PS2: Hornets @ Heat Sunday Oct 4 6PM

[Flip Murray]

I won't lie to you guys, I came when Zeller hit that 3

[LamarMatic7]

I won't lie to you guys, I came when Zeller hit that 3

do we want to know what happened when he made the second three?

[Kswiss]

I have less confidence in Hansbrough after watching that game. If he plays much something has gone wrong.

He had highest +/- on the team, played a solid game minus the couple chippies he missed

[fatlever]

I have less confidence in Hansbrough after watching that game. If he plays much something has gone wrong.

What else did you expect from him? That was prime Hansbrough. Rebound, bang around, get to FT line, play solid post defense (w/out rim protection). That's pretty damn good from your 3rd string center.

[LamarMatic7]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

[fatlever]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

Great stuff as always Lamar. Cracked me up with this line

Jeremy Lamb also supposedly score 16 points at Orlando in an NBA preseason game which might or might not have happened.

[LamarMatic7]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

Great stuff as always Lamar. Cracked me up with this line

Jeremy Lamb also supposedly score 16 points at Orlando in an NBA preseason game which might or might not have happened.

Cheers!

[yosemiteben]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

Lamar, your description of that Frank three reminded me of the way they used horns in this game. They'd set up Frank and Tyler on the elbows, use Tyler for a PNR and have Frank curl around to spot up at the top of the key. Seems to use the same principal of forcing help on the PNR action and freeing up the other big on the perimeter for the three. They ran it enough that I think it'll be a prominent feature in our offensive sets.

ETA: Notwithstanding the fact that he had a couple hits from outside, Cody looked so unnatural taking those threes. I don't get it. His first he had to reset like three times when, if he'd been assertive, he had an open three off the first action. The second he was standing wide open on a fast break with no defender within 15 feet of him and it still looked like it took him a couple seconds to process that he should shoot. When we saw that last season I assumed Cliff told Cody not to take outside shots, but now I can't decide if it's just Cody trying to escape the mindset of perimeter shots being bad or if he is just generally timid on the perimeter. His perimeter ball movement and positioning just seems so much more clunky than someone like Frank.

[LamarMatic7]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

Lamar, your description of that Frank three reminded me of the way they used horns in this game. They'd set up Frank and Tyler on the elbows, use Tyler for a PNR and have Frank curl around to spot up at the top of the key. Seems to use the same principal of forcing help on the PNR action and freeing up the other big on the perimeter for the three. They ran it enough that I think it'll be a prominent feature in our offensive sets.

ETA: Notwithstanding the fact that he had a couple hits from outside, Cody looked so unnatural taking those threes. I don't get it. His first he had to reset like three times when, if he'd been assertive, he had an open three off the first action. The second he was standing wide open on a fast break with no defender within 15 feet of him and it still looked like it took him a couple seconds to process that he should shoot. When we saw that last season I assumed Cliff told Cody not to take outside shots, but now I can't decide if it's just Cody trying to escape the mindset of perimeter shots being bad or if he is just generally timid on the perimeter. His perimeter ball movement and positioning just seems so much more clunky than someone like Frank.

Yeah, they ran a lot of interesting stuff based on horns. Too tired to look it up but I think the play you're talking about also caught my eye and could be in my notes. Definitely looking forward to seeing how Hawes will be used or how good this might look when Frank is paired with Al.

[Mystical Apples]

I have less confidence in Hansbrough after watching that game. If he plays much something has gone wrong.

What else did you expect from him? That was prime Hansbrough. Rebound, bang around, get to FT line, play solid post defense (w/out rim protection). That's pretty damn good from your 3rd string center.

Well in context of who he is he did fine but for this team I like him less. He clogs the lane and many of those D rebounds were eye candy from another teammate. Not all but lots of them and the O rebounds don't translate to efficient offense when other guys are 4 v 5 the rest of the time

If I were to give him credit it would be for setting some solid picks. I think we both agree not much is expected out of a third center but the team would be better off using Kaminsky there in a pinch so I consider him a 4th center and trade insurance.

[Little General]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3VejKNdP4[/youtube]
I really like Lin's defense here at the 6:07 mark. He was helping Walker on the weakside defense and then got back immediately to defend his man, making Green shoot an airball.

This is what I was talking about yesterday. I like Hansbrough working hard for the rebounds but his decision making is really lacking. At the 6:23 mark, Frank was driving to the basket and missed the shot. Shotclock resets. Hansbrough got the rebound and tried to score it with 4 defenders in the paint. There was enough time to pass it out. Lamb, Lin and Frank were wide open to receive a pass.

