Random NBA Observations 2025 - 2026

[steph_harden]

He’s a beast

Not as athletic as Stoudemire but can definitely end up more skilled, and hopefully more durable

No way.

Amare had an auto jumper for 20 feet. Was just a gifted offensive player

Averaged 26ppg during his prime.

Duran doesn’t have that kind of offensive ability.

He’s twice the defender and rebounder though

 

[Primetime]

No way.

Amare had an auto jumper for 20 feet. Was just a gifted offensive player

Averaged 26ppg during his prime.

Duran doesn’t have that kind of offensive ability.

He’s twice the defender and rebounder though

I dunno bro,

Spoiler

Duran at 22 years old is currently averaging 19.5ppg on 12 shots per game (65% fg)...
Amare at 22 years old (2005) was averaging 26ppg on 17 shots per game (56% fg) ... with Steve Nash spamming pick and rolls for him. A lot of his offense was on the move as a beneficiary of Nash. Not too different than Duran except Cade is more a scorer than Nash.

Both Duren and Amare were also shooting the same from the freethrow line at 74% at that age, so the big skill threshold will be for Duran to develop that jumper like Amare did during the couple years that followed post-knee injuries.

But elbow jumper aside, Amare's actual offensive game? His foot work was basic and predictable, he was just too explosive for it to matter because ball fake left, drive right and dunk was enough... maybe one counter which was the spin move back left. Even still, he relied heavily on the Steve Nash pnr.

It wasn't until his latter years with NYK after his summer with Hakeem that you started seeing his versatile with the footwork but by then Carmelo was the lead and Stat was too crippled/on the Embiid plan. That said, getting a reliably middy (much less outside) jumper isn't a gurantee but if Duran can? that 19.5 will definitely be up to 25ppg in the next couple years and i believe he'll be able to do more putting the ball on the floor.

 

[42 Monks]

I dunno bro,

Spoiler

Duran at 22 years old is currently averaging 19.5ppg on 12 shots per game (65% fg)...
Amare at 22 years old (2005) was averaging 26ppg on 17 shots per game (56% fg) ... with Steve Nash spamming pick and rolls for him. A lot of his offense was on the move as a beneficiary of Nash. Not too different than Duran except Cade is more a scorer than Nash.

Both Duren and Amare were also shooting the same from the freethrow line at 74% at that age, so the big skill threshold will be for Duran to develop that jumper like Amare did during the couple years that followed post-knee injuries.

But elbow jumper aside, Amare's actual offensive game? His foot work was basic and predictable, he was just too explosive for it to matter because ball fake left, drive right and dunk was enough... maybe one counter which was the spin move back left. Even still, he relied heavily on the Steve Nash pnr.

It wasn't until his latter years with NYK after his summer with Hakeem that you started seeing his versatile with the footwork but by then Carmelo was the lead and Stat was too crippled/on the Embiid plan. That said, getting a reliably middy (much less outside) jumper isn't a gurantee but if Duran can? that 19.5 will definitely be up to 25ppg in the next couple years and i believe he'll be able to do more putting the ball on the floor.

and that's still a world better than Duren's offensive game

there is no world where Detroit throws it to Duren 15ft out, clears out to let him cook, and expects that action to lead to a W from tip off to closing time

 

[RubioTheCruel]

I dunno what's going on with SA but if they beat the Nuggets in the last game and the Lakers win out I think the Lakers get the 3 seed. So it's not a guarantee yet.

Yeah Lakers win ties with both Denver and Houston.