Sophomore Impressions 2016-17

Brapman · Post #1 » by **Brapman** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:36 pm

Aside from your very occasional KAT level player, the vast majority of all new draftees remain massive works-in-process for at least 2-3 more seasons.

Who is better, ____ or ____ is unknowable until we see an offseason or two under their belts. Who is getting the work done? Who is the most coachable? How are they taking care of and developing their bodies? How do they wiggle their way more into their team's rotations?

Accordingly, and voila, this thread. I already know from experience, and predict, that this will turn into a massive homer on homer faceoff and screed. Yet, is that not what we do? Is that not who we are? So, whatever.

SCHeat · Post #2 » by **SCHeat** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:39 pm

Really looking forward to seeing what Mudiay does in year two. He showed some flashes last year

Okafor is a big wild card to me to. How does he play with Simmons, Noel, and possibly Embiid

Brapman · Post #3 » by **Brapman** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:46 pm

For those who haven't read this, Stanley Johnson came to summer league to focus on only working on his weaknesses. He has relatively dramatically changed the mechanics on his shot, and has been working on that for 2.5 months in a gym, not in any scrimmages, and with Pistons coaches always alongside him. He's also been working on using his left hand all the time, and going left. Last year, he only went right. He's sticking with that playing live 5 on 5 in the SL, which is why he's looking awkward at times, and missing a ton of shots. It's a necessary and deliberate setback in his production. Kudos to him for being confident and determined enough to show this off for the first time with every game on nbatv.

For the record, SVG is loving all this, and thinks Stanley is doing exactly the right thing.

I tell anyone who will listen. Stanley Johnson is going to be a force in this league, and a big time leader and winner. Great great draft pick. And, while I want immediate results this season, I totally get that this might take a year of inconsistent play from him in the heat of the battles, before he really takes off. Nothing he's doing right now is second nature to him, yet.

Brapman · Post #4 » by **Brapman** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:49 pm

I agree on Mudiay. He's playing on one of the teams in the league who I think is doing the best job of building its team. I'm a fan of Murray as an NBA player, love both their young centers and like their forwards a lot.

How well will Mudiay shoot the ball during his career? That'll define his ceiling.

Hindenburg · Post #5 » by **Hindenburg** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:54 pm

I expect Porzingis to step up and improve his game, especially his shooting %.

Not sure where Okafor ends up but I want to see more of him next season

shanghaifanzi · Post #6 » by **shanghaifanzi** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:57 pm

i expect mario hezonja will have breakthrough year as sophomore, i hope the new coach will give him more playing time. he's too talented to be wasted. suck he has to compete playing time with fournier

SCHeat · Post #7 » by **SCHeat** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 2:59 pm

Brapman wrote:For those who haven't read this, Stanley Johnson came to summer league to focus on only working on his weaknesses. He has relatively dramatically changed the mechanics on his shot, and has been working on that for 2.5 months in a gym, not in any scrimmages, and with Pistons coaches always alongside him. He's also been working on using his left hand all the time, and going left. Last year, he only went right. He's sticking with that playing live 5 on 5 in the SL, which is why he's looking awkward at times, and missing a ton of shots. It's a necessary and deliberate setback in his production. Kudos to him for being confident and determined enough to show this off for the first time with every game on nbatv.

For the record, SVG is loving all this, and thinks Stanley is doing exactly the right thing.

I tell anyone who will listen. Stanley Johnson is going to be a force in this league, and a big time leader and winner. Great great draft pick. And, while I want immediate results this season, I totally get that this might take a year of inconsistent play from him in the heat of the battles, before he really takes off. Nothing he's doing right now is second nature to him, yet.

Miami is taking the same approach with Winslow. Hoping it pays off. I think both players are going to be great

Brapman · Post #8 » by **Brapman** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:05 pm

Hadn't heard that about Winslow, Rio. If so, it's really smart. What's Winslow saying about that? (Stanley has been talking a lot about his process and what he's working on this summer, and the Detroit press has been covering it as well)

Brapman · Post #9 » by **Brapman** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:08 pm

shanghaifanzi wrote:i expect mario hezonja will have breakthrough year as sophomore, i hope the new coach will give him more playing time. he's too talented to be wasted. suck he has to compete playing time with fournier

Orlando added veteran rotation guys at every position on floor. I'm not sure if Hezonja is going to have a clear path for PT this season. For the record, I think that's a mistake for the long-term, but, if they jell, the Magic could make a playoff run this season. Still, I'd be a bit mad if my coach is playing Jodie Meeks instead of, or cutting into Fournier's or Mario's minutes.

Kalela · Post #10 » by **Kalela** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:10 pm

Trey Lyles of Utah is looking really good in the Summer League games. I think he will have a really good 2nd year this coming season.

