Kekgeek grades G2 vs Magic

[kekgeek]

Ball: B
Ant: D+
Jaden: A-
Kuminga: B+
Rudy: B
Ayo: A
TSJ: A-
Lyles: A-
Beringer: B+
Bones: B-

All grades are based on how I think they are relative to their normal ability

[60WinTim]

So the guy with a team high +19 gets a D+?!? FNG ripped him for getting points but struggling in his on/off numbers. Now he's doing things to help his on/off numbers and you are ripping for not scoring enough points?

[Q-is-here]

Ball: B
Ant: D+
Jaden: A-
Kuminga: B+
Rudy: B
Ayo: A
TSJ: A-
Lyles: A-
Beringer: B+
Bones: B-

All grades are based on how I think they are relative to their normal ability

I'd slightly downgrade Ball to a B- or C+. He was inefficient with his shooting and had less than a 2:1 asst to turnover ratio. But we won his minutes handily so I think something better than a C is justified.

Likewise, I'd slightly upgrade Ant to a C- or C. He was obviously way off with his shot and tried (and failed) to get himself going multiple times, but like LaMelo, we handily won his minutes and broke the game open when he was the lone starter on the floor with the bench mob and he started to defer more.

[kekgeek]

So the guy with a team high +19 gets a D+?!? FNG ripped him for getting points but struggling in his on/off numbers. Now he's doing things to help his on/off numbers and you are ripping for not scoring enough points?

You’re the best Tim

[kekgeek]

Ball: B
Ant: D+
Jaden: A-
Kuminga: B+
Rudy: B
Ayo: A
TSJ: A-
Lyles: A-
Beringer: B+
Bones: B-

All grades are based on how I think they are relative to their normal ability

I'd slightly downgrade Ball to a B- or C+. He was inefficient with his shooting and had less than a 2:1 asst to turnover ratio. But we won his minutes handily so I think something better than a C is justified.

Likewise, I'd slightly upgrade Ant to a C- or C. He was obviously way off with his shot and tried (and failed) to get himself going multiple times, but like LaMelo, we handily won his minutes and broke the game open when he was the lone starter on the floor with the bench mob and he started to defer more.

Lamelo is going to be such a unique one to grade this year because I feel the team product especially on offensive is just better with him on the court (even though Ayo was better tonight) but everything you said from an individual standpoint is hard to argue with

[FNG]

So the guy with a team high +19 gets a D+?!? FNG ripped him for getting points but struggling in his on/off numbers. Now he's doing things to help his on/off numbers and you are ripping for not scoring enough points?

You’re the best Tim

Hahaha…that was good!

But may I remind everyone that there are two sides of the ball…offense and…what’s that other one again? Oh yeah, defense! Ant has frustrated me in the past with his indifferent defense, and when he and Ball talked about how defense was going to be the key this season, I thought “yeah, yeah, yeah”. But they are both walking the talk. And Ant was especially good tonight with his on ball defense and his 4 steals…and no fouls!

I gave him an A+ last game because he was a stud on offense and also very good on defense. Tonight he struggled bigly with his shot, but I give him a C+ because he was so awesome in every other aspect of the game. I’m not worried about his shot…we all know he can shoot. But if he rebounds and guards all season like he has in the first 2 games, we’re looking at a top 5 player.

Nice to see Lyle’s A-…he’s not flashy, but he’s a player. Another part of TCs A+ offseason.

[Lipoli390]

Once again, hard to quibble much with kek’s grades. I’ll join those who believe Ant deserves an upgrade to a C for his defense and plus/minus.

And how about Trey Lyles! I hope tonight’s game was just one of many games in which Trey will earn an A-. He was really solid and his three-point shot looked nice.

[Wolvesfan21]

Ayo had a great game. One thing I forgot to mention last game that I've seen too often from him since his arrival is he loves to push the pace and I love it. However, he does a bit too often force bad shots at the rim in doing so, I think he and we'd be much more effective if he pulled the ball out after getting to the rim when the shot isn't there, potentially dishing to a nice trailer on the 3 ball.

He's not Giannis where he can with his length and strength just bully guys and dunk on them (how many are though ), so he could be a bit more selective with his shots and be a more positive player overall.

[DNatagal]

Maybe add 2 more grades?
Team rebounding: A .This is something that will determine how far this team can go. If they can outrebound, or stay even with most teams, my season prediction is going to be short by 10+ games. The mob mentality of team rebounding, and team defense is going to have a huge influence on streaks (winning and losing). If the Wolves are like the 2024 team that never lost 3 in a row...look out!
Team Defense: A- .Of course the Magic didn't exactly shoot very well, but the amount of truly open looks were slim and the Magic seemed to make a few of those. When there is a culture of defense that the Alpha Dog buys into, it makes the others more willing to follow along.

I think this Wolves team can score 110 in street shoes and hitting 50% of their free throws (YIKES!), so no real need to grade that side of the ball.

So far, so good...










MAKE YOUR FUCKING FREE THROWS!!!!!!!!

[FNG]

Maybe add 2 more grades?
Team rebounding: A .This is something that will determine how far this team can go. If they can outrebound, or stay even with most teams, my season prediction is going to be short by 10+ games. The mob mentality of team rebounding, and team defense is going to have a huge influence on streaks (winning and losing). If the Wolves are like the 2024 team that never lost 3 in a row...look out!
Team Defense: A- .Of course the Magic didn't exactly shoot very well, but the amount of truly open looks were slim and the Magic seemed to make a few of those. When there is a culture of defense that the Alpha Dog buys into, it makes the others more willing to follow along.

I think this Wolves team can score 110 in street shoes and hitting 50% of their free throws (YIKES!), so no real need to grade that side of the ball.

So far, so good...










MAKE YOUR FUCKING FREE THROWS!!!!!!!!

Yes, team rebounding. Phenom had a terrific post in the GDT about the remarkable balance in the box score in scoring, rebounds and assists...truly remarkable. There has been a consistent narrative about the Wolves both nationally and on this board that we got much smaller in the offseason. It's true that Naz and Ju are gone, but I would argue that we actually got much longer with our starting lineup. JK has only about an inch or two standing reach than Ju, and of course Ball is much longer than whoever he replaced in the starting lineup. We likely won't blow our opponents away on rebounds like we did in the first two games, but this is going to be a very good rebounding team. Some here hypothesized that Jaden's rebounding would be unlocked if he were allowed to sometimes not be the point of attack defender, and they were right...14 rebounds in the first two games. And JK bounced back with 8 last night after only 1 in Miami. Rudy and LaMelo are elite rebounders at their positions, and Melo seems to be inspiring Ant to rebound and guard better. It's been fun to watch...almost no offensive rebounds for our opponents.

Joan is still a work in process on the defensive boards (only 2 per game), but it's easy to imagine him getting better with his length, athleticism and effort. And meanwhile, handcuffing him to Lyles (6 boards last night) is a good move by Finchy.