06-12-2021, 08:32 AM
(06-11-2021, 11:22 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I can't handle Caruso in a Mavericks uniform. He's on the irrational hate list for me. Do me a solid, everyone, and don't speak that one into existence.
With that said, he does meet Rick's rugged-defender who can knock down 3's and move the ball around a little definition. I think Caruso's tenacity (versus JRich's timidity) would have been enough to win the LAC series.
The A&M product has been a net positive On/Off every year in his career averaging 5.1 per year (Dorian was the only 1000 minute Mav who beat that number this season). He's in the 87th percentile on C&S 3's (he's not good a pull up 3's, but won't be asked to take many here). He's in the 80th percentile in Playmaking Talent (according to BBall-Index). But what you are getting more than anything is good point-of-attack D. He takes the other team's ball handler/scorer when he's in the game (usually off the bench). He's in the 82nd percentile for the percentage of time he takes the other teams primary ball handler and the 82nd percentile for the percentage of time he spends covering Tier 1 Usage players.
LAL was 4.6 points better defensively with him on the floor. LA's D-Rating is 101.7 when Caruso plays. That is the best on the team among players who played at least 20 games at 15 minutes per game there. He's in the following percentiles for the following D-Ratings:
98th D-LEBRON
96th D-Raptor
96th LA DRAPM
89th D-LEBRON Box
I was going to write up a big piece on Devonte Graham, but I can't decide what the advanced stats are telling me about his D. Some metrics are really nice and some are just awful. The data is consistently good on Caruso. If you don't want to chase old man Danny Green, this isn't a bad way to go to get this archetype. Caruso isn't the $20 million guy we hope to get, but he would help. If he were to agree to a deal here, LA would have almost no choice but to take back an opted-in JRich if that is what happens.