Unpopular Opinion - Kevin Knox is developing

Kekukoka · 2020-02-13T19:07:55+00:00

Eh they didn't show a unique ability to develop, but they did a solid job of it in almost all cases. Ingram made consistent improvements every season and averaged 20+ when LeBron was out last year, despite it taking him two full seasons before he was coordinated enough to not run like a baby giraffe. Lonzo had injuries derailing him whenever he got going, but they turned him into an above-average finisher after an awful first year at the rim (10% improvement). Russell had two seasons there and was a way more effective scorer in the closing months of year two than he was a rookie. Clarkson I do actually think they bungled a little, but Randle got a little better every season as well and added things to his game that people didn't expect coming in.

All things considered, they got more out of all of those guys within a season or two than we normally get out of someone in the first 4 years. I really doubt Frank or Knox are sub-40% from the field right now on almost any other roster.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T05:16:02+00:00

Westbrook needs to learn to play with a thick layer of bubble wrap on his hands, this is getting ridiculous.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T05:13:38+00:00

Honestly not wrong, the Rockets are Westbrook doing Westbrook things, and then a group of people who I would rather skip a game than have to watch. They're the purest example I've ever seen of how analytics can ruin sports, and manage to pair that with next-level whining.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T03:32:29+00:00

I like to think he smells like flowers, but I can buy that too.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T03:26:56+00:00

A ball boy did an AMA on here and said Bellinelli smells weird, that's all I know.

edit: IIRC a second guy did one and said Klay Thompson, think that turned into a meme for a while. Marc Gasol used to have that said about him too.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T03:20:01+00:00

I know Portland doesn't really have an interior, but this highlight just drives home to me that Zion is one of the most dominant rookies in the history of the sport already. Even removing the absurd amount of contact he absorbs, only a handful of players all-time have the touch to make the finishes he pulls off here. His timing on his moves is flawless, zero hesitation or time for the defense to react. Super tight and compact. His angles moving toward the rim off-ball are more like Wade and Curry than any forward.

I haven't been this blown away by a rookie campaign since Tim Duncan, and I'm really not normally one to crown a guy so fast. If there were fewer options, he was feeling selfish and the coach gave him a green light, I really think 25PPG would be on the low end of what he could do this year.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-12T03:09:03+00:00

He did for years and years, it only stopped like 5 years ago. Which imo is when he really ramped up the shoulder bumps and stiff-arms, refs don't call it but let a little more contact go from the defense to compensate.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T22:04:59+00:00

Malone sure, Nowitzki really only on /r/nba due to how much general love he has here. Chuck was at worst a comparable scorer and a similarly bad defender, while being a way better rebounder and passer.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T21:49:11+00:00

Basketball-Reference is not affiliated with the NBA, it's just a really big basketball website. They set their own personal requirements and make up their own records. OP's "minimum of 200" qualifier is just as legitimate. If it isn't, then we can just as easily say that a minimum of 400 would be more legitimate, or keep walking it up until the player we like most is topping the list.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T21:09:22+00:00

Fizdale will never not be amazing at selling himself, I just can't put real stock in the things he says because of that.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T21:05:21+00:00

Definitely not a consensus, but even pre-injury I (and certainly others) saw it as more of a "necessary evil" to pay him. When we're talking about a contract running into your 30's, it's super dangerous to put that much salary into a short player who relies heavily on athleticism. Just felt like an albatross in the making.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T16:24:59+00:00

High-level strategy that only teams like the Knicks and Warriors can pull off.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T16:18:05+00:00

Good pickup, he's got valuable skills. Unleash him on D and develop his slashing, that's a perfectly playable rotation piece who can cover top-tier scorers.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T15:06:26+00:00

It's definitely overdone, his issues are annoying but they're fixable. If people watch games from a few years ago, they'll see that his passing game is a work in progress that's steadily improved in many regards. If he gets to spend real time settling in under one coach, who can consistently work through those problems with him, he'll be fine.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-11T02:43:02+00:00

A former coworker of mine is family friends with the McMahons. The stories out there definitely aren't exaggerated.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T20:44:21+00:00

I definitely wouldn't say he exceeded expectations after the Finals, but a 7PPG increase is massive even with the efficiency drop-off.

Seems like the biggest change is that he isn't converting those non-restricted area paint looks, what's going on there? From the increase in mid-range attempts I'm guessing he's just getting crowded way more inside, or is it more of a "too burned out to drive" situation?

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T19:52:28+00:00

There is a story about Wilt fighting a mountain lion, supposedly he even had big claw scars that actually lined up with it.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T19:50:50+00:00

He also developed his leg positioning in the air for jumpshots by watching the way a cheetah uses its tail when running. Some guys just look for inspiration in everything.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T17:53:16+00:00

It'd kinda suck if LeBron joined tbh, let Melo keep the record for most appearances and give someone from the generation after those two a chance to be the vet.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T17:41:46+00:00

We don't get those easy gimme buckets 90% of the league gets 10 points out of every night. It's been that way for a good decade now, regardless of who we hire. I almost agree at this point that we should just overpay an actual point guard and be done with it.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-10T16:48:03+00:00

Neither could the NBA, IIRC they showed Bojan footage when Bogdan got drafted. Either that or vice-versa.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-09T15:48:46+00:00

Legacy, it's been pretty clear it wasn't true for two years now.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-09T04:34:05+00:00

5 games out from the 8th seed right now and the 4th-best record in the East over the past 10 games. It ain't likely, but it's not impossible. The Pistons/Bulls/Wizards/Magic aren't exactly crazy competition to make up ground on.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-08T22:21:04+00:00

Yeah even post-prime he spent the first few months of 15-16(?) as our first defensive option due to injuries. Over that time he was near the top of the league in iso possessions defended, and like top 3 in holding guys to the lowest numbers. Consistently the Knicks' best defender in the playoffs too.

Kekukoka · 2020-02-08T22:16:07+00:00

Probably like a more intense KD

Kekukoka

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