Game thread vs bucks. Pek 2.0 Debut

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Do you realize how huge our next #1 draft pick is? Absolutely have to find a star that can grow with Wiggins. Otherwise the questions will start real soon. Is Andrew going to force a trade? Is Andrew going to re-up? Is Andrew going to play out his contract and leave?

We should learn from the Garnett and Love situations that we have to find a 2nd star, and find him quickly.

I think the better question is: Do we realize how huge this next NBA Lottery is? If we somehow fall in the order, it could be a franchise killer. I'm pretty certain we'll finish the season as a top-three bad team. There are three "money" prospects in this draft, imo, and only two of them are bigs. Pray that we're able to snag Towns or Okafor.

Meh. I think it's too early to tell and I also think most drafts yield some excellent players - especially wings/guards - after the top few picks are taken. What pick were Lillard, George, Butler, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry drafted? All are from recent drafts and Top 2 on good teams, yet taken in the second or third tier in their respective drafts. Why isn't D'Angelo Russell just as likely to be a star as Towns or Mudiay? I'm not saying he will be, but what are the other two doing that is so much better?

I also think teams can get really good by just building a collection of very good talent and chemistry. Who is San Antonio's superstar these days? Duncan used to be one, but now he's just a damn good player along with pretty much everyone else on that roster. How about Atlanta? Who are the two highly drafted superstars on that team? What about Toronto? Hell, look at Chicago. Rose isn't even their best player anymore.

So I agree that the draft is important, but I don't believe we HAVE to be top 3 or that we HAVE to find another superstar. We just need to keep finding and developing damn good players to go with a damn good coach (probably not Flip) to go with some damn good luck (just stop with the injuries).

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I couldn't watch..but was watching box scores.. did Bazz get hurt?

No, he just didn't really have it going tonight and Flip was looking for some different combinations. I think what Shabazz is finding out is that it's a little tougher posting up opposing team's staring small forwards than their bench wings.

Flip said Bazz had a stomach strain. Whatever that means.

Ah, so he was hurt then. Our crack medical staff and trainers should have him back on the court by March!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

So, Hummel did pretty well at PG tonight given the circumstances. Kudos to him for being ready for anything. A pro's pro, as they say.

My admiration for this guy grows every time I watch him. Do I want him to get more minutes? Of course not, But as Cam says, he's ready to get plugged in wherever and whenever Flip needs him. He's been forced to play center this year, and now PG...unbelievable. And he did it without turning the ball over in 15 minutes. He plays hard every minute he's on the court, and is always technically sound. Robbie Hummel is exactly the kind of player every team needs at the end of the bench, and he'[s a bargain at under a million.

Zach, on the other hand, really struggled again at PG...4 TO's, and a couple of them really sloppy. He has more TO's than assists in his last five games. I feel bad for the guy, being thrust into the role he has to play with Rubio and Williams both out. Flip was really on him last night, and it looked to me like it was getting to Zach...I think Flip needs to lay off a little. Zach is going to be a decent SG in this league, if this experience doesn't destroy him.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Bazz was a little gimpy last night and it was apparent...didn't play with his usual reckless abandon. But it was still nice to see his continuing evolution as a passer...11 assists in his past 3 games. He still is not a skilled passer, but he is developing. Because he is usually the guy defenses have to worry most about, he is drawing more double teams when he posts up. And he is learning to find the open man when he is doubled. Last night he found Zach for the open three. His assist totals should increase once Martin comes back.

[TXviking [enjin:6602528]]

Speaking on Bazz, do you realize he had only 6 assists last year total?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

So, Hummel did pretty well at PG tonight given the circumstances. Kudos to him for being ready for anything. A pro's pro, as they say.

My admiration for this guy grows every time I watch him. Do I want him to get more minutes? Of course not, But as Cam says, he's ready to get plugged in wherever and whenever Flip needs him. He's been forced to play center this year, and now PG...unbelievable. And he did it without turning the ball over in 15 minutes. He plays hard every minute he's on the court, and is always technically sound. Robbie Hummel is exactly the kind of player every team needs at the end of the bench, and he'[s a bargain at under a million.

Zach, on the other hand, really struggled again at PG...4 TO's, and a couple of them really sloppy. He has more TO's than assists in his last five games. I feel bad for the guy, being thrust into the role he has to play with Rubio and Williams both out. Flip was really on him last night, and it looked to me like it was getting to Zach...I think Flip needs to lay off a little. Zach is going to be a decent SG in this league, if this experience doesn't destroy him.

Yup, he's the type of guy that won't hurt your team if you need to plug him in somewhere because he is so fundamentally sound and hustles. Similar to last season, he is sporting a net positive On/Off differential, meaning we typically play better when he's on the floor. Some folks thought that was just a fluke last year, but the data continues to pile up and it gets harder and harder to suggest that he doesn't belong somewhere in the NBA. Should he be in the top 8 of a playoff team rotation? No. But like you said, he's the exact kind of guy you want at the end of your bench - cheap, good attitude, fundamentally sound.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Speaking on Bazz, do you realize he had only 6 assists last year total?

For a wing, he posted a historically low assist rate as a UCLA freshman and NBA rookie - I mean just crazy low. It's a credit to him that he's been improving that part of his game.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Speaking on Bazz, do you realize he had only 6 assists last year total?

Great find, tx...if that doesn't define Bazz's transformation, I don't know what does. Almost twice as many assists in the past three games as all last year! His passing has really surprised me. Now, if he can show the same kind of improvement on defense, we will have a much more complete player than most of us could of dreamed of coming out of last year's draft.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Speaking on Bazz, do you realize he had only 6 assists last year total?

For a wing, he posted a historically low assist rate as a UCLA freshman and NBA rookie - I mean just crazy low. It's a credit to him that he's been improving that part of his game.

Very true...he had neither the inclination nor the skills to be an effective passer in college and during his rookie year. He now has the inclination, and while his distributing is still a work in process, the skills are developing. Shabazz's ability to transform himself is very promising.

[WildWolf2813]

Do you realize how huge our next #1 draft pick is? Absolutely have to find a star that can grow with Wiggins. Otherwise the questions will start real soon. Is Andrew going to force a trade? Is Andrew going to re-up? Is Andrew going to play out his contract and leave?

We should learn from the Garnett and Love situations that we have to find a 2nd star, and find him quickly.

I get what your saying cool, but Im actually confident that we can keep wiggins.

For one, we have a lot of young talent on this team and none of them seems to have the selfish attitude of marbury. They can grow together. We also didnt lose 3 of our future 1st round picks for illegal deals. Flip has so far drafted well. We have an upcoming high pick to look forward to and have a promising cap situation in a few years. It will take a lot of screwing up to not build this team right for the future.

You know this franchise is up for the challenge