shrink wrote:wolves_89 wrote:TimberKat wrote:If he is a good defender, he could take Rivers' spot
I'd love it if Finch gave him the opportunity, but I'm afraid that barring injury Finch is going to stick with his guys (Rivers).
I agree, especially with only 24 games left in the season, in a tightly contested playoff race.
I am hoping NAW impresses in practice, and justifies a tiny deal as a Rivers replacement next summer. I think Rivers has done an important job this year without complaint, getting limited minutes, defensive assignments and mentoring Ant. But with Conley here, it might make Rivers more expendable, and let us keep the young NAW, cash in on his upside, as he steps into River’s role on the court next season. At a minimum, we get a looksie this season, before we’d decide to offer him a contract.
Going through some of the advanced metrics makes me want NAW in the rotation even more. Comparing NAW to Rivers:
NAW: DEPM 1.9, EPM 0.7, DRPM -2.16, RPM -1.76, DBPM 1.0, BPM 0.5, DRAPTOR 3.4, RAPTOR 2.9
Rivers: DEPM -0.2, EPM -3.2, DRPM -3.23, RPM -4.73, DBPM 0.6, BPM -2.3, DRAPTOR -2.2, RAPTOR -3.9
Statistical improvement if NAW replaced Rivers in the rotation:
NAW-Rivers: DEPM 2.1, EPM 3.9, DRPM 1.07, RPM 2.97, DBPM 0.4, BPM 2.8, DRAPTOR 5.6, RAPTOR 6.8