[Grades] Grades v. Grizzlies 1/29/2014

[Bricklayer]

I don't know if using the last 5 games as a measuring stick is fair. Marcus was the only other real offensive option during that time, meaning IT was getting extra defensive focus and forcing shots that would have gone to Cousins or Gay. Even with my bias against offensive-minded point guards, I would still rather have IT taking those shots than Aaron Gray, Jason Thompson or Derrick Williams. That's not to relieve him of his responsibility to take good shots and involve his teammates

To be clear, I don't like the way the offense runs with IT the starter. His ball dominance frustrates me in a number of ways, even when he is shooting well. I really, really like(d) IT as the sparkplug sixth man. He was something that opposing benches had no answer for and his defensive issues were less glaring against opposing teams' bench scrubs.

The major issue is the lack of a clear replacement for IT in the starting lineup. Coach apparently does not believe McCallum to be ready and I see nothing to suggest otherwise. I think Jimmer would give better effort on defense than IT just because he is playing for his basketball life and defense has been his knock from day 1, but I doubt he would achieve better results, and brings a more flawed offensive game. The answer to the IT problem lies outside the current roster.

The last 5 games is just an amusing cherry on top of the whole thing. If he didn't get sick last game he'd probably be averaging 22+FGAgm over that span. To give you some idea, Durant only averages 19.9FGA/gm. Melo and Aldridge are #1 and #2 in the league at 21.4 FGA/gm and 21.2 FGA/gm.

But he's shot .413 for a MONTH, while taking more shots than any other King over that span. He's shot 50% or better all of 3 times in the last month. Yet 19 of his last 20 games he's thrown up at least 13 shots. If all that doesn't register as a problem, I don't know what would.

 

[Chubbs]

Our PG needs to play team defense, and team offense. He does neither.

He had his career best streak to start the year and everyone started annointed him a potential all-star and all that. Well, that great efficient scoring? Kinda gone over the past month. He's just a low level chucker that for some reason has an unlimited leash to do whatever he pleases. But hey, he gets the same minutes and points no matter what he does, inefficiency be damned. Why change? Keep firing away! Don't stop till you get to 20!

.413 over the past month can't be blamed on no Rudy or Cuz. Heck, does it matter who is out there with him?

 

[Hadlowe]

The last 5 games is just an amusing cherry on top of the whole thing. If he didn't get sick last game he'd probably be averaging 22+FGAgm over that span. To give you some idea, Durant only averages 19.9FGA/gm. Melo and Aldridge are #1 and #2 in the league at 21.4 FGA/gm and 21.2 FGA/gm.

But he's shot .413 for a MONTH, while taking more shots than any other King over that span. He's shot 50% or better all of 3 times in the last month. Yet 19 of his last 20 games he's thrown up at least 13 shots. If all that doesn't register as a problem, I don't know what would.

I don't disagree with any of that. I was merely objecting to using the 5-game stretch where the team was without Batman and Robin to point out that even the best officers of the Gotham Police Department are frightfully inept at their jobs.

 

[Chubbs]

We are seeing what Rudy was like in Toronto when he was the man in the form of a tiny PG. When you make a #4 talent the #1 guy, this is what happens. In Rudy's case, it was a #2 talent being made #1. I say 4 cause that's where I'd put a 6th man, your 4th best guy, who does some things well and hurts you badly other ways. Therefore, best off the bench, but with good value in that role.

Some guys can't be the man. They go crazy. The last 5 games are a really nice example of why you don't build a team around a guy like him.

 

[Glenn]

I don't disagree with any of that. I was merely objecting to using the 5-game stretch where the team was without Batman and Robin to point out that even the best officers of the Gotham Police Department are frightfully inept at their jobs.

He didn't do that.

 

[Spike]

I don't disagree with any of that. I was merely objecting to using the 5-game stretch where the team was without Batman and Robin to point out that even the best officers of the Gotham Police Department are frightfully inept at their jobs.

Yet some citizens assume Gotham is safe.

 

[rainmaker]

I don't disagree with any of that. I was merely objecting to using the 5-game stretch where the team was without Batman and Robin to point out that even the best officers of the Gotham Police Department are frightfully inept at their jobs.

Dude, he put up the month long stats right above the last 5 games.

Numbers:
In January: 36.5min 21.3pts (.413 .330 .867) 2.9reb 6.7ast on 16.9FGA/gm and 6.5 3PA/gm
Last 5gms: 36.4min 22.8pts (.392 .250 .892) 2.8reb 6.2ast on 20.3FGA/gm and 7.2 3PA/gm


I don't see how you're getting the impression he's holding up the last 5 games as the basis for his argument.

 

[Glenn]

In other words, IT's trade value is dropping as is his negotiating power for his next contract. That might work out well for us.

 

[Bricklayer]

In other words, IT's trade value is dropping as is his negotiating power for his next contract. That might work out well for us.

perhaps.

one possible interpretation of ITs gunning push is that it is precisely a contract push, and the raw numbers are eye catching enough that he's probably played himself into much more trade value this season than he had coming in. Only player on our roster who has really cooperated that way.

