Honestly I didn’t love the pick as he seemed like a Wanamaker replacement (i.e. third string PG prospect). Never have I been so happy to be wrong.Can’t wait until lovegtm watches this one and quotes those “Dean on draft” tweets again.
Honestly I didn’t love the pick as he seemed like a Wanamaker replacement (i.e. third string PG prospect). Never have I been so happy to be wrong.Can’t wait until lovegtm watches this one and quotes those “Dean on draft” tweets again.
I wasn’t over the moon either. Dean’s Twitter post wasn’t funny because he was wrong; it was funny because he was an overconfident pompous ass AND instantly wrong.Honestly I didn’t love the pick as he seemed like a Wanamaker replacement (i.e. third string PG prospect). Never have I been so happy to be wrong.
I think it will ultimately be Pritchard's defense that decides whether or not he starts.I said it during the game thread, and I really believe it: the guy will turn into a starter. I know we talk about a four-year, late first-round guy with so-so athleticism as having a "good rotation player" ceiling, but Pritchard can run an offense and break down defenses and distribute. And, at some point, if Brad doesn't want to start him, the Jays will tell Brad to start him, because it's clear that Pritchard is helping to make them better. I know last night is just one game, and the kid will have some bad ones (second game of the Detroit series was kind of meh), but the point guard skills are what's exciting to me.
This is pretty clearly headed in the direction of managing the shit out of Kemba’s minutes for 3 years, with PP getting heavy 6th man minutes and starting when Kemba is out.I think it will ultimately be Pritchard's defense that decides whether or not he starts.
In terms of offense, I think that, in only 8 games, he has already shown that he has enough skill, versatility, pace, and grit to be a nice fit alongside Brown and Tatum. I think the jury is still out on whether or not he can be a pure PG type, but the Celtics don't really need him to be that. (And I'm not saying that he can't be that - just that I'm not sold yet).
If he starts in the backcourt alongside Smart or Brown, can he hold his own defensively against NBA starters? What if he starts alongside Kemba - can a small Kemba/Pritchard backcourt defend NBA starters? I don't think those questions have been answered one way or the other just yet.
Agreed. PP has made me a lot less concerned about Kemba’s knee and has removed my desire for a guy like Dejounte with the TPE. Now entirely focused on finding another wing since Nesmith ain’t close to being ready and who knows with Romeo.This is pretty clearly headed in the direction of managing the shit out of Kemba’s minutes for 3 years, with PP getting heavy 6th man minutes and starting when Kemba is out.
Worth noting that, in addition to waiting for guys to actually be available, you don’t rush using the TPE. Have to find out what you’ve got first.Agreed. PP has made me a lot less concerned about Kemba’s knee and has removed my desire for a guy like Dejounte with the TPE. Now entirely focused on finding another wing since Nesmith ain’t close to being ready and who knows with Romeo.
Yeah, I don’t expect it to be used this season. You have to see what Romeo/Nesmith can do first.Worth noting that, in addition to waiting for guys to actually be available, you don’t rush using the TPE. Have to find out what you’ve got first.
I love the idea of PP cementing a role as starter, as a true facilitating PG who has some long-range 3P gravity. This also opens the possibility of Kemba coming off the bench in a new-age Microwave role, where he can be a PG whose primary role is scoring. This also inherently protects Kemba on the defensive ned by matching up with bench players.I wasn’t over the moon either. Dean’s Twitter post wasn’t funny because he was wrong; it was funny because he was an overconfident pompous ass AND instantly wrong.
Agree w Imbricus that PP has starter potential. One thing though is that they might want to keep him in a 2nd unit role in anticipation of Kemba being back. I don’t really sweat who starts, as long as enough minutes get gotten.
I suspect they’ll avoid controversy by starting Kemba but lining up his rotations to lead bench units more.I love the idea of PP cementing a role as starter, as a true facilitating PG who has some long-range 3P gravity. This also opens the possibility of Kemba coming off the bench in a new-age Microwave role, where he can be a PG whose primary role is scoring. This also inherently protects Kemba on the defensive ned by matching up with bench players.
Price was a hell of a player. I remember him being much quicker than PP is - but that might be my memory. They are both crafty with the dribble and creative finishersI see a lot of Mark Price in PP's game. Great handle, quick feet, ability to finish in the lane, great pick and roll player.
