Saw some things tonight that were very encouraging. Dame is a star. No doubt. Mo Williams is going to make such a huge difference this year. 17 points off the bench, 8-13 shooting, and he can pass. Mo was a huge signing. Lopez is legit. Maybe he can't score as well as Hickson, but he's a legit center and he plays defense. 13 points, 13 boards, 2 blocks, and 6-11 shooting. This is exactly what we needed. Freeland has a pulse. Who knew!?! I think once we get Batum back, and Wright gets some minutes, we should be rolling. We just need to get everyone healthy and on the floor together.
I agree that Mo is going to be huge for us this year. He had more points by himself tonight than our entire bench was able to produce on any given night last year. I hope he likes it here and sticks around for a while. He could leave a Greg Anthony esque legacy for us.
He's not that old either. Almost 31. He could easily play another two or three years at a high level, and longer than that as a decent backup into his mid-to-late 30's.
It's very promising for sure. When wright actually comes off the bench; it's gonna be huge for us. Even claver is showing great promise too. Freeland is by far a big surprise to me. I was counting him out; basically not even considering him in our lineup. If he adds to our bench; then we have three very solid bench players and two that can have their moments. Leonard is still a long way.
What's there to be encouraged about? Life sucks. Shit happens. All things must end. You can't take it with you.
Lopez is making his paint presence felt, unlike the defensive abomination that was Hickson. I'm just thrilled that we have a decent center again who can intimidate at least a little on the defensive end. Mo and Wright are light years better than what we had on the bench last year. Joel and Will have both shown improvement over their rookie outing. This year is gonna be so much more fun.
Lopez reminds me a lot of Przybilla. Just has that same kind of presence out there. He's big, strong and he wants to hit people. He's got a hook shot that's uniquely his, though (at least since Mutombo retired.) It starts at his hip and takes up about a quarter of the shot clock by the time he arcs it over his head. Looks like he's lobbing a grenade in slow motion at the Jerries. Mutombo always got to take it once a night, and as long as Robin is knocking people around I guess he gets to also. Aldridge looks like a damned badass out there. The guy is getting buckets whenever he wants to this preseason. I know the competition sucks, but jesus. It's like watching a college player fuck around with some junior high kids. Seemed like Lillard was a little too Damon Stoudamire tonight. Overdribbling and underpassing. But it's just preseason. Hopefully he understands that this year he's got a few more talented teammates he can pass to. I still love his game. Joel Freeland looked like a completely different person out there. I don't know if he had a spoonful of sugar or what, but his game is going up in a most delightful way. The game is finally coming to him at his speed. Maybe the disaster that was last season was just really bad jet lag.
In some ways he reminds me of Joel, but Joel was not an offensive player at all. I think Lopez is slightly more talented offensively.
By looking at this eve's box score. The one thing I'd still like to see more out of Damian is assists. I hear people go off on just how good he is in the pick and roll. Well I'd like to see more of that in the offense and see him get more dimes if you will.
Two things.... As long as Myers Leonard doesn't play.... I don't care who replaces him. Aldridge was icing his knees and went back to locker room. That doesn't sound good in game 4 of pre season
Dame is finishing better around the rim. His outside shot has been way off though. I actually think his playmaking has improved too.... just hasn't manifested into assists for some reason.
I know I am way way jumping the gun here but seeing the development of some our players, the quality of some of our added players and with CJ still to come I have had this nagging thought in the back of my head that there is a trade coming at some point this season. And I dont think it will be LMA.
I was super impressed watching him here in Boise. Oddly enough his game is like Claver's if his abilities ever catch up with his IQ
Gordon is their current franchise hope. He's not coming easily. but I do agree with BB that I smell a trade.
You know who I'm most encouraged by so far this preseason? Will Barton. The dude looks like a legit threat off the bench. His shot selection and feel for the game have improved significantly (although there is still a lot of room to grow here). He looked so much better than Alec Burks last night, who was a lottery pick just a few years ago. If we can't squeeze him in for ~10mpg, I'd look to cash in by trading him. His value has to be pretty high right now. Seems like we have some guys who deserve PT who won't get the chance on our roster, like Barton, Freeland, and Claver. Definitely a good problem to have.
Yeah, I am trying to not jump on the Bartonwagon just yet, but I did get this impression as well. If Barton shows he's not a dummy and has actually reigned in some of his decision making, he will be a very nice bench asset.
