TripleThreat wrote:BRIGGS wrote:I believe this 100%. People tend to think its a taboo if you play in the D league
Progressive Overload.
You improve (If the player can improve at all) when you are exposed to a better level of competition than you've had to face previously and you can do so on a consistently and with a specific role in mind.
That's it.
Ntilikina is improving because he's actually getting minutes and playing against a tier of competition superior to what he's faced previously.
Dotson, is the same, just a different set of circumstances.
The benefit of the G League is there is more of an emphasis on individual skill coaching. The league is also set up to be affiliation neutral. You have a team and a franchise, but if another coach on another team can help you, then it's just sort of accepted as part of the process. In the NFL, just like the rest of pro sports, you get "per diem" money. IE. cash in an envelope for meals and such. Players LOVED this more than anything. It was money not have to be accounted for with anything else ( Sadly a lot of pro players, their wives control all the finances, so many guys just get an "allowance"....Sigh....) While it's not a hard fast rule, the general process was veteran players would give their per diem money to the fringe guys or the practice squad guys. You stay a little longer to help coach up those guys. You let them crash with you if you like them or have a history or some shared background ( you both played for the same college, etc)
The expectation level for G League guys is just going to be different. The level of patience and individual attention will also be different.
Ntilikina is developing in a much harsher structure, which is both good and bad.
The advantage of having a young player who can actually defend in the NBA is like having a young running back in the NFL who can pass block. If you can't pass block, you don't play. Doesn't matter if you run like Barry Sanders Lite if your QB1 is getting pasted on every play. That Frank N can defend means he's not a total liability while the rest of his game develops.
Much of offensive development comes from learning actual NBA personnel and their tendency, building a rapport with the refs in general and enough exposure to let the game "slow down" for you. Much of it is acclimation.
Briggs, the problem you have in general with NBA analysis is you fundamentally lack any critical thinking skills whatsoever. It's actually pretty sad if you think about it ( I suppose one benefit is you actually won't think about it. Irony is funny sometimes, right?)
Not every player needs the D/G League to develop. You get better as a player playing, whatever the environment.
What he said..
