05-28-2021, 05:21 PM
(05-28-2021, 02:11 PM)embellisher Wrote: Can he rebound, set screens, and rim roll?
He can shoot the crap out of the three, he actually is a pretty effective pick and pop guy and he can floor the ball and pass out of the drive. He wouldn’t be here as a Willie/Dwight replacement. He’d be here to back up Maxi (a better Melli).
This season is a HUGE departure for him in his On/Off data. He is the THIRD Rated player on the Jazz in On Court and On minus Off. He is part of the best bench in the league. Clearly you can’t credit him with “carrying” a bench that includes Clarkson and Ingle. But, he also can’t be the worst part of the bench either if his on court numbers are better than everyone else’s.
It may be that the space he provides really helps the rest of what they do as a unit. I don’t think people think of him as a great defender, but Utah is 7.5 points better defensively when he’s in the game. Gobert obviously plays a role. Niang’ s most used lineups all include Gobert with mostly bench guys. We can’t replicate that, but we can certainly make benches pay buy running out Powell or Willie with Niang at PF helping to spread the floor.