Iowa Wolves/G League talk

[jpatrick]

Ironically, I kind of think Miller plays like a less bully-ball version of Randle

When I watch Miller highlights I have a feeling that these are 90% not highlights, but rather "simple" shots such as layups in transition or awkward looking open shots. I mean in 90% of situations Miller is bigger or/and faster than his opponent. At this point I can see following his positives:

- he has improved body control when finishing at rim a lot. He doesn't fall awkwardly after every contact, like he used to

- he has showed good touch around rim. It is not NBA level touch yet, I haven't seen things like floaters

- he has improved his footwork when shooting jumpers. Still a bit awkward, but better than last year

- he does run in transition

Still he has a lot a things to polish, just to be able to contribute in NBA game:

- he needs to improve his defensive awareness especially low man rotation

- he needs to learn how to move the ball within team offense

I just don’t see how he plays unless he becomes an elite outside shooter. I don’t think he can become an elite defender, I just don’t see the athleticism. He can become a good defender/rebounder. And I don’t see the offense really translating unless he can space the floor. He’s putting up huge numbers in Iowa as the best player on a very good g-league team, but that 30% from three is concerning.

[minimus]

Ironically, I kind of think Miller plays like a less bully-ball version of Randle

When I watch Miller highlights I have a feeling that these are 90% not highlights, but rather "simple" shots such as layups in transition or awkward looking open shots. I mean in 90% of situations Miller is bigger or/and faster than his opponent. At this point I can see following his positives:

- he has improved body control when finishing at rim a lot. He doesn't fall awkwardly after every contact, like he used to

- he has showed good touch around rim. It is not NBA level touch yet, I haven't seen things like floaters

- he has improved his footwork when shooting jumpers. Still a bit awkward, but better than last year

- he does run in transition

Still he has a lot a things to polish, just to be able to contribute in NBA game:

- he needs to improve his defensive awareness especially low man rotation

- he needs to learn how to move the ball within team offense

I just don’t see how he plays unless he becomes an elite outside shooter. I don’t think he can become an elite defender, I just don’t see the athleticism. He can become a good defender/rebounder. And I don’t see the offense really translating unless he can space the floor. He’s putting up huge numbers in Iowa as the best player on a very good g-league team, but that 30% from three is concerning.

Yeah, I think that combination of solid defense, league average three point accuracy and rebounding might be Miller chance to earn minutes in NBA, he can be a taller version of DFS: not so much defender, but better rebounder.

[wolves_89]

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It might be good to send down Shannon and let him get some extended run. He's the one young guy currently with the big club that I don't see any chance of getting playing time.

[wolves_89]

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[winforlose]

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It might be good to send down Shannon and let him get some extended run. He's the one young guy currently with the big club that I don't see any chance of getting playing time.

100% agree. He is log jammed with Ant/Jaden and NAW/DDV as the starting and backup wings. I would sooner play Minott at PF than TSJ, and I doubt he sees time as PG or C for obvious reasons. I also think it is time to plug in Miller at C2 and let him grow into the role. At this point not using him is more about filling in minutes for Randle and Naz, and I think we need to have a discussion about what is best for the team.

[Klomp]

Something to think about...

Jesse Edwards has not been a popular name around here. However, an underrated aspect of his signing was to give Leonard Miller a frontcourt partner. Watch those highlights above, Miller and Edwards were usually sharing the court together. Contrast that to last year, when Miller spent basically no time next to Garza in Luka's three games with Iowa. Most of the rest of the time, Miller was a 5.

Getting Miller used to playing next to a big like Edwards is great training for learning how to play next to a big like Gobert.

[winforlose]

Something to think about...

Jesse Edwards has not been a popular name around here. However, an underrated aspect of his signing was to give Leonard Miller a frontcourt partner. Watch those highlights above, Miller and Edwards were usually sharing the court together. Contrast that to last year, when Miller spent basically no time next to Garza in Luka's three games with Iowa. Most of the rest of the time, Miller was a 5.

Getting Miller used to playing next to a big like Edwards is great training for learning how to play next to a big like Gobert.

True. But I suspect with the emergence of Josh Minott, they want Miller able to play with Naz as well. I think Miller was drafted to be a PF/C rather than a PF or C.

[Klomp]

Something to think about...

Jesse Edwards has not been a popular name around here. However, an underrated aspect of his signing was to give Leonard Miller a frontcourt partner. Watch those highlights above, Miller and Edwards were usually sharing the court together. Contrast that to last year, when Miller spent basically no time next to Garza in Luka's three games with Iowa. Most of the rest of the time, Miller was a 5.

Getting Miller used to playing next to a big like Edwards is great training for learning how to play next to a big like Gobert.

True. But I suspect with the emergence of Josh Minott, they want Miller able to play with Naz as well. I think Miller was drafted to be a PF/C rather than a PF or C.

Of course. But he's played with guys like Naz or Josh before. Playing next to Rudy is an adjustment.

[winforlose]

Something to think about...

Jesse Edwards has not been a popular name around here. However, an underrated aspect of his signing was to give Leonard Miller a frontcourt partner. Watch those highlights above, Miller and Edwards were usually sharing the court together. Contrast that to last year, when Miller spent basically no time next to Garza in Luka's three games with Iowa. Most of the rest of the time, Miller was a 5.

