Early Season Observations

 Sac has competed with GSW and LAC  without their best player. Not saying they would win with him there but they are a much better team than last year. 

I liked Monty as the head coach for the Pelicans and they made the playoffs in the tough west so it was a pretty bad time to fire him imo. I think they just went after the assistant coach on the championship team because they believe he’s a good coach but the GSW system doesn’t even work with this team… It doesn’t work with any other team than GSW because no one shoots as well as steph. 

Another thing is Anthony Davis has not been playing well even though you think he has. I thought he was just gonna dominate the league right out the gate this season but he has struggled. The organization had him working on his perimeter game instead of his post game. He was already a really good midrange shooter last season. Probably should have invested some time and money to work with Hakeem. I do think he will pick it up though.

i have no idea what’s wrong with the Grizzlies. Haven’t really watched the games but I known they’ve been blown out miserable a couple times. I think that probably their defense has regressed and their offense has never really been good  they would just beat teams by stopping them from scoring a lot of points.

 Sac has competed with GSW and LAC  without their best player. Not saying they would win with him there but they are a much better team than last year. 

I liked Monty as the head coach for the Pelicans and they made the playoffs in the tough west so it was a pretty bad time to fire him imo. I think they just went after the assistant coach on the championship team because they believe he’s a good coach but the GSW system doesn’t even work with this team… It doesn’t work with any other team than GSW because no one shoots as well as steph. 

Another thing is Anthony Davis has not been playing well even though you think he has. I thought he was just gonna dominate the league right out the gate this season but he has struggled. The organization had him working on his perimeter game instead of his post game. He was already a really good midrange shooter last season. Probably should have invested some time and money to work with Hakeem. I do think he will pick it up though.

i have no idea what’s wrong with the Grizzlies. Haven’t really watched the games but I known they’ve been blown out miserable a couple times. I think that probably their defense has regressed and their offense has never really been good  they would just beat teams by stopping them from scoring a lot of points.

 My observations

Rookies 

I cannot remember a time where a rookie class has played so well out of the gates. Night after night this guys are out performing all expectations and doing so in spectacular fashion.

KAT is a certified star a future All NBA type guy.

The Knicks look like they’ve struck gold with KP who looks like he’s way ahead of schedule.

Okafor is adjusting to NBA centers and posting great numbers.

Suprise Teams

The Blazers are playing great under Coach Stotts 

The Nets really really really miss Deron Williams for some reason

Detroit looks like they are slowly building a culture that matches there city 

 My observations

Rookies 

I cannot remember a time where a rookie class has played so well out of the gates. Night after night this guys are out performing all expectations and doing so in spectacular fashion.

KAT is a certified star a future All NBA type guy.

The Knicks look like they’ve struck gold with KP who looks like he’s way ahead of schedule.

Okafor is adjusting to NBA centers and posting great numbers.

Suprise Teams

The Blazers are playing great under Coach Stotts 

The Nets really really really miss Deron Williams for some reason

Detroit looks like they are slowly building a culture that matches there city 

Something I didnt see coming…

Delly leading the league in lob-assists.

Something I didnt see coming…

Delly leading the league in lob-assists.

 I observe that Olynyk is the top rated defender in the NBA, with the lowest opposent fg% inside of 8 feet, and the highest rate of steals per 36, and the lowest foul rate of anybody with more than 11 cumulative minutes, and the 6th highest Net Rating.

His Real Plus Minus is probably top 10 in the NBA, after finishing T-32nd in the NBA last year.

 I observe that Olynyk is the top rated defender in the NBA, with the lowest opposent fg% inside of 8 feet, and the highest rate of steals per 36, and the lowest foul rate of anybody with more than 11 cumulative minutes, and the 6th highest Net Rating.

His Real Plus Minus is probably top 10 in the NBA, after finishing T-32nd in the NBA last year.

 Myles Turner isn’t as agile as I thought he would be based on high school tape and testing negative for structural issues with his gait.

Porzingis is much more agile and light on his feet, which I think is part of why Porzingis is rebounding so much better.

But just about every single night, Myles Turner is knocking down his long 2 point jumpers like he’s Rashard Lewis. Just the most effortless, self-assured shot with the softest touch.

I’m sticking with my pre-draft prediction that Myles will end up Pat Ewing level, and Porzingis will end up Hakeem/KG level with a chance at GOAT.

As Turner fills out, and becomes a full-time center, his lack of quickness, should it persist despite strength improvement, will not be much of an issue. He’s already blocking shots like a boss as far as I can tell.

 Myles Turner isn’t as agile as I thought he would be based on high school tape and testing negative for structural issues with his gait.

Porzingis is much more agile and light on his feet, which I think is part of why Porzingis is rebounding so much better.

But just about every single night, Myles Turner is knocking down his long 2 point jumpers like he’s Rashard Lewis. Just the most effortless, self-assured shot with the softest touch.

I’m sticking with my pre-draft prediction that Myles will end up Pat Ewing level, and Porzingis will end up Hakeem/KG level with a chance at GOAT.

As Turner fills out, and becomes a full-time center, his lack of quickness, should it persist despite strength improvement, will not be much of an issue. He’s already blocking shots like a boss as far as I can tell.

 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is having a Winslow like impact on the Nets. Despite their terrible play so far, RHJ unbelievably has a +2 +/- per game, higher per 36. 

RHJ looking like a future lotto pick in re-drafts, and he seems to have more potential than Winslow because he’s a quicker, more explosive athlete.

 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is having a Winslow like impact on the Nets. Despite their terrible play so far, RHJ unbelievably has a +2 +/- per game, higher per 36. 

RHJ looking like a future lotto pick in re-drafts, and he seems to have more potential than Winslow because he’s a quicker, more explosive athlete.

