2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[pbiflyer]

Lost in some of the playoff stories Is that Trae Young has been awful.

Trae Young made 2 more baskets than Jimmy Butler in Game 5.
Jimmy played 0 minutes.

[withoutbias]

Trae Young made 2 more baskets than Jimmy Butler in Game 5.
Jimmy played 0 minutes.

Similar to when Bryn Forbes outscored Jimmy Butler over the course of an entire series.

[cheebs09]

The chart in the tweet below shows Jimmy having a great playoffs so far.

https://twitter.com/NBA_Math/status/1518594524125163521?s=20&t=Q-0aWN42sQfu8WjbObPwVw

[BrewCity83]

The chart in the tweet below shows Jimmy having a great playoffs so far.

https://twitter.com/NBA_Math/status/1518594524125163521?s=20&t=Q-0aWN42sQfu8WjbObPwVw

...and Trae Young is sitting in the opposite corner.

[lawdog77]

The chart in the tweet below shows Jimmy having a great playoffs so far.

https://twitter.com/NBA_Math/status/1518594524125163521?s=20&t=Q-0aWN42sQfu8WjbObPwVw

At first, I thought that was a "fake toughness" chart.

[Skatastrophy]

KAT may have physical skills, but he's lacking mental toughness. I'd like to see a "bonehead play" highlight reel once his season is over - https://streamable.com/6px6xn

[StillAWarrior]

Lost in some of the playoff stories Is that Trae Young has been awful.

I wish Trae Young would have been awful in the play-in game against the Cavs.

[MuggsyB]

Once Morant improves his jumper it's pretty much over if you plan to guard him one on one.  I'm torn whether I would take him over Doncic.  I don't see Doncic as ever being a great defensive player.  Morant on the other hand has the ability to be dominant on both ends of the floor.  He is absolutely electric from a quickness and vert standpoint.   I know Memphis has shot poorly but they could give Golden State a lot of problems. 

[Jockey]

Trae Young made 2 more baskets than Jimmy Butler in Game 5.
Jimmy played 0 minutes.

Trae may be the most over rated guy in the League. Yes, he has skills and can be electric on the court. He can be a lot of fun to watch. But when he is bad, he is really bad. When you add in his utter disregard for playing defense, I wouldn't want him on my team.

I think we have seen the ceiling for any team where he is the #1 guy.

[JWags85]

Once Morant improves his jumper it's pretty much over if you plan to guard him one on one.  I'm torn whether I would take him over Doncic.  I don't see Doncic as ever being a great defensive player.  Morant on the other hand has the ability to be dominant on both ends of the floor.  He is absolutely electric from a quickness and vert standpoint.   I know Memphis has shot poorly but they could give Golden State a lot of problems.

That isn't true though.  Doncic had a very good defensive year.  DRtg is an imperfect advanced stat, but his was very good.  He's never going to be a lockdown perimeter defender, but he plays very good help defense, shuts down a lot on the weakside, and can defend inside more than a typical guard.

He's closer to being a really good defender than Morant is, despite Morant being more gifted physically.

[pbiflyer]

Trae may be the most over rated guy in the League. Yes, he has skills and can be electric on the court. He can be a lot of fun to watch. But when he is bad, he is really bad. When you add in his utter disregard for playing defense, I wouldn't want him on my team.

I think we have seen the ceiling for any team where he is the #1 guy.

Can't find it now, but Jimmy and Trae made the same number of 3s. But Jimmy did it on something like 20 less shots. And of course, played in one less game.

[lawdog77]

I think we have seen the ceiling for any team where he is the #1 guy.

Conference Finals?

Honestly, I think De'Andre Hunter needs to be the Alpha on that team.

[MuggsyB]

That isn't true though.  Doncic had a very good defensive year.  DRtg is an imperfect advanced stat, but his was very good.  He's never going to be a lockdown perimeter defender, but he plays very good help defense, shuts down a lot on the weakside, and can defend inside more than a typical guard.

