Texas Legends 2022-2023

[Chicagojk]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1591...73216?s=20&t=OXHtS83ZiU9MH6wA8cWdig

[Kammrath]

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/15...2835988481

[Mavs2021]

https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/15...2835988481

Good to see Hardy shoot a high percentage this year.

Pinson also wanted to go down there, but G-League has no cheerleaders.

[Chicagojk]

I watched the Legends last night.  Hardy is such a talented scorer.  Not sure you can take much from his G-League games but he really looks comfortable on offense.    He is probably our third best player on our roster getting his shot...already.   His time with the NBA team probably will not happen this year, but he looks good out there.

Dorsey made a lot of shots early, but thought he was up and down.  McKinley Wright was not great.  The Legends team does not have many interesting developmental guys.    They released Marcus Bingham?   

They lost to a team that is filled with former NBA players.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0F5RpwqJvA

[dirkfansince1998]

I watched the Legends last night.  Hardy is such a talented scorer.  Not sure you can take much from his G-League games but he really looks comfortable on offense.    He is probably our third best player on our roster getting his shot...already.   His time with the NBA team probably will not happen this year, but he looks good out there.

We can compare it to the start of the g-league season last year. He improved a lot. It´s not the NBA but the game slowed down for him. Last season it felt like he wasn´t really in control of his own game. Forcing a lot of stuff. Making questionable decisions. This season it feels like he has a plan. Has a couple of spots on the court where he wants to go. Shots that he wants to take.

[juanc]

We can compare it to the start of the g-league season last year. He improved a lot. It´s not the NBA but the game slowed down for him. Last season it felt like he wasn´t really in control of his own game. Forcing a lot of stuff. Making questionable decisions. This season it feels like he has a plan. Has a couple of spots on the court where he wants to go. Shots that he wants to take.

He is a much improved scorer and overall player compared to last season. In the predraft process I mentioned that he is one of the best prospects in terms of getting seperation on his shot, and it seems that now, he(or the efficiency) has catched up with his talents.

- He is much more confiden twhen shooting the ball and attacking the basket
- He also looks more athletic than last year.

I really think that the Mavs got a steal in him, he just needs the opportunity to show that. I mean, you can see, just by watching his highlights, why he was a top HS prospect.
His stats are also impressive: 26.5 Pts on 52/42/93 splits with 5reb and 4.3 AST(4 TO)

Here are the highlights from all the games, I especially like the 4th game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SRjMgVkyAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DFiHqJgP80

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1jh_8WubQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0F5RpwqJvA

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/MavsPR/status/1593718599553646592

[Chicagojk]

In a loss, Hardy had a pretty efficient shooting game and Wright put up some big stats.   Although Hardy had 7 turnover and Wright had 5. 

I turned over to the game at one of the Mavs late breaks and in a key position where the Legends were down 1 defending the other team, Hardy let his defender slip by him and get a key rebound that lead to a big 3 that put the other team up by 4.   I only saw a few minutes, but that was a big play.


https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/15...6210384896

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https://twitter.com/fj_mffl/status/1593827458994032641

[DanSchwartzgan]

Give Hardy this efficiency a year ago and I wonder where he would have been drafted.  Encouraging.

[Mavs2021]

Give Hardy this efficiency a year ago and I wonder where he would have been drafted.  Encouraging.

It´s funny, cause I was thinking that if he stayed "in college" and put up these numbers in his 2nd G-League season, he´d be a lottery pick and likely get more money and playing time in his rookie season next year alone than he will in his first two years here.

[Chicagojk]

legends almost blew a big lead last night.

Tyler Dorsey had 41 on 8-13 from three
Mckinley Wright had 17 pts, 14 assists and 7 rebounds
Jaden Hardy had 25 points (7-14 shooting and 6-10 from three)  He did have 7 turnovers again and a few defensive lapses late.

[dirkfansince1998]

Jaden Hardy had 25 points (7-14 shooting and 6-10 from three)  He did have 7 turnovers again and a few defensive lapses late.

A little bit like Luka on defense. Taking himself out of position because he wants to make a highlight play. Gambling for steals, rebound or even chase down block.

[Chicagojk]

A little bit like Luka on defense. Taking himself out of position because he wants to make a highlight play. Gambling for steals, rebound or even chase down block.

I did see him take a charge and was close on another one.   Speaking of which, how many times has a ball handler driven the lane against us and gotten a charge?  Hasn't happened much, right?  That was an underrated part of Jalen's game.

[dirkfansince1998]

I did see him take a charge and was close on another one.   Speaking of which, how many times has a ball handler driven the lane against us and gotten a charge?  Hasn't happened much, right?  That was an underrated part of Jalen's game.

Not only Jalen. Used to be one of the ways THJ contributed on defense. In 20/21 he finished top 10 in the league in charges drawn.

[Chicagojk]

Not only Jalen. Used to be one of the ways THJ contributed on defense. In 20/21 he finished top 10 in the league in charges drawn.

Didn't realize that.   I think this is a big thing...especially if you are not considered a good defender.   If you can sacrifice your body and at least give the driver thought that you may run into someone, that has to have an effect over time.

[Chicagojk]

Hardy with 35 points tonight on 12-18 shooting including 5-9 on threes.  McKinley Wright scores 32 with 9 assists as well in a one point win.

[vfromlmf]

Hardy is leading the league in scoring through 7 games.

47.5% 3P% on 8.7 attempts per game 

Flamethrowing ... and breaking ankles at the 1:10 mark ... kid can play

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbnUyX6NWgI

[Kammrath]

47.5% 3P% on 8.7 attempts per game

I said during the draft eval process that if Hardy had one skill that was translatable to the NBA it was shooting and that he had a really good chance to be an above average NBA shooter. I like what I am seeing.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Hardy is leading the league in scoring through 7 games.

47.5% 3P% on 8.7 attempts per game

Flamethrowing

I actually like that he's taking one less shot attempt while playing two more minutes than he did last year.  PER before tonight was 20...up from 9 the year before.  TS% before tonight was .760 vs..482 last year (and I don't think tonight's numbers will hurt that).  All numbers from B-Ref.

The three looks smooth and confident.  He'd be in the 60/45/90 club if there was such a thing.  If he put up these numbers a year ago, he would have been a top 10 pick.