Minnesota Sports Forum

I watched a bit of this game and watched Rocco and Joan specifically. Rocco is really good about putting a body on the nearest player on defensive rebounding opportunities. Joan just turns and goes for the ball. He needs to learn to box out.
Rocco might just become a serviceable big man in the next 2 years! He made a few nice passes on backcuts as well.

DNatagal wrote: ↑Tue Dec 23, 2025 10:16 am I watched a bit of this game and watched Rocco and Joan specifically. Rocco is really good about putting a body on the nearest player on defensive rebounding opportunities. Joan just turns and goes for the ball. He needs to learn to box out.
Rocco might just become a serviceable big man in the next 2 years! He made a few nice passes on backcuts as well.

Yeah, Rocco is very skilled offensively for being so young. He has more work to do on his body and defensive positioning.

Rocco back starting for the Iowa squad tonight.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:03 pm Rocco back starting for the Iowa squad tonight.

It was a "not-ready-for-primetime" first stint for Rocco. But the potential is there. He should be a factor in a year or two.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:24 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:03 pm Rocco back starting for the Iowa squad tonight.

It was a "not-ready-for-primetime" first stint for Rocco. But the potential is there. He should be a factor in a year or two.

I agree. He is very tall even by NBA standards and size does matter when it comes to Centers defensively. He can just stand in place with his arms upright and it's a hell of a wall to get the ball over and in the basket accurately. And offensively he's not a stiff, showing some decent touch and feel. I don't know if his ceiling is quality NBA backup Center or something much higher than that, but there is no doubt he'll be in a rotation some day.

Newton is going to get a 10-day contract at some point I have to believe. If you are one of the best G-League players not on a two-way, who else is out there for NBA teams to sign if they need an immediate band-aid due to injuries?

Newton signed a 2 way with the rockets

kekgeek wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 4:27 pm Newton signed a 2 way with the rockets

That hurts, I really thought we should have given him one.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 4:27 pm Newton signed a 2 way with the rockets

Mmmm, one of the teams ahead of us in the standings. I hope we don't come to regret this! G-League production does not automatically translate to the NBA by any means, but Newton took a leap as a shooter and scorer since his title run at UConn and the 2024 draft. He's a lot better now.

Iowa lost tonight, which is to be expected with their best player (Newton) being picked up by Houston and their second best player (Pullin) out injured for a while now.

The good news is Beringer is back in Iowa and he and Rocco split the Center minutes. Both had solid games, but nothing spectacular. Joan might be getting close to being able to contribute in a really limited way to the rotation (think a first half stint of 4 minutes as a 10th man), but no way is he a reliable Rudy insurance/backup at this point.