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

well, the way BI is wired, if he is asked to come off the bench, it will just drive him even harder.

I'm not at all worried about him. He just needs time to develop. He'll put in the work, he has solid skills, and he's genetically gifted.

 

Yeah I really don't see the downside. He's pressing right now and his time on the bench will allow him to think clearer.

 

a couple folks have said this already, but the coaching staff needs to just put ingram in the same situations that they're putting kuzma in. you don't see kuzma catching on the standstill below the arc with a defender in front of him. it seems like a lot of what's problematic with ingram starts with his receiving the ball in positions that aren't advantageous for him. and it seems like it's by design.

 

He really hasn't been impressive, but the staff is not helping him.

 

Gotta start running plays for Ingram, get him in a scoring rhythm cause he's not doing well trying to create for himself.

 

Just like Zo, this kid is going to have some growing pains...And I mean that in the literal sense as well.

You got a teen's body in a man's league. As these guys develop, they're also getting acquainted with their new playing weight and physique. It's kinda like putting on pads before a football game...Or wearing a fat suit before you go f*** around in a pseudo sumo match or mock your pregnant wife/girlfriend. Whatever the case, it's really different particularly when you're used to being active at a different physical composition. Both Zo and BI will go through this as their NBA bodies develop. KG and Kobe went through it as well when they came outta HS, but like sirron said, BI and Zo are in a different predicament seeing how they'll be playing extended minutes at a really young age (BI avg nearly 30 mins a game last year while Zo is expected to start at PG from the jump).

In comparing these guys to Kuz...Kuz is older, has played in nearly 100 NCAA games over 3 collegiate seasons (vs the 35 games Zo/BI played in as one and done college players) and has an idea of how to play at his weight. Just like when Kobe bulked up and transitioned from a SG to SF by gaining nearly 15lbs of muscle (for the 2002/3 season), Kuz will face that same adjustment period as his weight room sessions begin to take a toll. However in BI's case, it's already happening and recall that a more seasoned Kobe played well at that new weight but it still didn't prepare him for the injuries he faced that season due to his new weight and physique. Kobe kept fluctuating/recalibrating his weight to prolong his effectiveness. I anticipate BI and Zo will go through the same adjustments.

Lastly, Magic is getting criticized for hyping up his players. BI, you can avg 20 pts per. Zo, your jersey belongs up there with mine but try to leave some of my records alone. Again, I have no problem with setting a lofty bar for our young'ns to reach. You encourage player improvement to fight off complacency and any self-imposed ceiling they already expect of themselves. By doing this, you drive up value in yourself as a trade asset and also by drawing other players into wanting to play with you. If you keep striving to be "the man", even if you fall short, you're still a heck of a player. If the Lakers decide to trade BI, he brings back more value to us. If we decide to retain him, other players will want to play with him. How anybody faulting Magic for encouraging player value (and essentially franchise value) is beyond perplexing.

 

I'm in support of benching him. Or just finding a way to reduce his minutes; his ineffectiveness offensively is hurting us badly. If he the coaching staff played him correct, and Ingram picked his spots, of course it'd be a different scenario altogether...nevertheless, at present, he's a mess.

And if he doesn't improve, I have no doubt that "Mr Untouchable," title will disappear quickly...

 

He's just a slow starter. Mark my words, he'll pick it up right after the All Star break.

 

I still can't figure out what wrong with BI. He looks a step slower, and very hesitant with his moves. He doesn't look like he has much confident with his shots also.

 

More talk than action, disappointing

 

Man you haven't really lived if you don't mess around with a pregnant woman. Its only then, you realize just how much you value your life. Plus you gotta get used to the whole dad-bod thing anyways, so might as well start early.

And if I have to read another person calling my post long....gawddammit MFers, open up a book. Now them s***s is long. Hahaha

 

He did change his shot around. I mean, changing your shot in practice is one thing, actual game speed shooting may be another thing.

Still, not worried with him.

 

You change your body composition at a rapid pace and you'll experience some slight setbacks on the way. First time its been alluded to, with what Luke said today:



And let me try this again, without bringing up a fat suit. Try going to the gym for a 1.5-2 hours and then picking up a basketball to play scrimmage. Some of your body control is off due to the natural "pump" you hear these gym-going patrons rave about. That "pump" was all the rage when I was heavy in that scene. Anyways, your shot is off and you just can't control your body the way you're used to had you gone to the gym and balled first and worked out after.

Its really no different with BI. He's hit the gym hard this offseason to get stronger. His upper body control is going to be a work in progress as his body catches up to the added weight he's put on. You can see it in his jumpshot and even his reckless (clumsy at times) drives to the basket. His legs will feel like he's in cement...again look at how laborious his jumpshot looks as the game progresses.

His coordination and muscle memory will finally catch up with the weight fluctuation he's experienced over the summer. And in no time at all, he'll be doing this:

 

Magic does deserve those criticism....Ingram is 20yr, had a medicore if not bad by most standard rookie season and you come out expecting him to score 20/gm. I dont ever recall anyone doubling up their avg by that amt within a season time, let alone from someone who still not physically ready for the league. It took Kawahi almost 4 season to get to being good offensively and not just high scorer but an efficient one. From the way its looking, Ingram is clearly forcing things to obtain this lofty goal that Magic has set fourth and its detrimental to the team play as well.

 

I'm not worried. He's still our franchise player along with Ball. Just a little bummed to have to wait another year (or two) for that next level of progression from Ingram. .

Had my hopes up too high after that SL game. He's still a project

 

Khmrp: I totally see it differently. If the intention is to raise his trade stock, you need to hype it up loudly for all the GMs to take notice.
If the intention is to keep him and make him the future of the franchise, you need to give him goals to try and attain. By doing that, you might have him realize a gear that he wasn't aware he had. Dude already knows he's a 2nd pick player, so there are certain expectations that just come with the territory. Sure, we can coddle him...but the way he's wired, I don't think he would be receptive to that method. So by pushing him, you may get a special player as a result, who other free agents would want to come play with.

The luxury we have is that we are decently deep at the 3, so if BI needs time to get there, Kuz can step in and even Deng and Brewer can step in at a pinch. It also develops some healthy competition. I don't see how its detrimental to the team, cause we haven't placed a winning formula around this team yet. They've been losing. Also, its a new team with alot of new faces and roles, so of course there's going to be early on struggles.

If expectations were indirectly hurting a title team, I can understand the angst with Magic's words....but we're neither here nor there, cause this team is new and still trying to figure themselves out. A lofty goal gives them a sense of direction and motivation.

The second this guy starts dropping his head and moping, is the day I think Magic should cut it out, cause this guy ain't built for it. But BI hasn't done that, so lets keep pushing that MambaMentality of his. He's game...why aren't we?