Rookie Play, Highlights & Discussion

[God Squad]

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Would have been neat seeing curry with ball and klay. Obviously hypothetical but I think they would have been able to coexist. But they stuck with Wiseman now lol

[NADALalot]

Michael Jordan drafting LaMelo Ball is the smartest thing anyone has ever done in the history of basketball.
There is no limit to his future, literally GOAT potential.
Even his scoring ability looks great, and he may be the most gifted passer in NBA history.

[Jedzz]

Michael Jordan drafting LaMelo Ball is the smartest thing anyone has ever done in the history of basketball.
There is no limit to his future, literally GOAT potential.
Even his scoring ability looks great, and he may be the most gifted passer in NBA history.

He has looked amazing in some of these games this year for a rookie or otherwise. But it also wouldn't surprise me all that much if next season went the other way a bit.

[NADALalot]

Michael Jordan drafting LaMelo Ball is the smartest thing anyone has ever done in the history of basketball.
There is no limit to his future, literally GOAT potential.
Even his scoring ability looks great, and he may be the most gifted passer in NBA history.

He has looked amazing in some of these games this year for a rookie or otherwise. But it also wouldn't surprise me all that much if next season went the other way a bit.

At least he enjoys playing basketball, and seems to be happy on the court. Even when he was in Australia they said he was really happy and got along with everyone. That should help his development.

[CraftylikeaFox]

Michael Jordan drafting LaMelo Ball is the smartest thing anyone has ever done in the history of basketball.
There is no limit to his future, literally GOAT potential.
Even his scoring ability looks great, and he may be the most gifted passer in NBA history.

He has looked amazing in some of these games this year for a rookie or otherwise. But it also wouldn't surprise me all that much if next season went the other way a bit.

Why do you say that?

[Jedzz]

Michael Jordan drafting LaMelo Ball is the smartest thing anyone has ever done in the history of basketball.
There is no limit to his future, literally GOAT potential.
Even his scoring ability looks great, and he may be the most gifted passer in NBA history.

He has looked amazing in some of these games this year for a rookie or otherwise. But it also wouldn't surprise me all that much if next season went the other way a bit.

Why do you say that?

It's just happened often enough. Not saying it will, just won't surprise me now if does. Something makes it work for him now, the roster around him, the game plans, maybe the lack of gameplans or limited expectations for the team this season that could now very well change due to what he's showing. Which means the roster might go through some changes and his freedom to play his way changes. The rest of the league gets film on him and looks for what causes him to struggle. Either plays through that or doesn't. Could be anything.

I'm happy to see he wasn't all hype. I was one of the hesitant ones on him. Happy to see he brought a shooting ability to this level along with the confident nature and natural looking game flow IQ most figured he would have. More young triple double threats are a treat for the league.

[theGreatRC]

Ant - 27/4/2/3stls

10-22 45% / 2-5 40% / 5-6FT 83%

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[Klomp]

Ant - 27/4/2/3stls

10-22 45% / 2-5 40% / 5-6FT 83%

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This kid has been a steal for Minnesota. Say what you want about if they got No. 1 right, but they didn't mess up No. 28.

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[theGreatRC]

Ant - 27/4/2/3stls

10-22 45% / 2-5 40% / 5-6FT 83%

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This kid has been a steal for Minnesota. Say what you want about if they got No. 1 right, but they didn't mess up No. 28.

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Agreed.

Mcdaniels is one of the steals of the draft along with Bey & Quickley. His name isn't as big because his stats are more on the defensive end. He'll be a known name in the coming years

[FinnTheHuman]

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The way he just bumped Jaxson Hayes at 1:07 to get rid of him is something Ant does on a regular basis, no matter how bigger the defender is. This kid will make a superstar career out of driving to the basket, the blend of skill, strength, passing vision and athleticism to base his offensive game on driving is through the roof.

[Klomp]

Here were those McDaniels highlights from last night:

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[dolphinatik]

finally Jaden showing out. im still mad Heat didnt draft him

[Quentin]

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The way he just bumped Jaxson Hayes at 1:07 to get rid of him is something Ant does on a regular basis, no matter how bigger the defender is. This kid will make a superstar career out of driving to the basket, the blend of skill, strength, passing vision and athleticism to base his offensive game on driving is through the roof.

If the refs had any air in their lungs Ant would have had a much better showing too. How many damn times does he get fouled with no call? That one where the guy came down on his HAND from behind on a breakaway? Come on.

[Trey24]

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The way he just bumped Jaxson Hayes at 1:07 to get rid of him is something Ant does on a regular basis, no matter how bigger the defender is. This kid will make a superstar career out of driving to the basket, the blend of skill, strength, passing vision and athleticism to base his offensive game on driving is through the roof.

