2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[Chicagojk]

Cato comments on Green in his post-Pacers piece today:


Green plays like no one I’ve ever seen before. I tweeted about this and received these descriptions of his game:

• 150 percent version of Shane Larkin
• Shorter but hyperathletic Boris Diaw
• Halfway between Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley
• Poor man’s A.C. Green (I’m not sure about this one)
• Frog (because he jumps so much)
• 100 miles per hour
• From Jeff Wade, Andre Iguodala

It’s funny, right? Name another player quite like him. He doesn’t have Westbrook’s athleticism, of course, but he sometimes has the Westbrook-esque ability to make these elite athletes he’s playing against look like they’re average dudes. 

But he doesn’t live at the rim like Westbrookian athletes. He’s fast, but only in direct lines. He soars, but he doesn’t have side-to-side shiftiness or the ballhandling to consistently beat man defenses. He still compensates for his subpar jump shot by slashing and quickly attacking closeout defenders. He has an absurd understanding of the court’s geometry and the passing skills to pull off ridiculous dimes, but his finishing — an area where he’s clearly developed since being drafted — still isn’t good enough to make him a consistent driving threat. 

He’s an active defender who sometimes does too much, although he’s consistently been more of a positive force on that end this season, at least in my view.

I’m intrigued to keep watching him. He’s a baffling player to try to comprehend because his skill set is so unique to this sport, but he’s clearly earned more minutes in Hardaway’s absence.

I like the Iggy comparison the most.  As Cato says, while Green is a great athlete there are times when he doesn't look like an elite athlete.  So I think Iggy probably has the advantage there and was probably an easier prospect to envision becoming an all time role player.    Green sees the game at a really high level so there is a route where he could be one of those guys who always seems a step ahead.   But there are things to his game that may limit him ever getting to that level.

I am really glad he is getting playing time though and is being directed to be aggressive when the chances are there.  It is the easiest way to improve.