Blake Wesley Check-In Thread

[Dejounte]

Do People Remember Danny Green? He Could Not Dribble Worth A Damn

[The Truth #6]

I see him having an easier chance of learning basic point guard skills than being a 3 and D. Lots of 3/D guys can't get into the lane automatically. Also, his shooting numbers are weird. Terrible from free throw this year iirc but not horrible from 3. (though Bowen was like that otoh). Anyway, just learning basic drive and kick ideas will really help the offense flow. Now that he's stopped his existential crisis at the rim, he's been adding small steps to his game that have been super helpful. So I don't see an all star, but he's so damn determined to work harder than everyone else, I can't confidently say what he definitely won't be able to do. Sounds like a coach's dream. And defense will get him on the court to get opportunities, especially in contrast to Branham.

Anyway. Lots of ways this could play out. I do think once he gets a little more confidence he will improve exponentially.

[BackHome]

If he can just continue to play great defense and start hitting the 3 ball at a regular clip he can have a long NBA career. Do I think he will ever be a starter No but I think he could be a great addition to a playoff contending team if like I said he improves his 3 ball and continues to work on his handles.

[spurraider21]

obviously id welcome him becoming knockdown 3 point shooter, though i dont think he needs to add that to become a good rotation player. granted, he was shooting nearly 39% from 3 in the gleague on good volume, but thats a 12 game sample size. he just needs to be a capable shooter, not a specialist. like Keldon/Osman so teams cant just leave him wide open and sag off him so much the way they do with Tre.

its also true that by giving him space, you also give him a runway. however, despite his speed, he's not much of a leaper. athletically, he's a bigger/stronger tony parker, but he plays with the craft and finesse of a guy like westbrook.

he just needs to develop some form of go-to move while attacking the rim. parker was also famously awful at finishing at the rim earlier in his career, and he had to develop the craftiness over the course of his career. he does need something though. whether its a floater like Trae/Tre, or a middy pullup like DeJounte. but he needs something. right now if its not an uncontested layup you kinda have to hold your breath

[CGD]

Do People Remember Danny Green? He Could Not Dribble Worth A Damn

He really couldn’t. It was cringeworthy.
But Danny was the man; that 2013 playoff run was special.

[Uriel]

The Danny Green comparisons are funny Green was a much better shooter and much more versatile defender (his size allowed him to guard wings, in a way Blake may not be able to do at an elite level).

On the other hand, Wesley is a much better penetrator, much better at intercepting passes in the lane, much better at breaking defenses down and handling the ball.

They’re very different players. Wesley may never be as good a shooter or even all-around defender as Green, but I think his offensive upside as a primary creator is much higher. Wesley has the tools. He just needs to put it together.

[TD 21]

The Green comparisons are absurd.

I wouldn't call him small, he's 6'5". But I do agree that he isn't a natural PG.

He's 6'3'' barefoot or about 6'4'' in shoes. Draft Combine Anthrometric | Stats | NBA.com

He's a combo guard in the mold of Murray to where he's not (yet?) dynamic enough on ball to be a lead guard or off ball because he can't shoot.

Since I doubt he'll ever be good enough at either to be one or the other, his path to prosperity is likely to be passable enough at both to be a utility guard who can fit into virtually any lineup configuration.

[SpursBills]

I wonder if a better comparison for him moving forward would be kris dunn. 6'3", limited creation, limited shooting, awesome POA defender

[mystargtr34]

I wonder if a better comparison for him moving forward would be kris dunn. 6'3", limited creation, limited shooting, awesome POA defender

Kris Dunn is a good comparison.

Avery Bradley is another one. He tortured offensive guards with his defense. Played a great role on the Lakers le team as they’re starting 1.

Blake should model his game after Bradley. Sure you can work on the driving game and if it develops his ceiling goes up another notch or two. But focus on defense and hitting the open shot then go from there. Spurs would need a legit second option next to Wemby ideally at the wing position for Blake to be able to be a 3-D type 1 like Bradley.

[The Truth #6]

Are people suggesting he should be more like a SG and not a PG? Seems like it would've hard for a PG to focus on spot up 3 point shooting when they need to be running the offense to some degree.

[Ocotillo]

Are people suggesting he should be more like a SG and not a PG? Seems like it would've hard for a PG to focus on spot up 3 point shooting when they need to be running the offense to some degree.

I believe that was what he was in college and the Spurs are trying to make him into a combo guard. Another in a long tradition of the Spurs working a guy at the point guard role to increase the ball handlers on the floor.

[The Truth #6]

I believe that was what he was in college and the Spurs are trying to make him into a combo guard. Another in a long tradition of the Spurs working a guy at the point guard role to increase the ball handlers on the floor.

I think with some players it doesn't make sense, like Josh Primo being a perfect example, but with Blake I think it's actually legitimate to try to make him a point guard because he can get into the lane whenever he wants, and in his freshman year in college statistically he was very good in pick and roll situations handling the ball, so with him at least it makes sense to me.

[Brazil]

Do People Remember Danny Green? He Could Not Dribble Worth A Damn

still can't tbh

[Ocotillo]

Yeah, I agree with that (also the point about Primo or Sochan for that matter).

[Kevin]

Blake has way more value as a PG than a 3&D wing so they keep him at PG for as long as possible.

Its kinda like in baseball they keep a pitchers as a starting pitcher for as long as possible before making them relievers because starters are way more valuable.

[mudd]

The Green comparisons are absurd.



He's 6'3'' barefoot or about 6'4'' in shoes. Draft Combine Anthrometric | Stats | NBA.com

He's a combo guard in the mold of Murray to where he's not (yet?) dynamic enough on ball to be a lead guard or off ball because he can't shoot.

Since I doubt he'll ever be good enough at either to be one or the other, his path to prosperity is likely to be passable enough at both to be a utility guard who can fit into virtually any lineup configuration.

and he plays a lot shorter with his release being so low...

[JPB]

Are people suggesting he should be more like a SG and not a PG? Seems like it would've hard for a PG to focus on spot up 3 point shooting when they need to be running the offense to some degree.

Bulls' PGs did that for years (Paxton, B.J Amstrong, Kerr). just bring the ball up the court and give it to a playmaker.

[The Truth #6]

Bulls' PGs did that for years (Paxton, B.J Amstrong, Kerr). just bring the ball up the court and give it to a playmaker.

True but was that more because of the Triangle offense?

[exstatic]

True but was that more because of the Triangle offense?

And Michael being that creator?

[The Truth #6]

Yeah, to me Jordan and the Triangle is an outlier in terms of point guard iden y. But back to Blake, sure he could be a combo guard but I think he'll be undersized as a shooting guard, and so that's why I think he still needs to be somewhat of a initiator or point guard or whatever you want to call it and can't just spot up to make threes, when that's not even his strength right now.

[ace3g]

[tim_duncan_fan]

Guy has been intriguing again of late. One of the few solid defenders on the team. Maybe the only solid defender. And starting to look a little more lively on the offensive side too.

[Dejounte]

[RC_Drunkford]