NBA Notes — October 25th, 2016

Knicks @ Cavaliers, Jazz @ Trail Blazers, Spurs @ Warriors

Knicks @ Cavaliers

Key Learnings:

• Knicks half court stuff has a long way to go. Transition looked pretty wonderful though.
• Knicks played healthy small-ball. Melo with O’Quinn and Porzingis variations. Some Rose + Jennings minutes.
• Cavs were pretty cool playing lineups without a point guard.

Random notes:

• Courtney Lee really sucked at looked like he was not in positions to succeed. Force to run PnR against stagnant defense from dribble pitches etc.
• Hernangomez sucked defensively really badly. Keeping an eye out for that.
• Playing Melo-Porzingis small ball frontline isn’t really useful if this is the action you run is it?

Jazz @ Blazers

Key Learnings:

• Gobert was really disappointing at the rim. Couldn’t change Lillard’s shots at all.
• Hill did a wonderful job, bigs let him down in PnR defense and Lillard made a couple of awesome ones. Was fantastic on both ends.
• Blazers have some young upside guys that could work out nicely. Crabbe and Vonleh had nice games. Vonleh had 3 pick-and-pop jumpers and two hook shots. Looked a bit mechanical and slow on both but we’ll see.
• Evan Turner going 1/6 on these shots isn’t an optimal use of money.

Random notes:

• Exum made some plays that show off his size. Nice offensive rebound once over Ed Davis. Could work nicely.
• Overall, Blazers were better in first and Jazz in second half. Jazz offense became too predictable at end trying to get ball to Joe Johnson. C’mon Quin Snyder.

Spurs @ Warriors

Key Learnings:

• Everything was just so impatient from Warriors. Guys drove when there was no lane and spacing was off. Some spacing done incorrectly. Breaking plays in an unhelpful manner. Very sloppy.
• This game had super interesting +/- numbers in multiple ways. Note worthy: Gasol, Parker, Mills, Simmons, Warriors bench.

Random notes:

• I was so focused on the Warriors I didn’t get many insights on the Spurs
• David West may have been the worst player in the sloppy index. WTF was he doing (ended with 4 turnovers).