Mirotic as the X factor

[TimRobbins]

He hasn't panned out to be a starter quality player. We should have traded him last season.

[Rerisen]

boy, we're REALLY not contenders anymore are we?

It's been about 5 years now, I don't see a drastic change.

Hoping for Mirotic to be lets say a Deng level player, isn't any crazier than coming into the last few years pretending Rose was going to be an MVP guy again.

This will be Mirotic's third year.

I was referring to the last time we were a serious contender.

[High level]

My hopes/expectations for both Niko and Doug are low. While they both may get incrementally better - I think we generally know what they are:

Inconsistent
Poor defenders
Tendency to disappear
Low impact players
Good perimeter shooters

While having Rondo and Wade should get both good looks consistently - I think we'll still see the disappearing, poor defense, and inconsistent offense.

We see players like Niko all the time. We see glimpses of excellent play and hope that he will consistently play at that level one day. But it never happens because they don't have the ability.

I've seen enough Niko to know he's an average rotation big who shoots well but does little of anything else.

I agree with you on this one. A lot of ppl will be eager to see and hope Niko and Doug will improve but I think they are just temporary rotational limited offensive spark plugs at times and nothing more. They are still going to be very poor defenders and inconsistent tho. Hope I'm wrong but I'm not getting my hopes up high with Niko and Doug this year.

[kodo]

What you want out of as stretch PF is the ability to
* accurately hit the 3 point shot
* enough volume to be a credible threat (Pau shot 35% from 3, but nobody guards him out there)
* not give up rebounding (Stan Van Gundy said the biggest problem with going small is not defense but rebounding)
* and some ability to defend the rim

Niko compared to the rest of last year's best EC teams' PFs did pretty well. He was by far the best shooter and was also strong on defensive boards & blocks per minute.

PFs that rebounded better were much worse 3P shooters (Millsap, SUllinger).
PFs that defended the rim better were also worse 3P shooters (Myles, Zingis).

Code: Select all

PF         Size     3P%  3PM36 DRB%  Blocks per 36
Mirotic    6' 10"  39.0%  3.0  19.1%  1.0

Love       6' 10"  36.0%  2.3  28.4%  0.6
Patterson  6' 9"   36.2%  1.9  14.8%  0.6
Luol Deng  6' 9"   34.4%  1.3  15.4%  0.4
Marvin W.  6' 9"   40.2%  2.3  18.6%  1.0
Millsap    6' 8"   31.9%  1.0  21.5%  1.9
Sullinger  6' 9"   28.2%  0.5  27.0%  1.2
Myles T.   6' 11"  21.4%  0.1  21.0%  2.3
Ilyasova   6' 10"  36.3%  2.0  14.5%  1.0
Porzingis  7’ 3”   33.3%  1.4  20.7%  2.3
+
Ibaka      6’ 10”  32.6%  0.9  16.2%  2.1


[jcuuofd]

Everything Mirotic can do Portis can do better.

[Red Larrivee]

He hasn't panned out to be a starter quality player. We should have traded him last season.

2014-15:
17.9 PER
.556 TS%
18.1 pts per 36
3.45 RPM

2015-16:
15.6 PER
.564 TS%
17.0 pts per 36
1.61 RPM

Mirotic is absolutely a starter quality player.

[kyrv]

The x factor stuff is a myth. And Niko is not the most important player. If Wade and Rondo implode the team, Niko playing well will be a nice story and good for the future. Conversely the Bulls could still be good with Niko out or not playing well.

[Rerisen]

The x factor stuff is a myth. And Niko is not the most important player. If Wade and Rondo implode the team, Niko playing well will be a nice story and good for the future. Conversely the Bulls could still be good with Niko out or not playing well.

All X factor means is a particular importance increase due to fit or skills.

It stands to reason if there is such a thing as a 'bad fit', such as Rondo, Butler, Wade are a bad fit due to shooting - and maybe you don't believe they are - but then there must also be such a thing as a good fit on a team.

[LoveDaBoo]

He hasn't panned out to be a starter quality player. We should have traded him last season.

2014-15:
17.9 PER
.556 TS%
18.1 pts per 36
3.45 RPM

2015-16:
15.6 PER
.564 TS%
17.0 pts per 36
1.61 RPM

Mirotic is absolutely a starter quality player.

Naw. He sucks. He won't pan out here or anywhere else. I suspect he'll be a journeyman soon.

[Stratmaster]

Everything Mirotic can do Portis can do better.

Green font?

[Stratmaster]

Re, all I can really say to that post is yes. I think you covered it pretty well....

#$%^damnit^%$$#

[Hangtime84]

Everything Mirotic can do Portis can do better.

Green font?

Half i know are jokes, but there's a segment who is serious as well. I guess it's because euros aren't sexy.

[Rerisen]

Re, all I can really say to that post is yes. I think you covered it pretty well....

#$%^damnit^%$$#

Yeah, its been awkward around here lately.

Each new year is like playing musical chairs, the music stops and everyone aligns in new places.

[RedBulls23]

He hasn't panned out to be a starter quality player. We should have traded him last season.

2014-15:
17.9 PER
.556 TS%
18.1 pts per 36
3.45 RPM

2015-16:
15.6 PER
.564 TS%
17.0 pts per 36
1.61 RPM

Mirotic is absolutely a starter quality player.

I think expectations starts to skew perception.

Coming into his rookie year, Niko was talked about being a top 10 lottery prospect and had some notable success over seas. So people were thinking ( I was one of them) that he could be a borderline all-star.

Fact is, while he has had his issues with consistency he still has been productive. At this point, it's looking more like Niko can be your 5th best starter or maybe an offensive spark off the bench. Plus, he's still only 25. He may not have much room to grow, but he can still work on his consistency and bounce back to being a 17 PER player.

[rtblues]

This debate ends when he gets PAID next year...
Somewhere...