When a player has game, can create his shot, teammates recognize. Teammates ain't recognizing (or respecting) Affalo. He's not creating his shot. He's not creating space against his defender. He's not prone to hot streaks where he demands the ball. His post game is pretty good but he's not getting many opportunities. Teammates all intuit this and react accordingly. By contrast one improvement in Ben is that he's more aggressive as a shot taker this year, though his efficiency is not where it needs to be:
- A-Slow-o : 7 shots attempts in 26 MPG
- Ben: 6 shot attempts in 16 MPG
Ben is looking for his shot more, creating his shot more, taking his shot more. And this is what we need at that position, albeit at improved efficiency. All three guys at our SG position are basically scoring at the same rate: Ben is 53% TS, A-Slow-o is also 53% TS, Temple is 52.5% TS. None of this is good enough and reflects our sorry 7-12 record.
The difference is that Ben is the more aggressive shot taker, and we need an aggressive SG to spread the wealth. Boogie's efficiency is good at 56.4% TS but it is slipping from where it was at 58% about 1-2 weeks ago because his teammates are not carrying their respective load of the scoring burden. We need Affalo to make plays of his own volition, command the ball, command the respect of his teammates, but that hasn't happened because he's NOT good enough.
Here's a comprehensive and detailed analysis: OUR STARTING SG IS NOT GOOD!!! SOMETHING HIGHLY PREDICTABLE IN AUGUST.
At this point it is a matter of Joerger saying to himself "how much longer can I wait on this guy to be the player we need to be?" If he has any confidence in him, he has more confidence in him than I do. I have seen enough from Affalo and his best is not good enough. At least with Ben, youth is on his side, and his best play is ahead of him. Affalo's best is in the rear view mirror, so let's stop looking back and start looking forward and right this ship before another season bites the dust.