Getting Miller used to playing next to a big like Edwards is great training for learning how to play next to a big like Gobert.

True. But I suspect with the emergence of Josh Minott, they want Miller able to play with Naz as well. I think Miller was drafted to be a PF/C rather than a PF or C.

Of course. But he's played with guys like Naz or Josh before. Playing next to Rudy is an adjustment.

Miller needs a call up. I am watching him play now and he is too good on offense for the G. He won’t learn defensively without minutes in the real game.

[winforlose]

Number 2 Iowa Wolves (3rd best defense in the G,) faced the Number 7 Stockton Kings (best offense in all the G league,) and Iowa won 124 to 99 despite coming into the 4th quarter down 3. Check out the box score.

https://gleague.nba.com/game/sto-vs-iwa-2052400219?view=box-score

[Klomp]

True. But I suspect with the emergence of Josh Minott, they want Miller able to play with Naz as well. I think Miller was drafted to be a PF/C rather than a PF or C.

Of course. But he's played with guys like Naz or Josh before. Playing next to Rudy is an adjustment.

Miller needs a call up. I am watching him play now and he is too good on offense for the G. He won’t learn defensively without minutes in the real game.

He's not going to play NBA minutes. It's either getting full minutes in Iowa getting those PF reps or sitting at the end of the bench every night. Some people learn better by doing rather than watching.

[winforlose]

Of course. But he's played with guys like Naz or Josh before. Playing next to Rudy is an adjustment.

Miller needs a call up. I am watching him play now and he is too good on offense for the G. He won’t learn defensively without minutes in the real game.

He's not going to play NBA minutes. It's either getting full minutes in Iowa getting those PF reps or sitting at the end of the bench every night. Some people learn better by doing rather than watching.

I am saying he needs to play real NBA minutes to develop his defense. We need to take our lumps and get these guys developed (Dilly, Minott, Miller, maybe TSJ.) Short term cost for long term benefit.

[cmoss84]

RD and Miller need at least 5-7 minutes/gm.
TSJ and Garza are probably waiting for an injury or to be traded.
Don't really have any expectations for Minott.

[winforlose]

RD and Miller need at least 5-7 minutes/gm.
TSJ and Garza are probably waiting for an injury or to be traded.
Don't really have any expectations for Minott.

Garza is a guy who I feel is no longer in development. Some people will argue this point, but he 25 about to turn 26. He has had a lot of NBA experience both as a two way and G league player. His offense is probably 2nd string NBA. The problem is his defense is 3rd string at best. That isn’t a winning combination when you’re trying to get minutes on a playoff team.


TSJ has quite a few pathways to minutes and despite being old for a rookie, is still a rookie. He has time to learn and develop.

Minott is already showing he can play in the big league. His numbers are bad because he is averaging 7 minutes per game and doing a chunk of his real minutes with guys he never plays with. Let him develop that chemistry and an actual role and you will see more than just a guy who can chew minutes without hurting you, (something of value during the regular season.)

[Klomp]

Garza is a guy who I feel is no longer in development. Some people will argue this point, but he 25 about to turn 26. He has had a lot of NBA experience both as a two way and G league player. His offense is probably 2nd string NBA. The problem is his defense is 3rd string at best. That isn’t a winning combination when you’re trying to get minutes on a playoff team.

That's fine! No team has 15 players who all deserve NBA rotation minutes. I'd rather have someone like Garza as the 15th man than someone who is grumbling behind the scenes because of an inflated ego. There is no threat of a locker room disruption coming from Garza. He is honestly the perfect 15th man!

[winforlose]

Garza is a guy who I feel is no longer in development. Some people will argue this point, but he 25 about to turn 26. He has had a lot of NBA experience both as a two way and G league player. His offense is probably 2nd string NBA. The problem is his defense is 3rd string at best. That isn’t a winning combination when you’re trying to get minutes on a playoff team.

That's fine! No team has 15 players who all deserve NBA rotation minutes. I'd rather have someone like Garza as the 15th man than someone who is grumbling behind the scenes because of an inflated ego. There is no threat of a locker room disruption coming from Garza. He is honestly the perfect 15th man!

Sure. There is no problem having an end of bench guy who can give you emergency minutes. That said, we have no C2. When you have a C3 and no C2 that is a problem. Worse, Dilly is a PG3 with a major minus in the plus/minus category and is being forced into a PG 2 role when he lacks the experience and physical tools to do so. When you have 3 wasted roster spots Dozier, Jingles, Garza, and are running inefficient lineups with Randle to try and pump up his trade value, even when it is falling by him being on the floor.

[KATKlownFeet]

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I'd much rather watch Lenny Miller play than Julius Randle. Just saying.

[Klomp]

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I'd much rather watch Lenny Miller play than Julius Randle. Just saying.

They are basically the same player

[winforlose]

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I'd much rather watch Lenny Miller play than Julius Randle. Just saying.

They are basically the same player

For the sake of argument let’s assume this. Miller is 21 and coachable. He hasn’t achieved anything in the NBA so his ego isn’t inflated yet. Is it your position that Miller can only function like Randle, or do you believe he can salvaged into an offensive flow player?

[Klomp]

For the sake of argument let’s assume this. Miller is 21 and coachable. He hasn’t achieved anything in the NBA so his ego isn’t inflated yet.

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