If the refs had any air in their lungs Ant would have had a much better showing too. How many damn times does he get fouled with no call? That one where the guy came down on his HAND from behind on a breakaway? Come on.

So tired of this "rookie whistle" that a bunch of Rookies are getting this year, including Lamelo. It is sickening and a real shame that the game is officiated different ways for different people, and in my opinion it is a health hazard. The comparison between the common way of reffing and the superstar calls is one thing, but you can almost flagrant foul a rookie before the whistle blows, and we are just supposed to laugh and say, rookie calls!

I just don't want to see these young studs get hurt because of the most biased officials in sports

[HotelVitale]

If the refs had any air in their lungs Ant would have had a much better showing too. How many damn times does he get fouled with no call? That one where the guy came down on his HAND from behind on a breakaway? Come on.

So tired of this "rookie whistle" that a bunch of Rookies are getting this year, including Lamelo. It is sickening and a real shame that the game is officiated different ways for different people, and in my opinion it is a health hazard. The comparison between the common way of reffing and the superstar calls is one thing, but you can almost flagrant foul a rookie before the whistle blows, and we are just supposed to laugh and say, rookie calls!

I just don't want to see these young studs get hurt because of the most biased officials in sports

That some strong words (‘sickened’) so can you tell us what you think is going on? Even assuming that rookie whistles are a thing, are you implying it’s a conspiracy that the nba is in on to make life hard on young players? The nba also puts a lot of effort into hyping up up and coming players so it seems like making their refs biased against them is counterproductive at best. What’s your theory about why rookie reffing happens, and who benefits?

[Jedzz]

If the refs had any air in their lungs Ant would have had a much better showing too. How many damn times does he get fouled with no call? That one where the guy came down on his HAND from behind on a breakaway? Come on.

So tired of this "rookie whistle" that a bunch of Rookies are getting this year, including Lamelo. It is sickening and a real shame that the game is officiated different ways for different people, and in my opinion it is a health hazard. The comparison between the common way of reffing and the superstar calls is one thing, but you can almost flagrant foul a rookie before the whistle blows, and we are just supposed to laugh and say, rookie calls!

I just don't want to see these young studs get hurt because of the most biased officials in sports

That some strong words (‘sickened’) so can you tell us what you think is going on? Even assuming that rookie whistles are a thing, are you implying it’s a conspiracy that the nba is in on to make life hard on young players? The nba also puts a lot of effort into hyping up up and coming players so it seems like making their refs biased against them is counterproductive at best. What’s your theory about why rookie reffing happens, and who benefits?

It's maybe a good thing to ask why as in what is behind it, or why as in just why it happens. But to more or less attack his opinion of what he's seeing (and others have spoken up about seeing) by calling him a conspiracy nut isn't really fair. This is what you've done here. Maybe it's just the free respect the refs are offering to the gazillionaire stars that they themselves have watched play this sport and now get to stand next to for their own job. Maybe it's nothing more than that. The refs are also doing a job at the top of their level. Maybe they either see them as their peers in this industry or some even differently like a 10 year old getting his autographed signed. What is the average age of refs in the NBA and Star players?

[Trey24]

So tired of this "rookie whistle" that a bunch of Rookies are getting this year, including Lamelo. It is sickening and a real shame that the game is officiated different ways for different people, and in my opinion it is a health hazard. The comparison between the common way of reffing and the superstar calls is one thing, but you can almost flagrant foul a rookie before the whistle blows, and we are just supposed to laugh and say, rookie calls!

I just don't want to see these young studs get hurt because of the most biased officials in sports

That some strong words (‘sickened’) so can you tell us what you think is going on? Even assuming that rookie whistles are a thing, are you implying it’s a conspiracy that the nba is in on to make life hard on young players? The nba also puts a lot of effort into hyping up up and coming players so it seems like making their refs biased against them is counterproductive at best. What’s your theory about why rookie reffing happens, and who benefits?

It's maybe a good thing to ask why as in what is behind it, or why as in just why it happens. But to more or less attack his opinion of what he's seeing (and others have spoken up about seeing) by calling him a conspiracy nut isn't really fair. This is what you've done here. Maybe it's just the free respect the refs are offering to the gazillionaire stars that they themselves have watched play this sport and now get to stand next to for their own job. Maybe it's nothing more than that. The refs are also doing a job at the top of their level. Maybe they either see them as their peers in this industry or some even differently like a 10 year old getting his autographed signed. What is the average age of refs in the NBA and Star players?

