The Wave Check
Peeking under the cap, assessing the leagues brightest, fun trends, and highlighting players that deserve more appreciation all over the NBA
The Wave Check
Welcome to The Wave Check, a free flowing workspace where I can highlight notable performances, season long trends, and just things that should be appreciated all over the NBA. Sometimes there might be video, sometimes just words, but you will always leave with a new appreciation for someone’s game.
Old Heads Still Hoopin…
Am I going to draw season-long conclusions from preseason games?
Yes. Absolutely.
Chris Paul leads this section, getting his first taste of preseason action against the Lakers.
My main takeaway was the Point God looked healthy. After battling a hand injury through the later rounds of the playoffs - coming back two months later and posting a crazy 11 assist to 1 turnover ratio in just 22 minutes is the type of production that lets you know, he’s back and with comments like this…
If you don’t have the Suns as a top 3 seed in the NBA you have lost your mind.
Kyle Lowry has been dropping dimes all over the court as a member of the Heat.
His style of play meshes so well with the Heat offense, who love to run DHOs, and have skilled big men that can to drive from the perimeter.
He knows how to leverage his own scoring gravity and already looks like the perfect on court fit from a facilitator stand point
Anthony Edwards is coming for the ‘hardest player to guard’ title
This man has true face of the league potential. With a natural charisma that you can appreciate as genuine, his game is MEAN.
I’ve lost count of how many ‘oh my god’s or the amount of ‘no freaking way’s I’ve let out while watching his film. He’s a lebron level transition and half court athlete and can stop on a dime like Luka and Harden.
Plus he says stuff like this *sound on*
Jordan Poole makes the Pacific division interesting
Everyone is focused on the potential return of Klay Thompson to the Warriors backcourt, but Jordan Poole has shown a supreme level of confidence to start this season.
The last time a healthy Klay, Dray, and Steph had a high level shot creator next to them, they were on their way to a 3-peat. Poole is averaging 25 points in 3 preseason games on only 16 shots.
Keep an eye out for the 3rd year guard. His skill set has the potential unleash that unstoppable Warriors offense.
The Chicago Bulls are going to be FUN this year
Led by scoring machine Zach LaVine, veterans Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, and free agent additions Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, the Bulls look to be serious sleepers this year.
I’m a fan of the overhaul Lonzo has accomplished with his jump shot and if his three point shooting holds up, he’ll create a dynamic three point shooting backcourt with Lavine.
If you know me, DeRozan is one of my favorite players and stories. He’s become almost underrated at this point and I’m excited to see him in a new context.
The Bulls played their starters heavy minutes in the preseason and their chemistry makes it looks like a, guaranteed, fun style of basketball will be played every night in the house that Jordan built.
Let me know if you have any other players or questions you want me to to highlight in the next section of The Wave Check!
Twitter: @DuragHoops
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