 

[Glenn]

perhaps.

one possible interpretation of ITs gunning push is that it is precisely a contract push, and the raw numbers are eye catching enough that he's probably played himself into much more trade value this season than he had coming in. Only player on our roster who has really cooperated that way.

Wait, are you saying his January stats are giving him much more trade value or are you including the whole season? I am guessing you mean season 'cause you said that and I sure can't argue with that. My confusion comes because this is a followup to the January stats note. His last month should be a warning to all people interested in him. Well, that and his defense,

 

[Hadlowe]

I don't see how you're getting the impression he's holding up the last 5 games as the basis for his argument.

I'm not saying he is. I'm merely picking a nit. I agree that January has been a bad month for IT. In my mind, the last five games don't really count for anything. If IT has stepped up and hit 60% of his shots over that five game stretch while the team lost, I would be of the same mind.

 

[sqwalk]

Actually his offense has beomce an issue too. Back at the beginning of the month IT partisans accused me of being unfair when I pointed out that he was slumping over the (at that time) past 5 games. Well..that "slump" has now stretched for an entire month.

Numbers:
In January: 36.5min 21.3pts (.413 .330 .867) 2.9reb 6.7ast on 16.9FGA/gm and 6.5 3PA/gm
Last 5gms: 36.4min 22.8pts (.392 .250 .892) 2.8reb 6.2ast on 20.3FGA/gm and 7.2 3PA/gm

In other words, the little guy has been straight chucking for over a month now (this started at the end of December actually).

Now you throw in this little season-long factoid:

IT in wins: 14.0FGA .462FG% 7.7ast
IT in losses: 15.3FGA .439FG% 5.6ast

and its pretty clearly IT the chucker isn't theIT we want or need out there.

Ah, don't be so hard on the Hustlin' Husky. His free throw percentage has risen.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

I'm hoping he meant to say he was a leader of the team, and not the leader.

Nope

Morgan Ragan ‏@momoragan
Isaiah Thomas post game "I'm the leader of this team and it starts with me."#NBA #KING

 

[Glenn]

Nope

Morgan Ragan ‏@momoragan
Isaiah Thomas post game "I'm the leader of this team and it starts with me."#NBA #KING

I dare him to say that to Cuz, Malone, PDA, Vivek, etc. No one sentence should be used to crucify a player but this is not an isolated comment and his play seems to support what comes out of his mouth.

 

[Npliam]

How in the world do IT and Jimmer both get B's. It seems that IT is being given credit for just getting more minutes. I mean the #'s look good for IT but he shot 21 times. 21 shots is just stupid. There are almost no players in the NBA that should shoot that many times in a game.

If you gave Quincy Acy or Aaron Gray 21 shot attempts how many points do you think they would score?

 

[kupman]

Speaking of IT stats, I just noticed that his seasons stats are eerily similar to Tyreke's stats the year he won ROY.

 

[Bricklayer]

Speaking of IT stats, I just noticed that his seasons stats are eerily similar to Tyreke's stats the year he won ROY.

without the rebounding and defensive stats perhaps.

 

[kupman]

without the rebounding and defensive stats perhaps.

The 3 point % is also very different.

 

[The_Jamal]

The last 5 games is just an amusing cherry on top of the whole thing. If he didn't get sick last game he'd probably be averaging 22+FGAgm over that span. To give you some idea, Durant only averages 19.9FGA/gm. Melo and Aldridge are #1 and #2 in the league at 21.4 FGA/gm and 21.2 FGA/gm.

But he's shot .413 for a MONTH, while taking more shots than any other King over that span. He's shot 50% or better all of 3 times in the last month. Yet 19 of his last 20 games he's thrown up at least 13 shots. If all that doesn't register as a problem, I don't know what would.

Few things.

1. Yay 5-game sample

2. Yay FG%

 

[rainmaker]

Few things.

1. Yay 5-game sample

2. Yay FG%

That's a couple, not a few.

 

[Chubbs]

Few things.

1. Yay 5-game sample

2. Yay FG%

It's the whole month.

Now a terrible shooting % is fine? But the only thing he was doing well was shooting well! Now that's gone. So what's left? Seriously, please tell me.

 

[The_Jamal]

That's a couple, not a few.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/a+few

 

[Entity]

How in the world do IT and Jimmer both get B's. It seems that IT is being given credit for just getting more minutes. I mean the #'s look good for IT but he shot 21 times. 21 shots is just stupid. There are almost no players in the NBA that should shoot that many times in a game.

If you gave Quincy Acy or Aaron Gray 21 shot attempts how many points do you think they would score?

Nobody disagrees with you. What are you up in arms about

 

[kupman]

How in the world do IT and Jimmer both get B's. It seems that IT is being given credit for just getting more minutes. I mean the #'s look good for IT but he shot 21 times. 21 shots is just stupid. There are almost no players in the NBA that should shoot that many times in a game.

If you gave Quincy Acy or Aaron Gray 21 shot attempts how many points do you think they would score?

Acy: 10
Gray -4