Thanks! I never thought I would hear someone tell me I am a conspiracy theorist for KNOWING that rookies get a weak whistle (not just rookies either, but entire organizations in some cases)

If you watch the NBA on a nightly or even weekly basis, you know that the ref bias is a particular issue and has been for a long time, but it isn't a "mainstream" issue because the big names and big market teams tend to get the benefit of the whistle more often than others.

Anyways, this was particularly relating to rookies and the lack of a whistle that they get. We are talking hacks on drives to the baskets being allowed because "they are rookies, you gotta earn the whistle".

It isn't right and it isn't fair to the guys that have worked their whole life to get to this stage, and then you get to the league and a poor whistle can rock a young players confidence, make them less likely to drive to the basket, etc.

It is an issue and I really don't like seeing these young studs get bullied by the refs on a nightly basis

[HotelVitale]

That some strong words (‘sickened’) so can you tell us what you think is going on? Even assuming that rookie whistles are a thing, are you implying it’s a conspiracy that the nba is in on to make life hard on young players? The nba also puts a lot of effort into hyping up up and coming players so it seems like making their refs biased against them is counterproductive at best. What’s your theory about why rookie reffing happens, and who benefits?

It's maybe a good thing to ask why as in what is behind it, or why as in just why it happens. But to more or less attack his opinion of what he's seeing (and others have spoken up about seeing) by calling him a conspiracy nut isn't really fair. This is what you've done here. Maybe it's just the free respect the refs are offering to the gazillionaire stars that they themselves have watched play this sport and now get to stand next to for their own job. Maybe it's nothing more than that. The refs are also doing a job at the top of their level. Maybe they either see them as their peers in this industry or some even differently like a 10 year old getting his autographed signed. What is the average age of refs in the NBA and Star players?

Thanks! I never thought I would hear someone tell me I am a conspiracy theorist for KNOWING that rookies get a weak whistle (not just rookies either, but entire organizations in some cases) If you watch the NBA on a nightly or even weekly basis, you know that the ref bias is a particular issue and has been for a long time, but it isn't a "mainstream" issue because the big names and big market teams tend to get the benefit of the whistle more often than others. Anyways, this was particularly relating to rookies and the lack of a whistle that they get. We are talking hacks on drives to the baskets being allowed because "they are rookies, you gotta earn the whistle". It isn't right and it isn't fair to the guys that have worked their whole life to get to this stage, and then you get to the league and a poor whistle can rock a young players confidence, make them less likely to drive to the basket, etc. It is an issue and I really don't like seeing these young studs get bullied by the refs on a nightly basis

Sorry if it came out as a call-out or something, wasn't meant as an insult. I was responding to the tone you had--if you're 'sickened' by something and think it's a 'shame' it implies someone's to blame. You were certain that there was a certain definite thing/pattern going on that would have someone behind it and that those people should be held accountable, and that's what caught my eye. That might not be a 'conspiracy' involving shadowy figures and whatnot (like the illuminati), but it is a sort of pact among a group to do something in secret so the word feels like it fits. Either way, I didn't explain well where I was coming from so here goes.

To start, I'm honestly somewhat skeptical that rookie whistles are as big of a thing as we think--I think we probably pay more attention to it because guys like us watch rookies carefully, and I also think learning how to draw fouls is one of the major skills vets get taught and practice and rooks don't know the best timing etc for that yet. But I can clearly remember some no-calls on athletic young guys so let's run with that 100%, and I still have no idea what the rookie whistle idea could stem from. I'm super skeptical that refs themselves think rookies have to 'earn' fouls, nothing I know about ref culture suggest that would be true. Coaches, sure, they love trying to belittle young guys and make them feel like they should never complain and just keep going hard, but not refs. They tends to be earnest people who take their professionalism very seriously and take pride in consistency. And I really don't think the NBA would have any interest in conveying that to refs. Has no benefit to refs or the league and would be a massive PR risk if either party were actively pushing that.

The best explanation that comes to mind to me follows from the superstar call thing--refs pay closer attention to stars because they iso a lot, have the ball in high-profile situations, and are expected/known to be a step ahead of the defense and have lots of counters. Refs miss a lot of off-ball calls, and they also miss more calls off cuts or secondary action, and rookies tend to be involved in a lot of these while also being very new to the timing etc of NBA iso driving and pn'r. So general idea is that, even if they are drawing contact, they're not doing it in quite the same way that vets (or especially stars) are and refs aren't seeing the same type of play they're used to. Lotta problems with that but that's the best I got offhand.

[BugginOut]

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Nice game for Quickley stepping up with Payton and Rose out. Went 6/6 on floaters:

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[Klomp]

People are quick to call Anthony Edwards a bust, but stay completely quiet on the guy immediately behind him who has only played 12 minutes in two of the last three games.