Luke Kennard may be the latest Pistons wing to play his way out of the starting small forward spot, as I noted in the Detroit Free Press. Kennard has scored just 24 points over the last six games after a 28-point outing in Philadelphia. The second-year swingman out of Duke was benched during the second half of a 98-95 home loss to Atlanta on Sunday. Stanley Johnson and Glenn Robinson III were also ineffective in that role. “There’s nothing maddening about it at all (but) you want that person to step in and produce,” coach Dwane Casey said of finding someone to fill that slot. “Give some production, whether it’s energy defensively, energy offensively, running the floor, cutting, just playing basketball. That’s what you’re searching for in that position.”
We have more from around the Central Division:
- Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard said that hiring Kelly Krauskopf as an assistant GM had nothing to do with making history, according to Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star. Krauskopf became the first women to hold that NBA front office position in a modern-day format in that she will be involved in personnel decisions. “It’s going to be made a big deal about (her being a woman) and the truth is she is just the best person for the job, period, end of discussion,” he said. “It doesn’t matter (her) gender, race, anything like that. She was the best person for the job.” Krauskopf spent 17 years as GM of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
- Pacers guard Tyreke Evans has missed the last two games due to knee soreness and will be a game-time decision against Atlanta on Wednesday. Evans explained to Scott Agness of The Athletic that he aggravated an old right knee injury when the Sixers’ Joel Embiid fell on him during a collision. Fluid built up and Evans, who had three operations on that knee in 2016, needed to have the knee drained.
- Bulls point guard Kris Dunn has taken a bigger offensive role with Zach LaVine sidelined by an ankle injury, Mark Strotman of NBC Sports Chicago writes. Dunn is averaging 17.8 PPG and 6.0 APG over the last five games with LaVine out of commission. “Whatever gets the win. If I’ve got to be aggressive on the offensive side looking at the rim a little bit more or getting my guys involved,” he said. “I’m a pass-first point guard but it’s the NBA.”
The Pacers were also the first NBA team to give a female a tryout when they gave Ann Meyer a tryout.
Pacers have too many guards. They don’t need Tyreke the way he is shooting.
Respect to pacers
First, shoutout to Pritchard..Way to tell’em!!
Second, shoutout to Kris Dunn..Keep up the solid work. He’s always been an absolute beast on defense, one of the best defensive PG’s in the league, but he’s really starting to turn a corner on offense. The game seems like it is really slowing down for Dunn, and his two-man game with Lauri Markkanen is a thing of beauty!!
If Kris can continue to develop, making good decisions, keeping the turnovers down, and staying aggressive, then he will quickly help this Bulls team improve significantly. His shot still needs to be more consistent, and he def. needs to work on his 3-point shot, but he’s truly showing an improvement in every other aspect of his offensive game.
With Markkanen, Dunn, Carter Jr., LaVine, and Portis the Bulls are slowly building a good, young core. They desperately need some solid veterans around them, and they really need one more young stud to start making a push at the playoffs..I truly hope they can get RJ Barrett in th upcoming draft, and if so, with about 3 solid veteran role players, the Bulls can def. make a run at the playoffs next year..Even if it is just the 7th-8th spot, you still have to start somewhere!! lol
Just seems like the Bulls have done a sub-optimal way if team
Whoops. * seems like the Bulls have built their group sub-optimally. Of course one player can change how their team configures but it seems (to me) like a ton of 1’s and 4’s with few surrounding the other areas of the court
True, but under Boylen, the Bulls have won 3 of the last 5 vs a so-so sced.
Too bad, all 3 SFs not solving, did not expect that. This makes the team rely on G Langston Galloway, which puts pressure on Bullock as a false 3. Also only having 4 solid players doesn’t help. The best backups back up the best players at 4 & 5!
Many did predict a wing shortage, so this is on the FO.
The big 3 have all been healthy but no ground has been made! 31 games, 93 starts by the three– Griffin missed 1 game.
*92 starts