Was Hinrich really undersized? I have recollection of him being decently sized with good lengthAs much as I hate to compare him to another white guy, he reminds me a bit of Kirk Hinrich - another guy who got unfairly labeled as a shooter. Hinrich had a great handle and could get wherever he wanted to on the floor, and was a tough if undersized defender. Pritchard appears to have a stepback that Hinrich could only dream of, though.
He blows by guys really easily. Its like the opposite of watching broken Kemba in the playoffs. I do think this has something to do with not having respect around the league yet, you can see opposing guards really like getting up in his grill when he brings the ball up.
He has the elite deceleration that is typical of guys who are more athletic than you'd expect from their track meet scores (Luka and Harden, at the top end). It's not a coincidence that he's a surprisingly good finisher near the rim and can draw fouls there.Or he's a better athlete than we think, just in different ways from how we normally judge athletes (Track and field competition).
Yes, Price was much quicker and an elite shooter. To me the obvious comp is the matchup we saw last night.....Van Vleet. Neither are blurs but understand how to utilize angles and have great body control allowing them to finish against bigs while being good perimeter shooters.Price was a hell of a player. I remember him being much quicker than PP is - but that might be my memory. They are both crafty with the dribble and creative finishers
Lin was a very solid backup PG, that would be a great outcome in my opinion.A more cautionary tale might be Jeremy Lin (who was still a good player). Pritchard has been great at just dribbling into the defense and causing some havoc which has really helped the offense not be so static when he’s out there. We need to see how the league adjusts to him and whether they find a hole in his game which might limit his upside to backup guard with an X factor. He’s been a revelation so far, really glad to see him bounce back against Toronto after seeing more rookie in his game in Detroit
If you told me before the season, PP would turn into Lin, I'd have been happy.Lin was a very solid backup PG, that would be a great outcome in my opinion.
I agree and I don’t think it’s a perfect comparison. I think Pritchard is showing a better shot than Lin but there are some stylistic similarities in that all action drive and cause chaos play style. The upside is probably someone like Nash, of course, but no matter what if you can reliably disrupt defenses and make a 3 there’s a role for you in the leagueLin was a very solid backup PG, that would be a great outcome in my opinion.
That seems to be the challenge -- across sports -- for rookies: can they adjust to the league after the league adjusts to them?A more cautionary tale might be Jeremy Lin (who was still a good player). Pritchard has been great at just dribbling into the defense and causing some havoc which has really helped the offense not be so static when he’s out there. We need to see how the league adjusts to him and whether they find a hole in his game which might limit his upside to backup guard with an X factor. He’s been a revelation so far, really glad to see him bounce back against Toronto after seeing more rookie in his game in Detroit
Lin couldn't shoot? According to BBRef his shooting numbers seemed consistently right around league average.If you told me before the season, PP would turn into Lin, I'd have been happy.
Now i think I'd be disappointed. The C's don't need a PG who can't shoot.
It must be the middle aged Dad in me, but all I could think of was yelling at Payton to close the damn fridge.
Can't shoot is probably a bit harsh but he was slightly below average. During his career, the league average from 3 was .356, Lin was .342. The C's don't need mediocre shooting. They need good to elite shooting.Lin couldn't shoot? According to BBRef his shooting numbers seemed consistently right around league average.
Yes and no. Teams will adjust, but the skillset he has is kind of the queen of the skill chessboard for a guy his size. Hes shown the ability to get past his man. Teams cant just "take away" his ability to dissect a team from within. He has the vision to find the open man if teams collapse, and he has really crafty moves if they let him get to the net.A more cautionary tale might be Jeremy Lin (who was still a good player). Pritchard has been great at just dribbling into the defense and causing some havoc which has really helped the offense not be so static when he’s out there. We need to see how the league adjusts to him and whether they find a hole in his game which might limit his upside to backup guard with an X factor. He’s been a revelation so far, really glad to see him bounce back against Toronto after seeing more rookie in his game in Detroit
And he’s probably going up against Smart in practice, which is the perfect way to develop him. PP is going to torch Kemba when he returns.Yes and no. Teams will adjust, but the skillset he has is kind of the queen of the skill chessboard for a guy his size. Hes shown the ability to get past his man. Teams cant just "take away" his ability to dissect a team from within. He has the vision to find the open man if teams collapse, and he has really crafty moves if they let him get to the net.
