Oct 5, 2022·edited Oct 5, 2022Liked by Jonathan Macri
New season, clean slate for all.
Positively impressed with everyone defensive effort and with Randle trying to fit in the flow (zero turnovers!). Brunson and Hart are as advertised (if not better) and the young veterans core is developing well.
This team is really deep and if this new bearded coach can manage egos and depth better than his predecessor did last year, we can be a pain in the a** for many much heralded teams.
One of the all time greatest performers in entertainment, the one, the only, James Brown, used to call himself the hardest working man in show business. The Knicks' JB might be the hardest working point guard in the NBA.
He does it all with smarts, footwork, skill, and panache. Looking at who he is and what he's already accomplished in hi basketball career, especially his NCAA Championship/Player of [the frigging] Year, I have no doubt that his long range shooting will become a noticeable weapon over time.
Only an exhibition game against a young Piston squad, but you can only beat the team you are playing against...so, hell yeah, it's a good day! Thanks KFS. Hope this team [Cam!] stays healthy and keeps growing.
You couldn't ask for a better outcome. That being said, you really still have to be only cautiously optimistic because it was a first exhibition game, and against a bad team, who didn't take care of the basketball. That being said, I love how we pushed the ball and got out in transition, particuarly the second unit.
Barrett hit his 3s, which he is going to need to do from opening night forward. In the past he started the season with poor shooting from outside and only improved as time went on. If this team is going to win, it has to be his team, and now that he's been paid, he has to deliver.
Brunson looks like he's going to be a sure thing. It looks like we are also solid at the 5 and the 4. Duece looks like he's ready to step in right now, but will provide depth for now. Perhaps he could turn out to be trade bait.
So the only question mark is at the 2, where it looks like it comes down to whether we can get enough defense out of Fournier or enough offense out of Grimes. Hopefully we can get at least one positive resolution out of those two possibilities. If we can do that, this is a winning team, at a minimum, with a ceiling being the 6 seed or above.
The only negative I take away from this game was Cam Reddish. He hit a big 3 out of the gate and then was about to score on the break, but then he fumbled the pass. He recovered and hit an open teammate to salvage the bucket, but it seemed to affect him, and then he started missing shots, and things just snowballed on him, and he even got injured. You have to wonder if he can make it back before the end of the pre-season, and if and when he comes back if he will be burried on the depth chart.
The real test is two weeks from today, on the road in Memphis.
Thanks to TNT, I was able to watch all of the first half, where I think the game really mattered. Second half of preseason games are more for tinkering and asset identification. But what I saw, even against what will still be a bad Pistons team, had me excited!
Shot making ebbs and flows throughout a season for most players. Not forcing things will be key for this squad. Playing tough defense and moving the ball for easy looks will keep is in every game.
I think Obi will be fine. Loved what I saw from Hart!! Randle didn’t let the early misses affect him and he stayed within the flow of the game. While I saw him bring the ball up some, he did move it much more quickly than the last few seasons. RJ impresses me with how he lets the game come to him. He doesn’t get the love he deserves because he just plays. Whether he’s scoring 30+ or struggling, he’s the same each and every game. And I think a healthy Rose does wonders for the best bench unit in the NBA. And I dare someone to argue that with me.
But watching Brunson...had me ecstatic! I need to temper expectations cause it was the Pistons, but he had a game! And I think his presence only makes things easier for everyone!
Looking forward to a much better, and I believe a much more surprising, season!
Only disappointment was Obi not hitting a jump shot but I’m convinced he’ll be fine. I did think the 2nd unit looked unorganized maybe Obi and Hart fining there spots on the floor was part of the reason.
Brunson was a revelation. It was so beautiful to see. If he can somehow orchestrate RJ and Randle away from those banging their heads into the wall stretches where they’re forcing it and wind up 2-10 FG in a half… He could have a Lowry type impact on this team.
I really hope Grimes is back soon. I came away from that game loving what I saw from every starter but Evan. He just doesn’t fit the starter’s identity. Adding Grimes in there? Another gritty defender, who can shoot and makes plays to a similar level as Fournier? That’s what I want to see. Instead of covering for Fournier on defense, we have two switchable wings in RJ and Grimes who can trade off taking the toughest cover on a given night? That’s the recipe for a top five Thibs defense, especially with Mitch looking wildly better and Julius, ya know, trying.
RJ had that one spin move try on Stewart and I automatically had PTSD of RJs spin cycle/forays into the paint ending with a stuffed sandwich. He didn’t get Stewart on his hip and still forced it.
Obi still air balling corner threes...excuse my pessimism but cmonnnnnn please let’s get these out of system. I love Obi but if he’s not going to consistently be a three pt threat he will be on the bench more oft than not.
