2019 Draft, Pick #30 - Kevin Porter Jr., USC

[inliner311]

Absolutely agree.

But what's more surprising is how good Porter is at creating for others. In fact, I actually how well Sexton and Porter play together. Now, you obviously need Cedi or some type of playmaking SF to go with them, but I really like the Sexton-Porter backcourt and maybe let Garland run the 2nd unit.

Porter also is a lot better of a defender than I ever dreamed he would be even at his peak. Dude had 3 steals last night! Now, granted, he also gave up 55 to Harden but I still loved the way he played him.

I think the big downside of jumping the gun on starting Garland is that the team can't just test out who works best in the starting lineup with Sexton. If Delly or Knight was starting, it could be easy to say they needed rest and they could make some test runs with Porter as the starting SG. Also we would know how well him and Garland played together because they would have been in the second unit together for 20+ games.

I think Porter could be the first sub in and they could let him get some SG minutes with Sexton and the starting lineup.

 

[sailfish]

KPJ > Garland and I don't even think it's a debate.

Then ONLY reason Garland is starting over KPJ is he was drafted 25 spots ahead of KPJ.

 

[Cavatt]

HE didn't give up 55 to Porter by himself. Sexton was his main defender.

I will say that you need a good team defensive scheme to stop Harden, and I guess Beillein didn't watch the tape? we should have double teamed Harden by leaving Russ' man, or shadowing him and not letting him even let him get a shot off,,, force him towards Russ' man, especially with Henson in the game.

Porter has a good feel in the PnR and is a willing passer. All good signs.

I totally disagree with this. Harden will destroy you if you double him. He only got 1 wide open shot and he bricked it. I thought he Cavs did everything right and baited him into doing everything himself. They were in a perfect position to win that game and Kevin Love and JC lost it. That is all there is to it. They played good D on Harden and he made like 6-7 tightly contested 3. He shot over his percentage which has been bad lately on tightly contested shots. I thought KPJ did great on him defensively. This is really a case of a great player hitting those contests.

I really didn't care that Harden had 50, the rest of the team didn't do much besides Westbrook abusing Delly.

IN the 4th KPJ went toe to toe with Harden and the vets lost them the game because they turned it over and missed shots that honestly KPJ earned to take. He hit that clutch 3, it was beautiful.

Absolutely agree.

But what's more surprising is how good Porter is at creating for others. In fact, I actually how well Sexton and Porter play together. Now, you obviously need Cedi or some type of playmaking SF to go with them, but I really like the Sexton-Porter backcourt and maybe let Garland run the 2nd unit.

Porter also is a lot better of a defender than I ever dreamed he would be even at his peak. Dude had 3 steals last night! Now, granted, he also gave up 55 to Harden but I still loved the way he played him.

Both KPJ and Sexton play hard, and moreover they can play a little D, which Garland absolutely cannot especially against starters. He is too weak. KPJ seems to be able to get as many assists as Garland. So, why not?

The reality is that KPJ is ready for the moment and so is Sexton, but Garland isn't. He needs to be brought around more slowly and he needs to earn a spot like KPJ has.

 

[WorldFreeB]

Absolutely agree.

But what's more surprising is how good Porter is at creating for others. In fact, I actually how well Sexton and Porter play together. Now, you obviously need Cedi or some type of playmaking SF to go with them, but I really like the Sexton-Porter backcourt and maybe let Garland run the 2nd unit.

Porter also is a lot better of a defender than I ever dreamed he would be even at his peak. Dude had 3 steals last night! Now, granted, he also gave up 55 to Harden but I still loved the way he played him.

I'd do that change now for tonights game,,Sexton/Porter backcourt and bring Garland off the bench. Garland never should have started the season..now there is a realistic way to bring him off the bench. Its the only change that makes sense. You don't want to put Sexton on the bench,,,that's a move you make to start next season if Garland has improved enough to be a starter. I think Porter and Cedi (who had 7 assists in 19 minutes Last night) will be the guys that initiate for the others.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I always feel like sailfish is the more level headed, non troll @catfish.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I totally disagree with this. Harden will destroy you if you double him. He only got 1 wide open shot and he bricked it. I thought he Cavs did everything right and baited him into doing everything himself. They were in a perfect position to win that game and Kevin Love and JC lost it. That is all there is to it. They played good D on Harden and he made like 6-7 tightly contested 3. He shot over his percentage which has been bad lately on tightly contested shots. I thought KPJ did great on him defensively. This is really a case of a great player hitting those contests.

I really didn't care that Harden had 50, the rest of the team didn't do much besides Westbrook abusing Delly.

IN the 4th KPJ went toe to toe with Harden and the vets lost them the game because they turned it over and missed shots that honestly KPJ earned to take. He hit that clutch 3, it was beautiful.



Both KPJ and Sexton play hard, and moreover they can play a little D, which Garland absolutely cannot especially against starters. He is too weak. KPJ seems to be able to get as many assists as Garland. So, why not?

The reality is that KPJ is ready for the moment and so is Sexton, but Garland isn't. He needs to be brought around more slowly and he needs to earn a spot like KPJ has.

