SGA Range Already Looking Improved.

How long before he starts? He just looks like a star and it’d make us so interesting if he could take charge.

His height seems to be a huge asset as he was just shooting over defenders. This is exactly what I was hoping we would do, which is to draft guys with long limbs and additional skills. My biggest nightmare was if we drafted Trae Young or some over hyped prospect. Glad Jerry did the right thing

Hopefully in the first couple months. I think he is going to have no problem proving he is a better player than Milos and Beverley

Jerome Robinson was one of the rookies voted to have the best NBA career. 😄

Not sure that means too much. Based on his summer league performance there are a lot of question marks. I hope whoever voted in that poll has knows more than we do but that’s questionable. I am sure that we are all hoping that gambling on him pays off for us.

Well, I think early on SGA will show how much more of a well-rounded player he is compared to those two. Milos is a great distributor, and his strength has always been his great passing. However, Milos' defense sucks and his scoring isn't that great either. Beverley isn't a good scorer either, nor is his passing anything of note. Beverley's strength is similar to that of Draymond Green, which is good defense and being an overall antagonist to the other team. SGA won't take long at all to be a better player than either

That’s a pretty shocking response, I would never have thought Jerome would be in the top of that poll

Where is the poll from and who are the voters?

the 2018 NBA Rookies themselves did the poll. https://clipperholics.com/2018/08/21/los-angeles-clippers-jerome-robinson-voted-2nd-best-career-rookie-class/

That’s legit and interesting. They should know.

Jerry West seems to know what he's doing when it comes to the draft. I think for me this is why I am on board for completely rebuilding. Even if we are only drafting at the 13 or 14 position, I feel like Jerry West can actually turn this team into a contender.

West and Ballmer hate losing so there is no plan to tank. Let’s see how things shake out this year and how we do in the free agent market next year before becoming a bottom dweller again.

I wouldn't either. Robinson wasn't exactly a nation-wide known player. Even his home state colleges passed on him.

Actually a lot of NBA scouts after the draft we’re saying they weren’t surprised he went in the lottery and he might become the best scorer in the draft, pretty interesting.

Jerome is going to be a stud

Hope that poll turns out to be right! During the summer league Jerome Robinson was hampered a bit by injury, but still did well. Looking forward to seeing him perform at training camp and onward.

I know that SGA is going to be a star, a stud, a future All Star. I think that Jerome has a chance to be really good, but I don't know it yet. He is going to have to prove it to me. SGA has all the tools, and it was obvious in Summer League. Jerome, not so obvious. He could turn out to be just another good player. But I think that Jerry knows a hell of a lot more than I do, so in Jerry I Trust. Jerry can see the heart of a warrior.

Like his game, but he seriously needs to bulk up. Way too skinny

He's gonna be rookie of the year. And Trae Young will be a bust. My prediction

never know when you are joking or not these days, but I do think SGA has a chance at ROY

I really think so because SGA will get a much earlier call from Doc for defensive purposes like Thornwell while Milo and Pat Bev are two injury prone players. His time on the court is pretty much guaranteed. NBA players are going to be motivated to shut down Trae Young and he won’t find his rhythm as he’ll struggle offensively..

Yeah his playmaking and defensive prowess are going to be huge for us.

Trae young seems like he could be a star or a total flop, doesn’t seem like there is a chance for an in between but we will see

BG was ROY and the most highly touted in years. SGA's progress will depend in part about mentoring. What would Pop do? Thank the ghost of Bob Cousey for Sam and Doc (who was a decent PG) and Milos.

The difference in tanking this year vs. not tanking is only a top five pick, vs a 12 or so. Not much advantage when we have money to spend next summer to lure free agents.

We're simply not good enough to be a playoff team any way you look at it (barring a miracle of chemistry of SGA being a Mitchell-level rookie).

