UConn in the NBA Jan '25

[ToolzieFan]

I’m happy Hawk took advantage of his start. A few people here voiced reasonable concerns about his shooting. FWIW, the Pelicans consider him one of their four players who are more or less untouchable.

Earlier this year, Marc Stein had reported via The Stein Line that the Pelicans had identified three young players who they wanted to build around, with everyone else falling on the trading block: Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and rookie standout Yves Missi. Stein has since added a new player to the list of Pelicans' untouchables: second-year scorer, Jordan Hawkins.

Jordan Hawkins has made himself into an "untouchable" asset this season

The Pelicans are expected to make nearly every player on the roster available for trade aside from a few young prospects and Jordan Hawkins just made the cut.

pelicandebrief.com

On the flip side, John Hollinger suggests Hawkins is a likely trade candidate. They’re $2.1 million over the luxury tax line, and Hawkins makes $4.5 million. That it’s hard to tell if Hollinger has sources, or if it’s just speculation given their salary obligations. It seems like the latter.

NBA’s (Low-Key) Trade Deadline Team: Jerami Grant, Mitchell Robinson and 8 others

 

[Scoe]

Hawk should start the rest of the season, NO is such a disaster, Zion Williamson is completely checked out and Ingram is on the trade block.

 

[JohnFSilver]

On the flip side, John Hollinger suggests Hawkins is a likely trade candidate. They’re $2.1 million over the luxury tax line, and Hawkins makes $4.5 million. That it’s hard to tell if Hollinger has sources, or if it’s just speculation given their salary obligations. It seems like the latter.

NBA’s (Low-Key) Trade Deadline Team: Jerami Grant, Mitchell Robinson and 8 others

He has sources. And he knows what he is doing. Good for hawk. He is taking vary tough shots. He needs a team that will allow him to get open and pass the ball.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Clingan started and had 8 points on 4-6 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in 27 minutes. That was his second straight decent game in a row despite another bad loss.

 

[ctbro1999]

Steph with a big game so far. 21 points on 9-12 shooting.... keeping the Spurs in it in the 3rd single handedly.

 

[Deleted at users request]

 

[REB1094]

Steph with a big game so far. 21 points on 9-12 shooting.... keeping the Spurs in it in the 3rd single handedly.

It was 65-58 Lakers with just under 11 minutes left in the third. In the next 5 minutes:

Steph Castle: 14
Rest of Spurs: 2
Lakers: 12

1 possession game after that stretch and it was tied by the end of the quarter. Let’s go!!!

 

[Deleted at users request]

3 pointers vs midrange analytics debate update:

Did yall know the Rockets are #2 in the West being bottom 5 in the league for % of points from three and top 8 in % of points from midrange?

A team playing way above their talent level currently.

Teams Scoring | Stats | NBA.com

A table featuring scoring information for each team in the league based on selected filters.

www.nba.com

 

[Woodson]

It was 65-58 Lakers with just under 11 minutes left in the third. In the next 5 minutes:

Steph Castle: 14
Rest of Spurs: 2
Lakers: 12

1 possession game after that stretch and it was tied by the end of the quarter. Let’s go!!!

Fun watch. Damn close to his first 30-piece if another 3 falls for him, FTs, etc, most important, his team got the W large thanks to his 3rd quarter play

 

[caw]

He is still bullying players in the NBA as a rookie. Not sure how he does it as he isn't really bigger, or stronger anymore and often isn't the most athletic. He just uses his body so effectively to shrug off other players defending him, it's really impressive with his fantastic footwork.

 

[caw]

Sometimes I can't tell how exactly how good Clingan is on the court, or if Ayton is just that bad. Clingan is a plus 15 right now in a game the Blazers are losing by 5, in five minutes of PT with only 3 rebounds and 1 assist and nothing else statistically. And yet the Blazers look so much better as a team with him out there. He just eats up the entire paint on defense and forces so many players to turn and look for an outlet pass.

 

[ToolzieFan]

This is kind of amusing, and most importantly, it shows how smart of a player Steph is.

 

[RuffRuff]

He is still bullying players in the NBA as a rookie. Not sure how he does it as he isn't really bigger, or stronger anymore and often isn't the most athletic. He just uses his body so effectively to shrug off other players defending him, it's really impressive with his fantastic footwork.

Steph has an interesting style, the Laveon Bell of the NBA as he throws off defenders with a lot of stop and go, dribble pauses, even pivot foot pauses. He’s above average in strength and athleticism, and has very good balance.

 

[Kenny11]

He is still bullying players in the NBA as a rookie. Not sure how he does it as he isn't really bigger, or stronger anymore and often isn't the most athletic. He just uses his body so effectively to shrug off other players defending him, it's really impressive with his fantastic footwork.

Good points. I think he still is stronger though. His natural strength is incredible.

 

[aceboon]

Back to back 20+ point games for Castle, he's got 13 of the last 15 points for the Spurs late in the 4th quarter

 

[Deleted at users request]

Castle looked like the #1 perimeter option for the Spurs tonight. 21 shots taken tonight. Really cool to see him start to get comfortable being that guy the Spurs are going to want him to be.

