All-Premature Reactions Thread

[E-Balla]

Offensively KP is a problem. His fader is well improved and Melo and Jennings know how to ride the hot hand.

Defensively he's played well under the level he played at last year so I want to see him pick it up even if it leads to lesser offensive numbers. I still think he has AK47 type potential on that end.

[Johnny Firpo]

Offensively KP is a problem. His fader is well improved and Melo and Jennings know how to ride the hot hand.

Defensively he's played well under the level he played at last year so I want to see him pick it up even if it leads to lesser offensive numbers. I still think he has AK47 type potential on that end.

In this cross-matching league, he often finds himself having to defend a small guy, which is obviously not ideal. There are no games with four-five-six blocks like last year, but he still contests shots well, the problem is, he can't spend as much time at the rim. I don't really understand why, to be honest, because he played PF last year too, with Lopez manning the 5. Maybe they play different defensive schemes?

[E-Balla]

Offensively KP is a problem. His fader is well improved and Melo and Jennings know how to ride the hot hand.

Defensively he's played well under the level he played at last year so I want to see him pick it up even if it leads to lesser offensive numbers. I still think he has AK47 type potential on that end.

In this cross-matching league, he often finds himself having to defend a small guy, which is obviously not ideal. There are no games with four-five-six blocks like last year, but he still contests shots well, the problem is, he can't spend as much time at the rim. I don't really understand why, to be honest, because he played PF last year too, with Lopez manning the 5. Maybe they play different defensive schemes?

He's (along with everyone but our SGs) completely forgotten how to guard the PNR in one offseason. And his effort is also lacking. He's fouling instead of using his feet and he hasn't gotten more in his defensive stance once all year. I hope he picks it up because if he played defense like he did last year and kept it up on offense that's a top 20 player.

[tsherkin]

Kristaps is already a superstar so idk if that premature

Kristaps being a superstar definitely belongs in this thread.

Always the star/superstar question... depends on where you draw the line... but the kid is breaking out. The height and speed of his face-up moves are next to unguardable and he's starting to pass well out of doubles. If he's not there, he's on the cusp.

He's certainly had a fantastic start, building upon an exciting rookie campaign.

[Golabki]

Isnt that what a coach is supposed to do though?

How many players have been brought to life by the San Antonio system but nowhere else? (Belinelli, Danny Green, off the top of the head)

I've got no problem Walton.

I've got a problem with people anointing Randle the second coming of Karl Malone after a couple weeks of unsustainablely high FG% at the rim.

Randle isn't anything like Karl Malone except he is a bully on the glass and really strong. Malone's style of play was very different.

if you are looking for me to defend a comparison to Malone... It's not going to happen

[ItsThatEasy]

Through 11 games of course, but I'm surprised this isn't being discussed much.

I haven't been watching too much of the Cav's, is anything obviously different with Love or the system or maybe both?

[24istheLAW]

Through 11 games of course, but I'm surprised this isn't being discussed much.

I haven't been watching too much of the Cav's, is anything obviously different with Love or the system or maybe both?

I don't watch the Cavs much but the other day Zach Lowe mentioned that the Cavs are going with a Love-Frye pairing in the frontcourt often. That probably helps.

[LouisLitt]

They're giving him the ball more in the post (leading to more fouls), and he's just taking more shots overall.

His FG% is still awful for a big, and his 3pt% is way down from last year.

[RCM88x]

Less time on the perimeter and more time inside handling the ball. He's putting up good numbers and drawing fouls, but doesn't really seem to be any more impactful offensively compared to the past.

[Birdie]

Whatever training he did in Utah this summer, there is a very noticeable change to his game as compared to the past 2 years and I think the fact of familiarity has contributed as well. But here are my observations because the "21 & 10" does have a bit of some smoke and mirrors behind it as well but for the moment, I've liked/encouraged at KLove's start to the season.

1) While not the wide load chunky TWolves KLove of yesteryear, whatever strength training he did, Love seems more agile, less tentative to take contact when going to the hoop in this 1st 11 games. He's def. a lot more aggressive instead of settling for jump shots or baby hooks or just sitting on the 3pt line.

2) I think his uptick in scoring is a result of JR's missing offense and missing the preseason has clearly not gotten JR into a rhythm yet. It'll def. be something to keep on an eye on with JR as the season goes on and if he's coming back down to earth.

3) As someone mentioned, Love is getting to the FT line A LOT more compared to the past 2 years. Here's the breakdown of how many games Love has had 8 or more FT attempts:

2014 - 12 games
2015 - 11 games
2016 (in 11 games) - 5 games

How many 20pt or > games Love's had thus far:
2014 - 24 games
2015 - 24 games
2016 (in 11 games) - 6 games

4) As for his rebounds, it seems Lue isn't overworking TT as much and Love spends some time with Frye on the court at the same time, so he's having more opportunities to gobble up rebounds without having to battle with TT for the scraps.

