The Bucks Need More of THIS From Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis

When the Milwaukee Bucks first emerged as one of basketball’s best teams, their identity was anchored on the defensive end and they prided themselves in getting stops. In recent years, though, they’ve moved away from that, instead becoming more offensively orientated. Part of the reason behind the switch is loss of personnel. Guys like Jrue Holiday, Eric Bledsoe, and Wesley Matthews were cornerstones of Milwaukee’s defense and none of them are still with the team. The other big reason that the Bucks don’t have the same defensive magic is a lack of effort. The players who are currently on the team simply just care less than the old guard did. The two biggest culprits of this crime are Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis. Neither have the reputation or history of being a good defender, but things have looked especially bad for them at times as the rest of the team’s defense isn’t good enough to hide them. If Milwaukee wants to win another championship, they need their players to start giving a crap about defense, and that culture shift starts with locker room leaders like Lillard and Portis. 

Thankfully, in recent games, we’ve seen some really positive signs from those two. In what was a huge game against Boston last week, Lillard really seemed to be trying his best out there. Let’s dig into the tape. 

Here, we see reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown force the Bucks to switch Lillard onto him, hoping for some easy pickings. Instead, Lillard does an excellent job of flipping his hips, containing the ball, and forcing Brown to take a really tough pullup. Brown cashes in on it, but sometimes all you can do against superstars is make them earn their buckets and he certainly had to earn this one. 

On this play, Lillard’s man goes to set a screen for early Sixth Man of the Year favorite Payton Pritchard. Knowing that Pritchard is on fire this year and can’t be allowed to get an easy look from outside, Lillard steps up to the level of the screen and aggressively switches, forcing a brick. Switching is an extremely common coverage in today’s NBA but it’s often botched because players aren’t quick and assertive enough in stepping up to switch. Dame didn’t make that mistake here. 

Finally, watch here as the Celtics once again hunt Dame, this time by forcing him to guard the much bigger Al Horford. Lillard does a solid job of fronting the post-up, making the catch tough for the big fella. He then walls up and when Horford turns around to launch a hook shot, he quickly swipes down and gets the steal. 

Overall, what we saw from Damian Lillard in Boston was the type of defensive effort we should see from him every night. His stature won’t ever allow him to be elite on D, but players like Darius Garland have proven that it’s possible for little guards to not be total weak links if they work hard. Dame was far from a weak link in Beantown. 

Moving on now to Bobby Portis, it’s safe to say he had one of his best defensive outings as a Buck against the Nets last game. He finished with three blocks and two turnovers forced and came up huge with the biggest defensive play of the game late in the fourth. Roll the tape.

This play starts with Portis quickly recovering to the dunker spot and making a real rim protector block. Jalen Wilson then grabs the board and takes the ball back out to the perimeter before blowing by Portis (an unfortunate trend for the fan favorite). When Brook Lopez slides in to help on the drive, Portis makes the right rotation and gets a good contest on the Claxton floater. The Bucks’ backup big has struggled with help D this year so this is what you want to see from him more often.

Next, an awesome on-ball stand against Cam Johnson. Portis gets his puppies movin’ and guards with his feet instead of his hands, ultimately blocking off Johnson’s driving avenue. Johnson, usually a heady decision maker, panics and makes an errant pass. Clamps!

Finally, the aforementioned clutch stop. Rather than getting dusted by a faster player like usual, Portis is able to stick with Schroder and block his floater. This was a huge momentum play for Milwaukee and one that will go down as one of vet’s best of the season. 

Bottom line: the defensive flashes we’ve seen from Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis recently are super encouraging. If they can keep operating at this level or even continue to improve, it’ll add massively to Milwaukee’s playoff chances. 

Settling the Cade Cunningham Versus Franz Wagner Debate

The 2021 NBA draft is shaping up to be one of the best of the past decade. At least five players from the class have already cemented themselves as future All-Stars and many more have become excellent role players. Out of that large pool of talent, two guys have emerged as the main headliners: Cade Cunningham and Franz Wagner. Both have been playing out of their minds so far in 2024-25, and as a result, debates have started up surrounding the subject of the best player from the 2021 draft. So, who is really better, Cunningham or Wagner? Let’s try to answer that burning question. I’ll make a case for both young stars and give a verdict at the end. 

Cade Cunningham

The nearly consensus first overall pick of the draft has not disappointed so far in his career. Through four years, Cunningham has continuously gotten better and better and is now on All-NBA trajectory. He’s given Pistons fans something to be excited about, a shining bit of hope that didn’t exist during the dark Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson days. This current season has been Cade’s best yet; he’s putting up career-best averages in multiple categories and spearheading what has been a surprisingly competitive Pistons squad. 

The biggest reason Cunningham has been able to elevate the Pistons is that he’s a playmaker in every sense of the word. A true floor general, the Oklahoma State product is incredibly unselfish and knows exactly how to set up his teammates for success. He’s top 10 in the NBA in assists per game right now. His passing arsenal is deep— he can dish out anything from pinpoint lobs to killer kickouts. There is no fear in Cade’s heart when he’s slinging the rock around. As Detroit’s primary (and pretty much only) offensive threat, he warrants a crushing amount of defensive attention, but he’s very capable of disregarding it and getting his teammates open with the gravity he possesses. He can undeniably be the engine of an offense, and that fact has been made crystal clear this season now that he’s surrounded with more competent shooters and finishers than ever before. 

Cunningham isn’t just a passer, though. He’s a phenomenal shotmaker and a guy you can lean on to get buckets night in and night out. Few players, especially in the modern age, are more lethal mid-range assassins than him. He’s patient and confident in getting to his spots and knocking down pullup jumper after pullup jumper. This season, empowered by the newfound spacing around him, he’s been better than ever from three, too. Simply put, Cade is a bonafide offensive star. 

