Let's not hate just because Wemby is an a$$hole. He is going to be the highest impact defender in NBA history bar none - and I say this as a guy who's only a basketball fan because of the current greatest defender of all time Hakeem Olajuwon. Blocks don't make a whole defense, but there's a point at which that rule breaks. Points don't mean you're the best offensive player, but if you average 36ppg then the conversation is over. At that point, you can't be an empty-stats player cause you can't discount that VOLUME. Likewise, blocks don't mean you're the best defender but when you block 4-5 on average and change as many as he does, it's over. No one can match that. I would bet money he will end up with the highest recorded defensive impact of all time this season. There is no bias towards big men in DPOY voting. It's just scientific logic. Bigs are in the action more often, so if they're above average then they will change more shots than an above average wing defender. If you play Amen at C, his defensive impact will increase 10-20% instantly because he will challenge every shot instead of just the ones near him. That's just the nature of the game. C's are involved in more defensive plays. As a wing, if your guy is not involved then you are just covering someone. We can't relativize that. The higher impact should obviously be the DPOY. Having said all that, f*ck Wemby. Amen or Ausar for DPOY.
The media can not wait to give him his DPOY/MVP award in the same season. They were already talking MVP when the Spurs had played the Mavs, Nets and Raptors.
The really sad thing about it is that if he eventually pulls off the double, the likelihood of him actually winning the championship that same year is pretty small (remember there's only been one person to ever win MVP/DPOY/Finals MVP ever). Inevitably, the next year narrative is then going to be "Sure, Wemby is the best player in the league, but does he have enough help to win?", which will morph into "Wemby can't win in small market San Antonio, he needs to request a trade to the Lakers". DPOY is a big man award, flat out. It's been won by a big 75%+ of the time since it's inception in '83. No shade to Amen or other wings/guards, it's just going to take some perfect storm of injuries and narrative to make it happen, like Marcus Smart's award.
Amen's just playing with the league defenders look like they don't even try anymore. they know they can't catch him, don't wana give up the and 1, and/or they don't wana be posterized/shatin a fool
My man should’ve been getting kinda reps since last season. I don’t wish injury to no one but Fred’s was probably best thing for Amen & Sengun going forward
Couldn’t agree more. I wanted FVV off the ball or on the bench from game 1 last year. Ime looks like he did some self-assessment over the off-season and has become much more flexible with his offensive outlook and with his rotations. Maybe FVV’s injury was the catalyst to this change just like Jabari’s injury finally got Amen into the starting line-up. I don’t know if that is the case, but either way I am much less concerned with Ime’s lack of offensive acumen. I think we are truly a 4 headed monster on the offensive end of the ball. It is going to be next to impossible for teams prepare for us.
How does someone make it this far as a "guard" and not know how to even be a below average shooter? I'm convinced Amen would lose to a regular joe who plays basketball recreationally in a shooting contest.
Elite athleticism and being bigger, stronger and faster than everyone else on lower levels. Ben Simmons had the same issue. Never needed to develop a shot because he didn't need it. But still it's fascinating with the twins because I remember the articles how they used to sleep in the gym and so on. But looks like they just worked on things they were already good at.
Is it just me? I felt that the last couple of games, Amen's defense has gone down. He looks slower in his reaction time.
My guess is they both worked long and hard to improve their shooting. But, they just aren’t very good at it. Some people may improve by practicing, but some may not see much improvement at all.
I've wondered if he's pacing himself during games or something because nobody can go full bore on defense like he does while still having to do point guard duties and putting up near-triple doubles in games. Hopefully he's playing hurt.
