Celtics fans seem to favor Noel

[Sixerscan]

Jah showed an improved ability to shoot midrange and has the footwork to become better in the PNR, which compliments Simmons game.

Once again, why are we building a team around a kid who hasn't even played a minute the NBA? Don't you think, with all of the assets we have right now, it would be smart to sit back and evaluate these players before deciding to build around one of them? I know very well what our GM is saying. If the rumors about his eagerness to get rid of Jah are true, he is truly the idiot GM I feared he would be.

Because he's a much much better prospect than Okafor? Like you can disagree with that but you've asked that question and gotten that answer a decent amount...

I don't think its in anyone's best interest to reduce Okafor to a midrange shooter and PNR guy, neither of which he's even good at yet and certainly aren't what he's most effective at. Seems like a good reason to trade the guy... getting traded doesn't mean you're bad.

sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh

I never said that we should reduce Okafor to an exclusive midrange/pnr style, I said that it's within his skill set (proven this year) and we can utilize it to help space the floor when running plays for Embiid/Simmons. There can also be plays for Jah in the half court where he would be the one in the paint and Embiid would be on the perimeter spacing. It's all about being versatile. I'm not requesting that Jah do anything he hasn't already proven he could do well.

Simmons is not a much better prospect than Jah, if at all. You folks are so obsessed with seeing someone who plays like Lebron on our team that you'll do whatever it takes to solidify his spot and ensure that he has no competition.

Tell me, what happens if Simmons becomes a 15/10/5 guy on a 48% while Jah turns into a 25/9/3 guy on 55%. Do you regret prematurely deciding this is Simmon's team or do you delude yourself into believing we made the right choice and couldn't have foretold Jah's improvement?

We do not need to trade anyone this off season. There is no need to force the issue.

Well, as long as we're playing with hypotheticals, what happens if Simmons is a much better player the way practically everyone is projecting? Same thing with people saying that the two of them can't play together.

I get that you disagree but to act like what I am saying is crazy or coming from some sort of obsession rather than a fairly rational reaction to what seems like the consensus projection of the two players just weakens your argument.

[Unbreakable99]

If we had a front court of Simmons Okafor and Embiid. Is there a way to make this lineup work? I know Okafor gets hated on by many. I say negative things about him too and an on record as saying it would be best to trade him but can anyone look at the positives in this lineup? I'll try. If you have Okafor and Embiid together that would force one to get double teamed. Wouldn't that lead to easier looks for either Okafor or Embiid or Simmons? Someone will be open right? If the double team comes then Simmons could flash to the lane and get a dunk.

It's almost impossible to play one on one with both Okafor and Embiid together. Okafor got doubled a lot last season. Teams wouldn't be able to do that if you have Embiid too. So can anyone think this could work? I'm speaking more to those who want Okafor gone. Can any of you see anything positive in that lineup?

[Easymoney]

Because he's a much much better prospect than Okafor? Like you can disagree with that but you've asked that question and gotten that answer a decent amount...

I don't think its in anyone's best interest to reduce Okafor to a midrange shooter and PNR guy, neither of which he's even good at yet and certainly aren't what he's most effective at. Seems like a good reason to trade the guy... getting traded doesn't mean you're bad.

sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh

I never said that we should reduce Okafor to an exclusive midrange/pnr style, I said that it's within his skill set (proven this year) and we can utilize it to help space the floor when running plays for Embiid/Simmons. There can also be plays for Jah in the half court where he would be the one in the paint and Embiid would be on the perimeter spacing. It's all about being versatile. I'm not requesting that Jah do anything he hasn't already proven he could do well.

Simmons is not a much better prospect than Jah, if at all. You folks are so obsessed with seeing someone who plays like Lebron on our team that you'll do whatever it takes to solidify his spot and ensure that he has no competition.

Tell me, what happens if Simmons becomes a 15/10/5 guy on a 48% while Jah turns into a 25/9/3 guy on 55%. Do you regret prematurely deciding this is Simmon's team or do you delude yourself into believing we made the right choice and couldn't have foretold Jah's improvement?

We do not need to trade anyone this off season. There is no need to force the issue.

Well, as long as we're playing with hypotheticals, what happens if Simmons is a much better player the way practically everyone is projecting? Same thing with people saying that the two of them can't play together.

I get that you disagree but to act like what I am saying is crazy or coming from some sort of obsession rather than the consensus projection of the two players just weakens your argument.

