GT#37 HAWKS @ RAPTORS Jan 5th @ 7:30 PM EST on TSN/590

[Tha Cynic]

I don’t know how Jalen Johnson keeps filling the stat sheet. He’s kind of invisible out there for most of the game

Exactly how I’ve always felt about him. Feels like he has zero impact.

Depends on the game. He thrives specifically in open transition and the secondary break. He's having a rough night. I've watched him looking a lot better than this.

The way he gets his points kind of reminds me of RJ - very opportunistic scorer but that efficiency helps a ton

[bboyskinnylegs]

Damn wish they interviewed CMB instead

CMB should get the chain I think

[junot111]

No way this kid asked BI to sign his Barnes jersey

[YogurtProducer]

God this team needs a point guard

Our starting PG had 1.assist tonight

But at least made some 3's

Our starting 4 has 10, and our 5 had 7.

I swear you guys just ball watch. IQ was off ball a **** ton tonight and forced nothing. Aka exsctly what you want when there are advantages elsewhere on the floor.

[tsherkin]

This board just needs a PG battle to thrive

Quick on the game: 16 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 5/11 FG, 3/7 3P, 3/4 FT. 2 offensive rebounds. 62.7% TS.

He rushed a few plays, blew some coverages and he had that bad 24-second violation, but that's a pretty decent offensive line for us, overall. And he's little, so those ORBs are always nice.

[PushDaRock]

CMB played incredible tonight and should get the chain but Mamu was also huge for us in that 4th making key plays and shots for us. Not letting them get it to a 1 possession game was key.

[tsherkin]

Our starting 4 has 10, and our 5 had 7.

I swear you guys just ball watch. IQ was off ball a **** ton tonight and forced nothing. Aka exsctly what you want when there are advantages elsewhere on the floor.

Yes, this. We had guys passing well all over tonight, and IQ getting off-ball a fair amount. He's not Rajon Rondo, pounding the rock at the top of the circle waiting for guys to develop shots on their own around screens. He isn't going to be a 10 apg guy.

[Boogie!]

I think he's one of the top 3pt shooters in practice...up there with Battle

I’m not sure where you’re getting this from but i roll with it. He is at 36% for the season which is decent for a guy that’s not a prototypical shooter

They have a 3pt shooting leaderboard up on the screens in the ovo practice gym....there was a screenshot but I can't find it

Crazy how dick isn’t the leader considering he keeps getting all these opportunities to play and can’t make shots in game either.

[RoteSchroder]

No they weren’t. Not even close.

One was a transcendent high school guy who was a #1 pick and fantastic defender. The other was Andre Drummond who went mid lottery.

Mo Bamba was a five star recruit in HS and touted as the best defender of his draft class. Maluach went lower than Drummond.

I don’t know what you’re argument even is anymore

The difference between Dwight, and Bamba/Makauch/Drummond is Dwight was a super high IQ defender (and athletic as hell).

The other guys don’t have a brain defensively and we’re all drafted as projects. Funny enough, Drummond would be a great outcome for Malauch, but he is most likely just gonna be another guy out of the league in 5 years like Bamba is

The difference is that players are not carbon copies of each other. Equating Maluach to Bamba is lazy and superficial. Just like equating Dwight and Drummond is lazy and superficial.

https://www.si.com/the-cauldron/2015/10/30/detroit-pistons-andre-drummond-dwight-howard-stan-van-gundy-system

It seems obvious, but it bears repeating. Sure, there are superficial similarities — size, strength, mobility, awkwardly robotic post moves, ferocious rebounding, and atrocious free throw shooting. But at this moment, separated in age by seven years, there are significant differences. Even if you travel back in time for a hypothetical comparison, young Dwight and young Drummond don’t quite line up.

Bamba averaged 3.7 blocks per game in college. Maluach was used differently and averaged 1.3 blocks. Different players. Each needs to be evaluated differently. Not that hard to understand.

[tsherkin]

CMB played incredible tonight and should get the chain but Mamu was also huge for us in that 4th making key plays and shots for us. Not letting them get it to a 1 possession game was key.

CMB did a little of everything tonight. He crushed it. 30 minutes, too. That was SUPER nice to see.

[TorontoBarneys]

Quickley's impact is barely felt most games.

[Boogie!]

Our starting 4 has 10, and our 5 had 7.

I swear you guys just ball watch. IQ was off ball a **** ton tonight and forced nothing. Aka exsctly what you want when there are advantages elsewhere on the floor.

Yes, this. We had guys passing well all over tonight, and IQ getting off-ball a fair amount. He's not Rajon Rondo, pounding the rock at the top of the circle waiting for guys to develop shots on their own around screens. He isn't going to be a 10 apg guy.

