NBA Rookie Report 2021

[georgiafan]

Nathan Knight has played better then our 6th pick so far this year and it’s not been debatable


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[ehh]

Has Okongwu been fully healthy all season?

[georgiafan]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

Has Okongwu been fully healthy all season?

No he was hurt at the start of the year and missed several weeks. So when you combine that with no practices or summer league with his age its easy to see why he has had a down start to his career. He is getting minutes at the backup 5 now and started looking better of late.

Nathan Knight was a 4 year college guy so its easier for him to step right in even with being undrafted.

Per 36 Stats
OO - PPG 11.5, REB 9.3
Knight -PPG 21.1, REB 10.0 ( also 5 of 11 from 3)

[ojandpizza]

I remember the Hawks played Memphis like the first week of the season and I was thinking who is this Knight guy. Didn't play a ton but had 10+ points in no time, and it wasn't garbage time either I think he was playing in the first half.

After that I didn't really see or hear anything about him until these last couple of games. Makes me wonder why he hasn't been getting minutes all year long, I guess he's stuck a bit behind Collins and Gallo but he's probably a bit more suited to be a back up 5 than either of them. I keep seeing Gallo get stuck in some of those 5 spot rotations when Capela sits. That's not a great fit for the Hawks or Gallo.

[georgiafan]

Quote: Originally Posted by ojandpizza

I remember the Hawks played Memphis like the first week of the season and I was thinking who is this Knight guy. Didn't play a ton but had 10+ points in no time, and it wasn't garbage time either I think he was playing in the first half. After that I didn't really see or hear anything about him until these last couple of games. Makes me wonder why he hasn't been getting minutes all year long, I guess he's stuck a bit behind Collins and Gallo but he's probably a bit more suited to be a back up 5 than either of them. I keep seeing Gallo get stuck in some of those 5 spot rotations when Capela sits. That's not a great fit for the Hawks or Gallo.

Knight has only played in a handful of games. He had one game very early in the year where he played great I believe it was his first real appearance. I think it was vs Memphis because Chris Vernon talked about it on the podcast. He has had some games where he hasn’t done much but I believe this is the 3rd game where he has looked like a NBA player. He also seems to have enough athleticism to be able to play the 4 Atleast some.

Even with OO out Bruno (2nd year 2nd round pick) got most of the minutes at the backup 5 to start the year. Bruno just isn’t any good so he quickly lost his spot. Gallo anywhere on the Court is bad when mixed with Trae. Yea Gallo at the 5 is rough and that’s happened a decent amount.

Knight needs to get more minutes maybe not every game but he needs to play more and see if this is for real.


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[ehh]

How about this Poku dude? Dude's potential sure is interesting.

[ojandpizza]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

How about this Poku dude? Dude's potential sure is interesting.

He might be the most nimble/fluid moving guy at that height/length I've watched other than KD. Dude really just runs and moves like a guard.

[ehh]

Quote: Originally Posted by ojandpizza

He might be the most nimble/fluid moving guy at that height/length I've watched other than KD. Dude really just runs and moves like a guard.

His play the other night on a DHO where he caught the D napping, aborted the DHO/kept the ball and had an open lane for layup was absurd for any 7-footer, let alone a 20 y/o.