Post#38 » by ryaningf » Fri Oct 7, 2016 2:27 pm
OMG, James Young looks like an actual professional basketball player. Nothing to do with shots falling or not falling, all to do with the little things, getting loose balls, rebounds, making impacts out of his area, running hard in transition, moving the ball. I'm shocked. I thought he was a lost cause. Whatever switch flipped for him, it was 100% mental.
RJ is trying too hard. I think he has the better skillset between him and Young but right now he's trying to do too much, trying to make the roster in one play. He just needs to settle down, let the game come to him, focus on what he can control. He's playing tight. Even if he doesn't make the roster, I think he projects as the better player (between him and Young) down the road. But he's in an anxious place right now.
Rozier is playing tight too and trying to do too much. The diff between him and RJ is that even when he's trying to do too much he's got that athleticism to fall back on, and so he still makes good plays even if the overall net effect isn't positive, I mean some of those boards he gets or those plays he makes with the ball are breathtaking, nobody can stay in front of him. That said, watching him running point on the 2nd team is going to be frustrating. I get a Reggie Jackson vibe from him, great individual #s but struggles to make team-wide impact (that is, he doesn't make his teammates better).
Mickey looks lost. The weight he put on sapped his quickness. The plays he used to make around the rim on offense and at the rim on defense are now a half-step late. The strength gains haven't translated to the court at all. I was hoping he'd add a 3 point shot, but haven't seen him even looking for it. His confidence is toast.
Still don't understand why Jackson got a guarantee, he's the fly in the ointment creating the roster crunch. There are probably 20 guys in the D-League with the same skillset he has. In fact, we had one in Portland last year and in SL this summer - Corey Walden - someone who is a better athlete, defender, and facilitator. Shot 38% from deep last season in the D-League. If we wanted an uber athletic defense first 3rd string PG outta college, there were plenty who didn't even get drafted. Gary Payton the Second comes to mind.
Everybody else is looking good IMO. Brown looks really comfortable in his role and I love that Brad is already using him some at PF. He's going to be a matchup problem for most backup 4s in the league and it'll really give him space to continue to develop his off-the-bounce game. Smart's done a lot of skill work in the summer, his dribble is tighter, he's picking his spots better, everything looks just a little bit more refined. I wish he'd refine his body one of these years too - that's the last step to get to that Kyle Lowry level. AB and Crowder continue to improve. Al is almost the perfect Brad big man. Love going small with him at 5. Loved the Smart/AB/Brown/Crowder/Al lineup too, such a cudgel to stomp teams with...
The leaks are real...the news is fake.
I'm just here for the memes.
. Bradley once again has come into the season looking like an even more complete player, and even James Young is starting to look like a player. The culture of hard work is certainly there for these guys, it's going to be a fun year.
