This is the point I was making ... his court vision, and ability to see the game IS elite. He just needs his hands and teammates to catch up, and we'll be laughing.
I would also argue his durability (outside of the end of last season) has been pretty exceptional as well.
And I don't know how we don't consider Scottie a physical specimen like the others .. dude is HUGE for what he does.
Early on, and for much of his career, Lebron was more often compared to Magic than Kobe and MJ. He himself has never considered himself a "scorer", and yet now he is the all-time leading regular season and post season scorer.
Scottie is cut from the same cloth I think.
except lebron was way more explosive and athletic while being a similar size and was way better as a handler. This is Lebron in his second season:
except lebron was way more explosive and athletic while being a similar size and was way better as a handler. This is Lebron in his second season:
I mean, I'm not saying Scottie is the next coming of Lebron James. I think that ship has sailed. I'm saying they're cut from the same cloth in terms of their priorities, and their nature on the court.
I mean, I'm not saying Scottie is the next coming of Lebron James. I think that ship has sailed. I'm saying they're cut from the same cloth in terms of their priorities, and their nature on the court.
If LeBron is among the players that are in the conversation of being the GOAT. Having a GOAT-light on your team in his early 20's is a very very good thing.
He is not LeBron. He is not Magic. He is not Jokic. He is Scottie. and that's great.
Couple questions:
Could we be better than the Pacers?
Might the Heat end up tanking?
As KG once said "Anythings POSSIBLE!!!"
Realistically yes. We could be better than the Pacers.
A lot would have to go right though.
Here would be my best case scenario.
IQ comes back polished and has developed a chemistry with Scottie. Hits the open man, hits the open shots. Plays within the system.
RJ continues to dominate the weak side and plays as the best Canadian to ever wear the Raptors jersey.
Dick's added weight allows him to guard the worse wing on the floor which allows him to stay on the floor and hit open 3's and back cuts
Scottie relishes the role of leader. Has another jump like we saw at the start of last season. 3 point shot is better. His handle is tighter. He looks to dominate. Plays like an ALL NBA player like we now, one day, he can.
Jak comes back and shows all the things that make him a great 5 in this league.
Bench: Brown plays like a player with his contract, Mitchell is a beast off the bench. One or more of the Rookies/Young guys pops into a solid contributor off the bench.
However in saying all of that my gut says the questions about this team are valid. The schedule early is tough, and I could see a very different team, than what's there now, on Boxing Day.
We stumble out of the gate.
IQ still needs time to develop chemistry with Scottie.
RJ is tasked to play as a small 3 instead of a big two and struggles to guard big wings. The added task of defending better opposing players affects his offensive game.
Dick makes strides to be a better defender but still is not great.
Scottie is still trying to find his fit in the system and still needs to tighten up parts of his game. Makes young leader mistakes.
Jak's lateral quickness is exposed with Dick's lack of defensive chops.
Mitchell is a great defender but can't play O. Brown's contract is not who he is anymore. None of the young guys make strides to be contributing members of the big club.
Fire sale.
Both scenarios could happen, it will probably be somewhere in the middle.
Couple questions:
Could we be better than the Pacers?
Might the Heat end up tanking?
Pacers have depth. We don't. Our bench is super thin IMO. So I'm not too optimistic. I mean if any of our top 4 guys get hurt, we're not winning anything IMO.
Heat are scrappy. I don't really like them much, but they find a way to be just good enough. I think that stays true for this year as well. Once they lose Jimmy though then they will be one of the worse teams in the league for awhile unless they can find a way to replace him.
Pacers have depth. We don't. Our bench is super thin IMO. So I'm not too optimistic. I mean if any of our top 4 guys get hurt, we're not winning anything IMO.
Heat are scrappy. I don't really like them much, but they find a way to be just good enough. I think that stays true for this year as well. Once they lose Jimmy though then they will be one of the worse teams in the league for awhile unless they can find a way to replace him.
Yeah, I wouldn't bet on being better than the Pacers either, as they're that 1.5 steps closer to being all-in on winning/roster depth while we've got expirings and rookies. But you never know, Halliburton isn't the smallest injury risk out there.
Same goes for Jimmy, I could see him missing a bunch of time this year and probably won't have that classic Jimmy burst game in and game out. They lack depth like us but at least we have some prospects to be excited about.
Yeah, I wouldn't bet on being better than the Pacers either, as they're that 1.5 steps closer to being all-in on winning/roster depth while we've got expirings and rookies. But you never know, Halliburton isn't the smallest injury risk out there.
Same goes for Jimmy, I could see him missing a bunch of time this year and probably won't have that classic Jimmy burst game in and game out. They lack depth like us but at least we have some prospects to be excited about.
I'm a fan of Kel'el Ware and I think he'll fit in there well. But overall I don't really care for all their prospects either.
Scary Terry might be an upgrade on paper, but I don't think he's really a winning player. And that will hurt them too.
Comment