Cam Reddish Discussion: Opted In

4th quarter defense first lineup:

C: Davis
PF: Lebron
SF: Vando
SG: Cam
PG: AR

??????

 

Interesting post. I guess we'll have to give it some time, once Jarred gets back, to see how this pairing, figures out how to play together. The idea alone, of just having two above average wing defenders, that are backed up by AD in the paint? That should give our "defense first" guys on this board some goose bumps!

I still believe that in order to win, the 4 playoff series for a chip, that you have to be able to score on a good defensive team in the 4th quarter. However I'm not downplaying the potential impact, that this potential trio could have for us. I'd always rather be greedy than needy.

Musing on it a bit, adding Vincent and Max to the mix, would be an intriguing lineup. We'd probably have problems scoring ourselves though! So Lebron and Austin as the best possible 5? Jarred and Cam would still have to knock down the occasional jumper, but it could be an outstanding lineup.

 

vando/reddish/lebron/AD/dlo to start halves

AD/lebron/rui/reaves/gabe to finish them.

 

We could go huge for stretches too...Lebron/Cam/Jarred/AD/Wood.

Or Rui for Wood.

 

middle minutes. same with wood.

 

Corner Cam still getting it done

 

Dude is beaming with confidence. Hope he keeps this up for a while

 

Let's get ready to go hound Fox and Monk tomorrow night!! Cam has bounced back with a vengeance.

 

The 3 he made on the flyby really showed that. He would've rushed that shot or passed it out before this stretch but instead he faked, gathered and drained it.





The Disruptor

 

He solves so many problems if he can hit that jumper like he has been.

He's a legit all nba defense POA defender and he has the size to guard both wings and guards. No one else on the roster can do that. Even a guy like Vando is not a great screen navigator. Reddish seems to be able handle the PnR real well (Vando did real well on Curry till they switched to a PnR heavy offense).

If you can't play him off the floor on the other end because he can hit jumpers and that size also helps on the glass, finishing, etc watch out. He not the lob and finishing threat of Aaron Gordon but similar kind of impact is huge.

 

...all of us Cam apologists feeling pretty good right now. Hopefully his good play continues.

 

As you should. What he is doing brings us to another level.

 

I like when the camera zooms in you can just see the man is happy. Might be the feel-good story of the year so far. Great move by Ham.

 

Just bizarre that he couldn't find consistent playing time after you watch him play defense a few games. It's the biggest reason I wasn't high on him. I figured a guy like Thibs typically loves physical defenders and Cam is definitely a physical in-your-face defender. Portland had him and it would be much better for them to keep him on a cheap contract and trade him later as an asset if they thought he could continue to develop. It doesn't look like they made any effort to retain him at all.

Almost any NBA team needs and wants a wing who can play POA defense against KD and than turn around and do it against a very different player like Bane on other night.

Did he just not put the effort in the past? Is this like Wiggins going from an average defender to an NBA type once he was slotted in the right role with the right teammates? Is it because AD is back there which allows him to play defense in ways he couldn't in the past? Honestly just don't get it he jumps off the screen on defense with the combination of size and quick feet/hands

 

I think he likes being part of the winning culture, he mentions winning hasn't been a priority elsewhere. That goal can give players a sense of purpose and a map of where they need to go.

Hawks aren't known for building guys up. They spent four years telling Collins they didn't want him. There was a bigger ask and expectation for Cam there, as well.

Knicks: the trade wasn't Thibs idea and they traded someone out of the rotation for him, so no minutes opened up. Same coach who treats Fournier like he has the plague. Fournier really produced in FIBA, so he's still an able contributor. Maybe the tough love, grating approach isn't the way to get through to Cam.

Blazers: were already trying to get in the Wemby race and have a lot of wings. Everyone had their own agenda.


The active hands and ability to disrupt the passing lanes has always been there. More in flashes and less consistently, but that always been part of the bag. The real growth I've seen as a Laker is in his POA defense and ability to lock his man up. I think that's due to a number of things: belief/support from coach and teammates, having a longer leash (one play can get you yanked from a Thibs rotation), less responsibility offensively, understanding where he's at in his career and what he needs to do to stick, and when you have the best defender in the league in the post then you can be more aggressive defensively cause he's got you covered.

 

if he keeps it up, let's hope his gratitude and comfort lead to a kcp type trust signing for next year.