Rudy gay kings report card
So after a brutal 4-2 first round knockout at the hand of the Denver Nuggets last season it was a shock to see him call out the organisation. He has never complained about the front office, the coach, or the city. So… nothing.ĭamian Lillard has never complained about the team around him. His shooting mechanics are clunky and his role will likely look similar to Nassir Little’s last season. His decision making is putrid, averaging 2.4 turnovers and only 0.4 assists a game. But he is unlikely to make much of an impact at the NBA level. He is an athletic, talented defender with a natural ability to get the ball to the basket. Texas teenager Greg Brown is a fine player. Although again, who is playing defence? No, the real question is whether Westbrook can actually help take this team to the top of the West, and then beat what’s waiting in the East. That supporting crew isn’t necessarily the problem. Meanwhile, the NBA world seems very - maybe too - high on Malik Monk, while Kendrick Nunn will provide some instant offence. So, what happens when James is handling it at the end of the game in the playoffs? If it’s Westbrook handling, we obviously know his playmaking skills, but we also know his tendency to make terrible decisions - like jacking up shots - with the game on the line.Ĭarmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jordan are all veterans of various levels of usefulness. He can’t shoot, he refuses to cut, and ultimately just hurts your spacing. And what that looks like is somewhat confusing. Of course, he also averaged that triple-double that has become his trademark.īut with Davis and LeBron James, Westbrook is a clear-cut No. It was also a season that saw him shoot 31.5 percent from three. No player took more mid-range shots than Westbrook last season (6.1 a game on 38.1 percent). Historically, Westbrook - with two years, worth $91m ($A123m), left on a five-year, $207m ($279m) deal - has been a floor-raiser on bad teams, and just not good enough to lift a contender’s ceiling high enough. He is smart and always locked in both on the ball and as a help defender. But unlike many elite FIBA defenders, Garuba doesn’t rely on hand checking or physicality to make an impact.
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Garuba showed at the Tokyo Olympics that he has the tools to be a plus defender on a world stage. 23 - the third of the first round for Houston - Usman Garuba was a stroke of genius. Defensively he needs work but that’s where pick No. His post moves are reminiscent of a young Tim Duncan light on his feet and has a deep bag of tricks to abuse whatever limitations his defender has. Alperen Sengun was touted as the most talented player outside of the United States in the draft and undoubtedly the best centre. He dazzled in Summer League, on and off the ball, and will pair perfectly with Kevin Porter Jr. Jalen Green is arguably the most talented offensive player entering the league this season. The Houston Rockets were perfect on draft night. Anyone who says the Mavs off-season was a failure, is kidding themselves. Tim Hardaway Jr, Sterling Brown and Reggie Bullock give the Mavs some legitimate defensive depth on the wings and Doncic was locked down for a five-year extension. The Mavericks have a championship window while he and Luka Doncic are young and healthy, and if the signing of Jason Kidd will allow Porzingis to play a more dynamic, diverse game then maybe it’s the right call. He, allegedly, had a poor relationship with Rick Carlisle and it showed on the court. Last year he was shoved into a predominantly catch-and-shoot-from-the-corner role. He constantly draws the attention of the defence and makes his teammates’ lives easier by always being an offensive threat, no matter where he stands on the court. When healthy, Porzingis is a smooth shooting big man with a deadly three-point game, an effortless mid-range game and who is an elite rim protector. But at the end of the day, the Dallas Mavericks wildly underperformed last season, and part of the reason for that was the incredibly limited usage of Kristaps Porzingis. We, in no way, endorse ‘parting ways’ with a great coach to hire an average coach.