2016-17 Rookie Watch thread

[cksdayoff]

Saric had bad numbers tonight, but he was +22. Was he playing well without putting numbers or is it just being at the right place at the right time?

Saric's defense is terrible. Plus his shot was horribly off last night.

[CoreyGallagher]

Saric had bad numbers tonight, but he was +22. Was he playing well without putting numbers or is it just being at the right place at the right time?

Saric's defense is terrible. Plus his shot was horribly off last night.

His defense is bad right now, he puts in effort. His shot, even in preseason, has been all or nothing, needs to get more consistent.

I'd like to see him play like he did in Europe, within himself, not forcing things, grabbing rebounds, and pushing the break. I don't believe that I've seen him do the latter at all this season.

[AussieBuck]

Saric's going to be awesome when he gets comfortable. Hopefully for his sake it'll be before Simmons comes back so he can carve out some ball for himself before it becomes all Simmons/Embiid.

[LloydFree]

Is Murray playing hurt or something?

waiting for his new contacts to come in.

[LloydFree]

I'm actually very curious to see how well Ben plays with a dominant post player. We haven't seen that yet on any level with him. I ask because he is so ball dominant I'm hoping we get more of a magic/Kareem vibe with the two where Ben takes the step back in the half court and let JoJo thrive and Ben takes his opportunities in the open floor where he's going to be a lot more effective.

I don't think it will be that hard for Simmons to fit in with Embiid, when he comes back. Simmons will take ove Saric's current role in the offense, as secondary facilitator. But instead of Saric's inability to drive past anybody, Simmons will blow past and create out of any close-outs.

[JellosJigglin]

Ingram's length has been amazing and I see his defensive impact on the floor every game. He's not an offensive beast...yet...but watch out because Ingram is the best player out of his draft.

Based on what?

Ingram has looked absolutely terrible shooting the ball after his first 6 games???

2-13 from 3 points shots taken (0.154%)
11-32 shots made inside the 3 point line (0.375%)

His shooting to begin his nba career has been nothing short of appalling.

Like I said in my last post, box score watchers will think Ingram has been struggling.

He'll be alright. How often do good shooters in college come into the league and start dropping buckets? I'm not the least bit worried about his shooting. You can see the soft touch and nice arch on the ball, same thing I saw in D'Angelo Russell last year when everyone was freaking out. Rooks need to get stronger before they get used to the NBA 3. The stroke is there, although I wish he had a higher release like KD or Dirk.

His ballhandling is much better than I expected. Eventually I see him being trusted with the ball late in games while DLo runs off screens. He's not an elite passer like Simmons but he's solid in that department. Just makes the smart play and doesn't do anything stupid. Defensively I think he's going to be a menace. The fact he's even willing to put effort on defense as a rookie says a lot about him. He has the length to jump in passing lanes, closeout on shooters, and also to contest shots at the basket. Very versatile as a defender, which you want from your SF.

Other than that, the guy just seems very very coachable. He pays attention to the coaches and follows through. No ego. Super humble, which some might mistake for being passive, but they'll be mistaken. I've seen enough flashes to know he won't be afraid to step up and be aggressive, like the clutch 3 he made on the road against ATL that gave the Lakers the lead. The coaches are being smart by letting him learn at his own pace so he doesn't pick up bad habits.

Shooting? There's much more to the game. He isn't a project as a shooter like Ben Simmons, so not worried about the percentages right now. You can see the shooting is there. They'll eventually start dropping, like they did for D'Angelo in the 2nd half of his rookie year.

[nurseryc]

Ingram's length has been amazing and I see his defensive impact on the floor every game. He's not an offensive beast...yet...but watch out because Ingram is the best player out of his draft.

Based on what?

Ingram has looked absolutely terrible shooting the ball after his first 6 games???

2-13 from 3 points shots taken (0.154%)
11-32 shots made inside the 3 point line (0.375%)

His shooting to begin his nba career has been nothing short of appalling.

Like I said in my last post, box score watchers will think Ingram has been struggling.

He'll be alright. How often do good shooters in college come into the league and start dropping buckets? I'm not the least bit worried about his shooting. You can see the soft touch and nice arch on the ball, same thing I saw in D'Angelo Russell last year when everyone was freaking out. Rooks need to get stronger before they get used to the NBA 3. The stroke is there, although I wish he had a higher release like KD or Dirk.

His ballhandling is much better than I expected. Eventually I see him being trusted with the ball late in games while DLo runs off screens. He's not an elite passer like Simmons but he's solid in that department. Just makes the smart play and doesn't do anything stupid. Defensively I think he's going to be a menace. The fact he's even willing to put effort on defense as a rookie says a lot about him. He has the length to jump in passing lanes, closeout on shooters, and also to contest shots at the basket. Very versatile as a defender, which you want from your SF.