If Simmons proves himself to be the much better player, we would still have him in my scenario and would have the green light to begin building around him at next years draft or via trade, if necessary. If we stick with your plan and Okafor becomes the much better player, we wouldn't have the option to capitalize on that.

[Easymoney]

If we had a front court of Simmons Okafor and Embiid. Is there a way to make this lineup work? I know Okafor gets hated on by many. I say negative things about him too and an on record as saying it would be best to trade him but can anyone look at the positives in this lineup? I'll try. If you have Okafor and Embiid together that would force one to get double teamed. Wouldn't that lead to easier looks for either Okafor or Embiid or Simmons? Someone will be open right? If the double team comes then Simmons could flash to the lane and get a dunk.

It's almost impossible to play one on one with both Okafor and Embiid together. Okafor got doubled a lot last season. Teams wouldn't be able to do that if you have Embiid too. So can anyone think this could work? I'm speaking more to those who want Okafor gone. Can any of you see anything positive in that lineup?

Yes, I can see a Embiid/Okafor/Simmons lineup working out great for us.

You would need to surround them with 40% 3pt shooters at the 1 and 2. I wouldn't be opposed to trading both Noel and Saric for a pick to select buddy heild. He would be a great shooter to have with those guys. Think of all the open looks this 45% 3pt shooter will get from the attention Embiid, Okafor, and Simmons will draw.

Embiid/Okafor/Simmons/Hield/40% 3pt shooter

People also forget that Embiid can step out and shoot 3's as well to open the paint for Jah and Ben. Jah can also shoot midrange to open the paint for Joel and Ben.

I see nothing but domination from this lineup.

[Sixerscan]

sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh

I never said that we should reduce Okafor to an exclusive midrange/pnr style, I said that it's within his skill set (proven this year) and we can utilize it to help space the floor when running plays for Embiid/Simmons. There can also be plays for Jah in the half court where he would be the one in the paint and Embiid would be on the perimeter spacing. It's all about being versatile. I'm not requesting that Jah do anything he hasn't already proven he could do well.

Simmons is not a much better prospect than Jah, if at all. You folks are so obsessed with seeing someone who plays like Lebron on our team that you'll do whatever it takes to solidify his spot and ensure that he has no competition.

Tell me, what happens if Simmons becomes a 15/10/5 guy on a 48% while Jah turns into a 25/9/3 guy on 55%. Do you regret prematurely deciding this is Simmon's team or do you delude yourself into believing we made the right choice and couldn't have foretold Jah's improvement?

We do not need to trade anyone this off season. There is no need to force the issue.

Well, as long as we're playing with hypotheticals, what happens if Simmons is a much better player the way practically everyone is projecting? Same thing with people saying that the two of them can't play together.

I get that you disagree but to act like what I am saying is crazy or coming from some sort of obsession rather than the consensus projection of the two players just weakens your argument.

If Simmons proves himself to be the much better player, we would still have him in my scenario and would have the green light to begin building around him at next years draft or via trade, if necessary. If we stick with your plan and Okafor becomes the much better player, we wouldn't have the option to capitalize on that.

Maybe but the concern is that if okafor is in fact both a worse player and bad fit and that is made blatantly obvious to the other 29 teams then it kills our leverage for trading him as well as all the other players he's a bad fit with. Right now it's still uncertain, heck we could take Ingram He also has one year less on his rookie deal at that point. There's value in making a decisive decision now.

[Sportfan73]

Well, as long as we're playing with hypotheticals, what happens if Simmons is a much better player the way practically everyone is projecting? Same thing with people saying that the two of them can't play together.

I get that you disagree but to act like what I am saying is crazy or coming from some sort of obsession rather than the consensus projection of the two players just weakens your argument.

If Simmons proves himself to be the much better player, we would still have him in my scenario and would have the green light to begin building around him at next years draft or via trade, if necessary. If we stick with your plan and Okafor becomes the much better player, we wouldn't have the option to capitalize on that.

Maybe but the concern is that if okafor is in fact both a worse player and bad fit and that is made blatantly obvious to the other 29 teams then it kills our leverage for trading him as well as all the other players he's a bad fit with. Right now it's still uncertain, heck we could take Ingram He also has one year less on his rookie deal at that point. There's value in making a decisive decision now.

