Flagg preseason debut: looking as good as advertised at 18 years old

[RoyceDa59]

Rumors say he’s the starting PG.

[FrodoBaggins]

Rumors say he’s the starting PG.

I'd do it. Assume that means a starting five of Flagg-Thompson-Washington-Davis-Lively. That's a super defensive lineup with great size. Prioritizes Coop's on-ball development.

[Bob8]

Rumors say he’s the starting PG.

I'd do it. Assume that means a starting five of Flagg-Thompson-Washington-Davis-Lively. That's a super defensive lineup with great size. Prioritizes Coop's on-ball development.

...and nobody able to create anything. There's a reason why not only bigs play basketball.

[Handlez]

The hype and expectations are too much.

They'll be calling him a bust soon even if he's solid.

I highly recommend Coop ignores all the BS.

[Ice Man]

Dallas guards are not a fun group to play with. Chuck, chuck, and chuck some more. The only natural passer I see in that group is Ryan Nembhard and he's on a 2-way contract, so I'm guessing that he won't get much playing time. I don't think that's a great situation for Flagg. He is destined over time to become a point forward, at least on a part-time basis (as with say Jimmy Butler), but it's a bit much to put him in that position as a teenager because the team's guards can't create.

[Bob8]

Dallas guards are not a fun group to play with. Chuck, chuck, and chuck some more. The only natural passer I see in that group is Ryan Nembhard and he's on a 2-way contract, so I'm guessing that he won't get much playing time. I don't think that's a great situation for Flagg. He is destined over time to become a point forward, at least on a part-time basis (as with say Jimmy Butler), but it's a bit much to put him in that position as a teenager because the team's guards can't create.

Not only guards, nobody can create anything and to make things worse, spacing will be disastrous with so many non shooters in the lineup.

[Mephariel]

The issue is PJ Washington not able to sustain his 3 point development.

[Handlez]

3-15.

Uh oh.

Can he shoot at this level?

Scary times for the GOAT.

[Ice Man]

3-15.

Actually, 3-13.

Since Mike went 3-12 in his next to last pre-season game in his rookie year, perhaps panic is not quite in order. But I think you knew that.

[ryguy613]

3-15.

Actually, 3-13.

Since Mike went 3-12 in his next to last pre-season game in his rookie year, perhaps panic is not quite in order. But I think you knew that.

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

[dWadeOwnzYou]

Its still too early guys. Lets not jump the gun.

[Johnny Firpo]

3-15.

Actually, 3-13.

Since Mike went 3-12 in his next to last pre-season game in his rookie year, perhaps panic is not quite in order. But I think you knew that.

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Stop the whataboutism. For starters, because his floor is that he is an all-star. There is no chance he is a bust, unless he has an injury ridden career. Anyone who understands basketball, has to know that within at least a range, he is one of the most surefire picks ever. And that range starts with him being an all-star, and and a really good two-way player, but a "mere" 18-20 point scorer on offense, so not a true first option. His ceiling, well, that we cannot really determine that yet, I would certainly agree with that statement, if that's what you are saying.

[ShootersShoot]

Rumors say he’s the starting PG.

I'd do it. Assume that means a starting five of Flagg-Thompson-Washington-Davis-Lively. That's a super defensive lineup with great size. Prioritizes Coop's on-ball development.

...and nobody able to create anything. There's a reason why not only bigs play basketball.

I dont think they would try this in the regular season unless DLo is out for an extended amount of time and even then I think they would still try to pick up another ball handler. Preseason is the perfect time to try unconventional lineups. They just need to hold down the fort with DLo and hardy until kyrie comes back.

[ryguy613]

Actually, 3-13.

Since Mike went 3-12 in his next to last pre-season game in his rookie year, perhaps panic is not quite in order. But I think you knew that.

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Stop the whataboutism. For starters, because his floor is that he is an all-star. There is no chance he is a bust, unless he has an injury ridden career. Anyone who understands basketball, has to know that within at least a range, he is one of the most surefire picks ever. And that range starts with him being an all-star, and and a really good two-way player, but a "mere" 18-20 point scorer on offense, so not a true first option. His ceiling, well, that we cannot really determine that yet, I would certainly agree with that statement, if that's what you are saying.

This is not whataboutism. This goes back to a point I made several days ago when this thread was created. Based on 14 minutes of preseason basketball, people were posting comparisons to LeBron, Luka, Dirk, Kawhi, and KG. I pointed out how insanely silly that is. Let the kid play some meaningful basketball and SHOW people who he is and how great he can be.

So, in my opinion you cant have your cake and eat it too. If you're gonna have a thread where multiple people call him a mega-superstar in the making before he's played a single regular season basketball game, how can you ridicule someone for saying there's reasons to be concerned before he's played a single regular season basketball game.

[Ice Man]

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Nobody is saying that Flagg's career will match Mike's or LeBron's. They are saying that Flagg figures to be very good. The optimism is based on an evaluation of Flagg's entire career. Meanwhile, the pessimism is based on taking a single statistic from a single pre-season game.

Evan Mobley also went 3-13 last night. Does that mean that we should be concerned about Mobley's career?

[ryguy613]

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Nobody is saying that Flagg's career will match Mike's or LeBron's. They are saying that Flagg figures to be very good. The optimism is based on an evaluation of Flagg's entire career. Meanwhile, the pessimism is based on taking a single statistic from a single pre-season game.

Evan Mobley also went 3-13 last night. Does that mean that we should be concerned about Mobley's career?