And we also shouldn’t be expecting him to do that. When they first brought him in it’s because I thought they wanted a gunner around Barnes playmaking. A combo guard that could handle in spurts but would primarily be used as a scorer. I was surprised when the narrative turned into iq needs to develop as a pg, and the media kept talking about his assists.

[nikster]

You got 3 players who can make plays.
IQ is not the best playmaking PG but theres a reason why this starting lineup has that chemistry with 4 players that need the ball in their hands.

The need for a pure PG is over stated specially in todays NBA

Disagree. I’m not saying we need a pure Pg. I’m saying we need a PG that creates advantages. IQ doesn’t.

Sure, we just need to spend $50M to get that player.

Exactly. I dont know what kind of gaurds fill the wish list of the people so eager to replace IQ. We just want a PG who's a better defender, playmaker and can still space the floor and capitalize off the playmaking of BI/RJ//Scottie...is that too much to ask?

I wouldn't be opposed to moving him in the right deal, but its gonna be way harder to upgrade than peopel imagine

[Spates]

This team does a pretty good job of leaning on the best traits of certain players.

BI's midrange game has been utilized fairly well...when healthy.

RJs relentless rim attack.

They're fairly elite talents in my book. RJs process isn't always superb but his will and fortitude are extraordinary. I firmly believe that once he tidies the edges he'll be well regarded in larger basketball circles. BI looked like 2019 Kawhi in the 1st half of the last game. His athleticism looks to be returning. It's quite something.

We need one more element to be really solid. It's either downhill pressure with a live dribble or major 3 point prowess.

[YogurtProducer]

Disagree. I’m not saying we need a pure Pg. I’m saying we need a PG that creates advantages. IQ doesn’t.

Sure, we just need to spend $50M to get that player.

Exactly. I dont know what kind of gaurds fill the wish list of the people so eager to replace IQ. We just want a PG who's a better defender, playmaker and can still space the floor and capitalize off the playmaking of BI/RJ//Scottie...is that too much to ask?

I wouldn't be opposed to moving him in the right deal, but its gonna be way harder to upgrade than peopel imagine

Exactly this. A player better than IQ is an all start player. I’d also rather have Jamal Murray or Jalen Brunson. But that’s not really feasible.

[tsherkin]

And we also shouldn’t be expecting him to do that.

Agreed. Rondo was heavily overrated as a result of those raw numbers, even though you could have replaced him with a lot of guys and had similar production in that system, with those players. Obviously, Rondo was also good beyond that, but still.

Anyway, IQ has more value to us with the threat of his shot, so using him off-ball and more like a SG is of more value to us than having him ape a 50s PG.

What we need isn't a PG, per se, we just need someone who can drive more regularly and apply rim pressure. RJ can't be the only one able to do that at an above-average level.

[tsherkin]

Exactly this. A player better than IQ is an all start player. I’d also rather have Jamal Murray or Jalen Brunson. But that’s not really feasible.

Heh, indeed.

[YogurtProducer]

Our starting 4 has 10, and our 5 had 7.

I swear you guys just ball watch. IQ was off ball a **** ton tonight and forced nothing. Aka exsctly what you want when there are advantages elsewhere on the floor.

Yes, this. We had guys passing well all over tonight, and IQ getting off-ball a fair amount. He's not Rajon Rondo, pounding the rock at the top of the circle waiting for guys to develop shots on their own around screens. He isn't going to be a 10 apg guy.

And we also shouldn’t be expecting him to do that. When they first brought him in it’s because I thought they wanted a gunner around Barnes playmaking. A combo guard that could handle in spurts but would primarily be used as a scorer. I was surprised when the narrative turned into iq needs to develop as a pg, and the media kept talking about his assists.

And to be fair, he’s actually played the PG role fairly well. He’s very good at protecting the ball, and he has some playmaking chops to.

He’s a perfect fit around Ingram/Barnes, and in a pinch where Barnes or Ingram missed games he also has the ability to scale up his usage a bit.

Right now it seems to be he’s a little hesitant to shoot. Darko needs to tell him to fire every somewhat open 3 he sees.

[tsherkin]

We need one more element to be really solid. It's either downhill pressure with a live dribble or major 3 point prowess.

Of the two, I'd prefer the former.

[PushDaRock]

Sure, we just need to spend $50M to get that player.

Exactly. I dont know what kind of gaurds fill the wish list of the people so eager to replace IQ. We just want a PG who's a better defender, playmaker and can still space the floor and capitalize off the playmaking of BI/RJ//Scottie...is that too much to ask?

I wouldn't be opposed to moving him in the right deal, but its gonna be way harder to upgrade than peopel imagine

Exactly this. A player better than IQ is an all start player. I’d also rather have Jamal Murray or Jalen Brunson. But that’s not really feasible.

Basically same thing with RJ