10-25-2025, 04:09 PM
(10-25-2025, 03:37 PM)cow Wrote: I'm not putting a ceiling on Flagg, just noting that I'm underwhelmed by his first two games. The good news is that it is two games. The defensive issues were more than just transition. That's not all on Flagg either. The bad news is that Kidd is the coach and the roster around isn't ideal from a construction, injury, or age standpoint as he has less opportunity with the cast around him.
I don't really like the Pippen comparison, but Pippen is one of my favorite players ever. I'm not sure Flagg has that level of athleticism. I'd love to be wrong.
The Pip comparison is to show that even such a great player (and he is one of my fav players as well) didn't come and dominate anyone defensively right away. It was not to say Flagg would reach that level. That is the dream, but as I have said many times, if Flagg is a more motivated Andrew Wiggins, I'm fine with that, because a more motivated Andrew Wiggins would be a heckuva player. Not at the level of a Scottie. Not generational, but a really terrific foundational piece for years to come.
I'll take stock at the half way point and end of the season. It takes time. Dirk fully broke out in year 3. Wemby while great even previously, seems to have taken that leap this year. So I'm not going game by game, let alone 2 games in to make any sort of definitive statements about any rookie. What I've seen, I'm pleased, but yes, I agree with you there's a lot of room for improvement, which I fully expected would be the case on both ends.