Everything VanVleet

[The Claw Reborn]

Yep. That’s what I believe exactly this season has been about. Practice for the new core. We paid Pascal, Fred and OG big money and management wants to find out if they can carry a team to wins like Lowry and Derozan did.

All 3 of them are clearly learning on the job in roles that are beyond their current skill sets. They are getting the leash to take major reps and expand their without the safety blanket of better teammates, or the pressure of winning big in previous years.

The money factor is important because their salary now limits the other moves you can make to improve the roster. They need to be able to elevate cheaper players to be winning type players.

This.

You timely utilize those assets with financial and marketable value.

28 years old is a ripe age.

[golden]

Practice, thats all these games are man. Some of these guys are getting more leash than they should and nobody cares if they win, except a few fans wishing for a play in. So fred is gonna force the issue and see what he can do.

Yep. That’s what I believe exactly this season has been about. Practice for the new core. We paid Pascal, Fred and OG big money and management wants to find out if they can carry a team to wins like Lowry and Derozan did.

All 3 of them are clearly learning on the job in roles that are beyond their current skill sets. They are getting the leash to take major reps and expand their without the safety blanket of better teammates, or the pressure of winning big in previous years.

The money factor is important because their salary now limits the other moves you can make to improve the roster. They need to be able to elevate cheaper players to be winning type players.

[JawsGT]

FVV is doing a great Mike James impersonation lately. Numbers last night was impressive but him iso-ing all the fucking time is not gonna win you many ball games.

If you're 6 ft tall(or under) and you're an iso player and you're not even that good of a scorer? just not gonna work UNLESS you're Allen Iverson. And i'm betting on myself that FVV is not the second coming of Iverson.

Practice, thats all these games are man. Some of these guys are getting more leash than they should and nobody cares if they win, except a few fans wishing for a play in. So fred is gonna force the issue and see what he can do.

[The Great One]

FVV is doing a great Mike James impersonation lately. Numbers last night was impressive but him iso-ing all the fucking time is not gonna win you many ball games.

If you're 6 ft tall(or under) and you're an iso player and you're not even that good of a scorer? just not gonna work UNLESS you're Allen Iverson. And i'm betting on myself that FVV is not the second coming of Iverson.

[Jclaw]

At the same time both a surprising and not surprising stat

"After every taxing defensive stand, VanVleet charges downcourt to run his own routes or his own offense, as hefty a workload as any found in the league. Only Julius Randle has logged more total minutes, according to NBA.com, and no one has logged more total miles."

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/2...trade-deadline

[The Great One]

All star.

[Garbo]

Neither are fit to be the focal point. As you said, Siakam doesn't have the mentality of one, Fred does but unfortunately his limitations are his size, which is why you don't want him to be the focal point. Both are at their best when they can play off a player who is the focal point.

While Siakam is not the focal point (though it’s still possible that he might get there), one thing he has is the ability to consistently draw a double. Fred doesn’t have that. Fred’s ceiling is a GREAT number two option because of his physical limitations. Siakam has the tools (but probably not the mentality) to be a number one.

If we’re ever able to add a legitimate lead man to these two, this team can be great.

[The Great One]

All Star.

[LJ2]

Other thought - I think Fred leapfrogs Siakam as a team focal point. Siakam has the skills, size, and ceiling, but I'm not sure he has the mentality. He has fun playing, he's an emotional player, he struggles with any on or off court dynamics that get him down. Fred's just a killer. The best guys need to be killers. Fred's challenge is he's tiny.

It wouldn't be so bad if we get that true number one option, but with this current roster I sure hope not. Fred can be guarded far too easily in comparison to Siakam.

[LJ2]

Right, not saying it should/shouldn't be, just saying right now it is. He's the team's leading scorer, taking the most shots, and everything you can see about this guy's career and mentality says he will be trying to become The Guy. And Nurse will be giving him every opportunity to take another step.

His future role is more likely to be a 20+ ppg scoring guard with very good defence, he's not going to be a Kyle Lowry facilitator. And whether he's the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd best player on a team - anybody you're riding for. 20+ ppg will need to produce consistently in the playoffs. That's a next step for Fred now.

It would be incredible if Freddy is a 20+ ppg guard once we get a true number one option. I'd be happy if he averages somewhere around 18ppg once that happens because his offense really should be based on what the defence gives him during the flow of a game. He shouldn't be forcing his offense like he has to do right now with a lack of better options.

[Yuri Gagarin]

-with that said it was really nice seeing that 54 on the days final scores. Nice to see the locker room celebration There hasnt been much to celebrate hopefully this is a spark that ignites the team

[Yuri Gagarin]

Happy for Fred too but Id like to see some consistency. He has a lot of 4-12 type games. He has a weird spin on the ball when he shoots. Havent noticed it lately tho. His on ball d is good but long term I think his height is going to be a factor. The game is so tight these days. Cant disappear for a series because of the other teams length. To get it all top players on the team dont have a bad series. A game here or there but not a series.

like I said before if a player on the team is taking the most shots his percentage better be good or the team will be average at best

[A.I]

Other thought - I think Fred leapfrogs Siakam as a team focal point. Siakam has the skills, size, and ceiling, but I'm not sure he has the mentality. He has fun playing, he's an emotional player, he struggles with any on or off court dynamics that get him down. Fred's just a killer. The best guys need to be killers. Fred's challenge is he's tiny.

Neither are fit to be the focal point. As you said, Siakam doesn't have the mentality of one, Fred does but unfortunately his limitations are his size, which is why you don't want him to be the focal point. Both are at their best when they can play off a player who is the focal point.

[S.R.]

Other thought - I think Fred leapfrogs Siakam as a team focal point. Siakam has the skills, size, and ceiling, but I'm not sure he has the mentality. He has fun playing, he's an emotional player, he struggles with any on or off court dynamics that get him down. Fred's just a killer. The best guys need to be killers. Fred's challenge is he's tiny.

[S.R.]

Well yeah that would be great but do you really think that should be his role? Breaking down defensive specialists is sort of what you bring in a Kawhi, Durrant, type scorer for. FVV should be the third scoring option on a good team which is essentially hitting open shots and maybe the odd drive when it's there. Top dog, Siakam then Fred imo.

Right, not saying it should/shouldn't be, just saying right now it is. He's the team's leading scorer, taking the most shots, and everything you can see about this guy's career and mentality says he will be trying to become The Guy. And Nurse will be giving him every opportunity to take another step.

His future role is more likely to be a 20+ ppg scoring guard with very good defence, he's not going to be a Kyle Lowry facilitator. And whether he's the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd best player on a team - anybody you're riding for. 20+ ppg will need to produce consistently in the playoffs. That's a next step for Fred now.