Nesmith starting to turn a corner

[droopdog7]

With rob out, he’s the next man up.  And he’s starting to look a little better.  Game slowing down a little, yet he’s still a pin ball out there. 

[gouki88]

If he can hit close to 40% on threes he'd be very handy. He's certainly going to give 100% effort, and is a better slasher than given credit for.

[Roy H.]

I think with an opportunity, he can show a turnaround like Pritchard did.

He’s got size, length, athleticism and energy. 

[pokeKingCurtis]

Gerald Wallace? I'm gonna meme that.

Didn't really follow Wallace at the height of his powers, but I loved him during his time with the Celts.

No side step threes, step back threes for Nesmith, but if he can hit some open ones and be a huge threat...that's cool.

[gouki88]

Gerald Wallace? I'm gonna meme that.

Didn't really follow Wallace at the height of his powers, but I loved him during his time with the Celts.

No side step threes, step back threes for Nesmith, but if he can hit some open ones and be a huge threat...that's cool.

Nesmith is a good energetic athlete, but Gerald Wallace was next level athletic. 2.5 steals and 2 blocks in his 05-06 season, aged 23. He was one of the most athletic guys in the league.

Nesmith is a pretty good rebounder though. I guess that's similar to Gerald Wallace

[Atzar]

His lack of regard for safety still terrifies me.  Just tonight, he injured Thad Young's ankle and hit the floor a couple of times hard enough to put me in the hospital.  He needs to dial that part of his game back.

But I was very impressed with his overall defensive performance.  He was all over the court, guarding FVV, Siakam, and everybody in between.  He played physical, moved his feet (mostly), and held his own.  Compare that to Theis, who Siakam dumpstered. 

I've always been high on the kid, and as long as he's shooting 20% from three I admit that my optimism is irrational.  But I think there's a good NBA player in there if he can just calm it down and play with more control.  I like his tools and I like his effort.

[JBcat]

Gerald Wallace? I'm gonna meme that.

Didn't really follow Wallace at the height of his powers, but I loved him during his time with the Celts.

No side step threes, step back threes for Nesmith, but if he can hit some open ones and be a huge threat...that's cool.

Nesmith is a good energetic athlete, but Gerald Wallace was next level athletic. 2.5 steals and 2 blocks in his 05-06 season, aged 23. He was one of the most athletic guys in the league.

Nesmith is a pretty good rebounder though. I guess that's similar to Gerald Wallace

Wallace averaged 10 boards in 1 season, and had 7 others averaging at least 7. I don’t see Nesmith ever coming close to that. Nesmith is active like crash Wallace was that’s about it. Wallace was a horrible 3 point shooter, and at least Nesmith has the 3 point shooting pedigree from college, and a smooth stroke.

Nesmith’s strong, but he seems on the shorter side so only probably a 2, maybe a 3 at times, but not someone you would ever play the 4 like Wallace.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Gerald Wallace? I'm gonna meme that.

Didn't really follow Wallace at the height of his powers, but I loved him during his time with the Celts.

No side step threes, step back threes for Nesmith, but if he can hit some open ones and be a huge threat...that's cool.

Nesmith is a good energetic athlete, but Gerald Wallace was next level athletic. 2.5 steals and 2 blocks in his 05-06 season, aged 23. He was one of the most athletic guys in the league.

Nesmith is a pretty good rebounder though. I guess that's similar to Gerald Wallace

Wallace averaged 10 boards in 1 season, and had 7 others averaging at least 7. I don’t see Nesmith ever coming close to that. Nesmith is active like crash Wallace was that’s about it. Wallace was a horrible 3 point shooter, and at least Nesmith has the 3 point shooting pedigree from college, and a smooth stroke.

Nesmith’s strong, but he seems on the shorter side so only probably a 2, maybe a 3 at times, but not someone you would ever play the 4 like Wallace.

My impression of Gerald Wallace is severaly tinted by his time on the C's.