Other than that, the guy just seems very very coachable. He pays attention to the coaches and follows through. No ego. Super humble, which some might mistake for being passive, but they'll be mistaken. I've seen enough flashes to know he won't be afraid to step up and be aggressive, like the clutch 3 he made on the road against ATL that gave the Lakers the lead. The coaches are being smart by letting him learn at his own pace so he doesn't pick up bad habits.

Shooting? There's much more to the game. He isn't a project as a shooter like Ben Simmons

, so not worried about the percentages right now. You can see the shooting is there. They'll eventually start dropping, like they did for D'Angelo in the 2nd half of his rookie year.

Ingram was totally projected as a shooter so your last statement is astounding.

Forget about your projections or what you hope. Right now, Ingram is putting up dismal shooting percentages from the field and also from 3 point shots.

[Slava]

Based on what?

Ingram has looked absolutely terrible shooting the ball after his first 6 games???

2-13 from 3 points shots taken (0.154%)
11-32 shots made inside the 3 point line (0.375%)

His shooting to begin his nba career has been nothing short of appalling.

Like I said in my last post, box score watchers will think Ingram has been struggling.

He'll be alright. How often do good shooters in college come into the league and start dropping buckets? I'm not the least bit worried about his shooting. You can see the soft touch and nice arch on the ball, same thing I saw in D'Angelo Russell last year when everyone was freaking out. Rooks need to get stronger before they get used to the NBA 3. The stroke is there, although I wish he had a higher release like KD or Dirk.

His ballhandling is much better than I expected. Eventually I see him being trusted with the ball late in games while DLo runs off screens. He's not an elite passer like Simmons but he's solid in that department. Just makes the smart play and doesn't do anything stupid. Defensively I think he's going to be a menace. The fact he's even willing to put effort on defense as a rookie says a lot about him. He has the length to jump in passing lanes, closeout on shooters, and also to contest shots at the basket. Very versatile as a defender, which you want from your SF.

Other than that, the guy just seems very very coachable. He pays attention to the coaches and follows through. No ego. Super humble, which some might mistake for being passive, but they'll be mistaken. I've seen enough flashes to know he won't be afraid to step up and be aggressive, like the clutch 3 he made on the road against ATL that gave the Lakers the lead. The coaches are being smart by letting him learn at his own pace so he doesn't pick up bad habits.

Shooting? There's much more to the game. He isn't a project as a shooter like Ben Simmons

, so not worried about the percentages right now. You can see the shooting is there. They'll eventually start dropping, like they did for D'Angelo in the 2nd half of his rookie year.

Ingram was totally projected as a shooter so your last statement is astounding.

Forget about your projections or what you hope. Right now, Ingram is putting up dismal shooting percentages from the field and also from 3 point shots.

So is Klay Thompson. Is there are point you are trying to make?

[AussieRules]

Based on what?

Ingram has looked absolutely terrible shooting the ball after his first 6 games???

2-13 from 3 points shots taken (0.154%)
11-32 shots made inside the 3 point line (0.375%)

His shooting to begin his nba career has been nothing short of appalling.

Like I said in my last post, box score watchers will think Ingram has been struggling.

He'll be alright. How often do good shooters in college come into the league and start dropping buckets? I'm not the least bit worried about his shooting. You can see the soft touch and nice arch on the ball, same thing I saw in D'Angelo Russell last year when everyone was freaking out. Rooks need to get stronger before they get used to the NBA 3. The stroke is there, although I wish he had a higher release like KD or Dirk.

His ballhandling is much better than I expected. Eventually I see him being trusted with the ball late in games while DLo runs off screens. He's not an elite passer like Simmons but he's solid in that department. Just makes the smart play and doesn't do anything stupid. Defensively I think he's going to be a menace. The fact he's even willing to put effort on defense as a rookie says a lot about him. He has the length to jump in passing lanes, closeout on shooters, and also to contest shots at the basket. Very versatile as a defender, which you want from your SF.

Other than that, the guy just seems very very coachable. He pays attention to the coaches and follows through. No ego. Super humble, which some might mistake for being passive, but they'll be mistaken. I've seen enough flashes to know he won't be afraid to step up and be aggressive, like the clutch 3 he made on the road against ATL that gave the Lakers the lead. The coaches are being smart by letting him learn at his own pace so he doesn't pick up bad habits.

