Today was Kolek at maybe 50% capacity.

As I mentioned previously, none of this is new. He was a dime machine with good shooting mechanics in college.

In the NBA, guys with his fundamentals, talent and work ethic that get consistent minutes tend to produce at a higher rate than their school stats.

He shot close to 40% from deep, but he can shoot over that in the NBA.

He averaged 7+ Assists in school, but he's already putting up those numbers or more.

A fully baptized Kolek will be capable of big nights statistically even if that is not what we always need from him. However, some nights we will need him to go off and he will, so get ready for Kolek game winners. He's got the clutch genes, you'll see.

What matters most is the team consistently plays better with him on the floor solo or paired with Brunson.

That Brown is running them out there together as much as he has already shows the value of floor generalship, ball handling and protecting the ball. In time, Brunson will play more action off the ball as he hands the reins over to Kolek to bring the ball up more and orchestrate the sets. The ability to switch the lead guard will keep defenses guessing since both of them are capable of drilling the three. Doubling the ball handler will thus become a major risk for defenses against the Knicks.

The Brunson/Kolek backcourt is a thing now. Even as a major Kolek supporter since he was drafted I did not anticipate this dynamic as I expected Kolek to emerge strictly as Brunson's backup, not also his running mate.

Major Kudos to Coach Brown for discovering this combo. It is a revelation and makes this team far more lethal than before.

BlueKnickers wrote:I said Kolek played at 30% capacity the game before that he started.

Today was Kolek at maybe 50% capacity.

As I mentioned previously, none of this is new. He was a dime machine with good shooting mechanics in college.

In the NBA, guys with his fundamentals, talent and work ethic that get consistent minutes tend to produce at a higher rate than their school stats.

He shot close to 40% from deep, but he can shoot over that in the NBA.

He averaged 7+ Assists in school, but he's already putting up those numbers or more.

A fully baptized Kolek will be capable of big nights statistically even if that is not what we always need from him. However, some nights we will need him to go off and he will, so get ready for Kolek game winners. He's got the clutch genes, you'll see.

What matters most is the team consistently plays better with him on the floor solo or paired with Brunson.

That Brown is running them out there together as much as he has already shows the value of floor generalship, ball handling and protecting the ball. In time, Brunson will play more action off the ball as he hands the reins over to Kolek to bring the ball up more and orchestrate the sets. The ability to switch the lead guard will keep defenses guessing since both of them are capable of drilling the three. Doubling the ball handler will thus become a major risk for defenses against the Knicks.

The Brunson/Kolek backcourt is a thing now. Even as a major Kolek supporter since he was drafted I did not anticipate this dynamic as I expected Kolek to emerge strictly as Brunson's backup, not also his running mate.

Major Kudos to Coach Brown for discovering this combo. It is a revelation and makes this team far more lethal than before.

This!!! Kolek gives us a second playmaker on the floor when paired with Brunson. The vision, passing and shooting was apparent at Marguette when he was player the year in the Big East. The biggest leap that I've seen this from his previouls year is the effort on the defensve end. If he continues to fight on the defensive side of the floor, it will be difficult to keep him off the floor in tight games...

Uptown wrote:

BlueKnickers wrote:I said Kolek played at 30% capacity the game before that he started.

Today was Kolek at maybe 50% capacity.

As I mentioned previously, none of this is new. He was a dime machine with good shooting mechanics in college.

In the NBA, guys with his fundamentals, talent and work ethic that get consistent minutes tend to produce at a higher rate than their school stats.

He shot close to 40% from deep, but he can shoot over that in the NBA.

He averaged 7+ Assists in school, but he's already putting up those numbers or more.

A fully baptized Kolek will be capable of big nights statistically even if that is not what we always need from him. However, some nights we will need him to go off and he will, so get ready for Kolek game winners. He's got the clutch genes, you'll see.

What matters most is the team consistently plays better with him on the floor solo or paired with Brunson.

That Brown is running them out there together as much as he has already shows the value of floor generalship, ball handling and protecting the ball. In time, Brunson will play more action off the ball as he hands the reins over to Kolek to bring the ball up more and orchestrate the sets. The ability to switch the lead guard will keep defenses guessing since both of them are capable of drilling the three. Doubling the ball handler will thus become a major risk for defenses against the Knicks.

The Brunson/Kolek backcourt is a thing now. Even as a major Kolek supporter since he was drafted I did not anticipate this dynamic as I expected Kolek to emerge strictly as Brunson's backup, not also his running mate.

Major Kudos to Coach Brown for discovering this combo. It is a revelation and makes this team far more lethal than before.

This!!! Kolek gives us a second playmaker on the floor when paired with Brunson. The vision, passing and shooting was apparent at Marguette when he was player the year in the Big East. The biggest leap that I've seen this from his previouls year is the effort on the defensve end. If he continues to fight on the defensive side of the floor, it will be difficult to keep him off the floor in tight games...

His improvement on defense has been impressive. He's already showing he can be opportunistic with deflections, steals and even an occasional block.

Additionally, his rebounding numbers also stand out. He averaged over 4 a game in college. I saw him boxing out a Cav big with his butt in the fourth quarter and actually holding his position under the basket.

He was always a competitive player, but Brown got through to him to translate that toughness into effort on both ends of the floor and it is showing. He's already probably a better defender than Brunson. While that is not a high bar, it matters when they are on the floor together at crunch time that they are both putting in the defensive pressure.

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martin wrote:He’s gonna be real good in like 2 years

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Could become a beast, but he's the kind of player who does need to be developed unlike a matured player like Kolek who already had a refined toolkit after years of college.

But when it comes to talent, Diawara really stands out for his raw potential.

I remember feeling something similar when Larry Brown called Trevor Ariza delusional. What a prick of a coach he turned out to be.

And at that time I barely had a clue that Ariza had any offensive potential at all.

But I immediately saw him as a potentially elite stopper as a rookie and wanted him to get playing time on that weird 2005 roster.

But the Knicks stupidly tossed him out with the garbage and he turned into the elite prototype for what we now call the 3 & D player.

I only get that feeling once or twice a decade. Diawara gives me that vibe that he's going to mature into a significant player.

And then there is the guy you see and immediately know he ain't gonna make it like Trevor Keels. WTF was that about?

I can’t wait until refs are obsolete.

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