UCONN in the NBA - 2023/24 Season

[formerlurker]

Would love for the Knicks to pick up Andre to fill the Mitchell Robinson void.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

25 rebounds?!

 

[Kembacity]

I was happy to see Drummonds huge line last night but also annoyed that Adama didn’t get any minutes. Close game but do the bulls care about their record? Pretty clear they’re going to try to blow it up a little bit yet again, give the big man some burn!!

 

[Palatine]

And he has three years of eligibility left!!!

 

[Chin Diesel]

If we are going to make up fake titles and stat lines, it was actually a quadruple double- minutes played, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and points.

 

[REB1094]

Andre Drummond is the weirdest basketball player I can think of. Journeyman role player who just casually put in 24/25/3/2

Pelicans 18-62 (29.0%) from three in their last 2 games, both losses. They should have invested in a shooter last offseason..

 

[Edward Sargent]

Would love for the Knicks to pick up Andre to fill the Mitchell Robinson void.

The Cs could use him too

 

[gtcam]

The Cs could use him too

No

 

[Palatine]

Andre Drummond -in some ways- reminds me of Nolan Ryan.

Ryan was basically a .500 pitcher with an amazing fastball. He was considered an underachiever for much of his career, but he keep throwing no-hitters. By the time he got to seven no-hitters the baseball writers narrative changed.

Drummond keeps putting up these insane rebounding numbers. He is considered a so-so basketball player. But he has time, if he keeps boarding at a high level to produce some eye popping stats.

 

[husky429]

24 pts 10 OReb 15 Dreb! 100% FT too.

I've had a triple-double too if you include turnovers, missed shots, and uncontested layups allowed.

 

[AllHusky]

I've had a triple-double too if you include turnovers, missed shots, and uncontested layups allowed.

 

[Waquoit]

24 pts 10 OReb 15 Dreb! 100% FT too.

I was waiting to read "in a losing effort." But they won, I'm shocked.

 

[LIuconn]

Was Hawk getting too close to ROY conversations? Seriously WTF are they doing with him

 

[Zonepress]

No

On the surface, he doesn’t fit with a Celtics at all
However, if you look at the playoffs and Milwaukee as your main competition, having a strong physical big to battle yannis Lopez and Portis might be an asset

 

[his dudeness]

You guys need to actually watch the NBA. Pelicans have multiple big strong guards that can shoot and/or defend better than Hawkins at this point. Hawkins played big minutes early because most of those guys were injured and shot 36% from 3. Save your outrage for something more worthwhile - Hawkins will have a long and successful NBA career as long as he keeps improving and getting stronger.

 

[his dudeness]

Or maybe there's an anti-UConn conspiracy to keep Hawkins glued to the bench when he's the ROY frontrunner. You are free to decide.

 

[husky429]

You guys need to actually watch the NBA. Pelicans have multiple big strong guards that can shoot and/or defend better than Hawkins at this point. Hawkins played big minutes early because most of those guys were injured and shot 36% from 3. Save your outrage for something more worthwhile - Hawkins will have a long and successful NBA career as long as he keeps improving and getting stronger.

No.

 

[Chin Diesel]

You guys need to actually watch the NBA. Pelicans have multiple big strong guards that can shoot and/or defend better than Hawkins at this point. Hawkins played big minutes early because most of those guys were injured and shot 36% from 3. Save your outrage for something more worthwhile - Hawkins will have a long and successful NBA career as long as he keeps improving and getting stronger.

And they lose by playing those players.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Given that he was a rookie Hawkins #s and performance were pretty outstanding and bode well of a bright near term and even brighter long-term future.
Not exactly sure of the Pelicans record during Hawk's starting/extended minutes run, but it seemed very positive and putting Hawk into lineup was part of reversing a 5-game losing streak. Hawkins getting 0 playing time really seems like a waste given all that. Giving the rookie 0 minutes and playing McCollum 39 minutes in most recent OT game is short-sighted (5 starters averaged 37mins?!) - Are they trying to re-injure McCollum or win the December Cup?!

It won't go on over forever, yet at present if all the players above him stay healthy, there is neither a short nor long term plan for Hawkins' development.