Only way we keep Jah is if we trade Noel and he starts at center. Ben plays point forward and guards 3's and jerami starts at the 4(corner 3 please) he has to have an Ibaka type at the 4 at least this year. Now if he really slims down do we realistically start the year with
Canaan/tj
Fa/nik
Simmons/Covington
Jah/saric/grant
Noel/embiid/holmes

If that's the case I absolutely trade Saric to get back into the top 10. 9 from Toronto and snag Baldwin. Now if Noel could go to Chicago in a 3 team deal that got us 9 and 14, Baldwin and Luwawu count me in for starting Jah at the 5.

[Ericb5]

The difference between you and I on this matter is that you have already committed to building around Simmons, despite him not playing a single solitary second at the NBA level, while I am willing to take a more cautious approach in regards to finding our star. My plan has versatility and optionality, while yours is simply a gamble.

Why rush to get backcourt players in this draft when better options will be available next year? Do you really want to trade Okafor for players we may very well marginalize after next years draft? Does that make any logical sense at all?

The only thing we need to worry about in terms of backcourt play this year is making sure we don't play Dleague players in our starting lineup.

It's true that I am ready to commit to building around Simmons and Embiid.

I just think that they are the stars that we needed to get from the tank, and now I am ready to start complimenting them. We can't have the same Dleague backcourt this season. We need more stability there.


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You're willing to build a team around players who haven't proven anything at this level. What happens if you're wrong? We'll be right back to where we were in 2012-13. You want to maximize your chance of getting a star. Right now we have 3 guys in Embiid, Okafor, and Simmons who can be stars. We also have the picks and space to begin properly building at the conclusion of next season. What you guys are suggesting doesn't make sense. Why cut one of your potential stars to build around another potential star, who hasn't proven anything, when you can afford to be responsible and evaluate?

You won't know how to properly build around any prospect until you see their NBA game. I can't believe a concept so fundamental to proper management is downright foreign to so many.

All we have to do this year is sign guys to our backcourt who aren't dleague players and bring veterans in at the right price. We don't need to trade any of our top prospects yet.

You are very hung up on players that haven't been in the league yet being unable to be evaluated against players that have.

I'm not.

I am very comfortable projecting Simmons and Embiid both as better players than Okafor, and that isn't because I don't respect Okafor. It is because I think that we have 2 real franchise type players in Simmons and Embiid. It is all just basketball.

I get it that Embiid has an injury risk, but building the team around Simmons, and Building the team around Simmons and Embiid is largely a similar enterprise. I DO happen to be very optimistic about Embiid too.

Also, Okafor and Noel aren't even good fits, so even if Embiid busts, we still have that issue to deal with. I'm willing to shoot for the stars, and live with the risks.

And, I am not someone who wants to trade Okafor for anyone in this draft after the first two, but the fact remains that he is very likely to be traded during this draft, and I am just highlighting the advantages of doing that.

We need a backcourt regardless. Our backcourt is historically devoid of talent, and that is a drain on the whole team. Okafor can return significant talent upgrades for the backcourt.


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[rzzzzz]

And, I am not someone who wants to trade Okafor for anyone in this draft after the first two, but the fact remains that he is very likely to be traded during this draft, and I am just highlighting the advantages of doing that.

We need a backcourt regardless. Our backcourt is historically devoid of talent, and that is a drain on the whole team. Okafor can return significant talent upgrades for the backcourt.

we don't want to trade both Okafor and Noel at this point. and
Okafor > Noel for the Sixers, because he can be more than only a back-up for Embiid. and even though there's a lot of interest around the league for Okafor, Noel is enough to get us that back court talent upgrade. Okafor for Ingram is a fair deal. so is Noel for Murray, Dunn, etc.

[PhillySixers22]

It's true that I am ready to commit to building around Simmons and Embiid.

I just think that they are the stars that we needed to get from the tank, and now I am ready to start complimenting them. We can't have the same Dleague backcourt this season. We need more stability there.


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You're willing to build a team around players who haven't proven anything at this level. What happens if you're wrong? We'll be right back to where we were in 2012-13. You want to maximize your chance of getting a star. Right now we have 3 guys in Embiid, Okafor, and Simmons who can be stars. We also have the picks and space to begin properly building at the conclusion of next season. What you guys are suggesting doesn't make sense. Why cut one of your potential stars to build around another potential star, who hasn't proven anything, when you can afford to be responsible and evaluate?

