TrueHoop

TrueHoop

Share this post

TrueHoop
TrueHoop
David Thorpe’s preseason notebook

David Thorpe’s preseason notebook

Ben Simmons, Trae Young, Tyler Herro, RJ Barrett, Zion, Jordan Poole, and … Jamal Cain?

CoachThorpe's avatar
CoachThorpe
Oct 19, 2023
∙ Paid
23

Share this post

TrueHoop
TrueHoop
David Thorpe’s preseason notebook
6
4
Share
BY DAVID THORPE
Ben Simmons has people talking (again). Will he finally make it back to form? DUSTIN SATLOFF/GETTY IMAGES

Fans like to get excited about preseason. Who can blame them? Each new season brings new players, sky’s-the-ceiling potential, maybe a chance to sniff a title or, finally, to become relevant. With every bucket, fans start writing the script of a new series starring their team. 

Yet, as I often do on the TrueHoop podcast with Jarod Hector, I have to summon my inner Larry David: “I know you’re excited, but why don’t you curb your enthusiasm a little?”

In the preseason, winning possessions is not the dominating motivation. Strategies are floated out; lineups can be weird; opponents might come from Australian, Israeli, or Spanish leagues. Success or failure needs to be noticed and noted, sure—but rarely does anything we see in the preseason inspire a regular-season plot. 

So, with that in mind …

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to TrueHoop to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 TrueHoop Inc.
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share