James Wiseman 2021/2022

[FNQ]

I've had 2 extremely optimistic conversations with one of my old contacts from the sports science job.. former college scout. He's a big believer of Wiseman in the W's system, fwiw

I'm nowhere near as optimistic but he showed me reasons for believing Wiseman can have a + impact this year. The whole explanation is pretty damn wordy, but one of the biggest takeaways is that our defense last year was more scattered due to the failures of Oubre (played 3rd most minutes with him) and how his constant missing rotations put Wiseman in really bad situations. Wiseman failed too, in that he didnt learn a ton, but when a perimeter guy makes a mistake, that usually mean Draymond pulls to cover for it, so then the other big needs to immediately cover for Dray, a perimeter guy covers for that big, etc etc

So when Oubre missed a rotation (team leader despite missing a ton of games), that meant Wiseman was supposed to cover for Draymond after Dray helps. Easy concept right? Except it was happening in 2-4 seconds of time, and Wiseman had no camp, no preseason, no summer league, nothing.. and here's the important part: he picked up Memphis' defense very well with a full college offseason, and apparently that defense was closer to a box-1/switch heavy system.

We'll see what happens. I dont think I'd bet on it this year. Maybe next year with a full offseason.. but it definitely gave me something to think about

[The-Power]

Read on Twitter

[whatisacenter]

Right on! I am happy we will get a chance to see him before the playoffs!

[Samurai]

Finally! Let's hope that the G-league games also helps him adjust similarly to how it helped Moody. Can't wait to see an actual 7-footer in a Dubs uniform!

[GSWFan1994]

Great news!

Hope he scores 100 points and grabs 50 rebounds in those games.

[michaelm]

I've had 2 extremely optimistic conversations with one of my old contacts from the sports science job.. former college scout. He's a big believer of Wiseman in the W's system, fwiw

I'm nowhere near as optimistic but he showed me reasons for believing Wiseman can have a + impact this year. The whole explanation is pretty damn wordy, but one of the biggest takeaways is that our defense last year was more scattered due to the failures of Oubre (played 3rd most minutes with him) and how his constant missing rotations put Wiseman in really bad situations. Wiseman failed too, in that he didnt learn a ton, but when a perimeter guy makes a mistake, that usually mean Draymond pulls to cover for it, so then the other big needs to immediately cover for Dray, a perimeter guy covers for that big, etc etc

So when Oubre missed a rotation (team leader despite missing a ton of games), that meant Wiseman was supposed to cover for Draymond after Dray helps. Easy concept right? Except it was happening in 2-4 seconds of time, and Wiseman had no camp, no preseason, no summer league, nothing.. and here's the important part: he picked up Memphis' defense very well with a full college offseason, and apparently that defense was closer to a box-1/switch heavy system.

We'll see what happens. I dont think I'd bet on it this year. Maybe next year with a full offseason.. but it definitely gave me something to think about

It would be good for him to be next to Green which it seems might be how things transpire.

I have always thought Oubre was a problem for Wiseman last season, hard enough for a rookie to learn the complex GSW system let alone next to a vet starter not playing or learning that system. Hopefully Green returning might get Klay back to something like his old role, and Wiggins back to being more like early season Wiggins particularly defensively, as well.

[Big J]

Wiseman better just be focusing on grabbing boards and playing defense down there. Hopefully he's been watching Loon all season.

[watch1958]

Stockton has rookie big, Nemias Queta, who is roughly the same height & weight as Wiseman.

So it won’t just be dunks on small guys.

[FNQ]

Stockton has rookie big, Nemias Queta, who is roughly the same height & weight as Wiseman.

So it won’t just be dunks on small guys.

Even if it was, get him comfortable driving, getting the ball in his hands.. dunking on small guys means you have to go around them or bully them in the post, both are things he could stand to learn..

I held my tongue on it for a while but the way people discredit the GLeague's potential impact for raw big men to learn how to play is just asinine.. Wiseman absolutely can improve in the GLeague because its made for players like him, Kuminga and others who have raw talent but dont know how to wield it. Its far less important for players like Moody and Poole, who use it to acclimate to a different speed/caliber of athlete than they are used to

[FNQ]

It would be good for him to be next to Green which it seems might be how things transpire.

I have always thought Oubre was a problem for Wiseman last season, hard enough for a rookie to learn the complex GSW system let alone next to a vet starter not playing or learning that system. Hopefully Green returning might get Klay back to something like his old role, and Wiggins back to being more like early season Wiggins particularly defensively, as well.

Well to be fair, Oubre was a problem for everyone, including fans

And its not entirely Oubre's fault, its just that his failures caused more situations where Wiseman needed to rotate, and since Wiseman clearly wasnt ready for all that yet, it highlighted what he needed to work on.

As I pointed out in another thread, Kuminga is currently in the same boat. Our defense has been getting **** on for the past month, and he's a big part of it, because just like Wiseman, he can't erase the mistakes made by perimeter people. And early in the year when we had a more refined unit, that didnt stick out as much. Just like Wiseman on a fully healthy team probably doesnt kill us as much as he did last year

[GSWFan1994]

I know what I'll be doing tomorrow night.

[michaelm]

It would be good for him to be next to Green which it seems might be how things transpire.

