Around the League: Week 1 10/16-10/21

[Ring_Wanted]

I really wish Ayton would get motivated by Bagley's block #s more than his pts or rebounds or anything else. Ayton has ONE block through three games this season.

That's just unacceptable of a player 7'0 tall with a 7'6 wingspan and the mobility that he has.

It feels like he is being told not to leave his feet on defense.

I've thought the same thing watching him. It's the right way to play instead of jumping around chasing blocks and leaving your man open or getting caught with fouls. Stay solid, arms up and change the shot. What's lacking now is the awareness to adjust and re-direct on the next pass after he changes or discourages the shot. He stays flatfooted and is slow to react opening back up. Could be the speed of the game right now, his overall awareness and learning to stay on his toes to be quicker.

Could be all of that, or that Booker lets his guy get by him on nearly every possession. When it isn't for an open jumper, that means Ayton has to rotate, which leaves the opposing center wide open to grab the changed shot and dunk on Ayton. And it doesn't help that Anderson and Ariza are awful defenders, too.

Regardless of Booker, or Canaan, or others, Ayton needs to intimidate people. We should look for a stretch 4 that can help faster and bother drivers enough for Ayton to loom over. Bender's mobility is worth a last shot. Just pay attention, cover ground and make a three.

On the Booker front, we need a PG whos is a defender and can either pass or shoot. George Hill could be a good target and supposedly not expensive.

In the meantime, Canaan is doing his best but that's too little to be playing 30mpg. Use Okobo and Melton already, let's see what we have.

We are logging 65+mpg from Anderson (93 Ortng), Chandler (80 Ortng), Canaan (103 Ortng). plus Jackson (75 Ortng) over 24mpg. This means over 37% of the time, we have the court one player that's an offensive issue.

And get this, Anderson and Jackson are our two worst defenders (defensive ratings of 120 and 117, then Canaan is tied with Booker and Ariza's 116. Nobody under 105.

[In2ition]

Booker's definitely a issue on defense but we've known that and I don't know how much better he can get. Maybe the scheme will help, but I do think that if our PG and PF are better defenders it will go a long way. That's why I suggested Holmes next to Ayton, tho it will hurt spacing.

Holmes might help next to Ayton on defense, but I'm not convinced that it would.

Most of Booker's woes on defense are due to effort and concentration. Those are entirely in Booker's control to fix.

[Superbone]

Anyone care about Elfrid Payton? He's put up good numbers so far this season. I don't think he'd have been a great fit for our offense but I still would've taken him over our current situation.

As predicted, he's a lot better without the hair hat.

[In2ition]

Anyone care about Elfrid Payton? He's put up good numbers so far this season. I don't think he'd have been a great fit for our offense but I still would've taken him over our current situation.

As predicted, he's a lot better without the hair hat.

Yeah, we thought he would be, but he's definitely surprised by how much.

[Split T]

I really wish Ayton would get motivated by Bagley's block #s more than his pts or rebounds or anything else. Ayton has ONE block through three games this season.

That's just unacceptable of a player 7'0 tall with a 7'6 wingspan and the mobility that he has.

It feels like he is being told not to leave his feet on defense.

I've thought the same thing watching him. It's the right way to play instead of jumping around chasing blocks and leaving your man open or getting caught with fouls. Stay solid, arms up and change the shot. What's lacking now is the awareness to adjust and re-direct on the next pass after he changes or discourages the shot. He stays flatfooted and is slow to react opening back up. Could be the speed of the game right now, his overall awareness and learning to stay on his toes to be quicker.

Could be all of that, or that Booker lets his guy get by him on nearly every possession. When it isn't for an open jumper, that means Ayton has to rotate, which leaves the opposing center wide open to grab the changed shot and dunk on Ayton. And it doesn't help that Anderson and Ariza are awful defenders, too.

Regardless of Booker, or Canaan, or others, Ayton needs to intimidate people. We should look for a stretch 4 that can help faster and bother drivers enough for Ayton to loom over. Bender's mobility is worth a last shot. Just pay attention, cover ground and make a three.

On the Booker front, we need a PG whos is a defender and can either pass or shoot. George Hill could be a good target and supposedly not expensive.

In the meantime, Canaan is doing his best but that's too little to be playing 30mpg. Use Okobo and Melton already, let's see what we have.

We are logging 65+mpg from Anderson (93 Ortng), Chandler (80 Ortng), Canaan (103 Ortng). plus Jackson (75 Ortng) over 24mpg. This means over 37% of the time, we have the court one player that's an offensive issue.

And get this, Anderson and Jackson are our two worst defenders (defensive ratings of 120 and 117, then Canaan is tied with Booker and Ariza's 116. Nobody under 105.

We've played 3 games... I wouldn't put much weight on those numbers yet. I'd also imagine defensive numbers around the league are all super high.

[Ring_Wanted]

We've played 3 games... I wouldn't put much weight on those numbers yet. I'd also imagine defensive numbers around the league are all super high.

Of course, sample is mall. But we have too many flawed pieces and after preseason the guys that were suspect are doing little to shake it off.

[Split T]

We've played 3 games... I wouldn't put much weight on those numbers yet. I'd also imagine defensive numbers around the league are all super high.

Of course, sample is mall. But we have too many flawed pieces and after preseason the guys that were suspect are doing little to shake it off.

I agree, we're not a playoff team. But we're better than last year. I don't need us to make the jump from trash to good in one year

[UglyTruth]

I really wish Ayton would get motivated by Bagley's block #s more than his pts or rebounds or anything else. Ayton has ONE block through three games this season.

