Official Fanfest Thread

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This was a perfect example of what Steve Blake looks like when he's hitting everything. We don't see this Steve all the time. That's the absolute best Blake you'll see.
 
Not sold on Miller. He did what we thought he could do, dominate the ball and do a good job of it.

Can he play with Roy? Don't know yet, and that's why I can't get too excited about him.
 
B-Roy said:
Not sold on Miller. He did what we thought he could do, dominate the ball and do a good job of it.

Can he play with Roy? Don't know yet, and that's why I can't get too excited about him.
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I don't understand. At times I saw him moving the ball immediately. I don't feel like he dominated the ball at all. Not like a Sergio or a Damon. It's not like he dribbled around the threepoint line, waiting for something to happen.
 
B-Roy said:
Not sold on Miller. He did what we thought he could do, dominate the ball and do a good job of it.

Can he play with Roy? Don't know yet, and that's why I can't get too excited about him.
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Ball dominant? I guess you and I were watching two different games. Most of the time he was passing within seconds of getting over the mid-court line, he did attack the basket on several occasions, but what I saw was somebody who looked like he knew how to orchestrate an offense without over-dribbling and with the ability to get others going.
 
Nikolokolus said:
Ball dominant? I guess you and I were watching two different games. Most of the time he was passing within seconds of getting over the mid-court line, he did attack the basket on several occasions, but what I saw was somebody who looked like he knew how to orchestrate an offense without over-dribbling and with the ability to get others going.
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I didn't mean he was holding it for 20 seconds and then passing like Sergio, but yes, the offense started with Miller and he coordinated it well. (I already mentioned that) But can he work with another dominant ball handler like Roy? That question was not answered because Roy played maybe 5 minutes the entire game. So right now, I see him as someone who would work well in the second unit.
 
B-Roy said:
I didn't mean he was holding it for 20 seconds and then passing like Sergio, but yes, the offense started with Miller and he coordinated it well. (I already mentioned that) But can he work with another dominant ball handler like Roy? That question was not answered because Roy played maybe 5 minutes the entire game. So right now, I see him as someone who would work well in the second unit.
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From what I've seen, and what I saw tonight, Miller doesn't need the ball in his hands to be influential. He sees the floor. He knows where guys are. He would only need the ball for a matter of seconds in order to find the right guy and get a good look.
 
Miller also fed Oden down low, moves like that quick baseline spin he had on Joel in the 2nd half don't happen with a bad entry pass...
 
People that don't want a Miller/Roy pairing are over-thinking the situation imo. Getting too caught up on the term "ball handler".
 
B-Roy said:
I didn't mean he was holding it for 20 seconds and then passing like Sergio, but yes, the offense started with Miller and he coordinated it well. (I already mentioned that) But can he work with another dominant ball handler like Roy? That question was not answered because Roy played maybe 5 minutes the entire game. So right now, I see him as someone who would work well in the second unit.
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I don't think Roy is that limited, that he can only work with the ball is his hands almost every time down. Jordan was an even more ball-dominant (and simply dominant) player, but he played perfectly well with Pippen, a guy who handled the rock a large portion of the game.

I think Roy can make use of his great talent even with another primary ball-handler. To me, the default is that he can and I'll be unpleasantly surprised if Roy or Miller are marginalized so that the other can handle the ball. Roy can only prosper from getting some easy looks created by another player, rather than creating all his looks himself.
 
I am back from the FF - what a fun evening.

Some impressions from the court - Blake looks a lot quicker than he did last year. I was impressed - I think he might be in for a better year than last year (per minute, at least, Miller is going to get a lot of minutes there).

Webster looks nice and active. Roy looked like he was on cruise control, same as LMA. Travis was pretty much invisible - Dante I liked a lot. JB looked a lot better at controlling the team when he ran point. Ime looks a lot less wooden than he did the first year he was here. Spending time next to Timmy and the rest of the gang in San Antonio did good for him.

The two that really stood out for me, however - were Oden - he is still a little raw - but he is fluid now, not mechanical. To think that this is the least skilled we will see him - makes me very excited - he is going to be a monster. And... quite frankly, Batum. Oh, My, God. This kid is special. I have the exact same reaction I have to what I have seen last FF - Batum is a lot better than what we have seen so far. He is so freaking fast and controls his body's lateral move so well - that he is going to be a star.

This team is loaded.
 
Also, Miller just got done playing with Iquodala, a similar player to Roy. I'm sure they were fine last year.
 
Minstrel said:
I think you roll out your best players as many minutes as possible. Whether they start or not, all of them should play starter-minutes.
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Absolutely.

Now if we could all just agree on who our best players were...:sigh:
 
Natebishop3 said:
This was a perfect example of what Steve Blake looks like when he's hitting everything. We don't see this Steve all the time. That's the absolute best Blake you'll see.
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This is a perfect example, but you'll see much better this year.

[video=youtube;Kcbq0Uz1WWo]
 
If by at his best you mean the score keeper padded his assists then yes that was a great game of excellent score keeper help.
 
The Sebastian Express said:
If by at his best you mean the score keeper padded his assists then yes that was a great game of excellent score keeper help.
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I only counted two assists that weren't legitimate. 12 assists in a quarter is still pretty amazing.
 
