It’s alright man. I could count on my fingers the number of games I’ve completely missed in the last 8 years but guess which one I missed: the one against OKC when Steph hit the game-winner. Still haven’t gotten over it almost 3 years later.
2018-10-25 17:08:03 +0000 UTC
WHY GOD WHY DID I MISS THE GAME VS. THE WIZARDS!?! It was my day off and everything! I could have watched the game and I chose not to!
Alch, man, you gotta get that breakdown out quick! I need some kind of better basketball fix than just rapid highlights and box scores for this one!
(sobbing brokenheartedly and watching highlights for the 9th time...)
Owen Salisbury
2018-10-25 16:33:10 +0000 UTC
It’s crazy! At the same time it has given me confidence “like yo! I can do this so much better”
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-25 07:15:05 +0000 UTC
Alch, tonight I stumbled across one of those YouTubers who talks over highlight packages without watching the games. It's like how a child reacts to grown up TV. "Woooowww, they left Kawhi open for three! Why would you do that?" At one point Norman Powell makes a crazy shot and he clearly has no idea who it is, but the second the replay shows the back of the jersey he calls out "Powell!" Millions of subscribers.
Jason Treit
2018-10-25 06:51:12 +0000 UTC
Alch thanks for opening our eyes to Bookers game. After watching this video I paid attention and saw exactly what you were talking about. Because he rarely even lifts his arms on D it's harder to see that he is getting smoked so often. Harden'esk effort level. Sweet stroke though, although his hang dribble is almost as bad as Westbrooks. I wish they would cut that shit out. When Booker, IT and Russ do it at the beginning of almost every drive you realize they need it to get past people and it's creating a distinct advantage, by rule they should call it, but we all know they likely aren't going to. It still pisses me off, that and the moving pivot foot on Harden's step back just kill me...
Russ
2018-10-24 22:46:21 +0000 UTC
He is moving with a bit more confidence. It will take a summer of plyometrics, but I think he can get a lot faster. half of it is mental understanding his size, he doesn't need to leap as much as hop half the time.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-24 15:47:39 +0000 UTC
Yes I realize I will have to. It will probably take me calling a few suns games but I will get it. Hopefully the owner lets him do his thing.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-24 15:38:03 +0000 UTC
Hey Alch Igors lastname is pronounced like KokoSHkov. im happy u respect him so much u try to pronounce:D he is amazing. check his achievements for Georgias or Slovenias National teams. im big fan of him and hope suns will rise from ashes
2018-10-24 10:00:16 +0000 UTC
Hey, was it just me or did it look like DJ is learning to elevate a bit quicker and lighter? As you commented before, in the preseason and first couple games, every jump involved this massive two-footed, deep-knee, arm-swinging attempt at a thunder-dunk. Now--like on that lob where he jumped, caught, and hopped up again--he's looking just a bit lighter on his feet. What you guys think? Alch, am I seeing things, or...?
Owen Salisbury
2018-10-24 07:56:11 +0000 UTC
Got to expand the vocab!
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-24 04:21:59 +0000 UTC
You said “clamps” instead of “clampers” when commenting on Klay’s D. Made my day!
Then again, “clampers” was kind of your thing...
Dave
2018-10-24 03:59:44 +0000 UTC
Welcome Sean! It’s is very noticeable, I try not to complain in my commentary about refs too much. Because I could every night. We all hate foppers. But truth is Steph could sell contact going to the basket better. It’s admirable he doesn’t and also probably why he makes so many tough shots. All the guys that get those calls do that head whip that Ginobli brought to the game.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-24 03:39:31 +0000 UTC
Great content Alc, a fan from Hong Kong.
One thing that I think is not being discussed enough in Reddit but a very heated subject in Chinese forums is the calls that Steph gets. Obviously we are still early into the season but many have noticed that amongst the top scorers of the league (for now), Steph only gets on average 3.3 ft per game, which is significantly less than others. It only makes it worse when Steph gets called for some BS defensive foul on the other end all the time.
Do you share the same concern or do you think this is somehow fair given the fact that Steph's approach to the game? (it is not like Steph does not actively seek contact and constantly drives to the basket)
Sean An
2018-10-24 03:07:19 +0000 UTC
I think we struck gold with Jerebko. His game fits in perfectly with us. He's got a really compact shooting stroke and a quick release. He's gonna have these open 3's all year long. So will Cousins. Mckinnie is a great effort player and he's always been that way. Thru 80+ G-league games, he was one of the best offensive rebounders in the league. I think you probably have enough content to make vids on these past 2 lakers games alone lol. There's some drama going on down there.
2018-10-23 23:37:24 +0000 UTC
You see a lot of guys in these open runs in LA or Miami. I think Klay does more skills and drills in the offseason. So it may take him longer to adjust to game speed.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 22:32:42 +0000 UTC
Great vid Alc, any thoughts on why klay consistently starts seasons poorly?
Lee Elliot
2018-10-23 22:02:07 +0000 UTC
that it does!
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 21:31:26 +0000 UTC
I really wish Loon would pull that elbow J ala DWest I know he has it! But yeah Jonas loves to mix it up in there, we need that.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 21:30:50 +0000 UTC
With Boogie mentoring DJ maybe he will say "hey Ill come off the bench" doubt it! But he is what 28 -29? People mature.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 21:28:05 +0000 UTC
I think he was waiting for Warren to commit to Cook and he wanted Jerebko the whole time. But live I thought he was going to give it to Quinn in a bad spot. The only time you give it to a small guy like that under there is if they are moving fast.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 21:25:43 +0000 UTC
seeing it more will help, all these double flare screen. But ultimately fighting thur more is the answer.
Athletic Alchemy
2018-10-23 21:23:43 +0000 UTC
Looks like McKinnie is going to play himself into more playing time.
Ronnie Meade
2018-10-23 21:16:30 +0000 UTC
Sick video Alchemy
Stevie Ray
2018-10-23 20:42:55 +0000 UTC
I’d be interested in learning what our net rtg. Is with jonas and Loon out there together I feel like they compliment each other really well. Also, the size spacing and physicality that has been so valuable from jerebko seems to me like an early taste of what a revelation a healthy Boogie will be.
2018-10-23 20:40:01 +0000 UTC
Will be interesting to see what happens with Jones when Cousins is back. It won't be too long. Do you really want to remove Jones from that starting spot when he's just gotten comfortable? And he's scoring most of his points assisted by Curry. He's a lot better with Curry on the court bc of his gravity. Cousins may be used as a sixth man on this team.
2018-10-23 20:35:13 +0000 UTC
Hey alch on the fast break with Draymond, Quinn, & Jerebko. I think he was looking for that lob first. Although it was a bucket for Jerebko, I thought the pass was weak. 8/10 a turnover. Your thoughts?
Antonio lee
2018-10-23 20:32:05 +0000 UTC
The team and coaches vote to decide if Casspi gets a ring. I'm sure the voted to give him one. They voted to give Varejão one after he was dropped mid-season.
2018-10-23 20:24:06 +0000 UTC
Great analysis! I agree that other teams are exploiting our switching. It started last season. Do we have effective counters?
2018-10-23 20:22:14 +0000 UTC
Looked it up for ya Alch. Casspi made (just) 10 3-pointers last year; Jerebko has scored 5 so far.
Speaking of Casspi: does he get a ring for having played during the regular season last year? Don't know the rules on that.