Beyond the flashy stuff, the former top pick has shown he’s very willing to do the little things it takes to win games. He’s made some huge defensive plays this year, displaying a knack for delivering clutch chasedown blocks. He rebounds the ball very well, especially defensively, and is on triple-double watch nightly as a result. Overall, Cade is the type of guy you want to build a franchise around. 

Franz Wagner

While he received much less draft night hype than Cunningham and others, it took no time for Franz Wagner to prove he should have been picked higher than eighth. He’s been a damn good player since day one— he finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and ranked 87th on the Bench Mob Blog’s Top 100 list in 2022. He has since lived in the shadow of his teammate Paolo Banchero, but with the All-Star injured for a long period of time this year, Wagner has been able to show why he too is one of the league’s best young players.  

The name of Wagner’s game is versatility. There isn’t one thing on the court that the German native can’t do. To be a star, though, you need to do at least one thing at a star level, and for Franz it’s finishing. He’s been an elite slasher since he was a rookie and he’s only blossomed more over time. Wagner has the touch and craft to lay it up in a myriad of ways and the strength and dawg to drive into his opponents’ chests and get to the line. Because he’s so effective scoring in the paint, he forces defenses to collapse, and he is a fantastic passer in his own right who always finds the shooters left open when defenders slide in to help. His playmaking ability has been the catalyst for the superstar performances he’s delivered in Banchero’s absence. 

Three-point shooting has long been Wagner’s most glaring area for growth, especially in 2023-24 where he shot just 28.4% from outside. The Magic are notoriously a below-average offensive team that has struggled mightily with perimeter scoring in a league where shooting is the key to success. It was clear Wagner needed to improve, and he has answered the call. While still somewhat inconsistent, the Michigan product is knocking down triples with confidence and filling up the scoring column from all three levels this season. His overall offensive well-roundedness makes him an extremely tough cover and a legitimate number one option on O. 

Where Franz separates himself from his peers is on defense. Orlando has built its identity on that end and their rad Robin has been instrumental in upholding one of the sport’s best securities. He’s a stoic wing stopper who can cover every position and he knows where to be both on and off the ball. It’s tough to be a real two-way player when you exert so much energy on offense but Wagner makes it look easy. 

Throughout last season, Magic fans and other hoops nerds tried to make the argument that Wagner was Orlando’s true best player. While the way Paolo Banchero played before his injury suggests those claims were premature, one thing is for sure, and that’s that Franz Wagner is going to be in All-Star conversations for the next decade. He’s made this evident through the way he’s played since becoming the guy, willing his team to win after win. 

The Verdict

Both Cade Cunningham and Franz Wagner have established themselves as future all-league talents. They are each having career years, making cases to become first-time All-Stars while leading their teams to new heights. But, who is better? Right now, it’s Wagner. He’s taking the NBA world by storm and has shown no signs of slowing down. Don’t count Cunningham out yet, though. Both guys are special and their stories are far from finished. Once they hit their primes, they will be two of the best players in basketball for a long, long time. 

3 Changes the Lakers Should Make to Become True Contenders

The Lakers are off to a good start to the 2024-25 season. They are firmly in the playoffs, their offense is one of the best in the league, and their two megastars are doing their thing. However, they don’t quite look like a championship level team, and some things will need to change if they want to compete on the biggest stage. Here are three things the Lakers could do to make themselves true contenders and maximize the rest of LeBron James’ career. 

Acquire some defensive-minded wings

LA has excelled on offense this season. Their defense, on the other hand, has been massively disappointing, even despite having an all-time great defender in Anthony Davis as their anchor. A big reason why is that they lack guys who can consistently guard on the perimeter and take on tough matchups on a nightly basis. Both the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole are loaded with star wings/forwards such as Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. If the Lakers want to win a ring, they need wing stoppers who can match up against them. Thankfully, some should be available on the trade market. 

One player they should absolutely pursue is Dorian Finney-Smith of the Nets. Finney-Smith is one of the most highly coveted role players around, as he is both an extremely steady shooter and defender. The veteran has made his name by slowing down stars like Devin Booker in the playoffs, and he would provide exactly what the Lakers are looking for. Finney-Smith is making a team-friendly $14.9 million this season, and LA has plenty of tradable contracts so getting a deal done would be no problem, assuming Brooklyn would be willing to part ways with him. A potential trade could look like either Jarred Vanderbilt and Max Christie or Gabe Vincent and Jalen Hood-Schifino in exchange for DFS and salary filler. 

Another guy Los Angeles could pursue is De’Andre Hunter. While the former 4th overall pick has become more offensive-minded in recent years, he still has a reputation and history of being a lockdown defender and certainly has all the tools to be one. The Hawks are more focused on developing Zaccharie Risacher at this point, making Hunter expendable. The Lakers could get him for a package centered around Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and draft capital. 

Other possible trade targets that fit the wing stopper bill include Simone Fontecchio, Torrey Craig, and Cody Martin.

Shoot more threes!

In the modern NBA, the three ball is king. Teams are letting it fly from deep more and more every season, and those who don’t follow the trend get left in the dust (and in the lottery). Despite Dalton Knecht’s fearless flinging and LeBron’s best efforts to evolve his game, the Lakers are bottom five in the league in threes attempted per game. Their offense has been successful regardless, but unfortunately the interior-centric style of ball just isn’t as effective as it used to be. At the end of the day, three is just better than two. LA needs to get up more treys or they will get outgunned come playoff time. This is a change that could be made by trading for shooters, but it could also come through an in-house shift in philosophy. The Lakers certainly have some guys who can shoot— namely Knecht, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell. Encouraging them to channel their inner JJ Redick would go a long way!

