Larry Nance Jr. Discussion: Don't Fake The Funk On A Nance Dunk

And dear Lord the difference between him and Kelly playing the 3 was like opening the blackout curtain in a hotel room. The brightness of what he was able to do was almost too much to bear in comparison to Kelly.

 

If there is one thing I don't question this FO on, it's drafting players. Randle, JC, Russ, and Nance, all fantastic picks. Kelly even appeared to be a solid pick at first, he played well for a big school, he showed some flashes early, just hasn't panned out. And even as much as I want to move on from Sacre, we've gotten years use out of the 60th pick, it was still a good pick. But yes, I couldn't be happier with how Nance has been playing, he's had a great season. My only question mark is Anthony Brown, I still don't know if he sucks, or he needs more time.

 

I'm on the "he sucks" side although I do like him. I wish he didn't. I'm not sure he's got the heart for the game though. Look at what Goudelock could do with half the natural born talent!

But overall I mean he's a 2nd round pick and most of those don't work out. Over the last 2-3 years our scouting department has been phenomenal. I have full faith in what they do. Everything else?... hm.

 

Not to keep this thread going about Brown, but the reason I say I'm not sure on him is because we didn't see very much of him. Toward the end there, when he was starting with the rest of the youth, we were playing pretty well. He wasn't really doing anything, but at the same time he knows his role, he's unselfish, and I did see flashes of good defense from him. With a lineup of 3 guys in Russ, JC, and Randle that needed the ball, he didn't, and he was working being that unselfish guy at the 3. He's athletic, he supposedly can shoot and play defense. In the end I think he gets one more season, and for a 2nd round pick he might not be terrible as your 3rd SF to have on the bench just in case, I dunno.

 

Some deep Larry love for you guys.

Larry Nance Jr. is-

7th in steals among rookies
10th in blocks among rookies
8th/9th in rebounds among rookies (tied with Stan Johnson)
5th in FG% among rookies
16th in points among rookies
8th in double-doubles among rookies (tied with 4 other guys at 3)
18th in assists among rookies
14th in minutes among rookies

Not bad for a late 1st round pick.

 

^^ FO got this one right! They've been killing it in the draft.

 

Here is what Julius's comparison looks like if this were his rookie year.

7th in steals among rookies
9th in blocks among rookies
2nd in rebounds among rookies
12th in FG% among rookies
6th in points among rookies
2nd in double-doubles among rookies (easily first in his own draft class)
6th in assists among rookies
3rd in minutes among rookies

 

I just want to point out and not have it lost that Nance and his energy was huge in the 4th and the comeback tonight. He gave max effort on D and on the boards, and he was one player to help change the energy on the floor at the end of this game, and helped allow the comeback. So impressed with him as an instant energy, hard working, dirty work off the bench kind of guy.

 

I loved what Larry gave us out there last night. He truly was instrumental in our comeback. He's got heart. He's a keeper!!!

 

I don't think any of us did. I was very skeptical of him on draft day, but boy has this young man grown on me.

I'd love for him to stick around and be part of our team as we rebuild.

 

Kid never takes plays off... That is an intangible you can't put a price on.

 

I still smile and remember when we drafted him and his tweet from his early HS days came up about Kobe and the Colorado case. I knew and I'm sure many here didn't think it was such a big deal. Just cool to see him really happy for Kobe in that last game and pumping up the crowd when Kobe was coming off the floor for the last time.

He's definitely one of our more mature players. Glad he made it through his rookie year when he didn't get to fully heal his ACL injury. Will be excited to have him back for sure and watch him in summer league.