I agree. Just saying it wouldn't have been a "bad look" if he benched Cam instead of Rui. People would understand, due to the emergence of Dalton, and Reddick doesn't owe Cam anything. With that said, its over with now, and now Reddick needs to replace Rui with Dalton because the win/loss column and other statistics indicate that it is the correct move to make for now. Eventually, Cam could be replaced with a better 3 and D player. Rui could be traded or become be the sixth man if Dlo is traded.
The Lakers need Knecht who understands the league better but it will take reps. He's out of control at times driving. For example trying to put a soft layup on Durant was dumb. Dalton needs to put his body into him. Lakers also need him ironically to be more aggressive creating shots off the dribble and setting him and other off the drive He's got too many skills just to be a spot up shooter
i think it's so funny how much the press hates the lakers. https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/...knecht-los-angeles-lakers-prospect-age-rookie well, yeah, but he's not going to be a superstar, so ha ha lakers! i'm sure the 16 guys drafted ahead of him all definitely will be, though. i mean, he's no jaimie jacquez, about whom we got nothing but glowing articles despite being similarly aged and drafted in a similar spot. but he was with miami, so not threatening to our precious blogger psyche.
KG gives his $.02 Not too shabby. Looks so much more comfortable out there as a starter. Looks like he's there to stay.
He certainly does. That worries me though on some level. Is it even possible to build a championship roster around a starting 5 including AD, LBJ, AR and DK? There is soooooo little defense in there. Maybe if we could get like prime Artest I could see it, but as much as I like both AR and KD, it just doesn't seem fisible.
LOL at Zach Kram for writing a frickin' thesis just to dump on 23 years old Knecht. Who as you and others have pointed out in the past these teams draft 19 and 20 year olds HOPING by the age of 23 they're as good as Dalton and able to be starters. He's only going to get EVEN stronger to go with that athleticism and top 1% fearless shooting stroke (boy did JJ nail that observation early on) and willingness/capability to posterize opponents .... over the next 2-3 years when he will be entering his PRIME. Dumba** Laker hater.
Knecht will go up against a group of excellent perimeter defenders tonight, but I think he is till going to manage to score 40 points. Not sure if it will be overtime or what, but I feel he is due to blow up for 40. I could be off by a game, but we will see.
the analyses they use capitalize on the HUGE upside of guys like wemby and lebron, acting like that's just what happens and that there aren't 12 JHS's in the first round every year. anyway, fine--they're not entirely wrong. the biggest ways that nba players can improve are by physical development, skill development, and increasing hoop iq/adjusting to the nba game. dalton's about as physically developed as he'll get, and his skills are already pretty close to apex. he still has some room to grow in terms of adjusting to the nba game, though, so i wouldn't cap him at where he is now. funny part is mccain's 19 but i think he's already pretty close to physical and skills apex, too. that dude is a brick house and can shoot the lights out. but no 6000-word opus on why the sixers should really wish they took a flier on jalen williams's s***ty younger brother or whatever.
Disagree a little on Dalton. There’s a reason why prime starts 25-26 and yeah he’s built very well now and athletic but “man muscles” and all that to go with learning the game at this level. He’s got plenty of headroom IMO because of the athleticism. Aren’t we comparing him frequently to Allan Houston?
Yep if he was a few years younger he would have gone #1. Just don't find guys with the shooting, size, and athleticism. Future all star caliber guy if start creating off the dribble more
And he looks like he can and he wants to and would be creating more if he was a rookie not sharing the floor with LeBron and AD on the Lakers. It’ll come. That monster one handed flying jam attempt that biggger stronger (?) Hartenstein timed and met him at the apex to block also nearly ended Hart with him being the guy knocked backward out of the air onto his back, the reverse of what happened to AR with SGA blocking his attempt.
i think his emergence should have impacted our efforts on the trade market a bit. we need dynamic defenders out there. i've seen thybulle's name bandied about a bit, and that's exactly the kind of player that can fit with that group. i actually think thybulle can shoot it well enough to play with those guys, too, as he'll be wide open every minute he's out there.
Anyone else think he’s moving a little better now on D catching up to the NBA pace and sticking with his covers and causing them problems better now than at the start of the season?