B-Roy said:
I only counted two assists that weren't legitimate. 12 assists in a quarter is still pretty amazing.
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It's Sergio-esque!

What kind of mindset looks to find an accounting error in such an entertaining performance? :dunno:
 
During the game they announced 17,000 people. Heard they rounded it up, but DAMN!
 
Great replays on that youtube clip!
 
My son and I just got back from the game. Here is what I thought!

BlazerBeliever said:
They said they are expecting 12,000 tonight. Not bad for a free scrimmage.
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I think the final count was something like 16,743. It was a record for a fan fest game, the announcer said.

Natebishop3 said:
Andre really didn't look happy with the mic in his hands... lol
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I know, I feel the same way. He doesn't seem very social. But who cares. Did you see how LMA almost didn't even want to talk? He tried to pass the mic to Blake. I took that as he was mad at the team for not signing him and that is his way of making it known. He doesn't even want to talk to us. I got bad vibes from LMA tonight.

The Professional Fan said:
Dude, LMA's arms are NOTICEABLY bigger. What a beast he's turning in to. Hopefully he'll grab some more boards with those guns. Could he and Oden both average 10+ boards a game?
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I agree. LMA hit the gym HARD this year. And his new tattoos make his arms look bigger too. Yes, I think easily they could get 10 boards a game. Oden\LMA

Fez said:
Cunningham has nice form on his jumper.

Rudy's passing is very PG-esque!
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Yes and yes! DC is VERY good. He is a mini-LMA with a lot more athleticism. Nice mid-range jumper, will grab boards and can dunk with the best of them.

BengalDuck said:
Oden has probably 10 points 5 boards and a block.
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He was at 10 and 10 (not sure about blocks) at the end of the 3rd. He was a BEAST on the glass. If he got a rebound for every ball he touched in the game, he would have had 20 rebounds at least. He is a MONSTER on the glass. I am not really worried about Greg anymore.

Fez said:
I have a comparison for Cunningham:

Juwan Howard. A mid-range shooting PF who'll grab some boards.
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Not a bad comparison, but I think my comparison of a mini, more athletic LMA is a better comparison. Dante is good. That kid is going to make Outlaw gone by February.

Nikolokolus said:
Howard with some sick outlet passes ... Cunningham looking pretty good with his shot, Travis's days numbered?
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I think so!!! I like Trout, but he is useless at 4 and we have too many better 3s. Dante is as good or better than Outlaw, RIGHT NOW!!! Imagine after a few years of seasoning.

B-Roy said:
Zing!
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Indeed!

Anyhow, the teams looked REALLY good tonight. Here are some of my thoughts from the game.

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Center\Power Forward -

Oden is finally the real deal. I am telling you guys, he was a freaking BEAST tonight. I was very pleased with his game tonight. ALL over the glass like a window tinting! (has that one been used before?! lol)

Joel was Joel. Looked good, but I can see him leaving the team next year. Sad when it will happen, but I think it will happen. Especially if Oden keeps improving. I would love to see Joel take a pay cut, time cut and stay with us to get some rings. But he could start on 75% if the teams in the league, if not more.

I am worried about LMA. I am just getting weird vibes about him. He seems, not all there like he was last year. Like, there is not the look of Blazer pride on his face, like you could see last year. He didn't even want to talk in the mic at the pre-game. Immediately I was like, oh shit. LMA is pissed. I think he is mad about the contract.

Howard still has game left in the tank. He is money. Floor leader, great communicator and passer.

Small Forward -

Batum. My man! He looks great!!! I still predict a mini-Pippen type career for him. Kid is going to be something special. Webster also looked really good! But he still missed a few shots where you were like, damn, that form sure looked nice. Too bad he missed the rim. But I am excited for sure about Webster. He has a lot of heart, is a really classy, good guy. And he dunks with power! Which I really like.

Outlaw = chucker. But every team needs one chucker, right? I am not too worried about it and his glue\chemistry is valuable to me. A lot of the guys really, really like Trav. And so does the media.

Not sure if Dante is a SF or PF, but I will put him here. He looks VERY promising and I really, really like the kid. Like I said above twice, he is mini-LMA and will learn a lot from Aldridge.

Shooting Guard -

Roy was Roy, but on cruise at 55 mph tonight. He doesn't need to impress anyone. He is the man.

Rudy looks like he is taking Nates advice about driving more, taking control of the court more and running with the ball on the fast break. Had some good passes. Some good shots. I still feel like I should see more of his 3s go in the hoop.

Point Guard -

Blake, looked pretty damn good, I must say. He is the hardest worker on the team it looks like. He was hustling like a man wanting to keep his starting job. Making shots and looked good.

Miller is a good floor leader for sure, with or without the ball. He is always talking and pointing. He may be a bit odd off the court, but on the court, he is the man. He still seems a bit out of place with our guys, but that is expected until he gets some red and black under his belt.

I honestly wasn't paying much attention to Rex tonight. I can't tell you anything he did, besides a couple of cool dunks in warm ups. I was too busy watching Blake hustle and DC impressing.

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Guys. Our team is going to be really good. I would go to as many games as you can this year. Even if they are nose bleed seats. This team is something special. If we keep this core together of Roy, LMA, Oden, Batum, Rudy, Webster, Travis and Blake... we are going to be a champion in the near future.
 
Juwan Howard throws nice outlet passes.
 
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