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Down On the Farm

I think if he wants to get to the show he needs to dominate at this level and I will give him the cavaet that most of the Stars players are awful and it is hard to get your rhythm if you are surrounded by stiffs.

Fitts is averaging 18/6 with 2 steals and a block. He's shooting 48% from the field and 82% from the line. The problem is that he's shooting under 30% from 3pt (as is Butler so far). I don't think Fitts is going to dominate in the G-league. For one thing, the Stars run their plays for Butler and Hughes more than Fitts. As you mentioned, guys on the Stars aren't very good, and they can be pretty selfish as well. (For example, Alston is taking 12 shot attempts per game despite shooting 28% FG and 19% 3PT.)

The appeal of Fitts is that he's an NBA athlete, he's a good finisher on the break, and he can create for himself from mid-range as well as knock down 3s. He's also a good enough ball mover to fit in Quin's system. I could see him playing at the SF spot and fitting in.
 
For a point of reference the Jazz have had two players make first team all GLeague: The Minivan and Brantley. Niang averaged 22 ppg for the Stars and Brantley had similar stats to what Fitts has now. I think you can argue that Brantley had better players around him than Fitts does given W-L stats. Here is a list of players that put up similar stats to Fitts with the Stars: Naz, Cavanaugh, Nate Wolters, Eric Griffin, Erick McCree, Isiah Cousins, and Dee Bost. The Mini-van was the only one to break through. Fitts needs to up his game or he will join the discard list.
 
For a point of reference the Jazz have had two players make first team all GLeague: The Minivan and Brantley. Niang averaged 22 ppg for the Stars and Brantley had similar stats to what Fitts has now. I think you can argue that Brantley had better players around him than Fitts does given W-L stats. Here is a list of players that put up similar stats to Fitts with the Stars: Naz, Cavanaugh, Nate Wolters, Eric Griffin, Erick McCree, Isiah Cousins, and Dee Bost. The Mini-van was the only one to break through. Fitts needs to up his game or he will join the discard list.

Fitts has a more natural position and skillset on the wing than Brantley had. I still think Brantley could have worked if he focused on being a Jae Crowder-like 3D guy and stopped trying to create off the bounce. In any case, there was no roster spot for Brantley after the Jazz brought in Gay and Paschall. I think Fitts is a 3.

This is probably Fitts' best game. He looked like the best player on the floor here.

 
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Fitts has a more natural position and skillset on the wing than Brantley had. I still think Brantley could have worked if he focused on being a Jae Crowder-like 3D guy and stopped trying to create off the bounce. In any case, there was no roster spot for Brantley after the Jazz brought in Gay and Paschall. I think Fitts is a 3.

This is probably Fitts' best game. He looked like the best player on the floor here.


I didn't know they played stars games at vivent? Crazy they have a bouncy slide there for the games, I'm guessing it's not there for jazz games.
 
Fitts has a more natural position and skillset on the wing than Brantley had. I still think Brantley could have worked if he focused on being a Jae Crowder-like 3D guy and stopped trying to create off the bounce. In any case, there was no roster spot for Brantley after the Jazz brought in Gay and Paschall. I think Fitts is a 3.

This is probably Fitts' best game. He looked like the best player on the floor here.


That was impressive.
 
Watched the JB highlights and it kinda shows why I hate the G League for development. If they think he is learning to play without the ball and with better teammates they are crazy. He scored mostly handling the ball and creating. It helps to feel comfortable in the schemes and develop but i think for him to be a good player he needs to:

1- Either be given the ball a little bit with the varsity squad.
2- Learn how to play without the ball by playing a bit with the varsity squad.
3 - They could just stop selling us on the narrative that he needs to learn to play with others.... etc. - Because down on the farm he is on ball and running all the actions... and maybe that is his final destination.

Fitts the same way... he's a three and D guy doing with a lot more volume in the G league than he will get in the pros. Not saying he needs to play but just that the G League may be over-rated for some of these guys. Call it Rayjon Tucker/ Morris Almond Syndrome.
 
Watched the JB highlights and it kinda shows why I hate the G League for development. If they think he is learning to play without the ball and with better teammates they are crazy. He scored mostly handling the ball and creating. It helps to feel comfortable in the schemes and develop but i think for him to be a good player he needs to:

1- Either be given the ball a little bit with the varsity squad.
2- Learn how to play without the ball by playing a bit with the varsity squad.
3 - They could just stop selling us on the narrative that he needs to learn to play with others.... etc. - Because down on the farm he is on ball and running all the actions... and maybe that is his final destination.

