Lauri Markkanen - Utahin Marsalkka: All-NBA Snub

[adam81king]

...The problem seems to be that Lauri doesn't play for points anymore. He just does what the game gives to him.

That's...*not* a bad thing, though. Many dudes play for points, force shit, and play losing basketball...

 

[DingleDong]

His cutting is under used. If he can get a step on a guy, there isn't a lot they can do once he gets going. His first step is ok, but its his momentum to the basket that is cool.

If you watch any games and just follow what Lauri does on the offensive ends you see him do small cuts alot but they just seem to go unused. All the cuts that are done with Lauri are usually the ones that even the opposing team sees the play but cant do anything because of bad positioning.

 

[weepinwillow]

I dont think he is done learning SF, not even close. I love Markk for making the sacrifice. But learning to play wing when he has played as a big his whole career is not easy, he is basically a rookie all over again, it will take him a couple of seasons to truly get it down. I am not sure he will play there that long the majority of his time as I would love to find a SF with more playmaking, but I couldnt be happier with Lauri, he is way better than I expected at SF and I loved the move.

With that in mind, if he is doing this well already the last month, just wait until he gets even more comfortable next year. Maybe my focus on SF is wrong, and we need to find another backup PG who can also play SG and has some length like Rubio did for us. I doubt we keep all 3 draft picks, but since both our 1nd rounders are early 2nd, atleast one pick should be a backup pg.

i hear this and I also don't hear this.
I can appreciate Lauri's trying to stay in front of some of the quicker wings, but Basketball isn't like baseball or football. It's not like we just asked a former 5 star safety to learn how to play left guard. The NBA has been moving to position-less basketball since, what? Magic? Garnett? LeBron?
He's still spotting up as the outlet 3-ball shooter, he still occasionally will drive when he gets an angle, he still will shoot a fadeaway on a 6'5" or under guy with so-so results, he still struggles to defend at the rim.
He's turning in the same season he turns in every year. Gonna get you 12-16 PPG and occasionally have a big game (as well as one where he's MIA), get 4-9 rebounds, and be tantalizing as a 3 point shooter but ultimately a little bit lacking. You want to hope that the .402 3 pt shooting % is in him, but it might be an outlier.
I think he might be more of the "blueprint" of the SF for the 3 Big line up than the actual guy who plays that SF when the dust settles. Feels like he might be better in Kev's role next year, when we trade Love or the year after when Kevin's contract expires.
Not to say I'm down on Lauri. I like him. He compliments the group well enough to get W's, and when he gets hot, he's a ton of fun. v the Bulls he was on, which was great to see, but the Cavs also tried to keep him on DeRozen at the start, and that wasn't working, and when we get to the playoffs assuming we get there, those match ups are going to be exploited mercilessly.

 

[Cavatt]

What don't you like about his game?

He taps the ball around when he should get a man's rebound. If he can't go get it, box out

 

[DingleDong]

Not to say I'm down on Lauri. I like him. He compliments the group well enough to get W's, and when he gets hot, he's a ton of fun. v the Bulls he was on, which was great to see, but the Cavs also tried to keep him on DeRozen at the start, and that wasn't working, and when we get to the playoffs assuming we get there, those match ups are going to be exploited mercilessly.

I saw this also said on the game thread but had to wait until the nba stats get done.


DeRozan actually took less shots while Lauri was guarding him compared to Mobley and Okoro even though the time spend was only couple minutes longer. Either DeRozan didn't want to try to shoot over/past Lauri or Lauri was just able to put alot more pressure on him compared to others.

 

[Cavatt]

I saw this also said on the game thread but had to wait until the nba stats get done.
View attachment 8016

DeRozan actually took less shots while Lauri was guarding him compared to Mobley and Okoro even though the time spend was only couple minutes longer. Either DeRozan didn't want to try to shoot over/past Lauri or Lauri was just able to put alot more pressure on him compared to others.

I think JB overreacted to DeRozan going past Lauri. Should have left Okoro on White and Lauri on DeRozan

 

[Heat Check]

DeRozan is literally one of the best 1-on-1 players on the planet. Still.

He's almost impossible to stop on single coverage when he's inside the arc.

 

[buzzdog]

If you watch any games and just follow what Lauri does on the offensive ends you see him do small cuts alot but they just seem to go unused. All the cuts that are done with Lauri are usually the ones that even the opposing team sees the play but cant do anything because of bad positioning.

There's a lot of cuts by Cavs players that go unused. Windler, Osman, sometimes JA and Mobley in addition to Markk's cuts often get ignored while DG or Goodwin dribble out the shot clock on the perimeter. To me it would be low hanging fruit for improving our offensive flow if our ball handlers made more of an effort to hit cutters at the right moment when they have some separation. IMO DG still overdribbles at times when he could be cutting loose a pass to an open cutter, or sometimes throwing a high pass to a big with a mismatch in the paint.

I don't see this as a negative but more as an opportunity for improvement if the coaching staff can point the missed chances out during review of game tapes.

 

[weepinwillow]

I saw this also said on the game thread but had to wait until the nba stats get done.
View attachment 8016

DeRozan actually took less shots while Lauri was guarding him compared to Mobley and Okoro even though the time spend was only couple minutes longer. Either DeRozan didn't want to try to shoot over/past Lauri or Lauri was just able to put alot more pressure on him compared to others.

taking less shots vs being able to create action in the offense. DeRozen is a tough cover no matter who's on him, always has been. You kind of have to live with him hitting contested mid-range jumpers and lockdown the rest of the team, which I think was the original plan going in, but with Demar getting into the defense, forcing the double it allowed for other guys to have better than average nights too.

Fact is: Bulls are good even without LaVine and Ball. Derozen is the most important piece for them.

 

[chuck0609]

Well this isn’t good…

 

[PIP]

It’s okay. Up until the last week or so the majority of people hated this guy… Just go back about 7 pages….

No real loss…

 

[Lumbering Guard]

After drilling 3/4 from 3-point range, Lauri landed on his ankle with what seemed like full body weight, and needless to say: it looked mighty bad. He managed to put weight on it as he walked to the dressing room assisted, but that might've been because of adrenaline - He could be sidelined for a long time. Hard to describe how gutted I am. Just when he really had started to find his place and confidence offensively.

 

[chuck0609]

It’s okay. Up until the last week or so the majority of people hated this guy… Just go back about 7 pages….

No real loss…

He’s a big piece to this team. His length helps make this thing go, and his shooting was warming up a bit.
I hope it’s short term- they’ve had enough season ending fucking injuries.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

It’s okay. Up until the last week or so the majority of people hated this guy… Just go back about 7 pages….

No real loss…

Fans hate everyone when they get in slumps. Right now it's Love. Maybe he can get hurt again too and we can get both Windler (for Lauri) and Wade (for Love), and everyone can be brought back down to Earth again.

 

[PIP]

Fans hate everyone when they get in slumps. Right now it's Love. Maybe he can get hurt again too and we can get both Windler (for Lauri) and Wade (for Love), and everyone can be brought back down to Earth again.

No right now it’s Okoro….

2/3 weeks ago the people who were bitching about Lauri are now gonna suggest doom for the squad because Lauri is gonna miss time….