Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

I could buy Magic, Bird, mini-Bird, mini-Kareem, and mini-Cooper.

 

Also pretty crazy that we have 4 Brons out there: old Bron, white Bron, white mini Bron, and short bad Bron.

 

@KareemtheGreat33 pointed Ayton is more like Parrish. AR Comp is still Manu imo.

 

I've never liked the Manu comparison for AR. Manu was way more athletic and more of a natural playmaker that could also score, while AR is more of a pure scorer that is getting better and better as a playmaker. Manu is a pretty unique player tbh, I can't really think of another guy that has played like him.

One comp that I've seen and kind of like is a smaller Gordon Hayward. Started as a glue-guy, do everything offensive player and morphed into more of an on-ball creator. Maybe Dragic too. I really try to not only compare white guys to white guys lol but I really can't think of other good comps for Austin. Maybe Brunson, but Brunson is more methodical.

 

Manu was definitely more athletic but AR has always been a playmaker. I mean we've been complementing on his passing for years in his threa.

I like the comparison because they play a herky jerky style with finishes from weird angles and footwork that is unorthodox

 

I think AR's playmaking is similar to someone like Shai's. They can get the defense in rotation and then make the right pass to the open man. But then there are the Luka, Jokic, LeBron types that can create their own passing lanes through anticipation and frankly just more passing talent. I think Manu is closer to those guys than AR. He could hit those cross-court skip passes with velocity. I remember one where he was in the left corner and threw like a curved pass along the baseline to the other corner to Danny Green. AR physically cannot do that, guys like Jokic and Luka can. I think Manu was at that level as a passer but in his prime played within the confines of a plodding, 2000s post-oriented offense.

Anyways, Austin has become more than good enough as playmaker. But I'd still like to see LeBron in with him when Luka is off.

 

I still get the feeling this is a very nice offensive team, but for the playoffs, we'll need another defensive specialist like DFS that can help defend 3 to 5. LaRavia is pretty good, but he's just not that guy.