SF_Warriors wrote:Double Helix wrote:SF_Warriors wrote:
Kemba is not a good batman. I do not get why you think batum is a nice second option. He has never even averaged over 15.1 ppg in his career. Dwight's solid, but he is not head and shoulders above most centers like he once was.
They just do not have enough top end offensive talent, someone who can bump walker to #2. As far as what's available out there for them, that is hard to answer as those are very difficult to find.
Well, you look at how many teams are being lead by offensive PGs. If you check out the top RPM PGs in basketball right now (Curry, Westbrook, Harden, Lowry, Kryie, etc) Kemba is not far behind them and many teams seem to be building their offences around these types of scoring guards and finding success. Most of those high impact PGs are playing on teams who are good or great.
Zach Lowe and plenty of others have often mentioned Nic Batum as one of the more underrated players in the league. Based on the push for 2-way players you'd think a 2-way wing with his size who can pass and shoot 3s would have a bigger impact next to Walker.
Marvin Williams is the 7th highest PF via Real +/- and fits the mold of what many teams are now looking for in a hybrid forward.
Dwight Howard is Dwight Howard. A former 2-way superstar that's older but still seems to be an effective 2-way C.
Even that right there, on paper, seems to feature a solid amount of 2-way starters and an offensive pecking order not all that different than others who are finding more success.
I just checked out Batum's RPM this year for the first time and noticed how low it was. So, perhaps it's as simple as them not getting enough out of one of their highest paid guys now?
I don't mind their bench. I think many GMs would happily take MKG, Jeremy Lamb, Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky as rotational bench pieces.
Based on what others have said, and what I'm seeing out of Batum, it seems like these are the biggest issues they need to work on.
1) Batum needs to produce more like the 2-way analytics darling he was heralded as and is paid to be.
2) They need a scoring, reliable backup PG vet better than MCW. The kind of guy who could be on short lists for 6MOTY and feature in some 4th quarter small ball lineups next to Walker.
3) They need a better offensive system better suited to getting the most out of their personnel. Look at the difference Toronto has had simply be changing their offensive philosophy this year and making ball movement and 3s, and less high pick and rolls and isolation, their bread and butter.
4) They need to become a defensive team again. If you're going to feature guys whose value is tied to defence you can't be a medicore defensive team overall. You'd better become one of the top 10 defences in the league at a minimum or else what's the point? Especially if you went the 2-way route that leans a little more on the defensive side of the ball.
All those guards you named aside from lowry are much better offensive players. Not only are they all better scorers, but also better playmakers (kyrie arguable). Lowry and kemba are about the same level offensively but lowry gets the edge defensively and in playmaking, and he plays next to another all star guard and unfortunately, kemba does not.
Batum is a very solid 2-way wing. I would describe his game as smooth like butter, but you can't have a guy be a second option and not be capable of averaging more than 15-16ppg. You just can't. Batum is a quality glue guy and his role should be as such.
Marvin is a quality rotation guy, but an above average starting PF he is not. Would say average starter at best.
Dwights still a pretty good player but him, batum, and lamb is not enough offensive support for kemba. The team is 26th in FG%, 24th in 3pt%, 24th in scoring, 26th in FGA, 27th in 3PA. They do not have enough offensive talent, period.
I would say PF and wing next to batum are the two areas that could use an upgrade the most.
The bench has decent pieces with lamb and zeller. MKG is a starter for them so I do not know why you would list him as a bench player. Kamisky is hot garbage. If you need me to explain why I will.
So basically we have one below average first option. No good second option (dwight and batum are both good but neither are ideal second options and you know it), a decent bench, And two average starters in MKG and MWill. That is why they are a 7th to 12th seed out in the east
And do not confuse 2-way player with high impact. 2-way players can be solid but may not necessarily impact games like all stars.
Defense and having an all-star guard next to him, isn't the only difference between Lowry and Kemba.
Lowry is better in every other single category as well (Assist-Rebounding-PER-Plus/minus-Net Rating). Lowry is a bonafide leader and makes his whole team better.
Kemba, on the other hand, is just a really good scorer. If Charlotte really wants to take the next step with Kemba as their main player, they need Kemba to turn into a better all-around player first.