Fitts the same way... he's a three and D guy doing with a lot more volume in the G league than he will get in the pros. Not saying he needs to play but just that the G League may be over-rated for some of these guys. Call it Rayjon Tucker/ Morris Almond Syndrome.
Don't forget Jack Cooley, Bryce Cotton, Kevin Murphy, Justin Holiday, NWG, Trevon Bluiett and Kevin Kruger as GLeague legends.
 
I think the G-League is great for development. Are they developing in their NBA roles to a tee? No, but it's more about just getting them run and confidence, not to mention experience at something that is closer to NBA style than college (important for rookies).

But Im less salty about this stuff because I love Trent Forrest and think he has more potential than others see.
 
And while Butler's role this year isnt going to be a primary ball-handler, it's hopefully going to be that in the future, so the G-League is better than just sitting on the bench.
 
I think the G-League is great for development. Are they developing in their NBA roles to a tee? No, but it's more about just getting them run and confidence, not to mention experience at something that is closer to NBA style than college (important for rookies).

But Im less salty about this stuff because I love Trent Forrest and think he has more potential than others see.
That's fine... I just think its funny how certain Jazz pundits say "JB needs to improve on these certain things" and then crow about how "smart" it is to have them developing in the G League when they are doing the opposite of the things they need to improve on and may be reinforcing the behavior the pundit seems to think they need to improve. While the pundits are not the end all be all... some of them get their info from conversations with people that matter... and that is my worry. I just hope they are being consistent with Jared.
 
I also think Quin has generally had less tolerance for young players than I'd like... the case of Donovan excepted. This is not unique to head coaches of course, but I think its a bit of a black mark. I think part of the reason Oni is so spastic and passive on the court is that he's afraid to eff up and get yanked. Forrest once he got the rotation spot was clearly just not going to do anything... he seems slightly more comfortable as of last game, but was not looking to shoot on his drives and was not even thinking about shooting an open jumper. I just don't know how he can be so patient with JC at times and not tolerate mistakes from other players.
 
It sounds like Dok is ded. We probably won't see him play the rest of the season. This learned analysis is based on the fact he hurt the same ankle he injured last season and Sarah Todd's interview with an LA Orthopod in the DN as to what Dok's injury entails and the rehab required.
 
The Stars have a game tomorrow against the Lakers GLeague team who have one of the better records in the GLeague. Marques Bolden is supposed to play at center after missing all the games with a thumb injury. He was good enough that the Cavs had him on a 2 way and a 10 day contract last season and he was a McDonalds All-American. The Stars signed two guys out of the Mexican League and waived two of their draft picks. Hughes and Fitts are supposed to play.
 
Stars lost by 7 after leading by 10 at the quarter and 7 at the half. All of the starters were in double figures and Fitts was the only Jazz player to play tonight and imho looked bad. The two guys they brought in from Mexico gave the Stars a real boost a forward and a two guard. DWade's son and Thurl Bailey's son had decent games. Marques Bolden did not play. At least the Stars were competitive against a team with a decent record.
 
Sad night for the Stars. No Jazz players played, their starting center leaves after one minute, they are down 27 at the quarter and at one time were down by 46 and lost by 19. Carsen Edwards led them in scoring with 27, and Derrick Alston and Jared Wilson-Frame (Mexican League dude) had 20 each. Stars only had nine players with Hughes no show and played with eight 99% of the game and one of their players JJ Avila was in foul trouble most of the game. Teague was plucky but couldn't throw it in the ocean.
 
The Clippers bought the 51st pick from Memphis and drafted this kid. He's doing this stuff against Marcus Smart and Josh Richardson. I like the Jared Butler pick, but just remember we spent 6 years and $45M trying to develop Exum...

 
Looks like I was completely wrong about BJ Boston. I couldn’t imagine that a player so horrid in college could be good in the NBA, but he’s proving me wrong.
 
Looks like I was completely wrong about BJ Boston. I couldn’t imagine that a player so horrid in college could be good in the NBA, but he’s proving me wrong.

There was no downside to drafting him. He could be a 2-way player or get cut in a year or so. We gave Jarrell Brantley and Juwan Morgan 2 years to make the team and could have done the same for BJ. This kid just turned 20.
 
There was no downside to drafting him. He could be a 2-way player or get cut in a year or so. We gave Jarrell Brantley and Juwan Morgan 2 years to make the team and could have done the same for BJ. This kid just turned 20.


Sure…I’m the second round who cares. I think I’m BJ’s case his agent probably wanted him in LA and told other teams to stay away from his client. That is getting more popular these days. But if you take him, there’s not much the agent can do besides throw a fit.

I wasn’t a huge fan of his at #30, although that’s not much to lose either if he busted. It was just very uncommon for these high ranked HS kids who stunk in college to ever pan out. McDaniels worked out a year ago. Boston seems to be breaking that trend too.

I’m starting to change my tune on these types of prospects. NCAA basketball gets worse every year.
 
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