He's at least 5 inches taller.  I think I would take Morant if I had to choose between them but it's a tough call.

He's closer to being a really good defender than Morant is, despite Morant being more gifted physically.

[The Sultan]

Conference Finals?

Honestly, I think De'Andre Hunter needs to be the Alpha on that team.

C'mon let's not be silly here.

Young is the best player on that team and I don't think it's really close.  He's in the NBA top 10 in all sorts of advanced stats.  Now I am not saying he's a top ten player, but what the Hawks need is a better "second best player."  Just like last year against the Bucks, once you figured out how to stop him, nobody stepped up to provide anything else consistently.   They just seem to have a roster of "pretty good guys" like Kevin Hurteur and John Collins.

[lawdog77]

C'mon let's not be silly here.

Young is the best player on that team and I don't think it's really close.  He's in the NBA top 10 in all sorts of advanced stats.  Now I am not saying he's a top ten player, but what the Hawks need is a better "second best player."  Just like last year against the Bucks, once you figured out how to stop him, nobody stepped up to provide anything else consistently.   They just seem to have a roster of "pretty good guys" like Kevin Hurteur and John Collins.

Hunter , this series, averaged 21.2 pts, shooting 56% from the field, and 46% from 3. He was pretty consistent this series.

[JWags85]

He's at least 5 inches taller.  I think I would take Morant if I had to choose between them but it's a tough call.

Doncic rated out as a above average to very good defender this year.  Morant rated as one of the worst defenders at his position in the whole league.  Thats not just a height thing.  But sure, go ahead and take Morant.

[The Sultan]

Hunter , this series, averaged 21.2 pts, shooting 56% from the field, and 46% from 3. He was pretty consistent this series.

Wow.  It's almost like if a defense focuses on one player, that someone else is going to be able to score more huh?

Look, if you think Hunter is an alpha, you are living on a very lonely island.  He might be a decent #2.  But he's not better than Trey Young.

[lawdog77]

Wow.  It's almost like if a defense focuses on one player, that someone else is going to be able to score more huh?

Look, if you think Hunter is an alpha, you are living on a very lonely island.  He might be a decent #2.  But he's not better than Trey Young.

well, you did say nobody else stepped up. Hunter did. Hunter has the abilty to average 20+. I think has the ability to be an alpha, just that Trae has to have the ball in his hands. 

[Jockey]

Conference Finals?

Honestly, I think De'Andre Hunter needs to be the Alpha on that team.

I don't think they have their alpha.

And as to Fluff's comment, the Alpha doesn't have to be the big scorer. Look at Green is SF.

[wadesworld]

It certainly didn't help that Capella was not healthy all series. Trae's best in the pick and roll where he can hit the floater if the big doesn't commit to him and throw the lob if the big does commit to him. His roll man was gone or ineffective. And the Heat's defense also makes that type of an offense really difficult to have success.

[The Sultan]

well, you did say nobody else stepped up. Hunter did. Hunter has the abilty to average 20+. I think has the ability to be an alpha, just that Trae has to have the ball in his hands. 

Stepped up to lose 4-1. Great.

[lawdog77]

Stepped up to lose 4-1. Great.

Again. He did all one man could. 21+ pts, 56% from the field, 46% from 3. Not his fault Trae sucked so bad that the Hawks didnt have a chance.

[The Sultan]

Again. He did all one man could. 21+ pts, 56% from the field, 46% from 3. Not his fault Trae sucked so bad that the Hawks didnt have a chance.

He did all he could. Not an alpha.

[lawdog77]

He did all he could. Not an alpha.

So Alphas win every game? Must only be one alpha in the league.
I said he needs to be the alpha. Part of that has to be on the coach, getting him the touches.

[Jockey]

He did all he could. Not an alpha.

A perfect example of this is Boston. Tatum only averages 3 pts and 2 rebounds more than Jaylon Brown (who is a very good player). But there are miles between them when it comes down to who is the man in Boston.