Brandon Ingram Discussion: He Is Who We Thought He Could Be

who do they have coming in 2nd. Probably Kris Dunn

Edit: Just saw your new post. Not really that surprised and I could actually really see that happening. Simmons going to get all the PT he wants and Kris will definitely get minutes too because of his defensive focus and being a 4 year player.

While Ingram may not start all year, and best case starting mid season.

 

Ingram will get 10 minutes a game the first third of the season...but will increase later on. As he gets more comfortable, he and Williams will provide the scoring punch off the pine as Calderon will direct both. The rest will be Nance and Black to round out the next five. As of now, it will be a 10 man rotation. Zu will have his share but it will be spot appearances.

Neither Ingram or Zu will be thrown into the fray immediately but given leeway to watch, learn and adjust on the floor. Obviously, Ingram will get more time than Zu and that would not be surprising.

 

I think Hield has a better shot at #2 although I think over time Ingram is going to shake out as the best or second best prospect.

ROY voting: Simmons, Hield, Ingram/Dunn

Dynasty drafting: Simmons, Ingram, Dunn, Hield

 

Thanks. Ingram will hit that wall towards the end of the season when his time gets increased from 10 to 15 [midway through] and in some occasions at around 20. His skillset predicates more necessity than Zu. Ingram's defensive ability will be needed as the second unit with Calderon and Williams are sieves.

Zu on the other hand will be fresher with Mozgov and Black in front of him for larger frontlines and small ball line-ups respectively. He'll be a situational sub though it won't be a surprise to see him against finesse small ball opponents too. Black is not the rim protector or low post scorer Zubac is even if the latter is just rookie.

82 games not counting exhibitions is a grind...

 

Year 3 could be Ingram's breakout year... By then, he should be physically better frame wise with two off seasons of solid strength and conditioning regimen. Mentally, Ingram would be able to figure it all out by at least Year 2 if not by the end of this one.

 

Ingram's a kid going up against grown men that are more physically mature than him. Agree he can figure it out if not some of it already but he is not playing anymore against his college peers. There is an adjustment mentally at this level than is different. How do I play against this guy or that guy? Figure out their strengths? Their weaknesses? How are they going to defend me? Single cover? Send over a double? It took Ingram two thirds of his freshman season at Duke to figure it out. It's not like that anymore. Ingram is already mentally tough where he doesn't back down from a challenge after all Stackhouse prepped him for the NBA.

@tada...my initial projection of 10 minutes a game the first third of the season might me a bit low. 20 would be just about right. I came to realize this after remembering that Anthony Brown is our other reserve SF. Yeesh.

 

Im hoping for 20 mins a game at least. He needs the reps.

 

If Ingram plays only 10 mpg, I would be on the fire Puke bandwagon.

He must play more than 20 mpg...no ifs or buts. Period.

 

He should be playing 28+ MPG. He's the 2nd pick in the draft and we don't have a player better than him at his position. Even with Byron's idiocy and the Kobe farewell tour, D'Angelo ended up playing 28 MPG last season.

 

I think the cerebral way he plays the game is way out of the norm actually. Most kids don't understand the game at all, especially the ones coming through AAU ball. Ingram's #1 gift might be his ability to see plays develop. It's impressive.

 

True... Ingram does have that knack and never always forces the play. He's one of those ballers where there is usually no wasted motion when he does things. What Ingram needs to adjust for now is the physicality, speed and intensity at this level. That was mostly the reason why I pegged him to have lower playing time in the beginning. Ingram is just a kid.

I have no doubt as the season goes on with Deng mentoring him and he "sees" the game from the pine, his playing time will increase proportionally. Ingram will be comfortable with the second five as Calderon will direct him and Lou Williams as another scoring option can take the pressure off him. With them, he really gets more opportunities with the ball IMO. Nance and Black can do all the dirty work...