The common theme among all these teams and among basically all NBA champions is having at least one superstar. One can argue the definition of a superstar, but Jokic, Giannis, and Curry all won MVPs. So yeah, maybe spacing isn't overrated. But even if that's the case, I want to at least see a Rocket get top-5 MVP finish before any argument about playstyle really matters for winning titles
This really underscores my entire point. As it stands, our two prospects with the highest ceilings are Amen and Sengun IMO. If that's the case, why worry about playing both of them due to arbitrary "spacing" concerns? Build around them and figure it out. Lean into your strengths rather than try to be something you're not.
I remember how many claimed the Cav's Mobley-Allen experiment will fail due to spacing issues. Those critics have been quiet as of late.
Well, in the hypothetical world in which Sengun and Amen become stars, they're also better shooters. The world in which both Sengun and Amen do not improve their shooting is a world in which they're not stars. In which case, the spacing issue solves itself.
for the 7 games Amen started, he's shooting 72% on 2 pointers so I think the 2 non shooter apply to him unless someone on our team can shoot 3 pointers @ 48% clip that's why I'm in no rush in Amen "having a 3 pointer" even if he shoots @ 35% at best we're still better off with him shooting 2 pointers at 65 to 75%
Well sure but that's not the point. The point is that "conventional wisdom" and "common sense" type stuff is often wrong, and that we should challenge it. The point I'm making isn't about winning a championship. It's about whether or not it can work (will our offense improve) if we break the rules and defy a core tenet of modern offense. I don't know if it's necessarily going to work, but I think it's really interesting to try. Maybe we'll look back on this a month later when our offensive rating is in the toilet and think it was obvious that it would never work. Or maybe it will work and the analysts will be scratching their heads at our top rated offense with two players who can't shoot the ball. I don't know but it's an experiment I'm interested in.
In fairness, the bucks have never had a season where they were a legit title contender. Ya they won because the nets got injured, but otherwise they're a very poor playoff team, and a big part of that is giannis is so limited outside of the basket. His TS% drops by 3.5 in the playoffs, which is a crazy massive drop off. Even Harden only drops by 2.2%.
Do you think it’s got anything to do with the fact that Mobley developed into a 42% 3PT shooter, and that Okoro, Mitchell and Garland are ALL shooting above 40% from 3 as well? I JUST WONDER why those concerned about their spacing have been QUIET as late. Someone call the scooby doo gang to investigate this MYSTERIOUS MYSTERY
Actually, the Warriors were constantly underrated as a defensive team. They didn't just win by their shooting. They were also a top 5 defensive team.
To be fair, Mobley's big leap in his 3pt shooting may have something to do with their surge. I'm pretty sure if either Sengun or Amen had such a leap in their shooting, our offense would look much better.
While his improved 3 pt % has definitely helped the Cav's and his TS%, I don't think it's done much for spacing. He's taking fewer than three 3s a game. His shot diet hasn't really changed that much.
Great response to learning 4 out of the 5 Cav starters shoot over 40% from 3. Mobley 3PM's 36 is 1.4 which is solid enough to demand respect. PJ Tuckers career 3PM per 36 is 1.3 per game for example. Another example against your point is the Warriors who have always ran with Draymond + a non shooting 5 (Bogut/Looney). Are they an example of a team with spacing issues? No because of Curry, Klay. Cavs have Garland and Mitchell making high volume 3's this season. Rockets don't have anything like that. Before you start responding trying to hyperfixate on anything else to dig yourself out of a hole, let's just end this here The Cavs are 3rd in the NBA in made 3's and literally #1 in 3PT% Which makes them arguably the worst possible example you could have used. A whoopsie could suffice, but I'm sure tripling down also saves face.
Question: Did you read my initial post? I feel like you didn’t. I never said the Cavs were a poor shooting team. In my first post, I said many on here claim Amen and Sengun can’t play together because of spacing issues since you can’t have more than “one non-shooter” on the floor. I presented the Cavs as an example of why that logic is false. You’ve done nothing but prove my point. I swear, the most abrasive on this board seem to have the hardest time reading.
I don't know why you're being so hostile here but how about we just look at 2022-23 instead? Mobley shot 21% on 1.3 per game that year, and the Mobley+Allen minutes were really good, they had a net rating of +8.3 on the court together. That was better than just Mobley, or just Allen, or both of them off. Does that work as an example?