Post Cavaliers Game - Chris Finch Presser

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Ant has been playing little to no defense this year. Finch basically said it out loud.
 

kg21 said:
Ant has been playing little to no defense this year. Finch basically said it out loud.
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Simply untrue. Ant has the 3rd highest defensive efficiency rating in the NBA for SGs that average more than 30 minutes per game.

When you ask a SG to assume the role as the team's primary ball handler who initiates the offense on over 73% of all their sets, a coach better be smart enough to understand that this requires a ton of extra energy compared to just playing on the Wing.

Finchie is either stupid (he is not), delusional (he is not) or simply frustrated with the lack of success this season and trying to motivate Ant as the Alpha guy on our roster.

Minutes played, points scored, rebounds, steals, FT%, 3FG%, Usage Rate and PER have all increased this season. Ant has not been our problem on offense OR defense this season.

Maybe the coach should look in the mirror while searching for excuses... 🤔
 

Slim Tubby said:
When you ask a SG to assume the role as the team's primary ball handler who initiates the offense on over 73% of all their sets, a coach better be smart enough to understand that this requires a ton of extra energy compared to just playing on the Wing.
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Ant was doing this last year too. He's a PG in today's game, no different than Jamal Murray, SGA, James Harden, etc, and I've been saying that for 2 years now because it's the truth. He's also now exerting less energy because he's taking 3 more 3's per game than last year and driving less.

Ant's metrics likely look good because the team D is still good. Ant has not been a good on ball defender this season. He was much better last season, and there's no excuse for him not to be better.
 


Slim Tubby said:
Simply untrue. Ant has the 3rd highest defensive efficiency rating in the NBA for SGs that average more than 30 minutes per game.

When you ask a SG to assume the role as the team's primary ball handler who initiates the offense on over 73% of all their sets, a coach better be smart enough to understand that this requires a ton of extra energy compared to just playing on the Wing.

Finchie is either stupid (he is not), delusional (he is not) or simply frustrated with the lack of success this season and trying to motivate Ant as the Alpha guy on our roster.

Minutes played, points scored, rebounds, steals, FT%, 3FG%, Usage Rate and PER have all increased this season. Ant has not been our problem on offense OR defense this season.

Maybe the coach should look in the mirror while searching for excuses... 🤔
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Now post McDaniels numbers

Then explain to me why we get ripped by perimeter players all day an all night.

For example......Garland averages 21, and went for 29 last night, Mitchell averages 23 and went for 36 last night.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Ant was doing this last year too. He's a PG in today's game, no different than Jamal Murray, SGA, James Harden, etc, and I've been saying that for 2 years now because it's the truth. He's also now exerting less energy because he's taking 3 more 3's per game than last year and driving less.

Ant's metrics likely look good because the team D is still good. Ant has not been a good on ball defender this season. He was much better last season, and there's no excuse for him not to be better.
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If you're trying to tell us that Ant's PG minutes played, usage rate and ball handling responsibilities last year are even remotely close to what they've been this year, then I don't know what to tell you.

I'm not making the argument that Ant cant improve as a defender. My point is that asking a guy to play increased minutes with a more exhausting role on offense is going to sap some energy from any player on defensive end.

It's why some folks give Jaden a free pass for being so uninvolved in the offense and rebounding. He excels at defense with energy, positioning and effort because we ask/get very little from him in those other areas.
 

kg21 said:
Then explain to me why we get ripped by perimeter players all day an all night.

For example......Garland averages 21, and went for 29 last night, Mitchell averages 23 and went for 36 last night.
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Well...Ant didn't guard Garland. Conley and NAW did. Ant primarily defended Mitchell and Levert.

* Mitchell needed 27 shots AND eight (8) made FT's (Yup...read those #'s again to let it really sink in) to score those 36 points.

* Ant only had two (2) fouls and neither led to Mitchell scoring points or shooting FTs.

* Mitchell FGs (12-27) (44%)

* Mitchell 3-point FGs (4-15) (26%)

* Levert FGs (1-6) (16%)

* Levert 3-point FGs (0-3) (0%)

Do those offensive stats look like they came easy? Do they look even remotely efficient to you? Me neither.

I'm not even going to discuss all of the extra space Ant has to account for playing next to the defensive corpse that is Mike Conley.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Well...Ant didn't guard Garland. Conley and NAW did. Ant primarily defended Mitchell and Levert.

* Mitchell needed 27 shots AND eight (8) made FT's (Yup...read those #'s again to let it really sink in) to score those 36 points.

* Ant only had two (2) fouls and neither led to Mitchell scoring points or shooting FTs.

* Mitchell FGs (12-27) (44%)

* Mitchell 3-point FGs (4-15) (26%)

* Levert FGs (1-6) (16%)

* Levert 3-point FGs (0-3) (0%)

Do those offensive stats look like they came easy? Do they look even remotely efficient to you? Me neither.

I'm not even going to discuss all of the extra space Ant has to account for playing next to the defensive corpse that is Mike Conley.
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they look very efficient when I look at Ants numbers.
 



That zone seemed to give Minnesota some problems. Don’t think Jingles was the answer to it. That dude cracks me up.
 


Slim Tubby said:
If you're trying to tell us that Ant's PG minutes played, usage rate and ball handling responsibilities last year are even remotely close to what they've been this year, then I don't know what to tell you.

I'm not making the argument that Ant cant improve as a defender. My point is that asking a guy to play increased minutes with a more exhausting role on offense is going to sap some energy from any player on defensive end.

It's why some folks give Jaden a free pass for being so uninvolved in the offense and rebounding. He excels at defense with energy, positioning and effort because we ask/get very little from him in those other areas.
Click to expand...

Ant's not playing a more exhausting role this year though. Ant and Conley were interchangeable last year as for who brought the ball up and initiated the offense. He's only playing 1.6 minutes more per game this season. Ant's problem is his attitude and unwillingness to play defense like he did last season.

Jaden does need to get more involved in the offense. He is averaging almost 2 more rebounds per game this season though, but it should still be better. Jaden was also +14 against the Cavs in 38 minutes the other night, by far the highest on the team.

Jadens +/-last 8 games:
+14
+12
-8
+7
+1
+12
0
+8

Jaden isn't the main problem.
 




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