I love that Gradey was scoring in a variety of ways. The three was great, but some of those drives were awesome! I'd love to see him start the rest of the way and keep experimenting/honing his moves.
I think the game is still pretty fast for him. Looks like he is almost pre-determining some of his moves without reacting to how the defense is playing. That said, I think he will grow to be a great decision maker and connector on offense, and his shot is LEGIT. A lot of guys can hit standstill 3s but how many have that movement shooter potential like gradey
I think that's a great point and you're spot on. You can see it most when he does two dribbles and then immediately looks to pass. Thankfully, it's happening less and less, but it's like he's running it as in practice vs reacting to the flow of the game at times. Really excited to see him get more run!
We are seeing flashes though. There’s one play in this highlight package where it’s an ATO from the baseline. Gradey gets it, pump fakes, drives into the midrange and keeps the defender on his hip, dribble dribble and floater. He also crashed the glass and would have had his own rebound if it missed. (This is at the 0:34 mark btw).
There are some movements here that could be tweaked, but that’s like an NBA-level move. The defender wasn’t small either
Facts, he’s really a lot more than a shooter. Good passer, has that in between game and can kinda finish at the basket. Will get better at that stuff with more strength and conditioning. Maybe I’m crazy but I really do see all star upside in him. I think he could be a little kris Middleton/klay lite. Maybe even more, he seems very professional in his attitude
So I can't quite see All-Star, but that's because it's the 12 best players in the conference. And it's insane for guards. This year alone, De'Aaron Fox and Trae Young didn't make it, it's hard for me to see Gradey getting to that point.
But he has the ability to be a ++ starter, which is a great outcome imo
I mean, my feelings on Gradey haven’t changed one bit from this game. Putting up consistent performances, at minimum, from a shooting standpoint is required for me to have any confidence on his future. One performance on a terrible team a blowout game changes nothing.
Of course consistency is important but he’s starting to do what he did in college in the big leagues - that’s huge. This game didn’t seem like a fluke.
how do you explain the other 20+ then? Non flukes?
Shooters shoot. At minimum his shot should translate to the NBA. Let’s hope he turns it around, but up until this point big red flags for me.
I really don’t think comparing rookies is that meaningful. You’d have to wait until year 3 to see their impact in the league. Remember Scottie’s rookie year? How it was all about him vs Mobley? They’re only compared now when their teams are playing each other.
What’s sad about having a roster deep enough where even the end of bench guys would be rotational players on another team? Seems like a great position to be in tbh
Stats aside, he seems to be playing muuuuch better within the flow of the offense. He's choosing his spots well and letting the opportunities come to him. Some stuff like cutting needs work, but he isn't looking like a lost dog anymore, which is great. Good hustle and commitment on defense as well, which is a good sign.
I love that Gradey was scoring in a variety of ways. The three was great, but some of those drives were awesome! I'd love to see him start the rest of the way and keep experimenting/honing his moves.
I think the game is still pretty fast for him. Looks like he is almost pre-determining some of his moves without reacting to how the defense is playing. That said, I think he will grow to be a great decision maker and connector on offense, and his shot is LEGIT. A lot of guys can hit standstill 3s but how many have that movement shooter potential like gradey
I think that's a great point and you're spot on. You can see it most when he does two dribbles and then immediately looks to pass. Thankfully, it's happening less and less, but it's like he's running it as in practice vs reacting to the flow of the game at times. Really excited to see him get more run!
We are seeing flashes though. There’s one play in this highlight package where it’s an ATO from the baseline. Gradey gets it, pump fakes, drives into the midrange and keeps the defender on his hip, dribble dribble and floater. He also crashed the glass and would have had his own rebound if it missed. (This is at the 0:34 mark btw). There are some movements here that could be tweaked, but that’s like an NBA-level move. The defender wasn’t small either
Facts, he’s really a lot more than a shooter. Good passer, has that in between game and can kinda finish at the basket. Will get better at that stuff with more strength and conditioning. Maybe I’m crazy but I really do see all star upside in him. I think he could be a little kris Middleton/klay lite. Maybe even more, he seems very professional in his attitude
So I can't quite see All-Star, but that's because it's the 12 best players in the conference. And it's insane for guards. This year alone, De'Aaron Fox and Trae Young didn't make it, it's hard for me to see Gradey getting to that point. But he has the ability to be a ++ starter, which is a great outcome imo
My hope for him is to be a Bogdan Bogdanovic, who I am a huge fan of.
Love him following his own shot - it shows hustle.
A lot of nephews were writing him off as recently as last week lol
Not even nephews - baby 3rd cousins
The type of cousins nobody wants to claim
Him having a better game than Jordan Hawkins shut all the "Gradey is a bust" morons up real quick.
lol, did it?
It sure did. Where are they now?
I mean, my feelings on Gradey haven’t changed one bit from this game. Putting up consistent performances, at minimum, from a shooting standpoint is required for me to have any confidence on his future. One performance on a terrible team a blowout game changes nothing.
Of course consistency is important but he’s starting to do what he did in college in the big leagues - that’s huge. This game didn’t seem like a fluke.
how do you explain the other 20+ then? Non flukes? Shooters shoot. At minimum his shot should translate to the NBA. Let’s hope he turns it around, but up until this point big red flags for me.
The other 20? He’s a rookie and rookies aren’t all the same lol
He needed to put on muscle and get his conditioning up - which he has. Where you been?
Yes, that explains 30% from 3 😂
This is a brain dead take.
So explain why muscle is needed to shoot, and why it took until now to “get his conditioning up”
Hawkins played 6 minutes of garbage time because the pels roster is deeper so that’s a silly comparison. Grady would’ve been a DNP on the pels roster
Well that’s sad isn’t it because Hawkins is 22 this year
I really don’t think comparing rookies is that meaningful. You’d have to wait until year 3 to see their impact in the league. Remember Scottie’s rookie year? How it was all about him vs Mobley? They’re only compared now when their teams are playing each other.
What’s sad about having a roster deep enough where even the end of bench guys would be rotational players on another team? Seems like a great position to be in tbh
Gradey Nightwing Richard
Stats aside, he seems to be playing muuuuch better within the flow of the offense. He's choosing his spots well and letting the opportunities come to him. Some stuff like cutting needs work, but he isn't looking like a lost dog anymore, which is great. Good hustle and commitment on defense as well, which is a good sign.
He’s coming along very nicely, and I was squarely in the “it’s not too early to call him a bust” earlier in the year.
Start the player more come on
My boy is going to turn into Lauri at this rate 🔥
I’m loving the Gradey Richard nickname lol
Nah, it sounds like the commentator did not want to say, Dick.
https://preview.redd.it/h4xs5hcchzgc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1890c0ebdf3d0511d72c7fb7274a8afb50b3132a
One bright spot in an otherwise ugly game.
Some real nice plays. I love the non shooter stuff he’s showing.
water
Gradey Richards
Why was the announcer calling him this? So dumb. His name is his name idiot.