SGA will be good. If given 16MPG or more, I predict he can average about 8-11 PPG, with a few assists and rebounds. Not great numbers, but solid. I know he will have some shooting struggles but he will improve over time. I think SGA does have the potential to get ROY. He just has to get the minutes he needs

If he puts up 8-11 ppg without being over 24 mpg, that would be VERY impressive for a rookie, that's just not a small time accomplishment. Even 11 ppg at 24 mpg would be extremely good. The greatness or goodness of numbers have to be examined based on minutes, you can only produce if you are on the floor. 8-11 ppg, a few assists (2? 3?) and rebounds (2? 3?), those are great numbers at the 16 mpg range of minutes (I'm assuming a range of 16-22 mpg). It might not get you ROY because it's about volume numbers for the award and there will be rookies playing 30+ mpg on bad teams putting up stats, whether they are truly good stats or not, but the actual production when on the floor is amazing for a rookie.

At 16 mpg, if he's putting up anything over about 5-6 ppg, that's real good. We have to consider scoring rate here, a guy scoring 8 ppg in 16 mpg is basically like a 17-18 ppg scorer if they are playing that 33-36 mpg range. 11 ppg, even in 20 mpg for example is basically like an 18-20 ppg scorer as a starter. The amount of rookies who even when starting and playing 33-36 mpg that put up 20 ppg is not that many. Kawhi for example put up 7.9 ppg in 24 mpg as a rookie, Paul George, 7.8 ppg in 21 mpg, so if they got 33-35 mpg or so, their scoring rate would have been 10-11 ppg and 12-13 ppg or so respectively. Even going back to a guy like Wade who put up 16 ppg as a rookie, it took him 35 mpg to get there.

If Shai gets only 16 mpg, a stat line of something like 5-6 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg would be very good for a rookie at those minutes. If he does better than that (of course as long as he isn't just chucking) then we really hit a gem.

I honestly think SGA could be some combo between Westbrook and Bledsoe, without the ball hog aspect of Westbrook. His game is made for the NBA, he is going to draw a ton of fouls and fill up the stat sheet. Then you combine that with robinson making defenders guard him tight, this is going to be fun to watch!

Super excited for the season. Even though I know the Clippers intentions are to contend I hope we can slowly slide SGA into the starting role. This is assuming he plays well which I’m expecting.

I actually think we contend better with him as the starter. Look at the lakers, Lonzo Ball literally couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn with his jumper and they won about 3 games more with him in than without (over 82 game average) and that team was horrible. I think SGA is a much better offensive player and could have a better impact on defense as well (Lonzo was no snuff on defense when he gave a good effort).

Gilgeous-Alexander will play well this year.

his physical attributes, like his height and reach, will certainly give him an edge over Westbrook or Bledsoe. The key is whether he can develop and refine his skills as he goes along. As with many rookies, his shooting needs to develop, but I'm excited to see him grow

I think comparing him to an MVP like Westbrook is a bit of a stretch. I’ll be happy if he can be a Sam Cassell level player. Anything more than that is a big bonus.

When rookies come in the league they always compare them to other players. I am not saying he will be Russell Westbrook right away or ever, but I think he will be a guy that fills up stat sheets and leads the team well and can play some really good defense.

BTW, why compare him to Sam Cassell, I don’t even understand where the two are similar outside of SGA and Sam I am both being Clippers PGs.

Edit: Sam did have a nice mid range game and was pretty solid and lay ups and floaters which SGA also excels at

I don't think he was making a playstyle comparison as he said Sam Cassell "level" player, so that's more of an impact / ability statement. Cassell was a very solid PG for many years, always a borderline All-Star, though only making the team once late in his career due to tough competition to get in. Being a Sam Cassell level player is certainly a very good outcome. Sam I Am put up about 19/4/7 in his prime (97-98 to 03-04), getting to the line about 5 times a game with his pump fakes in the post, etc, he was no slouch.

Shai has the makings of a stat sheet filler, and going back to the Westbrook mention, hopefully unlike Westbrook, he actually plays consistent and smart defense . He will be fun to watch, not sure what we will get from him in his rookie year production wise though as minutes are unknown, but either way, judging players heavily on their rookie years raw stats has always been kind of pointless to me anyways, it's about what skills and upside they show. And if they are phenom's, great.

I haven't been this excited by an incoming Clipper rookie since Korolev.

