#28 - Pistons-Jazz - 7pm ET

[Kalamazoo317]

What this game highlights for me is we won’t take the next step until we add a second high level scorer. When we go cold from the outside, we just do not have enough offense around Cade.

[Invictus88]

For the last 2 seasons, he hasn't been given starting jobs like some others. He doesn't get constant minutes, and would go games without playing a second, but always played good defense, high energy, and shooting 41% from 3 and 54% overall. I think he would complement Cade well, because Sasser is a 2 in a 1's body, and Cade is a 1 in a 2's body.

Sasser is constantly exploited on the defensive end. You put him in the game and the opponents offense instantly switches to isoing with whoever is being guarded by him.

His defensive FG% allowed is just 41.6% which is the best on the team. (Cade and Ausar are next at 41.8%)

Sasser dFG% 41.6% giving up 23.8% on 3s and giving up 54.2% on 2s.
Ivey dFG% 48.9% giving up 42.0% on 3s and 53.7% on 2s
Beasley dFG% 49.0% giving up 40.6% on 3s and 55.0% on 2s
THJ dFG% 48.6% giving up 34.9% on 3s and 59.1% on 2s
Cade dFG% 41.8% giving up 36.7% on 3s and 45.9% on 2s
Holland II dFG% 45.5% giving up 32.8% on 3s and 55.4% on 2s
Ausar dFG% 41.8% giving up 34.8% on 3s and 46.9% on 2s

This obviously doesn't tell the entire story as different players are tasked with guarding different level players and also some are playing more against starters and some against reserves but I think it does clearly show that Sasser has been far from bad on defense he's actually been quite good which is the same thing as the eye test shows... Same thing from Cade he's been very good defensively this season.

I want to know more about this metric.

1. Where is Stew on the list? What about Duren? Both in terms of 3pt fg and 2pt fg. (Mostly curious here)
2. There's no way I would ever consider Sasser of all people to be our best perimeter defender as these numbers seem to suggest. It just doesn't jive. Is he somehow just playing against awful second string guys who can't shoot from beyond the arc?
3. His 2pt numbers seem far more in line with expectations. He's barely ahead of guys like Beasley and the sieve THJ.

My initial comment was based on the eye test alone. I want to see next time he gets subbed in whether or not the opposing offense reactively switches to ISO'ing him. This happened a lot in the preseason and early on this season to be certain.

I'll pay attention next game and re-evaluate. I'm willing to be wrong here.

[Canadafan]

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What's up with our guy?
Maybe his ankles aren't 100%
He just doesn't seem to have the same lift like he used to

[MortSahlfan]

'm glad he challenged it.. I don't know about his ankles, but sometimes he's just so lazy.

[Canadafan]

'm glad he challenged it.. I don't know about his ankles, but sometimes he's just so lazy.

Ya me too
He just doesn't seem as athletic as last year. He sure didn't get up high for this block....