Given that they aren't a real title contender this year it'd seem they have 3-4 options:
1. Play the vets, maximize record, improvement & experience for team as whole in 23-24, worry about next year in the offseason. It does seem like they could be showcasing McCollum for a trade.
2. Play the rook & focus on development, should still at a minimum make the play-in
3. Play the vets NOW and
A. retain optionality to trade around deadline IF team is still destined for #7+ or
B. keep roster intact if trending #6 or below.

 

[Husky68]

Andre Drummond -in some ways- reminds me of Nolan Ryan.

Ryan was basically a .500 pitcher with an amazing fastball. He was considered an underachiever for much of his career, but he keep throwing no-hitters. By the time he got to seven no-hitters the baseball writers narrative changed.

Drummond keeps putting up these insane rebounding numbers. He is considered a so-so basketball player. But he has time, if he keeps boarding at a high level to produce some eye popping stats.

Nolan played for some pretty crummy teams, lead the league in ERA 2.76 and strikeouts 270 in 1987 and finished with record of 8-16. Career ERA was 3.19, better than Steve Carlton, Bob Feller who had much better won/loss records; sometimes it is who you play for that has big impact on wins for a pitcher.

 

[Palatine]

Nolan played for some pretty crummy teams, lead the league in ERA 2.76 and strikeouts 270 in 1987 and finished with record of 8-16. Career ERA was 3.19, better than Steve Carlton, Bob Feller who had much better won/loss records; sometimes it is who you play for that has big impact on wins for a pitcher.

Not taking away anything from Ryan who earned every accolade he received.

Just reminding folks it took a long time for Ryan to receive his due but it came because he kept on keeping on.

 

[his dudeness]

Shooting guards CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III are both top 10 NBA SGs in Player Efficiency rating right now. Brandon Ingram and Naji Marshall both top 20 at SF. Even Dyson Daniels is ahead of Hawkins in PER.

I'm not ripping Hawkins - I think he's gonna be a great NBA player - but you people are ridiculous claiming that the Pelicans front office/coaches are stupid for playing the older, bigger, stronger and more efficient players now that they are healthy. Take off the blue glasses - Blame the Dookie Zion for being out of shape if that makes you feel better.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Not taking away anything from Ryan who earned every accolade he received.

Just reminding folks it took a long time for Ryan to receive his due but it came because he kept on keeping on.

Its an interesting comp. Biggest difference is as his career went on Ryan was 'THE MAN' and even early in his career he was feared for his absolutely killer fastball - this made him the focal point of games every time he took the mound.

Drummond in contrast is overlooked b/c he seems to be at best the 5th option on offense and his defense has the perimeter/switching hole. Drummond has never been 'THE MAN' something even UConn fans can hold against him.

The holes in Ryan's career were W/L record but as Husky68 said this can be attributed to his teammates. Drummond needs some playoff success to similarly change his rep.

A better non-basketball comp might be Donnie Edwards or Keith Brooking, 4th & 6th all time in tackles which isn't as flashy as sacks (akin to rebounds less flashy than blocks) great players but not on tip of anyone's tongues in terms of all-time NFL greats.

Lastly until Drummond beats the living crap out of Robin Ventura he's never gonna ascend to Nolan Ryan's legendary cult status.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Shooting guards CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III are both top 10 NBA SGs in Player Efficiency rating right now. Brandon Ingram and Naji Marshall both top 20 at SF. Even Dyson Daniels is ahead of Hawkins in PER.

I'm not ripping Hawkins - I think he's gonna be a great NBA player - but you people are ridiculous claiming that the Pelicans front office/coaches are stupid for playing the older, bigger, stronger and more efficient players now that they are healthy. Take off the blue glasses - Blame the Dookie Zion for being out of shape if that makes you feel better.

It is not ridiculous to wonder the point or extra benefit of playing that troika ALL the minutes vs giving the rook 10-15? If like I said they are fighting Sacto for 6th vs 7th place MAYBE it is worth it.

Given Zion's & Ingram's window likely being 3-ish years from now you sit CJ for 10 minutes a game in favor of the rookie, or give Hawk the burn if DD or TreyM is off - that's all.

 

[Moose1979]

I've had a triple-double too if you include turnovers, missed shots, and uncontested layups allowed.

quadruple double for me: add in " minutes on bench"