Need explanations thread - Why is my Player underperforming?

[CableKC]

I assume that many are in the same boat as I am.....you drafted a Player that you fully expected to help carry your Team....but have found that he is underperforming well beyond expectations.

Given that we aren't always familiar with why a Player may not be performing up to expectations....I thought that it would be helpful to see if anyone on the forum may be able to offer insight into why they maybe underperforming and therefore whether we should continue to hang onto them.

I'll start....for example:

Paul George ( he's on my Team ) :

Overall...for the season...he's been IMHO underperforming below my expectations...from a Fantasy POV. His FG% and Steals are down but his 3ptA are up. Most of this can be attributed to his expanded role on the Team due to Granger being out....which means the offense is focusing more on him since he's the #2 to #3 scoring option and that he's taking more FGA per game. But my hope and expectation is that he'd get closer to his stats once Granger returns to the lineup. After his ZERO point outing in Oakland...he seemed to wake up and is being more aggressive on the offensive end...therefore improving his overall stats over time. The only problem is that IMHO....Paul George doesn't have the instinctive "killer" nature in his offensive game....he's more passive than aggressive....meaning it's very possible that he may revert back to his "old" self and not perform as consistently as he should. But the hope is that having Granger back in the lineup will allow him to slowly grow into his role and that he should be more consistent on the offensive end.

I have Gortat on my Team.....can anyone offer some insight into why Gortat has been sucking it up lately?

At the beginning of the season...he was gang-busters....he was doing everything that he should have been doing and then some. But over the last month....he's been sucking it up as a late round pick.

Does anyone know if Alvin Gentry made a change in the offense which may explain his downturn in his offensive performance?

Did Gortat sustain any injury?

Is Gortat just not getting along with Players or the Coach?

I'm trying to find out if there has been any systemic or non-systemic factors that may explain his poor performance as of late.

I guess the point of this thread is to find out about why Under-performing Players maybe sucking it up....but this could give all of us some additional insight into whether we should jettison a Player or hold on to him in the hopes that he will do better over time.

[TheToothFairy]

I don't know what you are talking about

George has been great this season and a top 7 player the last 2 weeks

[Apathy]

George isn't underperforming. He's what, a top 40 player?

Frankly neither is Gortat. Stop overreacting to variance.

[CableKC]

Fine...underperforming may not be the right word for Paul George....but his FG% and SPG are down compared to last year...PRIOR to the last 2 weeks where he has finally got it going.

As for Gortat.....he's averaging 2 to 4 less rebounds a game over the last month compared to last year taking 3 less FGA / 2 less FGM a game this season compared to last season....both of which has affected his scoring production and percentages. At the very least...over the last month..he's been performing below his regular production.

Yes, I hope it is a variance....I'm just asking if anyone can help provide an explanation for this variance over the last month.

[sweet_jesus]

I like the idea of this thread but it's going take insight from a specific fan base for answers. It's probably best just to cruise the PHX board and see what they have been witnessing. I got no answers for why Gortat started the year on fire and now is struggling to double double.