All in all, I'm liking his start thus far but there have been moments where the Cavs offense is TOO much in cruise control, especially, LBJ, who at times, looks like he's just operating at 65% which the hopeless optimist in me takes solace that "oh, this regular season is a grind, no sense in going balls to the wall when it's not that important" but the diehard in me just wants to crush teams to smithereens and have a relatively stressfree viewing experience. haha.

I just think this running in 2nd gear can at times hurt in the longrun cuz you can't always count on just turning on the switch but on the flipside, I'd rather have a fully healthy team as opposed to barreling into the playoffs with guys fully exhausted. I think TOR has been a prime example of running Lowry into the ground come March/April and it's tough for him to get goin come playoff time. I'm just amazed that Raps team last year basically played every other day for almost a month straight of playoff bball and almost made the finals. Crazy.

[The_Hater]

Through 11 games of course, but I'm surprised this isn't being discussed much.

I haven't been watching too much of the Cav's, is anything obviously different with Love or the system or maybe both?

Bron has clearly been looking to hand some of the regular season scoring load over to Irving and Love. His scoring is down and his Assists are way up.

[tundraknight]

Through 11 games of course, but I'm surprised this isn't being discussed much.

I haven't been watching too much of the Cav's, is anything obviously different with Love or the system or maybe both?

Bron has clearly been looking to hand some of the regular season scoring load over to Irving and Love. His scoring is down and his Assists are way up.

Yeah it just seems like Lebron just wants to sleep walk through the regular season. And the scary thing is that he's still averaging close to a Triple Double by "sleep walking".

[Ballerhogger]

LeBron James just getting ready for the playoffs . Sat out against the pacers

[evitcanI]

He's getting the ball more and his free throw rate is closer to what it was in his Minnesota days. It seems like they're feeding him the ball in the post almost every time when he's playing with the second unit. He also seems less hesitant to make his move or let the ball fly, as if he's been given more of a green light by the coaching staff.

[TheZachAttack]

If he's getting to the line more that's a good sign. His best skill with the Wolves was his ability to draw contact and get to the line and pair that up with being able to hit some outside shots as a trailer on the break and as the pop guy in the PnR/PnP game combined with hard work on the offensive boards to get put backs.

He could throw in some hooks over either shoulder but that was really his post game.

He's had a very different role thus far in his career with CLE.


Work him inside out and he'll beast. Although that type of player doesn't fit as well with Lebron's style...

[dautjazz]

If he keeps this up, I think people will set aside the talk about how Cleveland should of kept Wiggins. Don't get me wrong, Wiggins is playing great right now, but would they have won the title with Wiggins instead? Keep in mind that if they got Wiggins, they might not have gotten JR who was instrumental in the Finals. Love is playing probably at the level people expected when he came to Cleveland. A big difference for Love is he's taking 3.6 more 2PT attempts (PER36), and it's helping get to the line almost twice as frequently too, not to mention playing closer to the basket lets him get a some more rebounds too. He's really just playing more like he was in Minnesota, instead of being uncomfortable and settling for being a spot up shooter.

[tidho]

He's getting the ball more and his free throw rate is closer to what it was in his Minnesota days. It seems like they're feeding him the ball in the post almost every time when he's playing with the second unit. He also seems less hesitant to make his move or let the ball fly, as if he's been given more of a green light by the coaching staff.

Yep.

The Cavaliers basically run three different offenses (Love post, Kyrie iso, LeBron drive and kick) They can do any of them with any group, but more and more it seems they're giving each guy his own squad to do their thing with.

Most of Love's points are coming in those stretches (often early) when they play through him Minnesota style.

[jeeph]

He really started to fit the second half of last season. And you really saw it in the playoffs. When his shooting was off, he still had some impact, which wasn't true in the first season and a half. He had to stop playing so much like the #1 option Love in the Minny offense, where the whole play was designed around getting him to his spots and letting go to work one on one or initiate the offense. That's not going to happen with the Cavs roster. He had to become more TT, go get yours, and JR Smith, if you got a shot, take it. Less planned offense with him as the pivot, more street ball of let your talent shine getting yours on your own.

He played high school, college and his first seven years as a pro as the #1 option player. Took him a bit to adjust as expected but he is there now.

[Eagle4]

League leader in rpg. (Only Rodman has averaged more than 16rpg in a season but of course Whiteside needs to sustain this over the season)

2nd in blocks
1st in defensive rating
1st in defensive win shares

18ppg 16rpg 1spg 2.7bpg


Heat are 3rd in defense and 1st in opponent Fg%. You may look at the record and and be perplexed but Heat have played SA twice, 9-3 Hawks, 8-3 Charlotte team, decent Bulls team and Raptors team. Almost all of which were close games, the main problem with the Heat is they can't score a lick and currently anchored 25m in a Bosh who isn't playing.

Personally I would like the heat to get a top 5 pick but not sure how that will fair if their defense remains elite.

[First Step]

You can't say most since Dennis Rodman, until he finishes an entire season with those numbers. Look at Andre Drummond last season as a reference point as to why that is the case.