2018/19 ROY/Rookie Discussion Thread (Pt 2)

[Imon]

Luka needs to start hitting his damn FTs.

Luka hits around 75% of his FTs. Not Dirk level, sure, but not below league average.
Besides, he's just trying to be like his favorite player - Lebron. Even emulating his FT%.

[IrishBeatdown]

Doncic but JJJ should be an option

So true.

3rd best interior defender in the league by fg %

https://stats.nba.com/players/defense-dash-lt6/?CF=G*G*25&sort=LT_06_PCT&dir=-1

I’m of the mind that JJJ turns out to be the superstar of the group. Wish WCJ had his skill set. Memphis looks like they are only going to get better with JJJ developing, if I was them I would be buying at the trade deadline if they are fringe contenders.

JJJ projects as the more complete player of he and doncic

[Goudelock]

Luka needs to start hitting his damn FTs.

Luka hits around 75% of his FTs. Not Dirk level, sure, but not below league average.
Besides, he's just trying to be like his favorite player - Lebron. Even emulating his FT%.

[The Laker Kid]

Montrezl Harrell

[Curmudgeon]

Are you kidding?

[King Ken]

I don't know who got in Trae Youngs head finally and got him to quit trying to play hero ball and carry them team non stop by himself. But im glad they did it because he is no longer taking a ridiculous amount of crazy long 3's and is relying on his teammates alot more. Which in turn has changed the hawks for the better over the last 5 to 10 games or so. We are almost playing like a .500 team during that times and his efficiency is so much better. He is actually playing to his strength and playmaking abilities at this point. He might not be putting up 25/15 every night like he was trying to earlier in the season but he's giving a good 17-20 and 8 to 10 assists on a regular but the rest of the team is looking tons bette playing off him now when he is giving them open looks. This is the young i want playing as a hawk going forward and let it evolve to something better. Not a 30 shot a game chucker from crazy sots on the floor he was starting to turn into for awhile there.

Clearly somebody got to him and I'm glad they did. His play has been markedly better.

Wonder if Prince being gone has factored in that?

It's a high possibility and i love Prince as a player but im gonna be honest here with what i have seen we don't look any worse and at times better without him out there. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the season i would have said no way to a prince trade but now if the right offer comes along mi easily listening in on it. Someone in the prince trade value discussion said Michael Porter Jr + a 2019 Nuggests 1st round pick. I would take that all day long for the upside alone.

Is Michael Porter Jr. ever gonna play ball again?

[walker9]

Really? Doncic is winning? Ayton is averaging a double double. I am shocked at the results of this poll.

[GYK]

Ayton.
Luka.
then JJJ, who is the closest to a modern Tim Duncan we've seen.

[King Ken]

I don't know who got in Trae Youngs head finally and got him to quit trying to play hero ball and carry them team non stop by himself. But im glad they did it because he is no longer taking a ridiculous amount of crazy long 3's and is relying on his teammates alot more. Which in turn has changed the hawks for the better over the last 5 to 10 games or so. We are almost playing like a .500 team during that times and his efficiency is so much better. He is actually playing to his strength and playmaking abilities at this point. He might not be putting up 25/15 every night like he was trying to earlier in the season but he's giving a good 17-20 and 8 to 10 assists on a regular but the rest of the team is looking tons bette playing off him now when he is giving them open looks. This is the young i want playing as a hawk going forward and let it evolve to something better. Not a 30 shot a game chucker from crazy sots on the floor he was starting to turn into for awhile there.

I think one problem is that everyone keeps comparing him to Steph Curry when Trae himself says that he sees himself more as Steve Nash. It's still early in his career so he has time to reclaim the narrative or just form his own identity. But yeah, I think this Steph/Trae thing needs to stop - it's totally unfair to Trae.

It also helps Trae has been hitting the 3 at over a 47% clip in the last 6 games. But honestly, Trae was shooting way too much previously. He thought he was at OU again. Thankfully, Prince pulled the green light from him and he's been excellent. He is an exceptionally talented PG but he is still raw. He is learning.

[Imon]

We already have a thread about this. The ROY thread.

Going off potential, I go Trae - Ayton - Luka

Going off production, I go Luka - Trae - Ayton

I would go Ayton/Luka/Trae for potential
I have for production right now is Luka/Ayton/Trae

[I beg to differ]

The best rookie this year so far is not the guy who takes 5 threes a game at 25%

[sca]

Why is Trae even an option

[Oscar9992]

Doncic is clear front runner... Ayton is 2'nd though.

[TheBullsDynasty]

Ayton is making a serious push and by the end of the season he could be the most deserving rookie but I think Doncic got this on lock already due to his early dominance and all the recognition/praise he gets from everyone including Lebron, AD, Steph, Draymond, Lillard, etc. etc.

[nikster]

Really? Doncic is winning? Ayton is averaging a double double. I am shocked at the results of this poll.

Doncic is averaging 19/7/5. The guy creates most of his shots for himself and his teammates. He has been incredible for a rookie in the clutch. Even opposing players and coaches are routinely impressed with his play.

I can see why some people might have Ayton (I strongly disagree), but being “shocked” that Luka is winning is ridiculous. Have you even been following the league?

[King Ken]

Why is Trae even an option

Why shouldn't he be an option?

[BlueSan]

Really? Doncic is winning? Ayton is averaging a double double. I am shocked at the results of this poll.

Trust me not as much as we are shocked reading your post

[Oscar9992]

Really? Doncic is winning? Ayton is averaging a double double. I am shocked at the results of this poll.

Doncic is averaging 19/7/5. The guy creates most of his shots for himself and his teammates. He has been incredible for a rookie in the clutch. Even opposing players and coaches are routinely impressed with his play.

I can see why some people might have Ayton (I strongly disagree), but being “shocked” that Luka is winning is ridiculous. Have you even been following the league?

19,5 already... he has been scoring a lot lately.

[Threezus]

I don't think Trae Young is going to appreciate the results of this poll lol

Trae by his play shouldn't be leading this poll right now or even close to leading this poll which he's not. With that said he did start off really strong for awhile there early on and had a legit say as ROY and alot of people chose him at that point. Then he hit a very rough patch for a few weeks where he was chucking everything and not shooting well while doing so. He was still getting alot of assists as well but his shot selection was killing him overall. Luckily someone got to him and reigned him in the last few weeks and he has looked MUCH IMPROVED but with lesser stats than he was putting up at the beginning of the season. I will gladly have him lose ROY and not have gaudy numbers if it means he becomes a much better and more efficient player going forward like he is showing because the trae young that is playing right now has top tier all star potential if he builds off what he is showing lately.

[sca]

Why is Trae even an option

Why shouldn't he be an option?

Because he’s having an objectively worse season compared to Ayton and Doncic.