kekgeek1 wrote:Games like these happen, all the young players were really bad tonight. It happens. Hopefully Dlo and Beasley are back next week and with a talent increase leads to more consistent Ws
While Beasley will add perimeter shooting, lets not forget he's a below average defender. I'm not sure DLO's presence will help at all, but we'll see. I'd hate to see both Ant and DLO taking shots away from KAT and Beasley.
kekgeek1 wrote:I will say I am getting a little worried about mcdaniels. You take out his game where he exploded for 4 of 5 from deep. In last 10 games he is 4 of 22 from 3 (18.1%).
He really isn't a threat with the ball in his hands, his D has been solid but we have a long history of players getting worse shooting the ball. He needs to knock down shots.
He plays a little bit afraid on offense. I've noticed he hasn't been good from 3 lately too. I think he has a lot more offensive game than he is willing to try at this point. He will get there.
KG4Ever wrote:Looking at the past 8 games, I notice a funny pattern with Ricky. Every other game he shoots great (above 63%) and the other games he shoots poorly (below 30%). At least he can help the team even when his shot is off. Wish I could say the same for Ant.
Ant was not good tonight but he did have 10 rebs and 6 asts. Wouldn't say he brought absolutely nothing to the table. Even though he was a negative tonight
6 Assists is not good when you turn the ball over 7 times.
KG4Ever wrote:Looking at the past 8 games, I notice a funny pattern with Ricky. Every other game he shoots great (above 63%) and the other games he shoots poorly (below 30%). At least he can help the team even when his shot is off. Wish I could say the same for Ant.
Ant was not good tonight but he did have 10 rebs and 6 asts. Wouldn't say he brought absolutely nothing to the table. Even though he was a negative tonight
Glad you mentioned those other stats, Kek. Yes, Edwards was off tonight. But those 10 rebounds and 6 assists are really positive signs in an otherwise bad shooting/scoring night for Ant.
KG4Ever wrote:Looking at the past 8 games, I notice a funny pattern with Ricky. Every other game he shoots great (above 63%) and the other games he shoots poorly (below 30%). At least he can help the team even when his shot is off. Wish I could say the same for Ant.
Ant was not good tonight but he did have 10 rebs and 6 asts. Wouldn't say he brought absolutely nothing to the table. Even though he was a negative tonight
Glad you mentioned those other stats, Kek. Yes, Edwards was off tonight. But those 10 rebounds and 6 assists are really positive signs in an otherwise bad shooting/scoring night for Ant.
He was a net negative and you could tell the suns made it a priority to stop Ant. These are the games they miss Dlo and Beasley because Ant has been on a roll lately and he was not good offensively tonight and to struggle in the result
It also gets me excited though. In theory the Wolves should be hard to stop. Ant and Kat PnR, with Dlo there as a guy who you can't leave and can destroy defenses with his catch and shoot threes or attacking a close out for his mid range jumper. Then Beasley can't be left open or he'll knock down the 3. Teams can't pack the paint like they did tonight and have Rubio, McDaniels, okogie beat them when Dlo and Beasley are back.*
*Rubio was good offensively tonight and I think Okogie was a net positive because of his D tonight
Seeing Ant contribute in other ways when he isn't scoring is nothing but a positive in my eyes. Tells me he doesn't get discouraged when his shot isn't falling.
PorkChop wrote:Seeing Ant contribute in other ways when he isn't scoring is nothing but a positive in my eyes. Tells me he doesn't get discouraged when his shot isn't falling.
Anthony Edwards on struggling against Phoenix shifting their defense to focus on him tonight:
"It's respect and a lesson... This game helped me, for sure. Because this is probably how I'm gonna be guarded the rest of the season."
KG4Ever wrote:I just noticed Houston has lost 19 in a row and has every incentive to keep losing. Wolves are closing in.
That is fine. The odds are the same for the bottom 3 teams to obtain a top 3 pick. The Wolves are 4.5 GB of the magic for the 4th worst record. Best case scenario is the Wolves end with the 3rd worst record because odds are the same as being the worst of keeping our pick but the warriors could fall to #7 instead of #5 if the Wolves have the 3rd worse record
The Suns are battling for a top playoff seed... the Wolves are... ummm... not. So this wasn't unexpected.
- Chris Paul changed everything. The Suns looked terrible to start the 2nd half. Paul simply took over. It's amazing that LeBron James is still doing what he's doing... but Paul is only 6'0" and about to turn 36... and he's still amazing. I don't know if there's another player in the league who knows when to put his stamp on the game at the right time quite like he does.
- Meanwhile, Towns fell apart a bit at the exact same time. And while efficient shooting the ball offensively, his effort in transition defense was... errr.... ummm... lacking.
- Edwards is a rookie. A rookie who's shot above 50% only twice in 42 games. We know there will be games like this. I'm a bit nervous about the shot distribution with Beasley and Russell back in the mix.
- Okogie was impressive, especially in that 3rd quarter. But is it possible to get a guy like that defensively... who can also do it offensively? Coincidentally...
17.0 ppg
5.5 reb
5.5 apg
13 - 19 fg (7 - 11 3fg)
0.5 TO
That's Mikal Bridges over the past two games. Almost identical games. And he just does it in the flow. Doesn't seem to force anything.
- I see Jaden McDaniels closer to a taller Josh Okogie than he is to some of the other comparisons I've seen with him. I think it'll take a lot longer for him to be a plus player offensively... if he ever gets there.