That's just unacceptable of a player 7'0 tall with a 7'6 wingspan and the mobility that he has.

It feels like he is being told not to leave his feet on defense.

I've thought the same thing watching him. It's the right way to play instead of jumping around chasing blocks and leaving your man open or getting caught with fouls. Stay solid, arms up and change the shot. What's lacking now is the awareness to adjust and re-direct on the next pass after he changes or discourages the shot. He stays flatfooted and is slow to react opening back up. Could be the speed of the game right now, his overall awareness and learning to stay on his toes to be quicker.

Could be all of that, or that Booker lets his guy get by him on nearly every possession. When it isn't for an open jumper, that means Ayton has to rotate, which leaves the opposing center wide open to grab the changed shot and dunk on Ayton. And it doesn't help that Anderson and Ariza are awful defenders, too.

I thought Ariza was supposed to be a stud defensively??

[Flagrant Fowl]

Anyone care about Elfrid Payton? He's put up good numbers so far this season. I don't think he'd have been a great fit for our offense but I still would've taken him over our current situation.

As predicted, he's a lot better without the hair hat.

Don't understate the significantly better teammates and coaches around him now.

[INFORMER]

I actually think Canaan has been fine so far.

Agreed.

[Split T]

I'm pretty sure Payton gave up after a few games. He looked great in the first couple games and then threw in the towel. Probably knew we weren't bringing him back.

[ShelC]

But he cut his hair for us!

[The Bobster]

I actually think Canaan has been fine so far.

Agreed.

Canaan - 29.5 Min, 38.2 FG%, 30.0 3Pt%, 66.7 FG%, 4.0 Reb, 3.2 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 0.0 Blk, 2.3 Trn, 8.5 Pts

The only area where he's been adequate is rebounding.

Which is like being the world's tallest midget.

[Shabazz]

I actually think Canaan has been fine so far.

Agreed.

Canaan - 29.5 Min, 38.2 FG%, 30.0 3Pt%, 66.7 FG%, 4.0 Reb, 3.2 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 0.0 Blk, 2.3 Trn, 8.5 Pts

The only area where he's been adequate is rebounding.

Which is like being the world's tallest midget.

Apt simile.

[SDC]

awesome first play

[Mori Chu]

Canaan has been "fine," but I still think we could do a lot better at PG. I don't know that Payton would have been the answer, but I was a bit surprised that we let him walk. What is he making? Would it have cost us a lot to keep him?

[Split T]

I actually think Canaan has been fine so far.

Agreed.

Canaan - 29.5 Min, 38.2 FG%, 30.0 3Pt%, 66.7 FG%, 4.0 Reb, 3.2 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 0.0 Blk, 2.3 Trn, 8.5 Pts

The only area where he's been adequate is rebounding.

Which is like being the world's tallest midget.

I made the comment after game 2. His last two games have been his worst. Still, we knew what he was. He plays ok defense. He allows Booker to not play point. His 3-point shot dissapeared the last two games. If he's hitting 3's he's fine. We have to rely on him for too many minutes, but we have worse problems than Canaan.

[ShelC]

Canaan's not the sole cause by any means, but the PG position is of significant importance in this league and we have a 3rd stringer starting with no backup. He's pretty much this year's Ulis - a nice player who should be playing spot minutes or maybe a smaller backup role, but we're doing everyone a disservice starting him and giving him major minutes. It's unreal we find ourselves in this position.

I know Igor probably wants to win (or at least try to win) with vets right away and the younger guys like Melton and Okobo aren't ready, but at some point we're going to have to turn to them and Jackson, Warren, Bridges and even Bender. No point losing by 20 with Ariza, Anderson and Chandler and I feel like the more they lose, the more frustrated they'll get themselves. It'd be one thing to have a decent showing and lose by 8 with vets, but getting blown out with no defense and little energy/hustle from those vets isn't a good look at all.

[O_Gardino]

Canaan is "fine" relative to his contract, what we spent to acquire him, and how big a role we expect him to play going forward. We should have the lowest expectations for Canaan of anyone getting minutes, and yet he's not the worst player out there.

Why is he in a position to make or break the team when we have Veteran Leaders and Exciting Young Talent? Because our other guys are so abysmally bad. If Anderson, Ariza, Warren, Jackson, Bender, and Booker could play some on the ball defense or if Anderson, Ariza, Jackson, or Bender actually played offense we wouldn't be getting blown out and Canaan would be just an inconvenience for the season.

[O_Gardino]

Canaan's not the sole cause by any means, but the PG position is of significant importance in this league and we have a 3rd stringer starting with no backup. He's pretty much this year's Ulis - a nice player who should be playing spot minutes or maybe a smaller backup role, but we're doing everyone a disservice starting him and giving him major minutes. It's unreal we find ourselves in this position.

I know Igor probably wants to win (or at least try to win) with vets right away and the younger guys like Melton and Okobo aren't ready, but at some point we're going to have to turn to them and Jackson, Warren, Bridges and even Bender. No point losing by 20 with Ariza, Anderson and Chandler and I feel like the more they lose, the more frustrated they'll get themselves. It'd be one thing to have a decent showing and lose by 8 with vets, but getting blown out with no defense and little energy/hustle from those vets isn't a good look at all.

It's possible that he knows we are going to loose big and he doesn't want to put the young guys in a position to fail. Let Melton, Okobo, Bender, and Bridges build themselves up in practice and play them when they are ready to compete. No sense in having a young guy out there getting blown out if we aren't competitive enough to learn from the experience. At least, it's possible that's what he's thinking.