Spit take.

Lol...

Since we're on the topic of rookie seasons, Blake's rookie year was so special. The talk then was- it wasn't could he win a mvp award but how many would he win. Such a distant memory. Here's for a new start with two stars in the making in SGA and Jerome!

Every time i watch Shai play, his movements remind me of Kobe. Obviously he isn't as atheltic as Kobe was so the potential isn't as high, but his play reminds me of a young kobe, mixed with the athleticism of an older Kobe. He has great footwork. He like to drive inside, pull up from midrange, and dish when the opportunity is there. If he can gain some strength and work on his catch and shoot mid range game and his post moves, he can be lethal playing against shorter players. Kobe was a sg, but so was James harden. SGs are the new pgs in the modern NBA and SGA will play both positions throughout his career.

He is just a crafty player. I see a taller, weaker Andre Miller.

I also see a lot of Giannis in a shorter frame. He uses long strides and his length to score very well and likes to use his length on d.

Point is, I see him more of a scorer who can always get a shot up, but can find his open teammates as well. Him and Jerome are going to be a problem soon.

Jerome can already create and score with and without the ball from outside. Jerome was scoring over double teams in college and had great numbers. He is always ready to catch and shoot in anyones face. These two compliment each other perfectly and both are taller than average. I think once Shai sees that he can trust his teammates like Jerome, our offense will flow really well. Just need these guys to commit to the defensive end and we could have the next great backcourt in the NBA. 213 Bros?

Lets just hope Hollywood doesn't get to them like it did with Blake and they can blossom into the players we all expect.

One thing that both of these guys do have according to those that know them is the drive to be great. They both are said to be gym rats always trying to get better. First ones in the gym, last ones out and play with a chip on their shoulders. Very happy with both pics this year and looking forward to this season even though next year is supposed to be our year.

Ahh, yes I missed the “level” part. I agree, if he has a career as good as Sam that would be a big win, anything better than that would be icing.

I said the same thing on another board. Plus not to mention I hear he actually has Kobe's work ethic.. studies film as well. Also Kobe was really athletic but he was never jump out of the gym athletic. His athleticism was more applied to footwork, getting to where ever he wanted on the court, endurance, and fundamentals -sort of like what we should she from Shai. I can see but Shai and Jerome putting up 20 plus per game in a year or two.

Hey, don't forget Afro Kobe, that baseline half windmill / pump dunk is just not something anyone but the top level vertical athletes an pull off. I would still say Kobe was jump out of the gym athletic, he just wasn't Vince Carter athletic vertically, though he beat him in some other athletic areas, but if we look at SG's currently in the league for example, who is more athletic than Kobe? I can't think of many really, but crazy with ethic is what it's all about either way. Shai is a PG, so he doesn't need that athleticism when he's got the crazy length as a PG. As long as he isn't the next Marshon Brooks (he won't be) if anyone remembers him and how much he moved like and looked like Kobe style wise, just not nearly as good of course, he made a sighting last season too on Memphis, lol, had quite the 7 game run.

I'm so hyped up for SGA! Can this season start already!?!?Can't wait to see him work his way into the starting line up and be a leader on this team. His game is so smooth it’s not even funny. Reminds me of a mini Penny and Penny is my favorite player of all time!

Windmill dunks are nice to look at but they do not win games. To make an ARTIFICIAL DISTINCTION, I prefer an athlete not athleticism. That means balance and good footwork, the ability to use your body weight as leverage to move somebody or box out, Knowing how to beat a man with your first step. The ability to stay in front of your man. That's why I admire Kobe. While MJ had dunks, he also did this other stuff REAL WELL. Mini Penny --YES.

I feel the same way. WE haven't had a lottery pick in a long time. When we drafted Blake Griffin, it was crazy to see how he lit the league on fire. At the time, his ceiling was so high. Hopefully, Shai can garner the same excitement but actually deliver what Blake never could. I'm pumped.

At the gym today working on his game. 😄

I am jazzed about SGA too. I hope Robinson is the real deal as well.

😉

Oh yeah!!!