You won't know how to properly build around any prospect until you see their NBA game. I can't believe a concept so fundamental to proper management is downright foreign to so many.

All we have to do this year is sign guys to our backcourt who aren't dleague players and bring veterans in at the right price. We don't need to trade any of our top prospects yet.

You are very hung up on players that haven't been in the league yet being unable to be evaluated against players that have.

I'm not.

I am very comfortable projecting Simmons and Embiid both as better players than Okafor, and that isn't because I don't respect Okafor. It is because I think that we have 2 real franchise type players in Simmons and Embiid. It is all just basketball.

I get it that Embiid has an injury risk, but building the team around Simmons, and Building the team around Simmons and Embiid is largely a similar enterprise. I DO happen to be very optimistic about Embiid too.

Also, Okafor and Noel aren't even good fits, so even if Embiid busts, we still have that issue to deal with. I'm willing to shoot for the stars, and live with the risks.

And, I am not someone who wants to trade Okafor for anyone in this draft after the first two, but the fact remains that he is very likely to be traded during this draft, and I am just highlighting the advantages of doing that.

We need a backcourt regardless. Our backcourt is historically devoid of talent, and that is a drain on the whole team. Okafor can return significant talent upgrades for the backcourt.


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Even if you're very comfortable projecting that Simmons and Embiid are significantly better players than Okafor, it's still just projection until proven otherwise. It happens literally every year that prospects are viewed quite highly until they play in the nba then suddenly they're not even close to the next class players. Okafor would be right on Simmons level as a prospect if he were in this draft coming off a national title as the most advanced post prospect in years. Nothing from Jah's rookie season says he is no longer an elite prospect.

So why rush to deal him for Dunn, who could be the next Wall or could be a better Tony Wroten etc. There's absolutely nothing that makes Dunn or anyone else in this draft but Simmons and to some Ingram even as good a prospect as Jah, much less a better one. So just like he's saying, what's the rush? Let's see what we have because it's just as likely that Jah is a legit star as it is the Embiid never plays a full season and that Simmons is Odom and not Magic. Let them all play a season and go from there.

[Ericb5]

You're willing to build a team around players who haven't proven anything at this level. What happens if you're wrong? We'll be right back to where we were in 2012-13. You want to maximize your chance of getting a star. Right now we have 3 guys in Embiid, Okafor, and Simmons who can be stars. We also have the picks and space to begin properly building at the conclusion of next season. What you guys are suggesting doesn't make sense. Why cut one of your potential stars to build around another potential star, who hasn't proven anything, when you can afford to be responsible and evaluate?

You won't know how to properly build around any prospect until you see their NBA game. I can't believe a concept so fundamental to proper management is downright foreign to so many.

All we have to do this year is sign guys to our backcourt who aren't dleague players and bring veterans in at the right price. We don't need to trade any of our top prospects yet.

You are very hung up on players that haven't been in the league yet being unable to be evaluated against players that have.

I'm not.

I am very comfortable projecting Simmons and Embiid both as better players than Okafor, and that isn't because I don't respect Okafor. It is because I think that we have 2 real franchise type players in Simmons and Embiid. It is all just basketball.

I get it that Embiid has an injury risk, but building the team around Simmons, and Building the team around Simmons and Embiid is largely a similar enterprise. I DO happen to be very optimistic about Embiid too.

Also, Okafor and Noel aren't even good fits, so even if Embiid busts, we still have that issue to deal with. I'm willing to shoot for the stars, and live with the risks.

And, I am not someone who wants to trade Okafor for anyone in this draft after the first two, but the fact remains that he is very likely to be traded during this draft, and I am just highlighting the advantages of doing that.

We need a backcourt regardless. Our backcourt is historically devoid of talent, and that is a drain on the whole team. Okafor can return significant talent upgrades for the backcourt.


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Even if you're very comfortable projecting that Simmons and Embiid are significantly better players than Okafor, it's still just projection until proven otherwise. It happens literally every year that prospects are viewed quite highly until they play in the nba then suddenly they're not even close to the next class players. Okafor would be right on Simmons level as a prospect if he were in this draft coming off a national title as the most advanced post prospect in years. Nothing from Jah's rookie season says he is no longer an elite prospect.