Empower D’Angelo Russell

This one is a little more controversial. A once well-loved young star, D’Angelo Russell’s reputation has tanked since he returned to the City of Angels in 2023. Simply put, he hasn’t played very well, especially this season where he’s shooting under 40% from the field and under 30% from three. While these struggles have tarnished his image as a player and have fans clamoring for him to be traded, the opposite may in fact be better for the Lakers. Russell needs to be more of a focal point in the game plan. 

Russell is at his best with the ball in his hands. He’s an incredibly gifted scorer off the bounce from all three levels and an underrated playmaker as well. Yes, he has inefficient nights, but that’s just part of his game and when he’s on, he can get you a win almost single-handedly. Despite this, the Lakers don’t use him as a primary creator very often. His usage rate so far this year is at a career low, which is mind-boggling considering he is now coming off the bench. Letting Russell cook as a sixth man would allow him to restore his confidence and become the dangerous weapon he was supposed to be when they traded for him. 

Buy or Sell: Early Over-Performers of the 2024-25 Season

We are now a little over a month into the 2024-25 season, and we’re starting to get a good feel for the level different teams and players are operating at this year. Uncharacteristic hot and cold streaks are beginning to end, but the sample size is remains small enough where some guys are still on insane heaters through 13+ games. Here are six of those over-performers and a verdict on if their exceptional play is for real. 

Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield is the early favorite for Sixth Man of the Year and it isn’t particularly close. He’s been absolutely en fuego through his first month as a Warrior, filling it up from downtown and leaving nets sizzling in his wake. Hield has always been one of basketball’s elite shooters, but he’s on another level right now. Because of the absurd rate at which he’s knocking down triples (46.2% on 8.0 attempts per game as of the writing of this article), his overall production feels unsustainable. However, it’s more likely that Buddy keeps balling than you would think. Why? Nothing about his process suggests regression. In fact, the opposite is true. The righty sniper is a dream fit in Golden State’s movement-based offensive system. He was born to play their style of ball. He’s going to be getting the same type of looks all year, and he’s going to keep cashing them in. You should buy Buddy Hield being a new-age Splash Bro— or a Splash Buddy, if you will. 

Verdict: Buy

Norman Powell

Talk about shooters who can’t miss this year— Norman Powell has turned into a human flamethrower. He’s averaging well over 20 points, pacing the Clippers in that category, and he’s backing up all the comments he made when Paul George left in free agency this past summer. Many are putting the 31-year-old in Most Improved Player talks, speaking to just how impressive his scoring has been. Powell has always been a bucket, but can he maintain this All-Star level of play? Probably not. Nothing about the veteran wing’s game has actually gotten better. He’s simply just going nuclear in a bigger role, and that role isn’t set in stone with an eventual Kawhi Leonard return on the horizon. Plus, his shooting success has been just too crazy to be maintained (48.7% from three on 7.9 attempts per game).

Verdict: Sell

John Collins

In the midst of what’s been a largely irrelevant season from the rebuilding Utah Jazz, John Collins has quietly been having a resurgence. While he isn’t quite the explosive athlete or lethal deep threat he used to be, he’s replaced what he’s lost in those categories with smarter, more well-rounded play on both ends of the floor. Many nights, he’s been Utah’s best player. That being the case for the remainder of this year is tough to buy. However, Collins could help a playoff team a lot and he’s a guy to keep an eye on when the trade deadline rolls around.

Verdict: Sell

Toumani Camara

This young man’s season hasn’t been as flashy as other names on this list, but it’s worthy of attention. As a rookie in 2023-24, Toumani Camara was one of the most underrated defenders in the sport. Now, he’s added another layer to his game: a 40% three-point shot. He’s looked extremely comfortable letting it fly from outside and as a result, the former second-round pick has become a full-time starter for the Portland Trail Blazers. Camara wasn’t supposed to be an efficient perimeter shooter this early in his career, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see his percentages drop over time. Even if that does happen, though, you should invest in as much Toumani Camara stock as possible. He’s the next Herb Jones. Bookmark it.

Verdict: Buy

Malik Beasley

Back in September, we wrote about how Malik Beasley could make the Pistons better this season. He’s been more valuable for this team than even we could have imagined. The marksman has scored 20+ points in his last five games (as of the writing of this article), contributing big time to Detroit’s surprising competency. Despite having a 19.6 PPG campaign under his belt, it’s unlikely that Beasley continues to operate at this high of a level. That said, though, coach J.B. Bickerstaff can still lean heavily on his vet as he’s proven to be a reliable presence night in and night out.

Verdict: Sell

Jordan Poole

After what was an incredibly disappointing first season in Washington, Jordan Poole is now back and better than ever. Not only is he confidently hosting Poole Parties once again and getting buckets in flurries, he’s taken massive strides as a leader. He’s improved defensively, showing he’s willing to take pride in doing what it takes to win games. He’s also been a mentor for other young Wizards like Bilal Coulibaly, taking them under his wing and helping them flourish. This is a matured version of Poole, the version people saw him growing into back during his Golden State days. This is who Jordan Poole is supposed to be. 

Verdict: Buy

Two-Way Talents: Brandon Boston Jr.

We are less than a month into the 2024-25 NBA season and the New Orleans Pelicans already wish they could start over. Almost every major rotation player they have, besides Brandon Ingram, has been slated to miss significant time with injury. They continue to sink deeper and deeper below .500 and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be getting back up for air anytime soon. 

In the midst of the apocalypse, there is one young man who has emerged as a hero. He’s no savior— it would take more than a miracle to save this team. He is, though, someone who Pelicans fans can rally behind as a light amidst the storm, a glimmer of hope when all seems lost. This brave warrior isn’t the aforementioned Ingram, or Yves Missi, the thunderously impressive rookie. It’s someone much more unsuspecting— the Bilbo Baggins or Neville Longbottom of this story. 