PKABOOICU · Post #11 » by **PKABOOICU** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:12 pm

Mudiay can get to Kemba Walker status without the J
D'angelo can get to Mike Conley status

Ferulci · Post #12 » by **Ferulci** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:12 pm

Players I'm looking forward to see :
- Exum (technically not a sophomore but still)
- Hezonja
- Devin Booker
- Winslow
- Porzingis
- If Towns can be a Top 15 player next year.

j-ragg · Post #13 » by **j-ragg** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:17 pm

Porzingis is the most exciting guy to me, Hezonja obviously is my guy though. I think Russell will hopefully improve and KAT will have an All-NBA season.

DeadHorse · Post #14 » by **DeadHorse** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:21 pm

Turner. Jokic. Towns. Big men this year are unreal

Sgt P · Post #15 » by **Sgt P** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:22 pm

I think the whole class..
J Richardson (sleeper)
Winslow
Johnson
Porzingis
Hezonja
Kat..

I think this whole draft class has great potential...

iMoreland · Post #16 » by **iMoreland** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:30 pm

GOTEMCOACH wrote:Mudiay can get to Kemba Walker status without the J
D'angelo can get to Mike Conley status

Those are horrible comparisons

shanghaifanzi · Post #17 » by **shanghaifanzi** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:51 pm

Brapman wrote:
shanghaifanzi wrote:i expect mario hezonja will have breakthrough year as sophomore, i hope the new coach will give him more playing time. he's too talented to be wasted. suck he has to compete playing time with fournier

Orlando added veteran rotation guys at every position on floor. I'm not sure if Hezonja is going to have a clear path for PT this season. For the record, I think that's a mistake for the long-term, but, if they jell, the Magic could make a playoff run this season. Still, I'd be a bit mad if my coach is playing Jodie Meeks instead of, or cutting into Fournier's or Mario's minutes.

oow that sucks to be him at the moment, if he's not getting PT soon hope orlando move him ASAP it's best for both of them (assuming orlando want to be straight into title contender this year)

PKABOOICU · Post #18 » by **PKABOOICU** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 3:56 pm

iMoreland wrote:
GOTEMCOACH wrote:Mudiay can get to Kemba Walker status without the J
D'angelo can get to Mike Conley status

Those are horrible comparisons

i dont think so

Kabookalu · Post #19 » by **Kabookalu** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 4:38 pm

I wish the Pacers didn't make Turner their center, I think his gifts are better served as a PF. I know that being a C means he can man the paint and theoretically get more blocks, but his interior defense as a PF devastated us in the playoffs and almost got us knocked out in the first round. He's so mobile and nimble on his feet that he can rotate over to the weak side in the blink of an eye. Having that kind of twin tower defense clogging up the paint can completely shut the paint down, and Turner's capable of keeping up with perimeter players.

Post #20 » by **Duke4life831** » Wed Jul 6, 2016 6:09 pm

Few things I'm looking forward to. Can KAT avoid a sophmore slump, with him I don't even really need to see that much improvement, just want to see him at least on the same level as last year (hope he's not another Tyreke Evans).

With KP I'm mainly looking at can he improve his shooting numbers. 42% from the field, 33% from 3, 46% eFG% and 51 TS%. I would like to see some improvement in those numbers, also some better rebounding, 9.3 per 36 isn't that great for a 7'3 guy.

Okafor has two areas I'd like to see improvement and that's team defense and rebounding. Okafor is a good man defender but I would like to see his rotations and PnR defense improve. Like KP he is a weak rebounder, I would like to see his 8.4 boards per 36 start to hover around high 9s to 10. He's good at boxing out but doesn't go after boards. Also curious what team he will be playing for at the end of the season.

With Mudiay the main thing I want to see improve is his fg%. I don't expect a big jump in his 3 point shot yet. But he shot only 38% inside the arc and 47% at the rim. I would like to see both those numbers improve.

Russell I think is going to look like a different player. He started to show his potential near the end of the year, I think with Luke as his coach and adding another young offensive guy in Ingram should open his game up.

Then the wings with Stanley and Justise. Both guys already look like they're too good for summer league. Both had pretty bad shooting numbers last year, Justise had the slightly better numbers but I think that was mainly because Stanley was slightly more aggressive offensivley. With Justise can he start playing with more aggression and can he get he improve his 3pt shot. I would like to see Justise get his 3pt shot to around 32% and TS% above 51% (49% last year). With Stanley can he become more affective scoring inside the arc. Shot just 41% on 2s, if he can bump that up and show some slight improvement on his 3s he should be able to get his TS% around 49-50 (46% last year).

The last guy is Booker. Can he start to show some consistency. He shot 31% from 3 from January on and shot 28% from 3 his last two months. Just looking for him to show some consistency