I have always thought Oubre was a problem for Wiseman last season, hard enough for a rookie to learn the complex GSW system let alone next to a vet starter not playing or learning that system. Hopefully Green returning might get Klay back to something like his old role, and Wiggins back to being more like early season Wiggins particularly defensively, as well.

Well to be fair, Oubre was a problem for everyone, including fans

And its not entirely Oubre's fault, its just that his failures caused more situations where Wiseman needed to rotate, and since Wiseman clearly wasnt ready for all that yet, it highlighted what he needed to work on.

As I pointed out in another thread, Kuminga is currently in the same boat. Our defense has been getting **** on for the past month, and he's a big part of it, because just like Wiseman, he can't erase the mistakes made by perimeter people. And early in the year when we had a more refined unit, that didnt stick out as much. Just like Wiseman on a fully healthy team probably doesnt kill us as much as he did last year

Just bigging myself up, iirc I have previously posted something similar to what your source said about Oubre’s effect on Wiseman’s defense. I hope that source is correct and Wiseman can learn/has learned about defense. What you say about Kuminga makes sense as well.

The bottom line is how unique and valuable Mr Triple Single as some derisively call Draymond Green is as a basketball player. If he is healthy I fully expect the defense to improve drastically, and I hope he can improve both Wiggins and Klay offensively and even allow Curry to be more effective offensively, it shouldn’t be as easy to impact him with double and triple teams if he is not the only real playmaker.

I haven’t been following Oubre much this season but he seems to be inconsistent at Charlotte as well and not a regular starter. He seems to be stubborn in refusing to put his undoubted talent to the best use.

[tarantism]

Damn. I'm torn between watching JWise or the big squad. Why do they have to be at the same time?!

Also considering what's going on in the Moody thread, this is amazing timing for this news to come out.

[watch1958]

Damn. I'm torn between watching JWise or the big squad. Why do they have to be at the same time?!

Also considering what's going on in the Moody thread, this is amazing timing for this news to come out.

The Sunday game against the Ignite is at 3pm @ Chase Center.

[Onus]

It's kind of crazy that the 3 leaders for the mvp (Giannis, Jokic, Embiid) also the last 2 winners of the mvp are 7' monsters and yet we're really down on a 20 yr old 7'

[TB]

It's kind of crazy that the 3 leaders for the mvp (Giannis, Jokic, Embiid) also the last 2 winners of the mvp are 7' monsters and yet we're really down on a 20 yr old 7'

Some great centers in the league right now (and only traditional in size, skill wise they are freaks). I really think rare unicorns like Draymond/Giannis plus all-time great perimeter players like Lebron/Steph/Leonard/KD are really what has kept a center from winning it all more-so than them not being capable. Dray probably doesn't get enough credit for how much he changed the league in terms of almost a decade of teams knowing the Warriors going small was going to destroy any big lineups.

That being said, this could be the year Jokic or Embiid get it done and take home a finals MVP. Embiid has the team for it, Jokic probably needs Jamal to get healthy, but thats no knock on him.

[Onus]

It's kind of crazy that the 3 leaders for the mvp (Giannis, Jokic, Embiid) also the last 2 winners of the mvp are 7' monsters and yet we're really down on a 20 yr old 7'

Some great centers in the league right now (and only traditional in size, skill wise they are freaks). I really think rare unicorns like Draymond/Giannis plus all-time great perimeter players like Lebron/Steph/Leonard/KD are really what has kept a center from winning it all more-so than them not being capable. Dray probably doesn't get enough credit for how much he changed the league in terms of almost a decade of teams knowing the Warriors going small was going to destroy any big lineups.

That being said, this could be the year Jokic or Embiid get it done and take home a finals MVP. Embiid has the team for it, Jokic probably needs Jamal to get healthy, but thats no knock on him.

Basketball is in a really great spot as teams have found ways to play a variety of styles to maximize and hide the weaknesses of their stars. It's definitely intriguing to see if someone will be able to dominate the league going forward.

[Upperclass]

So when Mawugbe consistently looks like a better, more natural player... whats the pivot for the dubs?

[TB]

So when Mawugbe consistently looks like a better, more natural player... whats the pivot for the dubs?

I like Mawugbe, but you think he looks like a better player than Wiseman?

He's 23, smaller, less athletic, and far less skilled. He does have great defensive instincts and is a really fluid athlete, but again, he's 23 with less production than Wiseman has already shown at 19 in the NBA. And Wiseman will become more fluid as he gets older.

Hoping we have Mawugbe in camp next year though, could see him making an NBA roster, maybe even ours.

[Upperclass]

So when Mawugbe consistently looks like a better, more natural player... whats the pivot for the dubs?

I like Mawugbe, but you think he looks like a better player than Wiseman?

He's 23, smaller, less athletic, and far less skilled. He does have great defensive instincts and is a really fluid athlete, but again, he's 23 with less production than Wiseman has already shown at 19 in the NBA. And Wiseman will become more fluid as he gets older.

Hoping we have Mawugbe in camp next year though, could see him making an NBA roster, maybe even ours.

Better is subjective.. but a few years ago Porzingis was technically better than a guy a like Bam.. but Bam was always more impactful outside of the stats. Mawugbe seems like basketball player who happens also be very tall and athletic.. Wiseman at every level has seemed to be a tall athlete who happens to play basketball. Doesn't mean he won't be good, just means you have to teach him instincts which can be a very tricky thing. Worked for Javale McGee after some time though.