Welcome back to Two-Way Talents! This series highlights two-way contract players across the association that are balling out and staking a claim for a bigger role. The goal is to give unknown players the attention they deserve. In the first installment of the new season, we’ll be talking about Brandon Boston Jr., the fourth-year wing who has made a winning hand out of the awful cards his team has been dealt. 

Boston was once one of the most hyped prospects at his age. He was a McDonald’s All-American in high school and a top recruit who ended up at the renowned University of Kentucky. Unfortunately, he underperformed in his single year in college and slipped all the way to the 51st pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He joined the Clippers where he was an afterthought in the rotation for three years, stuck behind Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and company with no way to unleash the talent buried within him. After being cut from the Spurs training camp roster this past offseason, he was nearly out of the league until the Pelicans rescued him off waivers. 

It’s safe to say New Orleans is very glad they did so. 

As a result of all the injuries, Boston has become a de facto starter and he has absolutely flourished in the new opportunity so far. Finally being able to play big minutes and play through mistakes has allowed him to begin to realize the potential he has. He’s filling up the scoring column to the tune of a career-high 11.6 points per game and showing he can affect the game in other ways, too. Let’s dig into the tape and learn more about what he can do.

The first thing that jumps out about Boston’s game is that he’s a super advanced scorer for a guy who has played so few real NBA minutes. He can put the ball in the hoop from all three levels and he does it with the craft and prowess of a star. He handles the rock on a string and can create space and get to his spots whenever he wants. When New Orleans lost Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum to injury, they lost a ton of creation and Boston has picked up some of that slack. He loves pullup jumpshots, especially from the mid-range. His game is not analytically friendly for that reason, but it doesn’t matter because teams need to have guys on the floor who can go make plays and get a bucket. That’s what Boston has been for the Pels in their time of need. 

The most surprising part of Boston’s breakout November has been his passing. He’s a score-first player, and prior to this year, 1.0 was his career high in assists per game. However, now that he has the ball in his hands more, he’s shown a level of unselfishness that has made him a legitimately viable secondary creator. In a game on November 11th versus Brooklyn, the young wing shot just 3-13 from the field, but he dished out a career-best 10 dimes. He knows how to find the right balance between getting his own and helping others do their thing, and that sort of IQ will keep him in an NBA rotation even on a fully healthy roster. 

Defensively, Boston has been a disruptive thief, leveraging his near seven-foot wingspan to grab well over two steals per 100 possessions. He’s adept at using that length to poke around in the passing lanes and break up actions. His STL% so far is up there with established stoppers like Jalen Suggs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This is a new development to his game, so time will tell if it’s a fluke or not.

Brandon Boston Jr. is one of countless examples of how much opportunity and situation matter in the NBA. There are countless players across the league who are waiting in the shadows, grinding in silence and staying ready for when their chance comes. Boston is getting his shot now, waking up anyone who slept on him, and he serves as a reminder to all that talent can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. 

3 Reclamation Projects Who Are Finding Success So Far This Season

One of the smartest things a rebuilding team can do is take a chance on young guys. Specifically, ones who were high-upside first round picks who haven’t panned out yet but are still young. Situation matters so much in the NBA, and a change of scenery could be all it takes for a player to come into his own. For example, the Jazz brought in Lauri Markkanen and turned the former 7th overall pick from a quality stretch four to a bonafide All-Star. The Raptors acquired RJ Barrett and the hometown kid is playing the best ball of his career. 

There are multiple reclamation projects finding success so far in the 2024-25 season. Here are three of them.

Ochai Agbaji

Ochai Agbaji was considered one of the surest things in the 2022 draft class. Coming out of Kansas, he was a complete package, someone who seemed ready to play big minutes right away as a rookie. Through his first two seasons, though, he struggled to make any sort of positive impact. The Jazz weren’t that impressed with him and included him as a throw-in in a trade they made at the 2024 deadline. 

Now in Toronto, Agbaji is becoming the player he was supposed to be. He’s started multiple games in place of injured openers and has looked great on both ends. He’s become a defensive stalwart, a development that started to come to light in his sophomore campaign. He uses his 6’10” wingspan to be a wreckful stocks guy who polices the passing lanes and delivers chasedown swats. The Raptors have always had an affinity for lengthy wings and know how to maximize that archetype so it makes sense that Agbaji is popping, especially on D.

Shooting was Agbaji’s biggest strength collegiately, but he hadn’t found much luck from behind the arc as a pro before this season. However, his new role has clearly restored his confidence and he is back to being a sniper. He’s hit well over half of his corner threes so far. The young wing is also a super effective finisher, clever cutter, and dynamic transition threat, making him an ideal off-ball player overall.

Once Scottie Barnes and Bruce Brown are back healthy, Ochai Agbaji’s playing time may decline, but he’s proving that he deserves to be in the rotation full-time.

Josh Giddey

2023-24 was a brutal season for Josh Giddey. The Thunder skyrocketed into contention and he was simply not ready to play that level of basketball. He was still a talented player with high upside, but many people started to forget it. After all, it’s tough to watch a guy look like a total liability on both ends and still believe in him. When he was traded to Chicago, though, real Giddey truthers rejoiced as it was clear that he was going to a much better situation for his development. Their faith is being rewarded so far as the Australian has thrived in his new environment. 

