We are now just over a third of the way through the season, and I figure it's a good time to step back and see where everyone's opinions lie on performance. This is my unofficial mark where you have to stop saying "it's early", as we have a good sample size now to take meaningful stock.
That said, I will give my grades and a brief synopsis. You guys can do the same, synopsis optional, or change it a bit if you like. My grades are based on expectations vs performance, ie, I'm not judging Siakam on the same scale as Banton.
Grades:
A: Outstanding/Very Good
B: Good/Pretty Good
C: Medicore/Meh/OK
D: Bad/Awful
Fred VanVleet: B+ Outlined my thoughts in another thread. Shown great leadership skills, and done an amazing job in his "promotion". Debated A-, Consistency could use a little work, he's good for 30, then good for a awful shooting night. Needs to work on being a better quarterback in the coming year or 2 as Trent and Barnes increase their roles.
Pascal Siakam: C+ Moving closer to the B's lately, but between slow start, up and down defense, and inconsistent offense, not there quite yet. On the right track the last couple weeks, but I'm judging him over his body of work so far.
OG Anunoby: B+ This is strictly on his 15 GP. Showed great promise into taking a leap offensively. Very inefficient however, which hurts grade. Defense stellar as always, which settles him in at the high B's
Gary Trent Jr: A- Huge fan of what junior has brought to the table. Shooting a very nice %, bring his brand of offense, but it's the defense that brings him an entire grade up. For the first time in his career he grades out as a plus defender, which makes him a 2 way player I'd be very comfortable counting in as part of my 5 year core.
Scottie Barnes: A+ Nuff said. All hail Masai. Stay healthy, keep developing, work on that court vision to go along with that all world passing ability and sublime mid range game.
Precious Achiuwa: D+ Was considering not being so harsh, because his rim protection is pretty good, but I can't stop staring at those efficiency numbers, they hurt my eyes when I look. Luckily he's a young center and there's hope for the kid yet.
Khem Birch: B. Khem Birch will grade as a B for the rest of his boring ass yet solid 15 year career. Hopefully he gets healthy soon.
Chris Boucher: D He's come around a bit lately. Not sure about his attitude. Needs to figure it out to keep a good rotation job in the NBA going forward.
Delano Banton: A- Has certainly slowed down lately, but he wasn't expected to be nothing more than a G league project this year, so I'll throw him an A-
Svi Mysomething: C- Not a big Svi fan. Nurse likes him. Or he's all we got? Has glimpses. Fun to say his name. SVEEEE!
Yuta Wantanabe: C+ Some guys love him here, I'm more meh. Has energy. Can shoot. Has potential. Like him off the bench.
Goran Dragic: D- We all hoped he'd be a good backup guard to either help make playoffs or get good return at deadline. Now he's just an expensive tab we picked up. Another failed big name coming North reminiscent of the dark days of Raps hoops.
Malachi Flynn: D. This kid has done nothing to make me think he's come any bit further since last year. Strikes me as a little entitled.
The rest: Too small sample.
Team Grade: C+. I guess "they are who we thought they were", Because I call C+ "OK". Raps are wildly inconsistent, but the glimpses are there. To be fair, injuries a plenty. Where this season ends up is anyones guess, best (BEST) case scenario is maybe still first round upset against a beaten up 3rd seed, opposite end best case is a top 3 pick. Likely scenario is where we are right now, around 11th place, cheering for one more year of ping pong balls as we continue to craft a new young core.
That said, I will give my grades and a brief synopsis. You guys can do the same, synopsis optional, or change it a bit if you like. My grades are based on expectations vs performance, ie, I'm not judging Siakam on the same scale as Banton.
Grades:
A: Outstanding/Very Good
B: Good/Pretty Good
C: Medicore/Meh/OK
D: Bad/Awful
Fred VanVleet: B+ Outlined my thoughts in another thread. Shown great leadership skills, and done an amazing job in his "promotion". Debated A-, Consistency could use a little work, he's good for 30, then good for a awful shooting night. Needs to work on being a better quarterback in the coming year or 2 as Trent and Barnes increase their roles.
Pascal Siakam: C+ Moving closer to the B's lately, but between slow start, up and down defense, and inconsistent offense, not there quite yet. On the right track the last couple weeks, but I'm judging him over his body of work so far.
OG Anunoby: B+ This is strictly on his 15 GP. Showed great promise into taking a leap offensively. Very inefficient however, which hurts grade. Defense stellar as always, which settles him in at the high B's
Gary Trent Jr: A- Huge fan of what junior has brought to the table. Shooting a very nice %, bring his brand of offense, but it's the defense that brings him an entire grade up. For the first time in his career he grades out as a plus defender, which makes him a 2 way player I'd be very comfortable counting in as part of my 5 year core.
Scottie Barnes: A+ Nuff said. All hail Masai. Stay healthy, keep developing, work on that court vision to go along with that all world passing ability and sublime mid range game.
Precious Achiuwa: D+ Was considering not being so harsh, because his rim protection is pretty good, but I can't stop staring at those efficiency numbers, they hurt my eyes when I look. Luckily he's a young center and there's hope for the kid yet.
Khem Birch: B. Khem Birch will grade as a B for the rest of his boring ass yet solid 15 year career. Hopefully he gets healthy soon.
Chris Boucher: D He's come around a bit lately. Not sure about his attitude. Needs to figure it out to keep a good rotation job in the NBA going forward.
Delano Banton: A- Has certainly slowed down lately, but he wasn't expected to be nothing more than a G league project this year, so I'll throw him an A-
Svi Mysomething: C- Not a big Svi fan. Nurse likes him. Or he's all we got? Has glimpses. Fun to say his name. SVEEEE!
Yuta Wantanabe: C+ Some guys love him here, I'm more meh. Has energy. Can shoot. Has potential. Like him off the bench.
Goran Dragic: D- We all hoped he'd be a good backup guard to either help make playoffs or get good return at deadline. Now he's just an expensive tab we picked up. Another failed big name coming North reminiscent of the dark days of Raps hoops.
Malachi Flynn: D. This kid has done nothing to make me think he's come any bit further since last year. Strikes me as a little entitled.
The rest: Too small sample.
Team Grade: C+. I guess "they are who we thought they were", Because I call C+ "OK". Raps are wildly inconsistent, but the glimpses are there. To be fair, injuries a plenty. Where this season ends up is anyones guess, best (BEST) case scenario is maybe still first round upset against a beaten up 3rd seed, opposite end best case is a top 3 pick. Likely scenario is where we are right now, around 11th place, cheering for one more year of ping pong balls as we continue to craft a new young core.
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