Quiet Caris & the Nets
The big news in the Nets win over the Warriors last night was Kevin Durant's return from injury to play like the star he is, and pairing with his pal Kyrie Irving. That was the focus in the New York Times, ESPN online, and Sports Illustrated online.
None of them mentioned Caris LeVert. After all, he wasn't a starter. However, three Nets played 25 minutes, Durant, Irving, and LeVert. And the same three Nets scored in the 20s.
I love when Michigan players do well, even if it doesn't make the news.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
The warriors defense was horrid, but the Nets look like a top 3 team in the league. KD and Kyrie, with Caris, DimWiddie, Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen, and DeAndre Jordan as a supporting cast seems like the clear Eastern Conference Favorite.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
I don’t follow the NBA, but I would love to see the Nets be able to compete for s title. Hate seeing the same teams repeat their runs deep into the playoffs. Wouldn’t mind seeing Caris get a ring
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:56 AM ^
Cannot agree more....everyone acts like the decision to have Caris lead the 2nd team is made in a vacuum. Joe Harris (a 50% 3-point shooter) offers the better fit with ball hogs Kyrie and KD because he sits on the 3 point line and takes one defender out of the box. Plus, the free flowing Phoenix Suns offense they have adopted can allow Caris to be Caris when he is the star on the 2nd team. In any case, not sure another champion contender is out there offering a starting position so ride this one as far as it gets you.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:19 AM ^
A lot of chatter for him being 6th man of the year. That seems ridiculous given his talent and production to be considered a bench guy.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
I think it’s best for him. He’s a player that is best with the ball in his hands. Playing a majority of his minutes with both Kyrie and Durant on the floor is not going to allow him to do that.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
Very true. It just seems silly that he would be the #1 guy on most teams and is clearly the #3 guy on the nets and yet he could potentially win an award for being the best 6th man.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
If he’s your #1 player, your team is probably pretty bad. Love Caris but he’s not quite on that level yet and probably never will be.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
Caris isn’t a top dog. But he’s a championship-caliber third piece.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
He's the lead ball handler for the second unit, which is exactly the role he should have. He's also going to be part of their "closing" lineup where's he on the floor with KD and Kyrie.
It wouldn't surprise me if he does end up starting though, just because.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:24 AM ^
Same game, Jordan Poole, 18 mins, 2 pts. So wish he would have stayed another year.
Edit: I wished he'd have stayed being a selfish fan. I also think another year under Beilein would have helped mature the kid and would have benefited the team. But I would be the first to recommend kids looking at a 1st round grade and associated money to leave. We go to college in order to make money. Jordan is a success no matter what happens from here.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:40 AM ^
Why, so he could ball hog on offense and suck on defense?
I like how people think that every college player will magically fix all the holes in their game if they play in college one more year. That only works when someone actually wants to develop and improve their weaknesses. Jordan is not that guy. Is he who he is and it was time for him to move along.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:00 AM ^
Players like Poole are what made Beilein leave Michigan and ultimately leave the NBA. All for the better at this point, and I wish Poole nothing but the best.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
He was not going to start playing defense if he stayed another year. He thought he was much better than he really was
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:23 AM ^
Terrible take. Thought he was better than he was? Well, he thought he was a first rounder and then was drafted in the first round, so I think he is as good as he thought. Realistically, if he comes back, how much higher in the draft does he go?
I get it, he most likely would have improved with more time in college, but he probably never wanted anything in his life more than being an NBA player and college was just a stop in that direction. If you can get drafted in the first round, you should declare. He made 2 million last year and around the same this year.
He clearly made the right decision for himself, why shit talk the player who hit arguably the biggest shot of the last 20 years for us? The dude just turned 21, cut him some slack. I think he will stick in the NBA for 10 yrs as an off the bench scorer. Would one more year have drastically changed his ceiling? Doubtful. So get paid. A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, not even factoring in potential injury risk.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:37 AM ^
Agreed. Financially, it turned out to be the right decision since he got drafted 1st round. Basketball-wise it most likely turned out to be the right decision as well. G-league + decent minutes on the Warriors + pro coaching is a superior development track than college basketball.
He's getting the opportunity to develop and is being given a major opportunity as a contributor. Given that fact, even if he flames out of the NBA he'll have made the right decision.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
Turns out Jordan made an excellent decision:
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/jordan-poole-31587
He can work on his game (such as it is) full-time while getting paid. If he wants to "play school" later (hopefully the case), he'll have plenty of money available for tuition.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
ANYONE who gets drafted in the 1st round made an "excellent decision", unless they are so much of a can't miss that they were a lock to go HIGHER the next year.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:34 AM ^
Nets are relying on injury prone guys to last a whole season.
Kyrie thinks a basketball is flat
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
I don't often laugh at comments, even brilliantly witty ones. Yours made me laugh.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:56 AM ^
Need to get Caris down to the Heat to play with Duncan.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
With all due respect, Caris isn't quite the basketball media star like the other two. But don't fret, his team knows how valuable of a player he is. And that is all that matters.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:24 AM ^
Not fretting at all. LeVert's 20 points & 25 minutes show that the Nets know what he can bring. Just pointing out another example of the discrepancy between a narrative and the work behind it.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
Durant is one of the top 3 players in the league, arguably the best when healthy.
Kyrie, while he can be a locker room cancer, went to 4 straight finals with Cleveland as the #2 guy, and hit the shot to win Cavs the 2016 Finals in game 7.
Caris is a nice player and one of the best 3rd options in the league, but he has none of the accomplishments of the other two as of yet. I don't think this is a narrative or hype issue.
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
Cleveland traded Kyrie so he didn’t go to 4 straight finals.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
You're pointing out a media narrative based on a bunch of online recap articles after a single game in which the main story is how a generational player made a much publicized return.
The bench player didn't get a shout out for scoring 20 points. I don't think that's too abnormal. Also the TNT announcers spent plenty of time praising Caris and discussing his role.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
Totally agree. Caris has always been quiet. I love kids like him that just want to play basketball and compete and stay away from all the other drama.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
Jamal Crawford 2.0
I could see him in this role for years - a perfect tool off the bench to attack or neutralize.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
Honestly could be a great thing for Caris. Keeps his legs fresh, efficiency up, reduces chance of injury, and depending on how long he stays in this role it could add years to his career. He still plays a major role even coming off the bench.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:47 AM ^
Personally, I think it would be a shame if he settled for Jamal Crawford 2.0. Crawford had a great career. But I think Caris' ceiling is higher.
He can be a top 5 shooting guard in the league. Good shooter. Great attacking the rim. Can create for others. All-NBA level defensive ability. He's got it all.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
Jamal played in the league at the wrong time. Today he would be like unto a god.
December 23rd, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
I loved watching Crawford, but Caris is a much more complete player -- a lot more physical attacking the rim and a way better defender. Not to blaspheme a guy who carved out a 20-year career, but Caris has physical tools that put him on another level when healthy.
EDIT: what allezbleu said
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
Caris is the man, always rooting for him.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
He’s always been a quiet,”ASSASSIN!”
GO BLUE!!!
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
Brooklyn and Miami are now my teams.