The Bulls have played at a rapid pace this season, launching a ton of threes and modeling modern playstyles in a way they never did during the DeMar DeRozan era. Giddey has looked at home playing this way. He’s been in peak passing-wizard form, freely letting flashy dimes fly at fantastic rates. He’s quickly found synergy with Chi-Town’s resident All-Stars, getting easy looks for Nikola Vucevic out of the pick-and-roll and encouraging Zach LaVine to zip around the court as a cutter. It feels like no coincidence that so many Bulls are shooting so well from deep with Giddey as the primary playmaker. The young guard has even joined into the three-point party himself, looking much more willing to shoot off the catch and connecting on over 40% of his tries. 

The biggest problem for Giddey, of course, lies on the defensive end. At this point, expecting him to be a good defender is a recipe for disappointment. He has, however, made some nice plays with his hands on D this year, an encouraging potential development. All he has to do is not be a complete sieve, and that’s a doable goal that would go a long way for him if achieved. 

At this point, it’s almost certain that Josh Giddey will never be a star. But, he is still a good player in the right scenario, and the man they call the “SLOB Wizard” is making that statement in Chicago. 

Ziaire Williams 

When the Grizzlies selected Ziaire Williams 10th overall in 2021, the pick was criticized. His college production was less than stellar and he was incredibly raw. Unsurprisingly, as most half-baked prospects do, he underperformed during his first few years in the league. Memphis desperately wanted him to be the answer to their wing problems and he just wasn’t the guy they hoped for. For that reason, nobody thought much of his arrival to Brooklyn this past summer other than “wow, what an unfortunate career it’s been for him”. 

The Nets clearly knew something we didn’t when they brought Williams in and they should be applauded for it. The kid has turned from a blank canvas to an eye-catching painting. He’s finally found a role for himself in the most popular archetype of today’s league: 3&D. The Stanford product always showed flashes of shooting touch, but his shots are now actually falling at a high rate for the first time. His inefficiency from downtown was the main thing holding him back, as non-shooters have a tough time gaining footing in the modern NBA. Defensively, he’s been a pest on the wing, switching onto multiple positions and disrupting with his length. 

Williams has completely changed the trajectory of his career this season. At just 23 years old, he could be a long-term core piece for the rebuilding Brooklyn squad. 

2 Young Stars Who Are Making “The Leap” This Season

“Who is going to break out this year?”

“Which young player is going to make the biggest jump?”

“Who will make their first All-Star game?”

These questions run rampant on NBA social media during the offseason. Everyone wants to predict who will be the next player to make an unexpected jump, or to take the step from being a good player to being a star. It hasn’t taken long for some of those breakout players to show themselves in the newly commenced 2024-25 season, and some guys are turning into bonafide all-league talents right before our eyes. Let’s talk about two of them.

Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley was a special prospect. His draft night comparisons were (rightfully) lofty, and his rookie season proved to be grounds worthy of calling him the next Kevin Garnett or Anthony Davis. The USC product was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist by his second year in the league. Heading into 2024-25, though, his growth hit a sort of plateau. His output, statistically at least, was very similar throughout his first three NBA campaigns. Nothing wrong with consistency, but people wanted to see more. 

We are now seeing more. 

Through the first week of the new season, Evan Mobley has been one of the most impressive players relative to his status. He’s playing with heightened confidence and making a star-level impact in multiple ways. Jarrett Allen is still very good and highly underrated, but it’s safe to say Evan Mobley is on the brink of becoming the second best player on this Cavs team. 

What’s different about the way Mobley is hooping? His improvement has been the most obvious and significant on offense. New head coach Kenny Atkinson has empowered him more than J.B. Bickerstaff ever did. The big fella is playing a more outside-in based style of ball and it’s making him into an incredibly dynamic weapon. He’s letting the three-ball fly more willingly than ever, even hitting pullups. If he can become a respected threat from outside, his game and Cleveland’s offense will become much more dangerous.

More importantly than the shooting, though, Mobley has looked unafraid and aggressive in putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rack. We’re seeing him take the ball coast-to-coast and euro step into scoop layups. Even in the age of hypertalented bigs, that is not normal for a guy of his size. The young star has been barreling into the chest of defenders and shedding off contact like it’s nothing. As a result, he’s getting to the free throw line more often than before. 

Mobley’s creation burden has been higher than ever so far— he’s getting unassisted buckets at a career-best rate. He’s also making plays for others, sucking in help defense with his aforementioned driving chops and opening up teammates. This level of skill has always been there, at least in theory— there’s a reason why he garnered the comparisons that he did coming out of college. Now, it’s finally coming to light on a night-to-night basis. 

Of course, you can’t talk about Evan Mobley without mentioning his defense. He might be the way-too-early favorite for DPOY, as the Cavaliers have been excellent as a team on that end and he is the key cog of their defensive gameplan. Mobley has almost no holes in his stopping skillset. He can switch onto anybody and shut down drives. He can be the primary rim protector as a center. He’s one of basketball’s best helpside shot-blockers. No matter how he plays offensively, he’ll always be an elite player because of how good he is on D, and that fact is nothing new. 

Overall, we are witnessing the jump from Mobley that we’ve been waiting for. If he keeps this up, it will be huge for Cleveland’s status and future as a team. 

Chet Holmgren

Woo-wee. Goodness gracious. OMG. WTF?!?

All of these are appropriate reactions to how Chet Holmgren has played to start this season. The guy has looked, conservatively, freaking incredible. The Thunder have been running through their competition and Holmgren has been arguably the main catalyst to that success. He dominated three-time MVP Nikola Jokic on opening night and hasn’t let up since. If you’re looking to make a bet on who will make their first All-Star game this season, put the house on Chet. 

His offensive bag is freakish in a way that can only be out-freaked by Kevin Durant or Victor Wembanyama. He’s skinny as heck but it doesn’t even matter because he has the power and bravado to put defenders into the rim when he drives. His handle is so silky for a seven-footer and he has no problem creating buckets for himself. He’s scoring like a superstar and the scariest part is that his three-ball hasn’t even started falling yet. 