New season, clean slate for all.
Positively impressed with everyone defensive effort and with Randle trying to fit in the flow (zero turnovers!). Brunson and Hart are as advertised (if not better) and the young veterans core is developing well.
This team is really deep and if this new bearded coach can manage egos and depth better than his predecessor did last year, we can be a pain in the a** for many much heralded teams.
One of the all time greatest performers in entertainment, the one, the only, James Brown, used to call himself the hardest working man in show business. The Knicks' JB might be the hardest working point guard in the NBA.
He does it all with smarts, footwork, skill, and panache. Looking at who he is and what he's already accomplished in hi basketball career, especially his NCAA Championship/Player of [the frigging] Year, I have no doubt that his long range shooting will become a noticeable weapon over time.
Only an exhibition game against a young Piston squad, but you can only beat the team you are playing against...so, hell yeah, it's a good day! Thanks KFS. Hope this team [Cam!] stays healthy and keeps growing.
PS - TURN DEUCE LOOSE!!!
Jalen Brunson is a star
You couldn't ask for a better outcome. That being said, you really still have to be only cautiously optimistic because it was a first exhibition game, and against a bad team, who didn't take care of the basketball. That being said, I love how we pushed the ball and got out in transition, particuarly the second unit.
Barrett hit his 3s, which he is going to need to do from opening night forward. In the past he started the season with poor shooting from outside and only improved as time went on. If this team is going to win, it has to be his team, and now that he's been paid, he has to deliver.
Brunson looks like he's going to be a sure thing. It looks like we are also solid at the 5 and the 4. Duece looks like he's ready to step in right now, but will provide depth for now. Perhaps he could turn out to be trade bait.
So the only question mark is at the 2, where it looks like it comes down to whether we can get enough defense out of Fournier or enough offense out of Grimes. Hopefully we can get at least one positive resolution out of those two possibilities. If we can do that, this is a winning team, at a minimum, with a ceiling being the 6 seed or above.
The only negative I take away from this game was Cam Reddish. He hit a big 3 out of the gate and then was about to score on the break, but then he fumbled the pass. He recovered and hit an open teammate to salvage the bucket, but it seemed to affect him, and then he started missing shots, and things just snowballed on him, and he even got injured. You have to wonder if he can make it back before the end of the pre-season, and if and when he comes back if he will be burried on the depth chart.
The real test is two weeks from today, on the road in Memphis.
Thanks to TNT, I was able to watch all of the first half, where I think the game really mattered. Second half of preseason games are more for tinkering and asset identification. But what I saw, even against what will still be a bad Pistons team, had me excited!
Shot making ebbs and flows throughout a season for most players. Not forcing things will be key for this squad. Playing tough defense and moving the ball for easy looks will keep is in every game.
I think Obi will be fine. Loved what I saw from Hart!! Randle didn’t let the early misses affect him and he stayed within the flow of the game. While I saw him bring the ball up some, he did move it much more quickly than the last few seasons. RJ impresses me with how he lets the game come to him. He doesn’t get the love he deserves because he just plays. Whether he’s scoring 30+ or struggling, he’s the same each and every game. And I think a healthy Rose does wonders for the best bench unit in the NBA. And I dare someone to argue that with me.
But watching Brunson...had me ecstatic! I need to temper expectations cause it was the Pistons, but he had a game! And I think his presence only makes things easier for everyone!
Looking forward to a much better, and I believe a much more surprising, season!
Only disappointment was Obi not hitting a jump shot but I’m convinced he’ll be fine. I did think the 2nd unit looked unorganized maybe Obi and Hart fining there spots on the floor was part of the reason.
Brunson was a revelation. It was so beautiful to see. If he can somehow orchestrate RJ and Randle away from those banging their heads into the wall stretches where they’re forcing it and wind up 2-10 FG in a half… He could have a Lowry type impact on this team.
I really hope Grimes is back soon. I came away from that game loving what I saw from every starter but Evan. He just doesn’t fit the starter’s identity. Adding Grimes in there? Another gritty defender, who can shoot and makes plays to a similar level as Fournier? That’s what I want to see. Instead of covering for Fournier on defense, we have two switchable wings in RJ and Grimes who can trade off taking the toughest cover on a given night? That’s the recipe for a top five Thibs defense, especially with Mitch looking wildly better and Julius, ya know, trying.
RJ had that one spin move try on Stewart and I automatically had PTSD of RJs spin cycle/forays into the paint ending with a stuffed sandwich. He didn’t get Stewart on his hip and still forced it.
Obi still air balling corner threes...excuse my pessimism but cmonnnnnn please let’s get these out of system. I love Obi but if he’s not going to consistently be a three pt threat he will be on the bench more oft than not.