So why rush to deal him for Dunn, who could be the next Wall or could be a better Tony Wroten etc. There's absolutely nothing that makes Dunn or anyone else in this draft but Simmons and to some Ingram even as good a prospect as Jah, much less a better one. So just like he's saying, what's the rush? Let's see what we have because it's just as likely that Jah is a legit star as it is the Embiid never plays a full season and that Simmons is Odom and not Magic. Let them all play a season and go from there.

I'm very aware of the danger of prospects disappointing, but I just feel differently this year. I think Simmons is definitely a notch above Okafor as a talent.

Also I wouldn't trade him for Dunn. I would be trading him for Knight and Dunn in the scenario that I'm defending.

If the rumored deal with Noel goes down I'm not trading Okafor at all, as I prefer him to Noel by a good margin.


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[sixers4real]

You are very hung up on players that haven't been in the league yet being unable to be evaluated against players that have.

I'm not.

I am very comfortable projecting Simmons and Embiid both as better players than Okafor, and that isn't because I don't respect Okafor. It is because I think that we have 2 real franchise type players in Simmons and Embiid. It is all just basketball.

I get it that Embiid has an injury risk, but building the team around Simmons, and Building the team around Simmons and Embiid is largely a similar enterprise. I DO happen to be very optimistic about Embiid too.

Also, Okafor and Noel aren't even good fits, so even if Embiid busts, we still have that issue to deal with. I'm willing to shoot for the stars, and live with the risks.

And, I am not someone who wants to trade Okafor for anyone in this draft after the first two, but the fact remains that he is very likely to be traded during this draft, and I am just highlighting the advantages of doing that.

We need a backcourt regardless. Our backcourt is historically devoid of talent, and that is a drain on the whole team. Okafor can return significant talent upgrades for the backcourt.


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Even if you're very comfortable projecting that Simmons and Embiid are significantly better players than Okafor, it's still just projection until proven otherwise. It happens literally every year that prospects are viewed quite highly until they play in the nba then suddenly they're not even close to the next class players. Okafor would be right on Simmons level as a prospect if he were in this draft coming off a national title as the most advanced post prospect in years. Nothing from Jah's rookie season says he is no longer an elite prospect.

So why rush to deal him for Dunn, who could be the next Wall or could be a better Tony Wroten etc. There's absolutely nothing that makes Dunn or anyone else in this draft but Simmons and to some Ingram even as good a prospect as Jah, much less a better one. So just like he's saying, what's the rush? Let's see what we have because it's just as likely that Jah is a legit star as it is the Embiid never plays a full season and that Simmons is Odom and not Magic. Let them all play a season and go from there.

I'm very aware of the danger of prospects disappointing, but I just feel differently this year. I think Simmons is definitely a notch above Okafor as a talent.

Also I wouldn't trade him for Dunn. I would be trading him for Knight and Dunn in the scenario that I'm defending.

If the rumored deal with Noel goes down I'm not trading Okafor at all, as I prefer him to Noel by a good margin.


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Exactly. IF we trade Noel, we keep Okafor, thats for sure. And to this stage the best possible trade for either big is #4 Dunn + Knight with Suns. I also prefer to keep Noel.

[LloydFree]

"You don't want to see a 21 year old stud, who was once on your team, averaging 25 ppg 9 rebs 3 ast 1 blk on 58% for a division rival..."

Oh, but I do. I do want to see my division rival with that, especially when it come from a Center that's incapable of guarding anybody or protecting the basket. I want to see that because I know that there hasnt been a bad defensive Center win a championship in 20 years. So I know I won't miss what he brings.

You are ignoring reality. It has already been proven that Jah has the capability of becoming a competent defensive player, as evidenced by his improved defensive stats during the second half of the season. I urge you to check out some of 76ciology's posts regarding this matter as your narrative on Okafor's defensive ceiling is false.

**Bump** Comedy gold thread

I wonder if the Celtics' offer of Rozier for Okafor is still available.

[jbent87]

let's not go having a RT Armageddon on ourselves over Okafor/Nerlens stuff just yet. We're better than that.

[LloydFree]

let's not go having a RT Armageddon on ourselves over Okafor/Nerlens stuff just yet. We're better than that.

We can't have a RT Armageddon regarding the Okafor vs Noel issue. Nearly all of the 'Prokafors' are in hiding, and have stopped posting.