Holmgren’s roll man prowess and P&R chemistry with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are off the charts. If he catches the ball around the free throw line, it’s over for the defense. He’s either effortlessly draining a middie or viciously throwing down a driving dunk. Shoutout Jalen Williams, but the Minnesotan and the Canadian are OKC’s true duo of the future, and to see them playing so well in actions together is thrilling for lovers of ball and terrifying for opposing teams hoping to win a championship in the next decade. 

Holmgren was an all-world defender as a rookie and things have been no different in year two. He’s a tyrannical warden protecting the rim—  he doesn’t let anyone score points in his paint. His timing for blocking shots is impeccable. He eats up so much space inside with his length and stature. Best of all, he takes pride in getting stops and wears his emotions on his sleeve. 

Chet Holmgren spent his rookie year in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama, but right now he looks on par with his extraterrestrial peer. His play has been sensational and he’s sending the message that he’s going nowhere. Holmgren will be a commanding force in the West for years to come.  

3 Things to Watch For From Each Team on Opening Night

It’s the most wonderful time of the year— the NBA is finally back! Two fantastic games are on the slate for opening night, with the Knicks taking on the reigning champions, the Celtics, followed by LeBron and the Lakers taking on the Timberwolves. I’m as excited to watch as you are, so I’ll leave the intro at that. Here are three things I’ll be watching for from each team playing tonight!

New York Knicks

1. Brunson-KAT synergy

New York acquiring all-league big man Karl-Anthony Towns was one of the biggest stories of the offseason, and tonight, he’ll make his official debut for his new squad. The most important part of his fit on the Knicks will be his chemistry with Jalen Brunson. There is no doubt that their two-man game will be lethal. Both stars will open up space and shots for each other and their pick-and-rolls are sure to give opposing defenses nightmares. However, to win a championship, the Brunson-KAT duo will need to be dominant, as the East is better than ever. Tonight we’ll get an idea of just how scared the league should be of this pairing. 

2. Who steps up off the bench?

The Knicks added significant starpower over the summer in Towns and Mikal Bridges (as well as OG Anunoby at last year’s trade deadline), but in the process, they sacrificed a significant amount of depth. Especially in the absence of Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa, this team’s second unit is made up largely of unproven youngsters. Tom Thibodeau is notorious for running tight rotations, but depth still matters, and at least a couple bench players will need to step up and prove to be worthy of consistent minutes. The betting favorites to do so are Miles McBride, the sparky two-way guard who played big minutes in the 2024 playoffs, and Cam Payne, the crafty veteran. However, New York is shallower at other positions besides guard. There is a lot riding on Jericho Sims eating up center minutes effectively until Robinson and Achiuwa return. Raw rookie Pacome Dadiet may be thrust into the rotation earlier than anticipated as a backup to Bridges and Anunoby. Are those guys up to the task?

3. Mikal Bridges’ defense

Once a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, Bridges has taken a step back in terms of his defensive reputation. His effort and impact on that end fell in Brooklyn as his offensive responsibility skyrocketed. Now back to playing a smaller, complementary role, can he return to his Phoenix form on D? If he does, the Knicks could have one of the best defensive duos in basketball between him and OG Anunoby. 

Boston Celtics

1. No Porzingis, no problem?

Boston’s resident unicorn Kristaps Porzingis is slated to be out of the lineup until December as he rehabs from an injury. Until then, the Celtics have a seven-footer-sized hole they need to fill. Old man Al Horford has proven to still be very capable of being a spot starter, but his body can only handle so much and Joe Mazzulla undoubtedly would like to preserve the best version of the former All-Star for the playoffs. Therefore, Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta will be looked towards to pick up some of the slack. Kornet is the safer option, as he has played big minutes for the team in the past. Queta, though, is much more intriguing. The Portuguese center is a monstrous shot blocker and lob threat. Regardless of which guy plays, how good they are will matter for the Celtics until they get Porzingis back. 

2. Jayson Tatum’s jumper

It’s no secret that Tatum struggled big time as a jump shooter in the playoffs. He connected on just 28.3% of his triples during Boston’s championship run and has been ridiculed for it by fans. To reestablish himself as one of the best players in the world, he needs to find his stroke again. In preseason, his signature hitch looked smoothed out, so he’s clearly been working on his shot. Time will tell if the results come to light in the real season. 

3. Do any young guys play?

Since they’re so stacked at the top of their lineup, Boston usually only goes deep in their bench if they’re in a blowout. However, their reserve group features some intriguing youngsters including former first round pick Jaden Springer and 2023 draftee Jordan Walsh. Those guys could prove to be diamonds in the rough if they get any chances to play minutes for the champs.

Minnesota Timberwolves

1. Ant supremacy

Anthony Edwards is the chosen one, the heir apparent to the NBA throne as the next generation of stars rises. He’s gotten better and better every year, but he still has leaps to make if he’s to live up to the hype around his name. It would go a long way for Minnesota’s title hopes if Ant looked like the best player on the court night in and night out this season, and tonight is the perfect night for him to assert his dominance and begin a potential MVP tour as he takes on two Hall of Famers. 

2. Randle in action

Julius Randle is one of the most heavily criticized and disrespected stars in the sport, so it’s no surprise that the media was quick to pile on his fit in Minnesota when he landed there in September. However, there are many reasons to be optimistic about what he can bring to his new team, and tonight he can begin to prove doubters wrong with the eyes of the entire NBA world on him. For more thoughts on what role Randle could play for the Wolves, check out this article after you finish this one! 