1) With the risk of sounding like a smug troll, I saw the ‘Sacremento dark-house’ chatter as borderline laughable from the get go. News flash to all hoop heads: Rondo is no longer 2009 Rondo. And with sophistacated Thibsy defenses becoming the new norm he’s shooting horribleness is an increasing liability. Sacarmento’s big three is Cousins, Gay and Rondo- that’s a problem even in the Eastern Conference. 

2) As for the missing Monty sentiment, slooooooow down. Just stop completely. The Pelicans are ravished with injuries. While Tyreke may be a clunky fit for this team, he’s critical to moving the offense along. The second playmaker they have is Holiday who is on a strict minutes cap. This team is hurting, I wrote a post about this last week. 

3) The East is still trash. The rise of Detroit, Orlando and maybe even New York has dulled the conference disparity to some degree, but alas the East is still trash. 

4) Memphis is a good team, but they are head and shoulders below the elite teams in this league. They need to either make a move to contend, or make a mvoe to rebuild. Their current construction leaves them where you do not want to be in the NBA.  

1) With the risk of sounding like a smug troll, I saw the ‘Sacremento dark-house’ chatter as borderline laughable from the get go. News flash to all hoop heads: Rondo is no longer 2009 Rondo. And with sophistacated Thibsy defenses becoming the new norm he’s shooting horribleness is an increasing liability. Sacarmento’s big three is Cousins, Gay and Rondo- that’s a problem even in the Eastern Conference. 

2) As for the missing Monty sentiment, slooooooow down. Just stop completely. The Pelicans are ravished with injuries. While Tyreke may be a clunky fit for this team, he’s critical to moving the offense along. The second playmaker they have is Holiday who is on a strict minutes cap. This team is hurting, I wrote a post about this last week. 

3) The East is still trash. The rise of Detroit, Orlando and maybe even New York has dulled the conference disparity to some degree, but alas the East is still trash. 

4) Memphis is a good team, but they are head and shoulders below the elite teams in this league. They need to either make a move to contend, or make a mvoe to rebuild. Their current construction leaves them where you do not want to be in the NBA.  

I understand you really like Porzingis. I Like him too. I don’t write a lot of posts, I prefer to follow you guys comments. But I actually wrote one some four months ago about Porzingis and I’m pretty happy that what said back then is happening now with him putting good numbers much earlier than expected. So I agree with you that he’s got a bright future.

But I have to tell you. All your posts just trying to emphasize your somewhat polemic points about Porzingis, Olynik, Smart, Turner, Oubre and now RHJ are becoming kind of boring and ridiculous. 

The GOAT is a guy named Michael Jeffrey Jordan and probably will always  be. Do us all and yourself a favour and shut up  about it already. 

I understand you really like Porzingis. I Like him too. I don’t write a lot of posts, I prefer to follow you guys comments. But I actually wrote one some four months ago about Porzingis and I’m pretty happy that what said back then is happening now with him putting good numbers much earlier than expected. So I agree with you that he’s got a bright future.

But I have to tell you. All your posts just trying to emphasize your somewhat polemic points about Porzingis, Olynik, Smart, Turner, Oubre and now RHJ are becoming kind of boring and ridiculous. 

The GOAT is a guy named Michael Jeffrey Jordan and probably will always  be. Do us all and yourself a favour and shut up  about it already. 

I’m surprised how the rookie point guards struggle compared to rookie bigs.

Mudiay and Russell struggling at the start of the season while Okafor porzingis and towns are all playing well.

To me that’s a surprise, Big men usually needs time to be ready, while guards adjusts faster than bigs, considering it’s a point guard league now. Maybe the point guard position is the deepest in the league. while Bigs, there are  a few good one out there. 

I’m surprised how the rookie point guards struggle compared to rookie bigs.

Mudiay and Russell struggling at the start of the season while Okafor porzingis and towns are all playing well.

To me that’s a surprise, Big men usually needs time to be ready, while guards adjusts faster than bigs, considering it’s a point guard league now. Maybe the point guard position is the deepest in the league. while Bigs, there are  a few good one out there. 

dont sleep on russell now that he took over fro clarkson at the point. yes the lakers suck…but he could improve much faster once kobe lets go.

I like Hezonja despite harris in the way, i like portis despite the logjam in chi, i like stanley johnsons immediate impact, i like porzingas quieting the naysayers, i’d like to see vaughn get some damn playing time, i like the offense running through okafor, i like mudiay struggling and believe he will overcome it quickly,I like what i see from kaminsky, i like what i see from oubre…but aside from the shoe in townes as the roy..i think winslow could start killing it pretty soon.i like the understated impact that walter tavares would be having if atl would give him some damn pt blah blah blah.

i have not been to overly impressed with many others , but most others are not playing much yet.

i think the biggest busts of this draft 3 yrs from now will have been lyles,anderson and hunter.

dont sleep on russell now that he took over fro clarkson at the point. yes the lakers suck…but he could improve much faster once kobe lets go.

I like Hezonja despite harris in the way, i like portis despite the logjam in chi, i like stanley johnsons immediate impact, i like porzingas quieting the naysayers, i’d like to see vaughn get some damn playing time, i like the offense running through okafor, i like mudiay struggling and believe he will overcome it quickly,I like what i see from kaminsky, i like what i see from oubre…but aside from the shoe in townes as the roy..i think winslow could start killing it pretty soon.i like the understated impact that walter tavares would be having if atl would give him some damn pt blah blah blah.

i have not been to overly impressed with many others , but most others are not playing much yet.

i think the biggest busts of this draft 3 yrs from now will have been lyles,anderson and hunter.