DNatagal wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2025 4:05 pm
Devils advocate here with a different take on Ant's quote about doubleteams.
What if he wasn't saying HE cannot solo double teams, but that the other 4 players just stand around and watch him get doubled??? In the Pistons game he did pass out of doubles and NOBODY made a shot. Yet he still scored 53 on the night. Randle, Conley, McDaniels, et al just stand there.
This all goes back to coaching.
Not sure it goes back to coaching. Ant did pass out of double teams last night in addition to scoring 53 highly efficient points. As you noted, Ant’s teammates missed shots on those passes. When your teammates go 6-25 from behind the arc and only one other player scores in double figures, that’s not on Ant or the coaching staff; it’s on those other players. When your starting $40 million vet center gets only 6 points and 6 rebounds against a third year center, that’s not on Ant or the coaching staff. The personnel we have is inadequate and that goes back to our front office.
I’ll just remind everyone that Ant was the best player on this team last season when we won 56 games and went to the Western Conference Finals. Did Ant falter in the West Finals? Yes, but so did just about everyone else on the team. Bottom line is that this team’s terrific success getting to the West Finals was attributable to Ant more than anyone else on the team. The only thing that’s changed in Ant’s game since last season is his improved three-point shooting. He should be commended for that. Otherwise, the fact that he’s not attacking the rim and drawing fouls nearly as well as he did last season is likely attributable to the different team now assembled around him, although I’ll also hold Ant partially responsible.
I don’t believe Ant can’t player on a championship contender because, in fact, he was the best player on last season’s Wolves team, which WAS a championship contender. However, if Ant truly is really only a #2 on a championship contender then this organization had better find a #1 because that would make Ant the best #2 in the League.