3. Garza minutes?

This one is for the sickos. Former college superstar Luka Garza has stuck in the NBA when many thought he couldn’t, but he has yet to crack a rotation despite the truly insane production he’s had in his limited burn. With Karl-Anthony Towns gone, there are big man minutes for the taking in Minnesota. Can Garza snatch them up? He certainly looked capable of doing so when he dropped 29 points in a preseason game versus Denver. 

Los Angeles Lakers

1. LeBron James, the eternal

The King is entering his 22nd NBA season, a milestone that ties the all-time record, and he still looks as good as ever. Every season seems like it might finally be the one where cracks form in the armor and James starts to decline, but it never happens. So, there’s no reason to believe that this year will be the one. Expect LeBron to come out still playing like the GOAT and enjoy it while he’s still around.

2. Dalton Knecht, JJ Redick disciple 

New head coach JJ Redick is one of the best movement shooters ever, and he’s been given a baby version of himself to mentor in Dalton Knecht. The Tennessee product looked incredibly confident in summer league and preseason, and he’s ready to play minutes right away. Redick is going to cook up some disgusting sets for the young sniper and it’s going to be awesome. 

3. Overall schemes, coaching, and identity 

JJ Redick is an incredible basketball mind, but he’s never coached professionally before. What he does to maximize this Lakers team on both ends will be super interesting to watch, as this roster has the personnel to operate at a playoff level on both ends. What identity will they take on? Who makes the nightly rotation? How good is Redick on the whiteboard? These questions will need to have good answers to make the most out of the rest of LeBron’s career. 

2024-25 Breakout Candidate: Ricky Council IV

The Philadelphia 76ers underwent a massive makeover this summer. Ten new players were brought in via free agency and the draft, with the headliner of course being future Hall of Famer Paul George. These newcomers are primed to fill many key roles in Philly’s rotation this season, with the ultimate expectation being that they can help put the team in position to finally make it to the Conference Finals and beyond. 

What about the returners? We know what we’ll get from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They will steer the ship as their new crewmates row. There is another standby, though, who could play a crucial role in bringing the Sixers to the promised land. That man is Ricky Council IV. 

Council, a former undrafted free agent, is coming into his second year in the NBA with a ton of positive momentum. In April, he was rewarded for outplaying his two-way status with a standard contract. At media day, Nick Nurse said Council would be a “factor” in the rotation this season. The Arkansas product is ready to go in 2024-25. Here’s why.

Offense

As a rookie, Ricky Council averaged 5.4 points in just nine minutes per game. That scales up to 21.6 points per 36 minutes, a rate that ranked behind only Embiid and Maxey among Sixers who played 100+ minutes last year. Simply put, Council is a bucket, and the way he fills up the scoring column is no fluke.

The young wing has a funky bag of scoring methods that are both flashy and practical. He knows how to utilize pump fakes to send defenders flying in a Desmond-Bane-esque fashion. He is also keen at finding backcut opportunities along the baseline and he fills lanes and runs the floor very well in transition. Further, he is an assertive catch-and-drive guy who powers his attacks by stampeding the catch and getting downhill quicker. 

Another thing Council does to create easy points for himself is get to the free throw line at a truly absurd rate. Had he played enough minutes to qualify, his free throw rate of 0.634 would have ranked third in the entire NBA. He’s unafraid of contact and will go into the chest of anyone when he’s getting downhill. “He’s got an uncanny ability of drawing fouls”, head coach Nick Nurse said in an interview. 

Council’s repertoire of moves is more polished than that of the average young player, and its effect is heightened by his combination of fearless, ballsy shot taking and silky shot making. He has touch at all three levels, and it shows up the most at the rim, where he hits ridiculously tough floating layups over overarching defenders. In 2023-24, he shot 63.9% at the rim, 66.7% on long middies, and 37.5% from three. 

It would not be unreasonable to call Council’s scoring tape special. The kid is that talented and that confident. There are only two clear potential hindering aspects of his game, and both are relatively unconcerning. The first is that his shot diet is tough at times which means his efficiency could fall off on a higher volume. The other is that his jump shot form is a little hitchy, but that hasn’t held him back up to this point and it’s nothing offseason work couldn’t fix. 

Defense

Council isn’t known for his defense, but he can pull his weight on that end and make things happen, specifically as a playmaker. He did a good job of turning defense to offense as a rookie, quickly getting out into transition after grabbing a steal or blocking a shot. 

– – –

So, what will it take for Ricky Council to have a breakout year? The first thing is consistent playing time. He’ll be competing with Paul George, Caleb Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Eric Gordon on the wing, and he is probably firmly behind those guys in the depth chart. However, with three of them (George, Oubre, and Martin) projected to start, there will be bench minutes available for the youngster to snatch up. Once he gets on the court, playing defense will be key for him staying on it. “He’s still got some growth to do at the defensive end”, said Nurse. Council has no shortage of athletic tools and dawg in him, and so if he channels his focus and takes pride in his defense, he could stand out for the right reasons on D.

Another development that would make it harder to keep Council out of the lineup is passing. He has shown some flashes of drive-and-kick playmaking that are very encouraging, as tunnel-vision scorers have a hard ceiling on the impact they can make. Establishing himself as a dribble-pass-shoot wing would go a long way for his future. 

Overall, though, Council is all systems go for the 2024-25 season. “Ricky seems like a whole different person coming back this year… he knows what we’re doing”, Nurse said about his second-year player. When the 76ers are competing deep in the playoffs this season, don’t be surprised if Ricky Council IV is playing a big part in their success. 

(Thank you to Sixers Wire blog for the Nick Nurse quotes!)

How Do Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle Fit on Their New Teams?

