.

[OakleyDokely]

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

I think people are a bit gun shy since he's yet to show consistency on it, I'm not super concerned and have faith he will settle into a good %, but it would be nice to see him hit some shots early on. Hell, even from a confidence standpoint, it'd be good for him to start dropping them in.

I won't judge the kid too harshly until we get to see him in a consistent lineup with a proper offensive scheme, so likely not until the mid point of the season, assuming he is starting or getting 20-25mpg.

Over the last 41 games of the season, he shot 39.1% on 4.8 attempts per game. That's a pretty big sample size for a guy whose only played 60 NBA games. Every shooter goes through highs and lows, but for the most part, Gradey was consistently knocking down 3s after his strength and conditioning stint.

[Scase]

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

I think people are a bit gun shy since he's yet to show consistency on it, I'm not super concerned and have faith he will settle into a good %, but it would be nice to see him hit some shots early on. Hell, even from a confidence standpoint, it'd be good for him to start dropping them in.

I won't judge the kid too harshly until we get to see him in a consistent lineup with a proper offensive scheme, so likely not until the mid point of the season, assuming he is starting or getting 20-25mpg.

Honestly, the fact that he went 5/9 but 0/4 from 3 is more of a good sign.

We know the 3 point shot is going to drop, so him scoring in other ways is good. He's been a great FT shooter so 1 game isn't a tell all.

He also provided 4 rebounds and 5 assists so he's more than just a shooter.

One factor might be he could be one of those players where he's cold for a stretch, then heats up and hits everything.

Regardless one game positively/negatively is nothing to really grow any judgements on, especially in the pre season with most of our lineup out.

Absolutely, I was very happy to see him producing outside of the 3. I've been high on the kid since day one and this is a great sign, my pie in the sky hope is that he and Scottie become our Jokic/Murray lol. He seems like a smart player, and while not the most athletic, he always seems to be in the right spots. And that's something that translates no matter what your game is based on.

I don't get the concern about Gradey's 3pt shooting.

He shot 40% in college, and he shot 40% once he returned from the gleague. The only time he consistently struggled from 3 was the first couple months of the season when he wasn't physically ready for the NBA. And even after a historically bad start, he still ended the season at 37% from 3 on nearly 7 attempts per 36 as a 19/20 year old rookie.

He's going to hit a lot of 3s in his career at a good clip, the important question is whether he can develop the other parts of his game, like being a scorer off the dribble.

I think people are a bit gun shy since he's yet to show consistency on it, I'm not super concerned and have faith he will settle into a good %, but it would be nice to see him hit some shots early on. Hell, even from a confidence standpoint, it'd be good for him to start dropping them in.

I won't judge the kid too harshly until we get to see him in a consistent lineup with a proper offensive scheme, so likely not until the mid point of the season, assuming he is starting or getting 20-25mpg.

Over the last 41 games of the season, he shot 39.1% on 4.8 attempts per game. That's a pretty big sample size for a guy whose only played 60 NBA games. Every shooter goes through highs and lows, but for the most part, Gradey was consistently knocking down 3s after his strength and conditioning stint.

Agreed! I'm just trying to think of why some people might still be squirrely about it.

[YogurtProducer]

Read on Twitter

Grabbed from the Mogbo thread. I cant help but see a lot of Demar in this move and his shooting motion.

[dagger]

His first three point attempt was well behind rate arc, too far in fact he had time to take a step closer, small thing, part of the learning curve. No need to take a 35-pt attempt like that.

[Dalek]

His first three point attempt was well behind rate arc, too far in fact he had time to take a step closer, small thing, part of the learning curve. No need to take a 35-pt attempt like that.

I laughed at that because there was no defender in sight. It is definitely a bi-product of the Steph/Dame era of pull-up madness. You take a shot like that when you have hit three in a row. Now guys do this just as a weird flex to show their shooting ability.