I've been waiting for this one, Mike, and I'm glad your outlook is better than mine (admittedly biased by my overall dread over his health and his first game). If NN can figure out how to meld a 33 rpm offense like JE used to be in with the 45/72 one the current guards excel in, he should get coach of the year. Quick f/u ? what do you expect his ceiling to be on D? That is where he is most needed imo and where I'm still worried.
Always good to hear from you Niels. In terms of his ceiling on D, I think it's lower than we'd all like to admit. It really seems like he's making a concerted effort to conserve energy on that end. Still, he'll probably never be below average. He's still so good around the rim when he's in the vicinity. They are much better in terms of opponent FG% at the rim when Joel is on the floor this year. I don't like using this name but maybe it's something like Hassan Whiteside. Still blocks / alters everything when in the vicinity but not mobile enough anymore to fly around cleaning up anything and everything like he used to. Averages out to equal an above average but not elite defender.
He and McCain should voluntarily car pool to Delaware together and build up their conditioning in low-stakes G-League games where he can gain that fitness without needing to redline himself into an injury simply because it's a close game in the 4Q and it's somewhat embarrassing if the former MVP is not on the court. There's a fine balance between using up the number of steps and jumps his knees can take and doing rehab/PT-ish activities that will enable him to take more frequent and higher impact steps and jumps but getting runs in the G-League might be good solution, despite being a completely unrealistic one from an optics perspective.
I've been waiting for this one, Mike, and I'm glad your outlook is better than mine (admittedly biased by my overall dread over his health and his first game). If NN can figure out how to meld a 33 rpm offense like JE used to be in with the 45/72 one the current guards excel in, he should get coach of the year. Quick f/u ? what do you expect his ceiling to be on D? That is where he is most needed imo and where I'm still worried.
Always good to hear from you Niels. In terms of his ceiling on D, I think it's lower than we'd all like to admit. It really seems like he's making a concerted effort to conserve energy on that end. Still, he'll probably never be below average. He's still so good around the rim when he's in the vicinity. They are much better in terms of opponent FG% at the rim when Joel is on the floor this year. I don't like using this name but maybe it's something like Hassan Whiteside. Still blocks / alters everything when in the vicinity but not mobile enough anymore to fly around cleaning up anything and everything like he used to. Averages out to equal an above average but not elite defender.
Thanks Mike! That's a fair take.
He and McCain should voluntarily car pool to Delaware together and build up their conditioning in low-stakes G-League games where he can gain that fitness without needing to redline himself into an injury simply because it's a close game in the 4Q and it's somewhat embarrassing if the former MVP is not on the court. There's a fine balance between using up the number of steps and jumps his knees can take and doing rehab/PT-ish activities that will enable him to take more frequent and higher impact steps and jumps but getting runs in the G-League might be good solution, despite being a completely unrealistic one from an optics perspective.
Please don’t disrespect future DPOY Adem Bona