This is one of those things that models great in Excel but lacks pragmatism. Sengun was 10th in the NBA drawing 5.4 fouls/g & 2nd in drawing doubles. He shot 37% of the time while doubled. By definition, guarding him with 1v1 will increase his shooting efficiency. And while more subjective I'd argue it's also likely he draws more fouls. The reason teams double Alpi is to decrease his efficiency and live w/ the efficiency of those around him. If you guard him w/ only 1 guy he's going to be demonstrably more efficient while he fouls your bigs out I see the framework of your premise as valid but I don't think it applies quite so easily to Alpi.
The guy I responded to mentioned the specific number. I think either you saw my post and reflexively thought I was bashing Sengun or your reading comprehension is just off. He's saying Sengun needs to be that kind of scoring threat to draw doubles. The number 35+ isn't important his point. Let me simplify the conversation for you: Glimmertwins: Sengun needs to be able to consistently draw doubles to fully utilize his elite passing skills. Me: I don't know if Sengun can be that kind of scorer, but he's already both a good scorer and passer. Other centers have been good passers without needing to draw doubles. If this offends you or you still think my barometer for improvement for Sengun is leading the league in scoring, well you might just be an idiot.
I can definitely see it happening more with Amen unless KD's given some kind of say in the offense. It's the old school way, he'd just use Amen as a more effective version of the Jalen P&R version of the FVV P&R 2 plays that we run lol. I am a bit frustrated tbh because that's actually for me the part of Alpi's game that makes him "the Wizard" (trash ****ing nickname, the players suck man, Sengod, Sengoat whatever, but wizard is so generic.) We get to see it more in the Eurobasket stuff and it just makes me hope so much that Ime realises that Alpi can make the plays just as well as he can finish them.
I think he reads it, MrButtocks: Sengun has almost certainly peaked. Thank god Sengun isn't a liability on defense. I agree w/ the poster that said teams are "starting to prefer to play Alpi straight up" (no statistical support for this) and I'll ignore the fact he was the 2nd most doubled player in the league as a 22 y/o. Is he wrong? BTW, I don't think your actual posts were unreasonable at all.....until your summary post quoted above LOL. Nary a reference to any of the contentious, arguable, or inaccurate (double teams) things you wrote. Convenient lol
if Alpi's the franchise player and is all that, if he is defended single coverage, I expect him be a 35+ scorer
These are your words: "If expressing doubt that he can consistently be a 35+ scorer if not doubled, solely because he hit a wall in scoring average and efficiency last season, makes me a naysayer then so be it." Imagine calling someone an idiot, when you run away from your own words when forced to front how idiotic they are. Yikes. What a swing and a miss from you MrClown. Another to the ignore list to raise the collective IQ of Clutchfans posts.
Guilty as charged, I guess. If Sengun is the 2nd most doubled player in the league then I stand corrected, but that's a real surprise to me considering how many franchise players there are. I didn't think teams guarded him like that. To be clear I think Sengun is a good defender now, both on the interior and on switch defense. Acknowledging his improvement there isn't a knock like "thank god he doesn't suck", but a genuine appreciation that he's good in a crucial area for centers. If Downtown read it that way I wish he wouldn't have. I think Sengun is close to ceiling as scorer due to regression. That's not a certainty in the slightest, but when players hit a wall at this point I doubt whether they will blow through it. If people are offended by that opinion I'm not sorry at all.
Alpi did everything humanly possible in the first quarter, but Czekia’s insane shooting trumps everything.
Aah yes the classic turkish NT experience where they easily beat Tingus Pingus and Latvia in their homecourt and then they struggle against the Czech. Alpi had strong Q1 with 9pt/5reb/2ast/1st/1blk.
I assume this is Shane Larkin’s final stint on Team Turkey. He is terrible. Turkey should be able to continue the beatdown and blow this thing open in the 3rd quarter. I assume Czekia will finish with zero wins in the group phase.
Czech team shot the lights out at 1st quarter. They play hard and aggressive basketball in defense. It took it's toll and now they barely made any fg in 2nd. Its a bucket or a foul in every drive and shots start to fall at the end of 2nd. Alpi scoring at will, Türkiye pulling away. I expect a blowout in 3rd quarter.
Thanks for the update. I understand why players want to play for their countries, but as a Rockets fan it scares me to death that our whole season could be de-railed if Sengun gets hurt. Kinda of like the world baseball classic that really hurt the Astros with injuries to Framber and Altuve.
Unless you want to be generous to Osman, Larkin is their 2nd best player. Turkey without their American players are really bad on the perimeter. We've seen this already when Larkin doesn't play or plays while injured that team can be quite dogshit.
Czech team is physical. They undercut alpi while he jumped and he fall awkwardly on his back away from basket. But I believe it's a good experience because he needs to learn managing these situations and lead winning teams. Its below the NBA level but still international level. I think every minute counts as a plus with such a smart player. Also confidence boost is needed for him.