How can you disagree with this when that has been proven to be the best method of stopping him this season. It's not double team where you completely commit. It's showing a soft double team, usually off of the worst shooter on the floor just to get Harden to dump the ball off and not let him get a shot off or penetrate -- then you stick to him like glue to not allow him to get the ball back.

You don't want to defend him like that from the get go? fine. But when Harden gets that hot, it's nonsensical to not do it and continue to defending him man to man.

 

[Cavatt]

How can you disagree with this when that has been proven to be the best method of stopping him this season. It's not double team where you completely commit. It's showing a soft double team, usually off of the worst shooter on the floor just to get Harden to dump the ball off and not let him get a shot off or penetrate -- then you stick to him like glue to not allow him to get the ball back.

You don't want to defend him like that from the get go? fine. But when Harden gets that hot, it's nonsensical to not do it and continue to defending him man to man.

The dude is averaging 40 points man. No one has been successful guarding him. I think keeping him off the line was great last night.

The way to guard a guy who is averaging 40 is stop his teammates and limit his free throws. You can try to make him give up the ball, but even though he hit 5-6 highly contested 3's I think that is better than a wide open 3 from some of his teammates. He was hot.

 

[Cavatt]

I'd do that change now for tonights game,,Sexton/Porter backcourt and bring Garland off the bench. Garland never should have started the season..now there is a realistic way to bring him off the bench. Its the only change that makes sense. You don't want to put Sexton on the bench,,,that's a move you make to start next season if Garland has improved enough to be a starter. I think Porter and Cedi (who had 7 assists in 19 minutes Last night) will be the guys that initiate for the others.

Totally agree. I think the Porter Cedi duo is not getting enough time. They have been good defensively and at least give us some damn length.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

The dude is averaging 40 points man. No one has been successful guarding him. I think keeping him off the line was great last night.

The way to guard a guy who is averaging 40 is stop his teammates and limit his free throws. You can try to make him give up the ball, but even though he hit 5-6 highly contested 3's I think that is better than a wide open 3 from some of his teammates. He was hot.

He scored 55 with only 5 fts. It didn't work.
He scores 38+ a game because he gets to the line so much. You want to stop him from scoring and getting to the line...forcing him to give up the ball does that.
38 is a scoring average. Some teams help him to less you know...he had his share of duds.

 

[Cavatt]

He scored 55 with only 5 fts. It didn't work.
He scores 38+ a game because he gets to the line so much. You want to stop him from scoring and getting to the line...forcing him to give up the ball does that.
38 is a scoring average. Some teams help him to less you know...he had his share of duds.

Did you watch them defend him last night? They weren't perfect, but they did a pretty good job. 30 pts were from 3. The only one he missed was the one were he wasn't guarded. The other part your aren't recognizing is that they almost won the game. If Porter and JC don't turn it over 4 times in the last 2 min...

2 of those late 3's he hit were killers and Porter was all over him. That's a great game from a great player. It doesn't mean they guarded him wrong.

 

[Cavatt]

He scored 55 with only 5 fts. It didn't work.
He scores 38+ a game because he gets to the line so much. You want to stop him from scoring and getting to the line...forcing him to give up the ball does that.
38 is a scoring average. Some teams help him to less you know...he had his share of duds.

Teams that have held him under 30

Bucks
Miami
Pelicans*(shot 11% from 3)
Toronto
Sacramento*(8-19 2pt 3-10 3pt)
Denver

So, what has been effective against him? Missing shot against some teams he underestimated and having a top 5 defense. That's it. He lost a 50 pt game against the Spurs, and he almost lost another one last night. There's no right way to stop him, I thought making him do everything was sound strategy. There was a point at the beginning of the game last night where Westbrook and Harden had scored 80% of the Rocket's points and the game was tied.

 

[BigZ94]

Start him instead of Garland, don´t care if it will hurt his feelings this is the NBA doesn´t matter when he was picked. Right now DG isnt even playing at a reserve level let him earn his minutes and take some pressure off.

 

[Cavatt]

‘He’s going to be a monster’: Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. provides hope, earns rave reviews following career night

While others were greeting members of the Houston Rockets on the court, Porter lingered underneath the hoop. He was clearly somber -- a different demeanor than anyone would expect following a special night that left many beaming about his potential.

www.cleveland.com

"Porter scored a career-high 24 points on 9-of-15 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3-point range. It’s the most triples he’s hit in a game, the most points scored by a Cavs rookie since Collin Sexton on March 28, 2019 in San Antonio. "

That's just last year, but that is pretty cool. I didn't realize Collin didn't score that much until March. Considering that I am sure Kevin hasn't gotten as many minutes as Collin did last year up to this point, that is damn impressive. It would be nice if we had a rookie people around the league started noticing. The other thing is that the class as whole has been so bad, we are likely to see Porter in Rising Stars and make one of the the all rookie teams if he keeps growing like this and has some more high profile games like this.

Beilein deserves some credit for going with him last night. He is willing to do it with Garland too. Just needs to see more from him.

"He’s averaging 12.8 points on 53.2% shooting and 52.4% from 3-point range over the last five games " Not sustainable, but he looks good.

 

[roozy]

He'll be a monster if they can fix that hitch in his shot* other than that love him as a player.

 

[cabs]

He'll be a monster if they can fix that hitch in his shot* other than that love him as a player.

its much more than a hitch