I honestly wouldn't mind if Nesmith played like that (Celtic Wallace), but more of a 2/3 rather than a 2/3/4 like Wallace was - Wallace handled the ball a tiny bit, rim-runned, and just brought energy.

When Gerald Wallace was good I was mostly a TMac fan.

[Atzar]

Been reading around the internet about the game, and a lot of Toronto fans are talking about our defense.  They called out two guys by name:  Marcus Smart and Aaron Nesmith.

Just thought it was worth mentioning that green-goggled Celtics fans like us aren't the only ones who noticed how the kid played tonight.

[Goldstar88]

It’s the hair, man. Just like JB, Nesmith changed things up and Bam! Much improved play.

[kraidstar]

IMO he has similar tools to Klay Thompson. Same height, and Nesmith has an extra inch on the wingspan. Good but not spectacular athleticism. Decent court vision, not a great ball handler but good enough to cancel out closeouts. The kid has had the yips shooting. but the potential is there.

[gouki88]

Gerald Wallace? I'm gonna meme that.

Didn't really follow Wallace at the height of his powers, but I loved him during his time with the Celts.

No side step threes, step back threes for Nesmith, but if he can hit some open ones and be a huge threat...that's cool.

Nesmith is a good energetic athlete, but Gerald Wallace was next level athletic. 2.5 steals and 2 blocks in his 05-06 season, aged 23. He was one of the most athletic guys in the league.

Nesmith is a pretty good rebounder though. I guess that's similar to Gerald Wallace

Wallace averaged 10 boards in 1 season, and had 7 others averaging at least 7. I don’t see Nesmith ever coming close to that. Nesmith is active like crash Wallace was that’s about it. Wallace was a horrible 3 point shooter, and at least Nesmith has the 3 point shooting pedigree from college, and a smooth stroke.

Nesmith’s strong, but he seems on the shorter side so only probably a 2, maybe a 3 at times, but not someone you would ever play the 4 like Wallace.

Nesmith's rebounding percentage is 9.8 for his career, whereas Wallace's was 11.5. A difference, for sure, but Nesmith is usually decent at crashing the boards (in his small sample size).

Nessie is 2 inches shorter than Wallace. He does have a 6'10" wingspan though, so I'm pretty comfortable with him at the 3.

[hpantazo]

Nesmith's energy is great, but the way he plays he's likely to seriously injure himself before he turns a corner. He's got to get himself under control and harness that energy.

[ozgod]

I think with an opportunity, he can show a turnaround like Pritchard did.

He’s got size, length, athleticism and energy.

I think the answer is really that simple - if he gets extended minutes like Pritchard did, he will be able to get himself into a playing rhythm and things will get easier for him, and his confidence will grow. Unfortunately, minutes are a finite resource, especially in our team where we are planning to go on a deep run - and one thing about Ime that has become clear to me is that he doesn't dole out minutes for developmental reasons or to reward players here and there. If you get minutes in his rotation, it's because you earned it or because someone else got injured. Like with Payton - he had to wait till Schroder and JRich got out of the way.

Right now GWill is ahead of Aaron on Ime's 7-8 man rotation, because he has proven himself both as a multiposition defender and a guy who can hit the 3, and now he is expanding his game to being able to attack the basket during closeouts. As for White, he's a multiposition defender who is a solid passer and can handle the ball if needed. And Pritchard has been shooting 50% from 3 in March. So that doesn't leave much minutes for Aaron. All he can do is continue to work hard in practice and when he does get those opportunities.

[Sophomore]

Nesmith’s technique and his balance for on-ball D are worlds better than they were when he started. Did a great job staying in front of guys 1 on 1 and contesting.  I can’t be as sure his off-ball work and switching are at the same level, but those are at least wayyy better than year 1. He used to just be lost and that’s clearly not true anymore.

If he can learn to tone it down about 10% and stop hitting the deck and other players so hard he’s going to have a nice career.