Grizzlies Future Direction | Anthony Black, Jaylon Tyson Breakouts | Reed Sheppard Defense Questions
Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you covered in this show.
In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie & Bryce Simon give their 3 biggest takeaways from week 13 of the NBA season.
00:00 – INTRO
04:30 – Grizzlies: What’s real? What’s next?
38:28 – Anthony Black’s Leap Changes Magic
56:24 – Mizzen & Main!
57:59 – Raptors: What are they? Where are they going?
1:21:42 – Reed Sheppard Defensive Conundrum
1:38:39 – Cavaliers: Start Jaylon Tyson & build rotation chemistry
1:50:40 – Kawhi & the Kids Saved Clippers Season
2:06:38 – OUTRO
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26 Comments
Jjj propaganda is nasty. Hell naw big that don’t rebound undisciplined. Paying him 50ms as well are you crazy. Doesn’t use his athleticism doesn’t roll hard or shoot consistent
Memphis is waiting to see whos gonna get number 1 to trade for Ja and get Darryn Peterson
Most people don’t watch magic enough. They still need a PG watching them and Mosley is terrible offensive Coach. Banchero has been out of shape he can’t jump rn he’s no explosion.
Thanks for the in depth raptors coverage Sam. Do you think Jamal Shead is an nba starter on a playoff team? And what’s Ja’Kobe Walter’s upside? Thanks Sam and Brice.
reed will have stretches where he’s solid defensively and scorching hot on offense yet ime still will not play him extended minutes. i honestly don’t know what he’s supposed to do, it feels like he gets held to a different standard than the rest of the roster.
Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black in the backcourt is great. But Suggs can't stay healthy, which is frustrating. Need to move JI's contract. He's a great locker room guy and a great defender, but that contract gotta go.
As a Cavs fan, I couldn't believe we got Jaylon Tyson where we did in 24 and I'm happy to see my hype come to fruition. He should be our starting 3 man going forward. He's such a dog and is developing such a well rounded game
Is CP3 so washed he does not have a 1/2 season in him to help the Rockets with their PG issues? He would be cap friendly and would be a great teacher for Sheppard and could give 20 – 25 mins a night. He would hold up better on D than Sheppard for now, no?
Bane is starting feel like the odd man out for orlando. They might have to cut their loss to fill out the rest of their roster.
Magic fan. I think the debate is Suggs vs Black. Suggs can’t stay healthy. If Black continues to show increased development, I’d find a suitor for Suggs.
Thoughts on a KAT for Suggs and WCJ trade for both sides?
Sam's JJJ trade was okay but NOOOOO to moving off Ron Holland.
Could the Grizzlies be a Giannis team? They have the spacing big you need to pair Giannis with already, and a lot of pick capital since they own their picks and a bunch from the Bane deal. Ja gets you most of the way money-wise and they have some interesting young pieces (Coward, Edey) that the Bucks could be interested in.
There’s definitely other teams that may be able to beat their offer (OKC, the Spurs), but those teams don’t actually seem super interested in putting a bigtime offer down.
I thought black was the 3rd best player on magic in the playoffs last yr. (Excluding those who were injured)
Why are you assuming that Edey or Ced can't be #1 options?
Just checked Sam had black 8th on his big board not 5th behind guys like Taylor Hendrix n Jerace Walker..1 spot ahead of Ausar.
No1 else in that draft below them has a great case to be in that zone except keyonte George at 26
However he CONVENIENTLY left out he gave up on black last yr lol. Don’t pretend you were high on him now lmaoo
Can’t tell tone from these comments but this is a friendly pressing! Lol just having fun all respect !
But come on man i rmeber having that argument over black we just gon push past that??
WHO COULDVE SEEN REEDS DEFNESE BEING A PROBLEM?!
The 3rd pick?! I thought that was crazy then. Cs got Pritchard at 30 what’s the difference?
I think being too high on Reed n too low on black is evidence sam either overvalues shooting or undervalues defense. Sam went under on Detroit bc they lost Beasley n hardaway jr of all ppl lol. I think there are some underlying beliefs that are leading you wrong Sam!
N I think Sam is a pretty good proxy for “spreadsheet fc”. – which is a big part of the nba community.
This concept is one of my beefs with them. I recently promoted Jason from hoops tn with a mailbag question abt this concept but he’s doubling down on the half court offensive surgery being soooo much more valuable than defense that some1 like brunson is a top tier superstar for him. Which is crazy to me
Posting this for the sake of basketball understanding ! N sake of showing love where it’s due!
Call me crazy but I would love a Paolo for JJJ trade. Paolo has a higher probability of become a 1st option than Jaren and with all the shooting on that Grizzlies squad he would get more space to drive. He would also have a great shot blocker behind him in Edey who would help his defensive lapses. Jaren could play the 5 in Orlando and give Franz more space to operate and create for others. He is a poor rebounder for his position so the Magic players who are all pretty strong for their positions could help him in that regard. Franz has shown the flashes of a number one option at times and could get there given more opportunity and space. Bane and Jaren already have chemestry and would play well in bench lineups together.
Best bball pod BY FARRRR
I’d give up Holland (and I love Ron), Ivey, and 3 first for JJJ. Gores will pay but I’m not giving up Ausar. He’s a game changer on defense without any offense right now.
I had Antony Black 8 on my big board during his draft process, and had Tyson at 12 or 13 on my big board during his draft process. Love seeing both of those young guys break out for their teams, and maybe my evaluating process is getting better over time.
Jaren being cool wasting his prime not being on a contender is untenable. And, Zach Kleiman has tried to get higher tier players to Memphis, but very few players want to come to Memphis. So, you're asking Jaren to pin his prime on the far-fetched hopes of Memphis getting a Top 5 pick, Zach Kleiman drafting or trading for a true #1, Coward being an All-Star type, & Zach Edey staying healthy when he's already had serious ankle/foot problems. And, in reality, Ja is also not a #1, he's really a #2. He is a rarely available player & inefficient scorer with no 3 or midrange who is also a poor defender. Ja also gets shut down easily in the playoffs & his mental/emotional can't deal with the frustrations of the game when it's not going his way. Also, Jaren is not at all being optimized under Tuomas Iisalo. At one point, he was at his lowest usage rate since his rookie season. He's gonna continue to stand in the corner while guards do all the scoring.
getting off of Quickley's contract +pick(s) for Ja is worth the gamble. i hope Toronto do it
When Suggd is healthy the Magic win. When Suggs is injured the Magic lose.
Last year people wanted to blame Banch, but it's not his absence which causes wind it's Sugge presence
Sam as a Grizz fan great analysis but don’t be telling all our moves lol.