Actually some people ARE saying that lol. thats the point. See the below quotes from this thread.

Been calling this kid the White Lebron for a hot minute now.

All those AK47 or Tatum comparisons were a joke. Only LeBron was this polished coming in.

Yeah, people calling this guy AK47 made no sense. The kid is like a Lebron in the way he plays.

Not the game breaking athleticism or the handle, but he has a really sweet jumper already (and athletic with a fine handle regardless). Guy will end up a 25ppg 2-way star who very well could be better than Luka in the future.

He's going to be the next LeBron. He's probably going to get them into the playoffs and potentially carry them. Nico got lucky but it's working.

But Flagg could attract free agents to Dallas, because he's such an unselfish player AND person, he's a more personable down-to-earth version of LeBron.

[UcanUwill]

Why is panic (sincere or not) any more outlandish than proclaiming hes the second coming?

Nobody is saying that Flagg's career will match Mike's or LeBron's. They are saying that Flagg figures to be very good. The optimism is based on an evaluation of Flagg's entire career. Meanwhile, the pessimism is based on taking a single statistic from a single pre-season game.

Evan Mobley also went 3-13 last night. Does that mean that we should be concerned about Mobley's career?

Actually some people ARE saying that lol. thats the point. See the below quotes from this thread.

Been calling this kid the White Lebron for a hot minute now.

All those AK47 or Tatum comparisons were a joke. Only LeBron was this polished coming in.

Yeah, people calling this guy AK47 made no sense. The kid is like a Lebron in the way he plays.

Not the game breaking athleticism or the handle, but he has a really sweet jumper already (and athletic with a fine handle regardless). Guy will end up a 25ppg 2-way star who very well could be better than Luka in the future.

He's going to be the next LeBron. He's probably going to get them into the playoffs and potentially carry them. Nico got lucky but it's working.

But Flagg could attract free agents to Dallas, because he's such an unselfish player AND person, he's a more personable down-to-earth version of LeBron.

I don't know, even out of these picked ones, to me just two last quotes implied he could be as good as LeBron. Saying he is as polished as rookie LeBron does not really mean guy thinks he will be next LeBron, people just exited, because for a 18 year old, Flaggs current ability is already super high level, which is true...

18 year old Luka was probably more polished than 18 year old Lebron and he did even go top 2 in his draft

[Bob8]

I'd do it. Assume that means a starting five of Flagg-Thompson-Washington-Davis-Lively. That's a super defensive lineup with great size. Prioritizes Coop's on-ball development.

...and nobody able to create anything. There's a reason why not only bigs play basketball.

I dont think they would try this in the regular season unless DLo is out for an extended amount of time and even then I think they would still try to pick up another ball handler. Preseason is the perfect time to try unconventional lineups. They just need to hold down the fort with DLo and hardy until kyrie comes back.

Kyrie is an Iso scorer not a Pg.

[ryguy613]

Nobody is saying that Flagg's career will match Mike's or LeBron's. They are saying that Flagg figures to be very good. The optimism is based on an evaluation of Flagg's entire career. Meanwhile, the pessimism is based on taking a single statistic from a single pre-season game.

Evan Mobley also went 3-13 last night. Does that mean that we should be concerned about Mobley's career?

Actually some people ARE saying that lol. thats the point. See the below quotes from this thread.

Been calling this kid the White Lebron for a hot minute now.

All those AK47 or Tatum comparisons were a joke. Only LeBron was this polished coming in.

Yeah, people calling this guy AK47 made no sense. The kid is like a Lebron in the way he plays.

Not the game breaking athleticism or the handle, but he has a really sweet jumper already (and athletic with a fine handle regardless). Guy will end up a 25ppg 2-way star who very well could be better than Luka in the future.

He's going to be the next LeBron. He's probably going to get them into the playoffs and potentially carry them. Nico got lucky but it's working.

But Flagg could attract free agents to Dallas, because he's such an unselfish player AND person, he's a more personable down-to-earth version of LeBron.

I don't know, even out of these picked ones, to me just two last quotes implied he could be as good as LeBron. Saying he is as polished as rookie LeBron does not really mean guy thinks he will be next LeBron, people just exited, because for a 18 year old, Flaggs current ability is already super high level, which is true...

18 year old Luka was probably more polished than 18 year old Lebron and he did even go top 2 in his draft

however you wanna interpret it, its still pretty over the top. The real point here is still that people were using a 14 minute stretch of a single Preseason game to go absolutely ham about how amazing this kid is. If you're gonna set up logic like that, its funny to get defensive when someone else uses a single preseason game to express concern.

It pretty much just goes to show it really doesnt matter what this guy was able to do or not do in preseason. When he did well it was proof that hes a star in the making! When he did poorly its no big deal because MJ also had a bad game early in his career... or something lol. All of this is just pretty nonsensical. Hes neither a star or a bust. he literally hasnt played a single minute of real NBA basketball.

[ShootersShoot]

...and nobody able to create anything. There's a reason why not only bigs play basketball.

I dont think they would try this in the regular season unless DLo is out for an extended amount of time and even then I think they would still try to pick up another ball handler. Preseason is the perfect time to try unconventional lineups. They just need to hold down the fort with DLo and hardy until kyrie comes back.

Kyrie is an Iso scorer not a Pg.

Hes an all star lead guard. Playmaking is not a super strength of the mavs but when healthy its not exactly a glaring weakness either. AD, lively, coop, marshall all project to be solid playmakers for their respective positions/roles. Okc literally has no true point guard in the traditional sense either.