Hopefully be keeps this up.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I understand Wemby is great, generational, any adjective you wanna use. But man, he is just hard to watch. His game is transition pull up 3s, iso, slow moving, pretty indecisive. He is rarely in the paint. And watching the Spurs a ton this year, he is really not a very good on ball defender. His feet are slow, and he gets targeted a lot more than I would expect. His tremendous defensive numbers are from mostly help side defense, which admittedly he is incredibly elite at.

He’ll round out his game no doubt, but his offense is again, rather difficult to watch.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Castle finished with 26. He’s so good.

I’m a big Wemby fan, but this was a crazy dunk, even though it didn’t count. The Grizzlies are dangerous.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I understand Wemby is great, generational, any adjective you wanna use. But man, he is just hard to watch. His game is transition pull up 3s, iso, slow moving, pretty indecisive. He is rarely in the paint. And watching the Spurs a ton this year, he is really not a very good on ball defender. His feet are slow, and he gets targeted a lot more than I would expect. His tremendous defensive numbers are from mostly help side defense, which admittedly he is incredibly elite at.

He’ll round out his game no doubt, but his offense is again, rather difficult to watch.

Edey and JJJ locked up anything inside the 3 pt arch today. He doesn’t have any go to moves there currently.

He plays like he knows this is a trial year and throws up heat checks just cause in every game. Eventually he needs to develop a real post game though.

 

[RuffRuff]

I understand Wemby is great, generational, any adjective you wanna use. But man, he is just hard to watch. His game is transition pull up 3s, iso, slow moving, pretty indecisive. He is rarely in the paint. And watching the Spurs a ton this year, he is really not a very good on ball defender. His feet are slow, and he gets targeted a lot more than I would expect. His tremendous defensive numbers are from mostly help side defense, which admittedly he is incredibly elite at.

He’ll round out his game no doubt, but his offense is again, rather difficult to watch.

I couldn’t agree more. He’s an alien physically so it’s interesting to watch someone that looks like that move, but after you get your fill of that aspect of him, not what I would call must watch TV.

It’s a shame hoops has evolved to what it’s become because there was nothing prettier to watch than the big with skill around the blocks, guys like Hakeem and Barkley come to mind. It was one of the more artistic elements of the game and now a seldom used craft. At the college level guys like Broome still bring a little of that.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I couldn’t agree more. He’s an alien physically so it’s interesting to watch someone that looks like that move, but after you get your fill of that aspect of him, not what I would call must watch TV.

It’s a shame hoops has evolved to what it’s become because there was nothing prettier to watch than the big with skill around the blocks, guys like Hakeem and Barkley come to mind. It was one of the more artistic elements of the game and now a seldom used craft. At the college level guys like Broome still bring a little of that.

Joel and Jokic show the post game you speak about with Hakeem. Zion has Barkley to his game as well.

Those skills are still relevant and useful to those who take the time to invest in them.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[superjohn]

I couldn’t agree more. He’s an alien physically so it’s interesting to watch someone that looks like that move, but after you get your fill of that aspect of him, not what I would call must watch TV.

It’s a shame hoops has evolved to what it’s become because there was nothing prettier to watch than the big with skill around the blocks, guys like Hakeem and Barkley come to mind. It was one of the more artistic elements of the game and now a seldom used craft. At the college level guys like Broome still bring a little of that.

Watch Jokic. The rest of his team is blah but he's always worth the price of admission. I've never seen a more skilled and coordinated player.

 

[3rdbass]

I couldn’t agree more. He’s an alien physically so it’s interesting to watch someone that looks like that move, but after you get your fill of that aspect of him, not what I would call must watch TV.

It’s a shame hoops has evolved to what it’s become because there was nothing prettier to watch than the big with skill around the blocks, guys like Hakeem and Barkley come to mind. It was one of the more artistic elements of the game and now a seldom used craft. At the college level guys like Broome still bring a little of that.

The Joker is fun to watch around the hoop nowadays but I understand he is an oddity and even with that he is shooing a career high 3pt percentage.

 

[REB1094]

Castle is a monster. If he develops a consistent jumper, he’s an instant all star level player

 

[3rdbass]

Castle is a monster. If he develops a consistent jumper, he’s an instant all star level player

He is the best player that Hurley has placed in the NBA for sure.

 

[caw]

Just saw Cam (3 weeks) and Clingan (1 week+) are out on injury list for a bit. That sucks.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Just saw Cam (3 weeks) and Clingan (1 week+) are out on injury list for a bit. That sucks.

Just came here to post this. I saw that Cam was hurt on the bench last night. I missed the initial injury the other day. As for Clingan, I’m just glad it’s not his knee. He was just starting to get back to how he was playing before the knee injury.

 

[Edward Sargent]

I couldn’t agree more. He’s an alien physically so it’s interesting to watch someone that looks like that move, but after you get your fill of that aspect of him, not what I would call must watch TV.

It’s a shame hoops has evolved to what it’s become because there was nothing prettier to watch than the big with skill around the blocks, guys like Hakeem and Barkley come to mind. It was one of the more artistic elements of the game and now a seldom used craft. At the college level guys like Broome still bring a little of that.

Adama brought a lot of that and see where it got him!

 

[ctbro1999]

Castle is a monster. If he develops a consistent jumper, he’s an instant all star level player

If he can just boost his 3 pt shot to ~35% where guys can't play off him, it'll be like the red sea parting. Even as it is now, he can still break down guys and get to the hoop.