The NBA never fails to surprise us, and the surprises never fail to be exciting. Last Friday night we got our first big trade of the post-Woj era, with Karl-Anthony Towns heading to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo (and former Bench Mob Blog All-Star Keita Bates-Diop). This deal came out of absolutely nowhere, and there is plenty to be said about it. We could talk about the implications for both teams in the standings, who won and who lost, how dirty the Wolves did Towns and how dirty the Knicks did Randle… the list of topics goes on. Today, though, let’s zoom in on just the two stars and take a look at how each one fits in on their new squads. 

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York’s center problem has been the talk of the dead part of the offseason, but now the problem has been fully solved as the ‘Bockers are adding one of the best bigs in basketball in the Big KAT. He’ll be able to slide in as the man in the middle and give a massive boost to the Knicks, especially on offense. 

With Towns on the floor, coach Thibodeau will have the ability to deploy some super scary five-out schemes. OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart/Miles McBride, and the new big fella will form a lethal firing squad that will open up acres of space for Jalen Brunson to cook. Take a look at these shooting numbers from last season:

K. Towns: 41.6% 3P (5.3 3PA)

O. Anunoby: 38.2% 3P (5.3 3PA)

M. Bridges: 37.2% 3P (7.2 3PA)

M. McBride: 41.0% 3P (3.9 3PA)

J. Hart: 31.0% 3P (3.2 3PA)

Who do you leave open? Ideally none of them. In a classic pick-your-poison situation, opposing teams will be forced to choose between trusting their top defenders on an island with Brunson or sending help at the heliocentric Hercules and therefore leaving one of the shooters with enough room to let it fly from deep. Needless to say, both options are less than desirable. Towns is also one of the best pick-and-pop guys in the NBA, which will add a very intriguing wrinkle to Brunson-directed pick-and-rolls. In a league where spacing is a fundamental part of success, the offensive potential of Towns-at-the-five lineups cannot be understated. 

Another thing Towns can do from the five spot is replicate some of the passing hub prowess the recently departed Isaiah Hartenstein brought to New York. Towns can make kickouts from the post, thread needles, and even run some pick-and-roll as a ball handler. In fact, he and Rudy Gobert formed a very impactful P&R pairing in Minnesota. An inverse version of basketball’s most popular action between Towns and Jalen Brunson is an intriguing concept, as Brunson popping or ghosting could open up lanes for the big man to barrel downhill and make stuff happen. 

Towns is not limited to playing center, though, and in fact it might be the four spot where the former number one pick will be most effective in the Big Apple, specifically for defensive purposes. While he has a big body and can block shots, Towns has never been known for his rim protection. The standard for big man defense when it comes to the playoffs is high, and New York could find a cap on their ceiling with Towns as their primary rim protector. Letting Mitchell Robinson be the anchor down low while Towns operates from the help side and hedges on the perimeter is a better idea and is probably what defensive guru Tom Thibodeau will gravitate towards. On the other side of the ball, Towns would be no less of a spacer as a power forward and could also recreate his jumbo P&R success from Minnesota with Mitchell Robinson. Overall, the Knicks could easily oscillate between running the All-Star at the four and the five and feel good about both options. 

The last major thing worth noting about Towns coming to the Knicks is that he is not the same level of playmaker that Julius Randle is. While Jalen Brunson has plenty of off-ball weapons around him now, he no longer has a secondary creator to lean on (unless you trust Mikal Bridges to be that guy). Come playoff time, New York will be leaning so heavily into their superstar and only time will tell if his back will break.

Julius Randle

The masses were immediately critical of Randle’s fit in Minnesota after this trade went down, and to some degree, that was fair. The spot-up shooting and off-ball play that Karl-Anthony Towns provided was essential for the Timberwolves last season, especially when Rudy Gobert, a non-shooting big, was in the game. Julius Randle cannot replicate those things. He’s a career 33% three-point shooter (a streaky one at that) and he does the most damage with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately, the Wolves belong to Anthony Edwards, and he will be controlling the rock. So, how does Randle fit in? There are actually reasons to believe he will fit in well. 

As spoken on by Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on media day, spacing doesn’t only concern three-point proficiency. The three-ball is the most traditional trait of good spacing, but not the only way to achieve it. While Anthony Edwards is attacking in iso, Randle can still be stationed on the perimeter. When he catches the ball, though, rather than shooting, he should have getting to the rim in mind. The two-time All-NBA nominee is an absolute freight train who commands a ton of attention when he puts his head down. By focusing on catching and driving right away, Randle would not only catch defenders out of position but also create advantages for himself and others because he cannot be stopped by just one man. In New York, he generated many shots for his big men by driving to the rim, and he could do the same for Rudy Gobert in Minnesota. Further, his slashing would open up shooters like Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley on the perimeter. Allowing Randle to do what he does best, generating paint touches, in a more controlled capacity is how the Wolves could get the most of him when he’s in the game with the starters.

One way in which Randle will make Minnesota better is by being a creator and taking pressure off Anthony Edwards. The young supernova is one of the best scorers in the league already, but he can’t do everything on his own, and Randle will be able to pick up slack for Ant in a way Towns couldn’t. As touched on, Randle is an elite two-point creator and a very underrated playmaker as well. Don’t forget he led the Knicks to the playoffs on his own in 2021. The modern Knicks legend is very capable of being the number one option on any given night and that will make Chris Finch’s offense more dynamic. 

Switching to the other side of the ball, Randle is a more natural fit in the roaming four man role that Towns was asked to play last season. When locked in, which isn’t always, he’s very capable of being a brick wall that slows down opposing bigs and he can also move his feet on the perimeter. The defensive culture that’s been established in the Twin Cities should hopefully be enough to get Randle to buy in full-time on D, and if he does, he could look really solid on that end.

Things seemed clunky on paper initially, and they may still turn out to be that way, but the bottom line is that Julius Randle is an all-league talent and he has plenty to offer to his new squad.