[Mystical Apples]

Did some random thoughts and observations on this game and the team overall:
http://lamarmatic.com/2015/10/05/preseason-hornets-heat-thoughts-and-observations/

Lamar, your description of that Frank three reminded me of the way they used horns in this game. They'd set up Frank and Tyler on the elbows, use Tyler for a PNR and have Frank curl around to spot up at the top of the key. Seems to use the same principal of forcing help on the PNR action and freeing up the other big on the perimeter for the three. They ran it enough that I think it'll be a prominent feature in our offensive sets.

ETA: Notwithstanding the fact that he had a couple hits from outside, Cody looked so unnatural taking those threes. I don't get it. His first he had to reset like three times when, if he'd been assertive, he had an open three off the first action. The second he was standing wide open on a fast break with no defender within 15 feet of him and it still looked like it took him a couple seconds to process that he should shoot. When we saw that last season I assumed Cliff told Cody not to take outside shots, but now I can't decide if it's just Cody trying to escape the mindset of perimeter shots being bad or if he is just generally timid on the perimeter. His perimeter ball movement and positioning just seems so much more clunky than someone like Frank.

If Cody can hit 30-32 % from there it'd be a victory. But I agree shooting stationary threes for Cody is the big goal, for Frank it's as a playmaking 4 to get the defense moving in 2 different directions - 2 totally different animals.

Frank's mobility I'm sure will catch defenders off guard. He had McRoberts in a blender on some of those plays and Clifford should get credit. Flanking him with 2 shooters in the screen action puts the defense in a difficult spot as he floats out to 26 feet.

The curl with McRoberts trailing forcing Amare's help was designed perfectly. And not many humans 7 feet tall can aggressively come off a baseline screen ready to shoot. That's approaching unicorn territory

[Mystical Apples]

Frank wasn't just 3-5 on threes he also assisted on Harrison, Kemba, and Roberts I believe on plays designed to provide little help off Kaminsky. Not to mention the wider lanes just by standing out there. That's not a small impact

[Bassman]

Finally got to watch the game on replay, as it was not carried live here. Regarding Cody; I probably never expect him to shoot threes in the flow quickly. His ability to hit an open, stationary 3 is really all we or he needs. Now he can range out and force a cover. Frank has a more skilled athletic capability for a big; it's just part of his DNA. Cody is always going to look awkward, cause he is sort of like big bird cavorting around, falling a lot, etc. But Cody can be effective, and looks better now than ever.

[Bassman]

Frank wasn't just 3-5 on threes he also assisted on Harrison, Kemba, and Roberts I believe on plays designed to provide little help off Kaminsky. Not to mention the wider lanes just by standing out there. That's not a small impact

Very impressed with the tank. Frank is smart, very skilled, high BBIQ. He's just getting started, and shows so much promise. High hopes!

[Mystical Apples]

Frank's defense was really solid. In the 3rd quarter around the 5 minute mark we get a glimpse of how good he can be as perimeter defender. Multiple help and recovers and then closeouts on 3. Iso against Bosh and McRoberts and stayed with Winslow on a drive.

Fast enough but needs to be stronger so he can body guys away from the basket. A couple of times Frank gave too much cushion and let McRoberts have a passing lane.

[TinmanZBoy]

Frank's skill set reminds me another Chinese big man, Wang Zhizhi, who actually was the first Chinese NBA player before Yao Ming... Wang can shoot threes and had a lot nifty moves in the post, can drive, a good shot blocker... a finesse player, not physical...

[LamarMatic7]

Frank's skill set reminds me another Chinese big man, Wang Zhizhi, who actually was the first Chinese NBA player before Yao Ming... Wang can shoot threes and had a lot nifty moves in the post, can drive, a good shot blocker... a finesse player, not physical...

Any Wang Zhizhi mention deserves a +1.

[LamarMatic7]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3VejKNdP4[/youtube]
I really like Lin's defense here at the 6:07 mark. He was helping Walker on the weakside defense and then got back immediately to defend his man, making Green shoot an airball.

I do believe he is a plus defender. He's good at evading screens and getting back in the play, imo, both on and off the ball.

But playing the 2 will nevertheless present him with match-ups that are a bit more difficult for a point guard to handle. To be fair, he both had good moments and bad ones on defense against the Heat. This play first comes to my mind:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDgqsZSq4w[/youtube]