Sophomore Impressions 2016-17

[Duke4life831]

Pretty remarkable soph class - KAT, Porzingis, Turner looking like star bigs. Russell and Booker looking like star scorers. Winslow looking good as a star utility guy. Plenty of potential still for Johnson/Hezonja.

Okafor the biggest disappointment of the lotto guys, IMO. WCS and Kaminsky pretty much what people expected at the time.

I still can't believe CHA turned down (4) first round picks for Kaminsky. I think first round picks are overrated, but that was beyond stupid.

This draft drops off in quality fast after Booker at 13 though. Few of the bottom 15 first round picks are looking like rotation level NBA players.

I kinda disagree with the thought that there are few guys after Booker that look like rotation level players. Justin Anderson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Josh Richardson, Richaun Holmes, Terry Rozier, Bobby Portis, Kelly Oubre and Larry Nance all look like pretty solid rotation players. Also think if Looney can stay healthy he will be a solid rotation player. I agree that this draft had a ton of talent in the lottery, but I think it is pretty deep as well. This is just looking like a great draft.

[nicnac215]

Pretty remarkable soph class - KAT, Porzingis, Turner looking like star bigs. Russell and Booker looking like star scorers. Winslow looking good as a star utility guy. Plenty of potential still for Johnson/Hezonja.

Okafor the biggest disappointment of the lotto guys, IMO. WCS and Kaminsky pretty much what people expected at the time.

You know it was a good class when Jahlil Okafor is the disappointing player of the group.

This exactly. I still like Okafor for the skills he has shown more than Booker, Russell, and he is about even with Porzingis and Turner. Don't forget about Jokic. KAT is just on another level.

[dorkestra]

Rough start for Devin Booker this year. My fantasy team and I are rooting for a quick turnaround!

Edit: not as bad as I thought actually.

[Duke4life831]

Pretty remarkable soph class - KAT, Porzingis, Turner looking like star bigs. Russell and Booker looking like star scorers. Winslow looking good as a star utility guy. Plenty of potential still for Johnson/Hezonja.

Okafor the biggest disappointment of the lotto guys, IMO. WCS and Kaminsky pretty much what people expected at the time.

You know it was a good class when Jahlil Okafor is the disappointing player of the group.

This exactly. I still like Okafor for the skills he has shown more than Booker, Russell, and he is about even with Porzingis and Turner. Don't forget about Jokic. KAT is just on another level.

Right now as big prospects, I find it hard to say Okafor is even with KP, Turner and Jokic, those 3 are looking like the better prospects at the moment. One thing those guys dont have that Okafor has is Embiid in front of them. A lot of these guys especially guys like Booker and Russell, theyre given a ton of minutes to play through their ups and downs. I know hes on minutes restrictions still, but I think Okafor might get just around 20 minutes a game this year.

[ensergiog]

Knicks are gonna ruin Porzingis' career. Too much talent for that franchise.

[Mich3006]

dark horse as possible allstar:
Wade Baldwin

[gaspar]

Booker with some superstar shots in this one:

Watch on YouTube

[PizzaSteve]

Also want to give a little shout out to Kevon Looney. Still not getting too many minutes but in his limited minutes it seems like he has the potential to be a solid rotation big in a couple years. The dude just has a knack on how to rebound.

Was going to post this as well. Earning minutes in first half tonight against Lakers. Watched him and thought, playing better than many bench guys in a 5 game small min sample. Shooting past MacAdoo for rotation. Keep an eye in this guy.

[garrick]

Rough start for Devin Booker this year. My fantasy team and I are rooting for a quick turnaround!

Edit: not as bad as I thought actually.

He was suffering through a toe injury and probably pushing a little too hard but he looks to be in form now judging from the last game.

[Klomp]

Larry Legend

[Promezclan]

-----------------------------MPG ------ PER
1 Myles Turner--------- 28.2 mpg 25.5 PER
2 Karl-Anthony Towns 35.3 mpg 23.0 PER
3 Nikola Jokic---------- 23.0 mpg 19.6 PER
4 Larry Nance Jr------- 22.8 mpg 19.5 PER
5 Kristaps Porzingis--- 32.0 mpg 18.9 PER
6 Frank Kaminsky------ 22.3 mpg 17.5 PER
7 D'Angelo Russell------ 27.3 mpg 17.0 PER

8 Terry Rozier---------- 20.2 mpg 12.8 PER
9 Devin Booker-------- 35.4 mpg 11.6 PER
10 Jonathon Simmons- 24.7 mpg 8.7 PER
11 Justise Winslow---- 36.8 mpg 8.5 PER
12 Emmanuel Mudiay--- 33.0 mpg 7.3 PER
13 Trey Lyles ----------- 22.5 mpg 6.9 PER
14 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 25.8 mpg 6.0 PER

[ChaosHamster]

Why is Jokic playing such a low minutes again?

[Slava]

Larry Legend

TFW you realize you are going to get posterized.

[nyk97]

Watch on YouTube

[Moses ShamMoses]

Stanley Johnson sporting a whopping 1 PER so far this year. Pistons fans are disappointed as he doesn't seem improved from last season. Having said that, he is in a tough spot because he is playing reduced minutes and has an undefined role now that we have a better bench than last year (Jon Leuer is the 6th man now). Stanley just seems tentative and unsure what to do out there. Jury's still out.


From a recent article:

“What he’s battling more than anything else is buying in to the best way for him to play with where he is in his career right now,” Pistons coach StanVan Gundy said. “I’d like to think we have a staff of guys who have been around a long time and seen a lot of players and have an idea. Stanley right now needs to base his game on being a great defender, a rebounding perimeter guy.

“He can be as good a rebounder on the perimeter as anybody in the league. And he’s got to shoot open shots and make simple, solid plays.”

That hasn’t been easy for Johnson, who always has been the go-to player in high school in California , where he won four straight state championships, and one year at Arizona.

[Duke4life831]

Stanley Johnson sporting a whopping 1 PER so far this year. Pistons fans are disappointed as he doesn't seem improved from last season. Having said that, he is in a tough spot because he is playing reduced minutes and has an undefined role now that we have a better bench than last year (Jon Leuer is the 6th man now). Stanley just seems tentative and unsure what to do out there. Jury's still out.


From a recent article:

“What he’s battling more than anything else is buying in to the best way for him to play with where he is in his career right now,” Pistons coach StanVan Gundy said. “I’d like to think we have a staff of guys who have been around a long time and seen a lot of players and have an idea. Stanley right now needs to base his game on being a great defender, a rebounding perimeter guy.

“He can be as good a rebounder on the perimeter as anybody in the league. And he’s got to shoot open shots and make simple, solid plays.”

That hasn’t been easy for Johnson, who always has been the go-to player in high school in California , where he won four straight state championships, and one year at Arizona.

I like Stanley a lot so it sucks to hear that he's struggling to accept his role. That said he's still young and the season is still young, has plenty of time to buy in and settle down.

[gaspar]

Read on Twitter

[ThumbsUpBaby]

Larry Legend

TFW you realize you are going to get posterized.

My god, he did David West dirty. Even touched his bald head as if he wanted to make him feel better... while dunking on him.

[OnceUponADime]

Booker's back to being Booker after a slow start to the season.

[OnceUponADime]

Larry Legend

The best part is when he pets West's head as if to say "good dog"...he just completely made West his you kno what.