22 minutes off the bench.
Great start to his career in his first exhibition game.
Great start to his career in his first exhibition game.
17 and 10 for Champagnie tonight…
- Thread starter whirlybird optio
- Start date
Yup amazing what happens when he can pass the ball to someone who can make a shot.
Another solid night for Justin tonight.
In the first half, he played just 8 minutes and didn't score (I think he took just one shot). He worked hard on defense but was mostly ignored on the perimeter on offense. He grabbed 2 boards.
But in his 15 second half minutes, he scored 10 points and grabbed 4 more boards and got a couple of steals.
Watching him play in the preseason, it's hard for me to see how he isn't on the roster on opening day.
In the first half, he played just 8 minutes and didn't score (I think he took just one shot). He worked hard on defense but was mostly ignored on the perimeter on offense. He grabbed 2 boards.
But in his 15 second half minutes, he scored 10 points and grabbed 4 more boards and got a couple of steals.
Watching him play in the preseason, it's hard for me to see how he isn't on the roster on opening day.
He absolutely made the right call and ended in the best possible spot. I’m happy for him.
Completely agree.
Sure would have loved to have him around for another year though. Selfish on my part for sure.
Of course, I said the same thing about Steve Adams which was selfish on my part as well.
These pre season games
are much different than
the summer league games.
I felt he was ignored in the
summer games.
He had great stats a few
nights ago. I watched him
tonight against Philly and
the Champ that we all
know was alive and well.
He comes off the bench
but he asserted himself
more. He looks to me
like he might get to be
part of the rotation on
this team. His rebounding
is still outstanding despite
his size. I previously was
thinking definite G League.
Now, I see a better chance
of his sticking. I sure hope
so.
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Same. I know it's preseason but I thought he looked good tonight. I only watched the second half but he made the right call.
Glad to see that Champagnie is doing well. He may crack the roster after all.
There's one thing that I would caution though. I checked the boxscore for the last 2 games and noticed that some of the Raptors top players did not play. Gary Trent sat out the first game. Birch, Siakam, and Boucher have yet to play any games. Those are all rotation guys.
There's one thing that I would caution though. I checked the boxscore for the last 2 games and noticed that some of the Raptors top players did not play. Gary Trent sat out the first game. Birch, Siakam, and Boucher have yet to play any games. Those are all rotation guys.
It's possible he could spend time
both in the G League and on
the NBA roster this year. Either
way, his future looks good IMO.
Humorous opinion after a few meaningless preseason games for a Pitt fan actively watching Kenny Pickett.
Tonight -- 4 points (on five shots) plus a team leading 10 rebounds and 3 assists in just 15 minutes. I think Toronto has been most impressed with Justin's rebounding more than anything else.
He's a ball magnet. Great instincts and quicker than most thought. I'll catch some NBA games this year, hope he has a long career.
Pickett is a great contemporary comparison. He came back, almost certainly improved his draft stock and will make significantly more than had he tried to sign as a UFA this year. The question is could champ have improved his stock with one more season at Pitt?
I personally didn’t feel he was ready , but I also believe if you can get paid to do the same thing you owe to yourself to go get the money ! The one exception would be an athlete who truly values his education and the college experience . Hope he makes it , you can’t teach the natural instincts he has for the ball .
Pickett's situation compared to
Champ's is in some ways quite
different. First of all Pickett
came back to an experienced
team loaded at the WR position.
This is important for obvious
reasons. Champ on the other
hand would come back to a
big question mark. When he
had to decide, Pitt was still
trying to land transfers. He
would be lead dog in the line
up, but the rest of the line up
was undecided. As far as his
own development, he would
IMO develop more even if it
was only in the G League as
opposed to being on Pitt's
roster.
As far as a college degree and
the college experience, the
degree will always be there if
he decides to go for it at a
later date. As for the college
experience, that's a personal
choice, and he decided for the
pro life instead. I'd be wiling to
bet he had good advice on that
point.
I wish him the best and hope he
sticks on the Raptor's roster.
Coming back to win a championship is another reason to return , I believe in KP case he returned because he was advised that was the best thing for him to do to further his career .
Haven’t seen this posted, but Champagnie made the opening night roster. He’ll probably get sent down when Siakam and Boucher are healthy, but making the opening night roster and probably getting some run is a fantastic accomplishment for him.
One would have to think that this is the first time that five players who have worn a Pitt Panther uniform are simultaneously playing in the NBA.
Just because that's such a great question - I had to look it up. On Real Gm, the only other time I think I could get to 5 players would have been 2014: Adams, Birch, Gray, Patterson, Blair. But I'm not sure if everyone was playing at once. Sam was out of the league the year before.
Birch didn't get into the league until the 2017-2018 season. Patterson's run was two seasons, between 2015-2017 so he does not overlap with Birch. Sam Young between 2009-2013. Gray 2008-2014. Blair 2009-2016 and Adams started in 2013-14. Jamel Artis had one season - 2017-2018
So the most you can get there is three overlapping.
If Mark Blount would have played into one more year (his last season was 2008-2009) -- we could have had four on the floor then. And of course, we had four for the last two years with Johnson, Birch, Adams and Wannamaker.
Hopefully he gets some playing time. Being a healthy scratch on that atrocious roster isn't a great sign. But it was just one game.
Not sure how anyone can say he made a bad choice, he is playing in the NBA, all he was looking for was the opportunity.
I'm just waiting for the guy who insisted that Paris Ford had a better chance to be playing football this year for money than Champagnie had of playing professional basketball chimes in.
Although I would imagine he is desperately hoping that no one remembers.
I for one didn’t feel he was big enough for the type of game he plays , but I’m rooting for him to be successful long term .
Bottom line ….always take the money !
I've asked before, and I know
this is a Bball board....but
what is Paris ford doing
these days? Practice Squad?
CFL?
He is not on a practice squad. That's why I'm hoping that he's working out on his own. Because if he's not then he's not going to get a chance anywhere.
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