OFFICIAL PAN AM GAMES AB HYPE THREAD!!!!

[Monster]

I am hoping the gold medal game ends up on YouTube later (some of the women's games are on there) but I have watched 3 games worth of the long highlight videos of Jamal Murray and here are some impressions.

1. Bennett looks leaner for sure than anytime I have seen him. He was in good shape to begin last year but he looks for sure leaner and I think thad good for him. For one thing it's obvious he has worked hard to get that way and based on some of his theoretical skillset him being leaner might make more sense. You can tell in his arms and his face.

2. Of course these are highlights so good things are happening for his team but Bennett is getting excited and communicating quite a. It in general. He seems to really be into the game from what I can tell. He is t just another guy he seems to be one of THE guys. I like seeing that.

3. He was open a lot when Murry took the shot himself. Quite frankly I wasnt surprised Murry struggled in the Gold game. He took some needlessly difficult shots in the previous 2 games. A couple times he could have passed it to Bennett who had a good look or Bennett could have passed it back to Murry which he did a couple times (in past possessions) and Murry had a good look for a 3. Bennett seemed to be finding good spots on the floor. Of course from what I saw defense was pretty underwhelming especially what I saw from team USA considering they have some decent fringe talent so take it for what it's worth. Bennett looked active and aware what I saw on defense.

4. His athletic ability is there. His dunks were easy for him. I thought his movements looked a little more decisive and quicker and maybe a little more light on his feet. He looks now like a guy you could throw out there for a few minutes at SF if you had to if the team was in a MASH unit type situation and he might not be that out of place. I am not advocating for him to play SF but I do think it's something worth giving him a very slight positive for position flexabilty especially when you have some guys like Bjelica, Rudez, Bazz and even Wiggins that if they had to switch a couple possessions at the forward positions it may work alright. Flip wants position flexibility I think especially on defense. I see a little more of Bennett being able to do that more now physically than last year.

Bottom line:
I have been hard on Bennett and we know this Pan Am games is poor competition and all that but hey he looks good physically played well put up some good numbers on a team with some fringe talent so it's not like he was the only decent player. It was encouraging and I am looking forward to what he may do next month against some much more legit competition. At this point I like our roster I wouldn't mind rolling with it as is and that includes Bennett. That's how I felt before the Pan Am games but Bennett played well here as much as I can tell and I'll give the guy credit for playing well and looking good physically so it's a positive thing going forward. It's great we get to see him again in some more games before he reports to the team for training camp.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Bennett has the athleticism where I'd wish we had a defensive guru who could help him become the type of PF defender who can switch on the PnR like Tristan Thompson did during the finals. That's a game changer in terms of the value he could bring defensively. I'd do the same thing with Payne as well. Then we have guys like Towns and Dieng clean up behind them and it's potentially a pretty stifling combination.

[Porckchop]

I hope his solid play breeds some confidence in the kid.. I think if he comes away from these games with a little bit more between the ears it will be a huge plus. The skills are there .

[Monster]

Bennett has the athleticism where I'd wish we had a defensive guru who could help him become the type of PF defender who can switch on the PnR like Tristan Thompson did during the finals. That's a game changer in terms of the value he could bring defensively. I'd do the same thing with Payne as well. Then we have guys like Towns and Dieng clean up behind them and it's potentially a pretty stifling combination.

I like where you are going with this post. The funny thing is that TT wasn't regarded as a very good defender coming into this season and then boom down the stretch and at the very least it was obvious in the Playoffs he was an asset there. Mike Brown talked up Bennett's pick and roll defense to Flip last summer lets hire him to improve the defense. I am kinda joking kinda serious. Lol

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Kahns, you mean a defensive guru like Kevin Garnett?

[KiwiMatt]

I'm one of the few left on this board who hasn't given up on AB.

Will he ever live up to being a #1 pick - No. But he should never have been picked there in the first place.

I hope he gets quality minutes to start the season and is ahead of Payne on the depth chart.

[bleedspeed]

The thing that is scary is the guy has more talent then TT or Love. He just had not been able to put it together. Not saying he will be better then Love, but I think he still has a shot at being better then TT. If he doesn't work out here I will still be hoping he makes it.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Kahns, you mean a defensive guru like Kevin Garnett?

1. KG isn't a coach. I don't expect him to be taking guys aside 1 on 1 before and after practice to help them. That's what a dedicated assistant coach is supposed to do.

2. KG's help will come in the team concept. He's been the anchor of some really good defenses and he's always coached guys up to be in the right spots. That's what he'll do in practice.

I don't know how Thompson became that guy whether a coach helped him or they just forced him to do it and he got comfortable doing it at the end of the year, but we should be doing it with our 4's because they're all athletic enough to do it and it's a game changer.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'm one of the few left on this board who hasn't given up on AB.

Will he ever live up to being a #1 pick - No. But he should never have been picked there in the first place.

I hope he gets quality minutes to start the season and is ahead of Payne on the depth chart.

There's always hope for a talented big who is only 21 years old. I'm actually keeping an open mind about both him and Payne. The competition should benefit both of them.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

AB will take over the starting PF spot after kg retires. He'll become serviceable while the other starters will become all stars