GustavBahler wrote:Missed most of the first of the first 3 quarters. Kolek has 23 pts through 3? Did he steal someone's bag?

Sounds like Kolek knew that his passing alone wasnt going to get him by anymore. Looking forward to the recap clips Todd found

Kolek made 5 3’s in 1st half and had 23 —- not going to knock that aspect BUT I’m just not impressed with him to any significant degree.

In these 3 games he has really struggled to just handle pressure and he barely has touched the paint even with high screen action.

He’s constantly dragging a defender around on his back and his passing has been careless at best.

If he was jacking the shots he hit today and missing them off the bench in regular season we’d all be roasting him. He looks 5’7” out there and many of his release passes he has to 1 arm fling up into the air to get it by/over the defender.

Tough comparison here but thinking of watching smaller/similar stature PGs like Nash/Stockton and can’t recall those guys having to make so many sloppy passes just to beat coverage. Won’t mention his D and continued piss poor decision making on look ahead passes.

I came into today mostly thinking Kolek was just having a tough adjustment to new scheme and crappy teammates but ultimately I’m just unimpressed.

LivingLegend wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Missed most of the first of the first 3 quarters. Kolek has 23 pts through 3? Did he steal someone's bag?

Sounds like Kolek knew that his passing alone wasnt going to get him by anymore. Looking forward to the recap clips Todd found

Kolek made 5 3’s in 1st half and had 23 —- not going to knock that aspect BUT I’m just not impressed with him to any significant degree.

In these 3 games he has really struggled to just handle pressure and he barely has touched the paint even with high screen action.

He’s constantly dragging a defender around on his back and his passing has been careless at best.

If he was jacking the shots he hit today and missing them off the bench in regular season we’d all be roasting him. He looks 5’7” out there and many of his release passes he has to 1 arm fling up into the air to get it by/over the defender.

Tough comparison here but thinking of watching smaller/similar stature PGs like Nash/Stockton and can’t recall those guys having to make so many sloppy passes just to beat coverage. Won’t mention his D and continued piss poor decision making on look ahead passes.

I came into today mostly thinking Kolek was just having a tough adjustment to new scheme and crappy teammates but ultimately I’m just unimpressed.

I will let you know about the game after I see the 1st 3 quarters.

Kolek handled pressure well enough last season to get the league's attention with his passing skills. The knock on him was that he couldnt hit his shots. He did that tonight, had a well rounded game statistically. I see progress.

Kolek is coming back with a rep for dropping dimes with ease. So teams are trying to shut him down. He's been scouted. No matter how good you are, it takes time to work around that. Time to level up. I dont know if Kolek will. I do know SLis too soon to call it either way.

BigDaddyG wrote:Didn't watch this one because I needed a break.

Kolek with a very nice showing. Hopefully keeps same aggressive mindset.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/1945293669700895079

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/StevePopper/status/1945266046518071535

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/KingBacca22x/status/1945265738001830088

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/1945264828911624623

Dadiet & Diawara both have intriguing skill sets. Hopefully they are able to develop and be contributing rotational pieces down the road. Would be a nice forward tandem off the bench.

VDesai wrote:Diawara with a high motor and more advanced ballhandling and passing skills than advertised. Definitely can disrupt defensively with his wingspan. Depending on his lateral ability/movement maybe he can be a guy who can guard 1 to 5. If not definitely a guy who can guard wings and mobile bigs. I still keep coming back to a young Nico Batum - a 6'8" guy with a good raw skill set and crazy wingspan. Batum had that 3 ball right away and Diawara not there yet with his shot. No rushing on Diawara, but there's some really good raw material there for playing an NBA role.

All of this.

And Diawara's shot mechanics don't look horrible. To me he seems like a guy who just needs lots of hard work, all the potential is there.

He and Dadiet do look like a very intriguing pair off the bench, maybe they won't make it for another couple of years but high ceilings for both.

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/DJAceNBA/status/1945504828689469944

Mitch had a better nose for the ball as a rook, but Hukporti looks like he is picking things up when it comes to the NBA game. I’m really hoping Mitch stays at the backup 5, Huk can learn, and be there to step in if Mitch gets hurt.

I suppose you can say “when”, but Mitch held up to end the season, and left everything on the court physically. Was routinely diving for the ball, with no ill-effects. Those first few minutes of a game can wear a big man down. Maybe that’s enough to keep Mitch healthy. That and the training, medical, staff.

Having not one but two quality bigs to backup Towns would be great. And there is always the two big men lineup as an option.

Diawara reminds me of a young Mutumbo, the clunky way he posts up. But looks like he could be a real disruptor in a year or two. Maybe sign Mitch to a 3 year deal. Two years for Diawara to develop, the third year as an expiring, at the very least. Mitch could still be playing like this.

Knixkik wrote:I’m liking the upside of Dadiet and Diawara. Kolek and Hukporti I feel like we sort of know what they are. But the French dudes have real upside.

I like Leon’s plan.

Develop a farm of young wings and roles players. Continue to have a plug and play structure for the next superstar. Building like OKC. Young minimum salary athletes and impact players. Brown is the coach that will play them.

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/StevePopper/status/1945266046518071535

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/KingBacca22x/status/1945265738001830088

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/krispursiainen/status/1945264828911624623

I’ve heard numerous folks complimenting Diawara and while I love me some length to my eyes he looks super raw.

Very little scoring game and getting blown by a number of times off the dribble.

Not saying he doesn’t have IT - just haven’t been blown away like some.

He seems to have a good understanding of TEAM ball — basically the anti Dink.

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/DJAceNBA/status/1945504828689469944

He looks like he’s dropped a few pounds as well — moving well and operating well,in a poor team construct.

I like it.