Shooting? There's much more to the game. He isn't a project as a shooter like Ben Simmons

, so not worried about the percentages right now. You can see the shooting is there. They'll eventually start dropping, like they did for D'Angelo in the 2nd half of his rookie year.

Ingram was totally projected as a shooter so your last statement is astounding.

Forget about your projections or what you hope. Right now, Ingram is putting up dismal shooting percentages from the field and also from 3 point shots.

You completely mis-read his post. He didn't say Ingram wasn't projected as a shooter but he meant he isn't a "project" in terms of being a shooter like Simmons was. Besides I thought we were done using FG percentages to measure how good a shooter is. Use TS% and get with the times. Ingram currently leads the Lakers in Net-rtg, that just goes to show you that FG% is a useless stat in terms of measuring a players impact on the court.

[Duke4life831]

This season has started off as I think many of us predicted when it comes to the rookies, its going to definitely be a down year for this rookie class (draft class). Either than no one really blowing anyone away, no one is really showing flashes of great potential really. I think once you get past the top 3 picks, there is really no one that really gets you all that excited. Some solid starters and role players but no all stars.

Brown and Ingram are two guys that you can at least see the flashes. Ingram is arguably LAs best defender already, you know sooner or later that jumper is going to start to fall again. Give him a couple years and he should put his offense together and will be a good 2 way player with all star potential. Brown playing better than I thought he would to start the year, shows potential on both ends, cant deny the physical attributes, hes another guy that may make a all star game or two.

Once Simmons finally plays, I think he is going to struggle defensively and to score while not in transition or off an offensive board. But just like the other two guys you will see the all star potential with him.

Dunn should be a solid PG that is a really good defender, just dont see all star with him. Hield I thought was a massive reach, when his shot isnt falling doesnt really bring anything else to the table, still think hes going to be Jodie Meeks 2.0. Murray is another guy I thought would be a bust for where he was taken in the draft is really struggling.

Embiid is going to run away with ROY this year. Really a big drop off this year compared to last year's group.

[QPR]

Loved Sabonis' game today - once he gets more confident he is going to be a really solid player. Footwork and feel for the game already very advanced, which isn't surprising given the blood lines. He has a nice outside stroke too, can hit from all the spots Ibaka could.

[bondom34]

Loved Sabonis' game today - once he gets more confident he is going to be a really solid player. Footwork and feel for the game already very advanced, which isn't surprising given the blood lines. He has a nice outside stroke too, can hit from all the spots Ibaka could.

Set a Thunder rookie record for 3s in a game w/ 4. I didn't even know it was in his college game. He's also a solid team defender.

[Repeat 3-peat]

Was a fan of Sabonis coming out of the draft. Only negative I had on him was his wingspan(6'10"), which hurts when it comes to protecting the rim, meaning he won't be much of a center. Either way, he and Adams will give OKC two tough interior presents for years to come. (yes, I do believe he'll be a solid starter in the future)

[GimmeDat]

Solid is the word that comes to mind for Sabonis. Skilled and sound in most facets of the game, and 4 three's is a very good sign which should it continue, will really open up his game.

[Yunsen]

Loved Sabonis' game today - once he gets more confident he is going to be a really solid player. Footwork and feel for the game already very advanced, which isn't surprising given the blood lines. He has a nice outside stroke too, can hit from all the spots Ibaka could.

Set a Thunder rookie record for 3s in a game w/ 4. I didn't even know it was in his college game. He's also a solid team defender.

It wasn't in his game at all in college but he definitely had the potential for it. Wiltjer was a better shooter and mostly stayed outside unless he had someone smaller on him, so Sabonis stayed in the post most of the time, especially after Karnowski went out. How it developed would define his role in the league and so far it's looking great.

[leolozon]

Players like Sabonis kind of makes me sad. The guy seems to have the talent, the motor an the will necessary, but he lacks the physical tools to ever be a great player. You rarely see players with such a small wingspan in the NBA.

[bondom34]

Random, but 2 of the top 5 rookies in 3 point shooting are Sabonis and Embiid. 2 of the top 3 if you don't include Jake Layman's 5 3 pointer game.

[zZero]

Sabonis gonna be a very solid player, really wish raps drafted him

[cruwinas]

Was a fan of Sabonis coming out of the draft. Only negative I had on him was his wingspan(6'10"), which hurts when it comes to protecting the rim, meaning he won't be much of a center. Either way, he and Adams will give OKC two tough interior presents for years to come. (yes, I do believe he'll be a solid starter in the future)

looks like sabo is solid starter in his 6th NBA game. Age 20years. Impressive.

[bondom34]

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