Really, the only way to stop it is by denying him the ball, or by sticking a real strong perimeter defender on him (which takes it off Tatum or Brown).
Hes going to have growing pains, no doubt. But his skillset is way more impressive than I realized.
Was half joking about the PER thing, obviously not the critical stat. It also updated to 13.7 after yesterdays game FWIW.People still look at PER? It's a garbage stat, and Hollinger is an extremely weak thinker in general; he's much better at dishing catty gossip. Pritchard is legit good, you don't have to worry about the color of your lenses.
Yeah, nothing personal to you; something about Hollinger annoys the shit out of me. He’s living Smarm.Was half joking about the PER thing, obviously not the critical stat. It also updated to 13.7 after yesterdays game FWIW.
I'm sure he is being dinged for a relatively high turnover rate and relatively low usage rate at this point.
That's not a bad plan for this year.This is pretty clearly headed in the direction of managing the shit out of Kemba’s minutes for 3 years, with PP getting heavy 6th man minutes and starting when Kemba is out.
basketball-reference.comWhere do you even find PER nowadays?
ESPN has it too.Where do you even find PER nowadays?
I hate to beat a dead horse here, but PER is garbage.Pritchard's PER of 10.8 is roughly 30 points lower than I expected to see.... Hollinger has some explaining to do.
I hope we're not just so excited he isn't Waters or Edwards that he seems great in comparison.
To say nothing of the relative skill level of the Pac 12 vs. the Ivy league defenses.Lin's 4 years in college
.415/.281/.818
.448/.279/.621
.502/.400/.755
.519/.341/.755
Career: .481/.333//.733. 108/324 from 3.
PP
.393/.350/.730
.447/.413/.774
.418/.328/.838
.468/.415/.821
Career: .437/.379/.800. 288/750 from 3.
Pretty sure PP was and is a much better shooter than Lin ever was.
Just maybe to put a finer point on it, I think the one skill he has that makes him super hard to guard is that he has a diversity of moves. When he drives, he can pass or shoot. He can go left or right. He can finish at the rim but he also has a mid-range game (the baby hook he hit over FVV was kind of absurd for a 22 YO to pull out). He can obviously shoot. So he gets defenders on their heels, which opens up the floor for him and his teammates.Yes and no. Teams will adjust, but the skillset he has is kind of the queen of the skill chessboard for a guy his size. Hes shown the ability to get past his man. Teams cant just "take away" his ability to dissect a team from within. He has the vision to find the open man if teams collapse, and he has really crafty moves if they let him get to the net.
Really, the only way to stop it is by denying him the ball, or by sticking a real strong perimeter defender on him (which takes it off Tatum or Brown).
Hes going to have growing pains, no doubt. But his skillset is way more impressive than I realized.
Heh, I use basketball reference and espn for my stats. I guess I've just grown accustomed to ignoring it.basketball-reference.com
It's not expected at all. Yes, a 4 year college player is far more likely to be NBA ready... but they still aren't likely to be NBA ready. I guess it could depend on what you mean by rotation player but the expected outcome for a 4 year college player is definitely not a rookie getting 23 minutes a night on a playoff contending team.Having said that, I'm not convinced that 8 games should significantly change our view. What he is right now is a rotation player in the NBA, which is useful, but also what you expect to get out of a four-year college player in the late first round.
Good point. If you parse through the data, adjust for variance and add a dash of homerism, there's some numbers that suggest PP could actually be an elite shooter. Like, you really have to adjust for variance in his junior year but guys have off years.To say nothing of the relative skill level of the Pac 12 vs. the Ivy league defenses.
I think this is right, especially if we are talking about a PG. Even most players who have good rookie years take a few games to adjust.It's not expected at all. Yes, a 4 year college player is far more likely to be NBA ready... but they still aren't likely to be NBA ready. I guess it could depend on what you mean by rotation player but the expected outcome for a 4 year college player is definitely not a rookie getting 23 minutes a night on a playoff contending team.