Illini in the NBA

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#476      
I think Coby brings more punch to the rotation, but coaches love consistency and Ayo has been that. It’s gonna be hard to balance because you might have to choose if you want to sacrifice that consistency and hope for one of those nights Coby goes off. If you make that trade and Coby doesn’t go off, it might not end well for you.
 
#477      

Good article on Ayo and others from the area that the St. Today reporters cover...........Also some from national reporters on various topics......

Info on many former misery players including two named Smith...

Couldn't find anything about the third Smith though.........maybe Charmin is stocking toilet paper shelves at a store near us somewhere.....

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“I always say you can watch a guy play for 10 minutes, you can figure out if he can play or not,” head coach Billy Donovan said after the Bulls 118-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. “It takes a long time to figure out a guy that’s kind of got that “it” factor. He’s got the “it” factor. He’s got that.

“What I mean by that is he’s going to impact the game. He’s going to influence the game, and he’s got a great drive. He’s incredibly motivated.”
 
#478      
*** non-Illini ***

No Bulls thread, so putting this here. How dumb is the Pelicans front office? Can't believe we got Lonzo Ball for virtually nothing, except money.

Haven't followed The League in years (D Rose, Jimmy Butler), but Ball has far exceeded my expectations. Great acquisition.
Pelicans never understood how to use him either, which is unbelievable. An unselfish, knock down shooter with great passing should be an easy fit anywhere. Zo has always had flashes of this, but credit him for working his tail off to get consistent
 
#479      
Pelicans never understood how to use him either, which is unbelievable. An unselfish, knock down shooter with great passing should be an easy fit anywhere. Zo has always had flashes of this, but credit him for working his tail off to get consistent

He seems to be a knock down shooter (or reasonable facsimile) now, but wasn't he a lot more streaky previously?

But yeah, it's pretty clear that Ball has worked very hard on his game and it's paying dividends.
 
#480      
He seems to be a knock down shooter (or reasonable facsimile) now, but wasn't he a lot more streaky previously?

But yeah, it's pretty clear that Ball has worked very hard on his game and it's paying dividends.
He has been even better this year (44%!!), but last year was a good shooting year for him too. His 3pt% has gone up every year he’s been in the league and to be fair, its not like Chicago was the only team that realized it. The Knicks and Celtics wanted him too
 
#481      
He has been even better this year (44%!!), but last year was a good shooting year for him too. His 3pt% has gone up every year he’s been in the league and to be fair, its not like Chicago was the only team that realized it. The Knicks and Celtics wanted him too
Dude, your avatar is bad @$$! Just saying.
 
#483      

Good article on Ayo and others from the area that the St. Today reporters cover...........Also some from national reporters on various topics......

Info on many former misery players including two named Smith...

Couldn't find anything about the third Smith though.........maybe Charmin is stocking toilet paper shelves at a store near us somewhere.....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


“I always say you can watch a guy play for 10 minutes, you can figure out if he can play or not,” head coach Billy Donovan said after the Bulls 118-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. “It takes a long time to figure out a guy that’s kind of got that “it” factor. He’s got the “it” factor. He’s got that.

“What I mean by that is he’s going to impact the game. He’s going to influence the game, and he’s got a great drive. He’s incredibly motivated.”
isnt Charmin playing for old Brucey at KSU this year?
 
#485      
Not NBA but Giorgi B. only got four minutes last night in the G-League opener for the Grand Rapids Gold, which is kind of a bummer. I don't have ESPN+ and I haven't seen a game summary, so I don't know if he got hurt or if it was just a coaching decision.

Yeah, I mean you'd want him to play more obviously, but you gotta look at it this way: He's an undrafted rookie. Even in the G-League, he's playing with and competing for minutes with guys who've played professional ball before. In some cases for years. His teammate, Nik Stauskas (🤮) was a first round pick in 2014(!!!). He's going to have to start from the bottom and earn his minutes. I think it's great that he has the opportunity. Let's be honest, did anyone, even during his incredible freshman year, see Giorgi B. as an NBA player? If he gets even a cup of coffee with an NBA team, whether it be this season or three years from now, he will have beaten the odds. Dude's achieved a lot since he came in as the #373 recruit in his class.
 
#489      
Two thoughts:

1) It's got to be great for Ayo that he plays with/against DeRozan, Lonzo, LaVine, and Caruso every day in practice. So much speed, skill, creativity, vision, and shot-making in that guard group.

2) Another impressive performance from Coleman Hawkins tonight against Arkansas State. Could Hawkins be the current Illini who gets drafted in the highest draft position? A lot of Illini>NBA draft talk centers on Kofi and Curbelo; meanwhile, NBA scouts may like the fit of Hawkins' game and stature and move him up draft boards in 2022, 2023, or 2024.
 
#490      
I got to watch Ayo play in person tonight when they visited the Warriors. He hit two 3s in a row early in the game, and guarded Iguadala, Wiggins and Curry. So exciting to finally get to see him live.

Ayo can play with the big boys and I’m encouraged about his future in the NBA.
 
#491      
Two thoughts:

1) It's got to be great for Ayo that he plays with/against DeRozan, Lonzo, LaVine, and Caruso every day in practice. So much speed, skill, creativity, vision, and shot-making in that guard group.

2) Another impressive performance from Coleman Hawkins tonight against Arkansas State. Could Hawkins be the current Illini who gets drafted in the highest draft position? A lot of Illini>NBA draft talk centers on Kofi and Curbelo; meanwhile, NBA scouts may like the fit of Hawkins' game and stature and move him up draft boards in 2022, 2023, or 2024.
Have we moved from Hawkins not making the rotation to this is Hawkins last season before the NBA?
 
#493      
one other random thought... after seeing him play in person, my wife and buddy both said compared to the other NBA players in the game, Ayo looked very young. "he's still a baby!"
 
#495      

Update: Ayo is still pretty ok at basketball
Great job Uruguay! "Ayo no fear of anyone". Theee are players like Jordan Poole doing well on good teams that bounced around the G league. Ayo had a leg up that he has become a rotational player immediately. Becoming a Caruso type player, D and 3 with PG skills can earn him life changing money. I think he has a higher ceiling than Poole or AC.
 
#497      
Wow great move - there wasn't even much of a screen there so it was basically just ISO AYO. Add in the finish with the big man Zubac defending (in good position too) and it's a pretty impressive drive. *chefs kiss*
It was. Ayo is definitely learning what he can and can't get away with, particularly with respect to driving. The NBA is an entirely different animal and, to his credit, he's adapting. Great to see.
 
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