[CoreyGallagher]

Everyone, including myself, that fell under the moniker of 'Prokafor' - which has always annoyed me - didn't expect Okafor to regress from the end of his rookie season to his sophomore season (not overall, just towards the end, January and February compared to now). He still had issues at that time that we'd hoped he'd improve upon or at least perform better playing against bench players, which he seemed to last season. He would have had to of kept that scoring prowess, at the very least, he's the type of player that even if in some other ways he did improve (blocks, for instance), his scoring had to remain to notice impact (final two months of last season, for 22 games he had a 60 TS%).

I could post about him before because certain metrics were redeemable, especially relative to his scoring. This season nothing really is. If anybody knew how he would begin this season than very few that were/are on the bandwagon because of how he finished last season would have been. He's been disappointing.

[tk76]

I never understand hating a player the Sixers draft from the first time he steps on the floor... and then hoping you are proving right and he goes on to be lousy. A bunch of fans have been that way about ET, Vucevic, Okafor and even to an extent, Iggy. What is the point? Most picks have areas of potential and areas of concern. Once they start out as a Sixer I generally try and root for their success and hope they reach their potential. I generally don't actively root against any rookie (which is not to say I'm blind to their weaknesses.)

I don't agree with every pick the team makes (although more often than not, I agreed with DiLeo picks.) And I'm more than willing to call out poor play or admit a player was a bad pick. But I don't take any satisfaction in being right and the team wrong, while I'm very happy to be proven wrong if the end result is team success.

For example, I was vocally on the Porzingis bandwagon 2 years before he was drafted, and really bummed he pulled out of the draft in 2014 when I thought he might be a steal. But last year I really wanted to see Okafor turn out to be better than Porzingis... because he was a Sixers and Porzingis was not. And seeing Porzingis being a star in NY is zero consolation. I don't root against the guy as he is a fun guy to root for. But I'd certainly have preferred to see the Sixers come out on top.

It is not my place to tell someone else how to be a fan... but it has always boggled my mind how many fans relish to see certain players fail.

[LloydFree]

Everyone, including myself, that fell under the moniker of 'Prokafor' - which has always annoyed me - didn't expect Okafor to regress from the end of his rookie season to his sophomore season (not overall, just towards the end, January and February compared to now). He still had issues at that time that we'd hoped he'd improve upon or at least perform better playing against bench players, which he seemed to last season. He would have had to of kept that scoring prowess, at the very least, he's the type of player that even if in some other ways he did improve (blocks, for instance), his scoring had to remain to notice impact (final two months of last season, for 22 games he had a 60 TS%).

I could post about him before because certain metrics were redeemable, especially relative to his scoring. This season nothing really is. If anybody knew how he would begin this season than very few that were/are on the bandwagon because of how he finished last season would have been. He's been disappointing.

Okafor hasn't regressed. He's the same player he was last year, with less minutes.

[CoreyGallagher]

Okafor hasn't regressed. He's the same player he was last year, with less minutes, because we have someone better playing the position.

His scoring has (since the end of last season) - which is/was the most appreciable facet of his game. Also, the fact that he is the same player in some ways as he was last year is disappointing - you expect improvement.

He still doesn't pass well, particularly out of the block, his rebounding percentage when he's the only big on the court is down 4% from last season, and his impact on defense seems just as bad - only glimmer of hope would be his blocks going up, possibly inferring some semblance of knowing where to be and when to contest. If he's not scoring efficiently with his usage and with his style of play, regardless of minutes, than everything else is glaringly more egregious.
If he improved in any of those ways while scoring close to as efficiently as he did towards the end of last season (60TS%), I think he'd be much more palpable as an option at back-up.

[Sixerscan]

His scoring hasn't regressed as much as his usage has regressed, which is something people thought would happen as the team improved. Among the many okafor projection mistakes people made last summer, one of the biggest ones was the assumption that okafor would get to play with better teammates without having to sacrifice any possessions to those better teammates.

[CoreyGallagher]

His scoring hasn't regressed as much as his usage has regressed, which is something people thought would happen as the team improved.

I thought and had hoped that his scoring towards the end of last season was more indicative of the scorer that he was.

Oct/Nov - 49.3 TS%
Dec - 49.6 TS%
Jan - 60.2 TS%
Feb - 59.7 TS%

I'm now under the assumption that Ish was more responsible for that uptick (similarly to Noel his rookie and sophomore season). During those latter months he was second in the league in scoring inside to 'dunking' Deandre Jordan and was even shooting well from closer-mid range.