NBA players played basketball alongside their NBA teams this week. Most of them played for the first time since the previous season ended. Training camp brings hope to all organizations, but some preseason happenings matter more than others, with the exception of the Spurs, who don’t seem to think Gregg Popovich would be a good title bet. Here are his five points from his first week of training camp…
Anthony Davis shooting
early revelations from lakers camp is it Anthony Davis He said he played much of last season with a wrist injury.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but since January I’ve been battling a wrist injury all year. No, but it was difficult to shoot the way I wanted to.
Oddly enough, this could be good news for the Lakers. At least that explains why Davis’ shot count has dropped in 2022. At least he tried one game. He was demoralized with his 17.5% of his threes caught and shot.
The Lakers certainly need a better shooting version of AD to hope to be a serious contender this season. Even if he doesn’t, a poor shot like he did last year would be death knell for a team in Los Angeles with a chaotic roster. need to open the floor to If a wrist injury was really the cause of his struggles, it’s welcome news for Davis to say he feels 100% healthy heading into this year.
Ben Simmons at Five
For those who want to see Ben Simmons Take on a Draymond Green-esque role Net, good news: both Simmons and the coaching staff seem to have an idea. When Simmons finally hit the floor, both Steve Nash and himself answered in the affirmative when he was asked about the Brooklyn playcenter.
“If he’s the only big, it’s definitely going to play him,” Nash said of putting Simmons on the five. “But he’s also our playmaker and point guard.”
“I love playing five,” Simmons said this week. “I do not care.”
Center Simmons isn’t just using his talents wisely, he’s also a must-have for the Nets. Brooklyn’s only returning player is Nick Claxton. He’s gifted, but his free-throw shooting can put him at a disadvantage. Day’Ron Sharpe may be able to run some, but he hasn’t been proven.When markieff morris It will probably take a few minutes, but he is too small.
Simmons finds success sandwiched between shooters.And in Brooklyn he Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry When Joe Harris All at once. Theoretically, such a lineup could pass, cut, screen, run the floor, and ultimately defend without having to worry about clogging the floor for all the space your teammates could provide. Releases Simmons to It was Simmons’ hypothesis, which always sounded intriguing, and in Philadelphia it was not very realistic. Joel EmbiidThe new version of Simmons is still far from reality, but at least we admit that everyone wants to try it. Whether Brooklyn would dare to go so small against a team like the Sixers would be remarkable.
jimmy butler not at the four
What the Heat are doing to make up for their losses while we monitor their positions PJ Tucker? Apparently, Jimmy Butler Not keen on picking up all the slack.
When asked on Media Day if he would slide up to Tucker’s original position, Butler said, “I don’t care about those speculations. I don’t play four.” If they really wanted to talk about playing four, I could, but I don’t play four.”
Butler’s comments were partly sarcastic (he played about four games for Miami in the postseason), but he has a point. Playing him at power forward in the regular season would be a risk for the Heat, which can’t strain its star to that level before the playoffs.
so who have Are you taking rep? Unless Miami can go out and get someone like Jae Crowder, Caleb Martin is the clubhouse leader. Like Tucker, Martin is petite, but the similarities end there. The pros are that Martin is athletic, can defend the wing, plays in transition and has a promising jump shot. It’s about whether he can protect the big players, and whether he can make up for the communication and intangibles that Tucker brings to the team.
The Heat almost revived the same roster as the team that made it to the 2022 Finals. It feels like a risky proposition because improvements were made elsewhere in the conference. Expecting internal improvements from Martin is a gamble.
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James Wiseman’s preseason debut
Ok, technically it’s not a training camp. Still, in his first NBA-sanctioned game since 2021, Wiseman made a promising comeback. Warriors At a preseason exhibition with the Wizards of Japan. In 24 minutes of play, Weisman added 8 rebounds, 1 block and 1 assist as he scored 20 points on his 8/11 shooting. The former No. 2 pick, rather surprisingly, missed all of last season, missing out on the Warriors’ championship after knee surgery cut his rookie campaign short.
After losing several veterans in the title rotation, it’s clear that Golden State’s front office expects contributions from younger players to bolster its title defense. If Wiseman is healthy, he could bring a new dimension to the team with his skill set, and at this point, it’s not worth fighting over whether Wiseman can live up to his No. 2 pick pedigree overall. What matters is whether he can be a valuable addition to a competing team, and on paper at least, he’s an exciting fit next to the Warriors’ core.
Weisman’s soft touch could potentially add a shooting element that Dubs’ other bigs lack. He’s also more athletic than Draymond Green or Kevon Looney, and Stephen that his curries could be the sort of vertical pick-and-roll threat that Curry never really played in this dynasty era. means
A well-rounded Wiseman could really extend the Warriors’ championship window. Being relied upon to maintain a dynasty is a lot of pressure for a young player, but Weisman has literally taken the first step by at least flooring in Tokyo.
Zion Williamson dominates
how good it was Zion Williamson In the first 5-5 scrimmage in Pelicans camp? Larry Nance Jr. told reporters that Zion didn’t even know he wasn’t missing a shot.
“He’s like Z,” Nance Jr. said after practice. None of us are expecting it any time soon, but give it a shot, I have to be honest with you, man looks good. It will take time for everyone to adjust to him. It will take him some time to adjust to everyone, but he can’t help but be impressed.”
Head coach Willie Green added that Williamson played alongside CJ McCallum. Brandon IngramHerb Jones, Jonas Valanciunas At scrimmage, the quintet was expected to be the starting five for Pells. I couldn’t help but be encouraged not only by Williamson’s participation, but also by playing with a group that had a successful stretch last season. Green will have to find a delicate balance this year. While deploying Williamson’s vast talent pool, he must continue to capitalize on the effectiveness of the players who brought Pels to the playoffs.
Of course, Williamson will have to prove he can succeed against real opponents. And defensively there are certainly question marks about the expected starting group. But considering Zion was at risk of an alleged flight with an injury just a few months ago, he’s healthy and gelling with the starters is a good place to be.
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