Sam Vecenie

@Sam_Vecenie • 127,485 subscribers

I write about basketball. And watch movies. Senior Writer at @TheAthletic on the NBA/NBA Draft. Host of the Game Theory Podcast, 87k on YouTube ⬇️

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Sam Vecenie

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Max Strus crushing a Miller Lite during his media after drilling eight 3s in a game is why we love Max Strus.

This is pure filth from JJ Redick to start the third quarter. A 1-4 High Iverson set with Reaves coming across, the play, AD cross screening for LBJ to go set an empty side slip screen for Reaves. Pocket pass from Reaves forces the Gobert help which sets up the AD lob. Whew.

Look at how Drew Timme seals out both Jamal Murray and Bruce Brown on this LeBron drive. Feel like I haven't seen Lakers bigs do this much on drives for the perimeter players this year, but it's a huge value add. Not just the scoring stuff with him, IMO. Little things add up.

Just saw this. Think it's a wild quote from a basketball player. Don't think you can be a transfer and say "don't switch sides." Then, you've been there for 6 months and you're telling fans who probably paid to go to Indiana for years what to do? Huh?

These are the AJ Dybantsa shots that absolutely drive me crazy and it happens multiple times per game. Truly can't do fadeaway, midrange jumpers w/ 22 seconds left on shot clock in semi-transition. If these are later shot clock bailouts, great. But we can't settle for these.

Absolutely dying at Cam Thomas' transition defense here.

Literally second possession of the game in Cal-UNC and Caleb Wilson misses a backside tag as the low man leading to a wide open dunk while UNC is in drop. Gonna be a lot of bad defense on tape in this one from UNC, isn't there?

Do think we saw (for me) the main weakness in Cade Cunningham's game late. Needs keep working on his gathers on drives to better access his length/extension as a finisher. To me, this can't be a two-foot leaner. A slow step after you turn the corner on Towns would be big here.

Just finishing the deep dive on Florida-Arizona for a Koa Peat video to go up tomorrow, and what in the world happened here with the refs missing the most obvious double-dribble the world has ever seen from Alex Condon? lol

Thought this from Cooper Flagg's 42-pt game is what really stood out. Know he didn't finish the lefty and-one, but the ability to put his shoulder into Kyle Anderson and move him backward is such a vision of what his future is going to look like once he fills out even more.

This possession is why I'm so skeptical of the Duren/Ausar pairing long-term. They both prefer to work in the same areas of the court and the coaching staff all season has not been intentional enough in how they space with those two. Their reactions are to move to same areas.

This was such a slick zone set on offense by Indiana with the dual screens set at the top to get McConnell immediate middle penetration for an easy midrange jumper, just missed it but the OReb comes out to Sheppard. Loved this one.

Honestly think this is one of the best Pistons defensive possessions of the last 3-ish years. Genuinely really good! They're helping in gaps, closing out well and cutting off drives, connected, communicating. Think DET has really started well on D under Bickerstaff for a half.

This little split-second decision from Jimmy Butler to screen Kris Dunn to get Steph free on the relocation is just such quintessential Jimmy. So good at these little seals and screens for his teammates. Huge part of why he's such a dangerous off-ball player without making 3s.

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For anyone questioning Darryn Peterson, I'd implore you to go back and watch him play in high school. For instance, look at the elevation on this jumper today in the second half, then one from last year at Prolific vs. Columbus. He can't even elevate into his shot right now.

People in the US ask me all the time why I love and care about the NBL. This is exactly why. This league is totally insane and it rules.

I just want to remind people what Kevin Durant was at Texas in 2007. Averaged 26/11/1/1/2, shooting 47/40/82. And the tape is somehow better. It's the most absurd thing you'll ever watch in your life. He dominated everyone and was (still is) UNBELIEVABLY competitive.

"What's the percentage of kids who make the NBA? (Unless you play for me)? What would be the percentage?" The aside here in what is a good rant is maybe my favorite Calipari flex I've seen in a long while. Extremely funny lmao.

I mean, what in the world is this Indiana? Particularly Oumar Ballo. What in the world? This is gross effort. This is the kind of effort where you have to sit Ballo the rest of the game, I think. You can't let that kind of effort go without serious accountability in terms of PT.

Thought this was an awesome interview in general with SVP, JDub is super thoughtful so I wouldn't expect anything less. But I thought particularly this answer was pretty amazing.

The Nuggets just relentlessly attacking Ant/Ayo off the ball defensively was really fun to watch in the first quarter of DEN-MIN. Jokic manipulating everything at point center. Four possessions of him just moving dudes with his eyes and Nuggets setting sharp back screens.

The Rockets have had an Alperen Sengun problem against the Lakers so far in this series, and frankly, in his playoff career. In nine games now in the playoffs over the last two years, the Rockets are 3-6, and he's shooting 43.5/27.4/65.4 splits.

Collin Murray-Boyles is a stud. He is READY for playoff basketball, and is a perfect example of one of my major playoff basketball opinions: If you can do four of these five things well, you can be an NBA rotation player in the playoffs: Dribble, pass, shoot, defend, think.

Sometimes, I'll pull up a random game from 1990s just to check myself. Maybe teams did move more off the ball, run more complex actions! Newsflash: they did not. Some different things, got to post ups. But some UGLY possessions. (Jazz-Nuggets 1st Q O from Denver, 2/8/1994)

Jared McCain has fit into OKC and its scheme perfectly, and it really makes me question how in the world Nick Nurse couldn't make this work in Philadelphia with him.

Feel for Torrey Craig after he missed a game tying free throw in the NBL Finals but Adelaide-Sydney is deserving of a fifth and deciding game for the title. I’ve enjoyed watching this series as much as any playoff series at ANY level in the last few years.

Charlotte Hornets Offseason Preview is here! Think this summer is all about setting up their salary structure going forward with their core of LaMelo, Kon and Miller. Lot of options where you can keep flexibility or cash in over the next 18 months.

North Carolina's Caleb Wilson was outstanding and incredible everywhere tonight. But man, this is probably my favorite moment. Look at the raw passion and energy and intensity in the moment here with this 10-second call. That's a guy you can win with.

Then on drives, Darryn Peterson has nowhere near same burst, hangtime or explosiveness around the rim. One from today, two from Prolific vs. LuHi last year. I get the way it's being handled is weird, but the tape doesn't lie. He's clearly not right and playing through injury.

Rolling through Duke-UNC right now to pull Caleb Wilson/Cam Boozer tape for breakdowns on Monday, and these two moves basically back to back from Wilson made me audibly cackle laughing. Just totally filthy stuff. Awesome player.

Talked about why I would have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as my MVP pick on the show on Sunday night. I think somehow his dominance as a scorer this season has gone underrated.

Honestly, I get why people don't love Dan Hurley. But the guy is just the best version of a basketball crazy person. I love the entire experience. He gets who he is, he's unapologetic about it. Just an incredibly fun dude to have around the game of basketball.

I'm not sold that the Bucks are going to move Giannis. But if they do, I talked about the team today that I would be targeting in a trade. Think a Warriors-Bucks deal has the best synergy of "I get why GSW does this" and "Milwaukee gets serious draft pick upside"