Trae Young Setting Records

[tsherkin]

Capela is the main reason Trae is so bad at the rim. He clogs the paint so Trae always has to finish over an extra defender. Last year there was a stat that showed Trae and Murray shot like 10% higher at the rim with Capela off the floor.

I can believe that, given his generally-unimpressive finishing.

That said, if he'd shot 10% higher in 2024, he'd have still been just shy of league average in that space, you know what I mean? It's not a happy place for him, relatively speaking. His size is a limitation there, more than the presence or absence of others in the paint.

Of course, as you note later, a 5 who could clear out and space would make his life easier, and would meaningfully impact Trae's individual offense, for sure. And it's reasonable and sensible to do what you can to maximize your focal star and to improve your offense. And a stretch 5 is no longer that challenging to find. Now, a stretch 5 who can defend and also be a lob threat.... well, there's your All-Star player to chase, I suppose, heh.

[NDaATL]

Capela is the main reason Trae is so bad at the rim. He clogs the paint so Trae always has to finish over an extra defender. Last year there was a stat that showed Trae and Murray shot like 10% higher at the rim with Capela off the floor.

I can believe that, given his generally-unimpressive finishing.

That said, if he'd shot 10% higher in 2024, he'd have still been just shy of league average in that space, you know what I mean? It's not a happy place for him, relatively speaking. His size is a limitation there, more than the presence or absence of others in the paint.

Of course, as you note later, a 5 who could clear out and space would make his life easier, and would meaningfully impact Trae's individual offense, for sure. And it's reasonable and sensible to do what you can to maximize your focal star and to improve your offense. And a stretch 5 is no longer that challenging to find. Now, a stretch 5 who can defend and also be a lob threat.... well, there's your All-Star player to chase, I suppose, heh.

No doubt. His floater is his best shot in the paint and it hasn't been as automatic as it was a few seasons ago. But having a floor spacer at the 5 would help a ton.

It's one of the reasons I was so high on Sarr for our team, he would have been a perfect fit with Trae. But I do love Risacher too so I'm happy with the pick. But we need to grab a Sabonis, Ayton, Turner, or draft someone to address that spot. It's really our only position we haven't solved. I love the core 4 of Trae/DD/ZR/JJ. If we get a good floor spacer at the 5 I honestly think we can compete for a championship (if we can stay healthy of course).

[tsherkin]

It's one of the reasons I was so high on Sarr for our team, he would have been a perfect fit with Trae. But I do love Risacher too so I'm happy with the pick. But we need to grab a Sabonis, Ayton, Turner, or draft someone to address that spot. It's really our only position we haven't solved. I love the core 4 of Trae/DD/ZR/JJ. If we get a good floor spacer at the 5 I honestly think we can compete for a championship (if we can stay healthy of course).

Risacher seems to be working out. Early, I was a little low on him because I keep thinking of number one picks as generational talents, but that's not really a valid expectation in the one-and-done era. And really, they happen only so frequently to begin with. He seems to be finding his form. Moves well, C+S well. Opening things up for Atlanta nicely. We'll see what he looks like next year, but he's found his niche and he's got an excellent table-setter helping him out. Now they need their frontcourt to improve, and a legit lead scorer. There are moves yet to make for the Hawks to keep them interesting, for sure.

[ForeverTFC]

For what? The most empty stats in the league?

[Ball4life32]

For what? The most empty stats in the league?

I mean Hawks start two wings under 22 both first yr starters and lost Jalen Johnson half way through and still won 40 games. Clearly putting empty stats though because im sure non empty stat stars would be leading 3 first yr starters while missing their 2nd best player to contender status right?

[tsherkin]

For what? The most empty stats in the league?

But they explicitly are not empty stats...

Just because Atlanta doesn't have the roster support to be seriously competitive doesn't mean Trae isn't doing positive things with his passing. He's 2nd in the whole league in box creation, 5th in Passer Rating, 8th in secondary assists, 1st in potential assists, and leads the league in points created.

He's doing awesome things as a playmaker. He is not, however, working with an incredible team.

There is nothing "empty" about his playmaking at all.

[ForeverTFC]

For what? The most empty stats in the league?

I mean Hawks start two wings under 22 both first yr starters and lost Jalen Johnson half way through and still won 40 games. Clearly putting empty stats though because im sure non empty stat stars would be leading 3 first yr starters while missing their 2nd best player to contender status right?

The Raptors did everything they could possible do to lose games this year, including starting 10 days, undrafted guys, and 2nd round picks while sitting their starting C and SG for 1/3rd of the season and their starting PG for 2/3 of the season and still won 30 games. The Magic had worse injuries and fielded a team incapable of putting the ball in the basket while playing a game called basketball and still won 41 games.

40 wins in the East is not the flex that you think it is. Every team that didn't make the play-in was tanking hard for most of the season.

[Ball4life32]

For what? The most empty stats in the league?

I mean Hawks start two wings under 22 both first yr starters and lost Jalen Johnson half way through and still won 40 games. Clearly putting empty stats though because im sure non empty stat stars would be leading 3 first yr starters while missing their 2nd best player to contender status right?

The Raptors did everything they could possible do to lose games this year, including starting 10 days, undrafted guys, and 2nd round picks while sitting their starting C and SG for 1/3rd of the season and their starting PG for 2/3 of the season and still won 30 games. The Magic had worse injuries and fielded a team incapable of putting the ball in the basket while playing a game called basketball and still won 41 games.

40 wins in the East is not the flex that you think it is. Every team that didn't make the play-in was tanking hard for most of the season.

Hawks oldest starter is Trae at 26....every single team ahead of the hawks including the Magic are starting guys in their 30s or late 20s ... none of them are starting rookies either. Also yes they did cleary tank but Raptors are still 22 games under .500 which isn't close to Atlanta or Orlando. Pretty sure Hawks are top 10 (they were 6th a few weeks ago) in the league in missed games as well.....they went on an 8 game losing streak when Jalen Johnson went down.

And Magic couldn't put the ball in the basket last year either so that's no new phenomenon. And I’m not flexing 40 wins but funny how hawks were projected 35 win team lost a 20/10/5 player half way through the season… starting two wings next to him that were 19 & 21 yr old most of the year and the narrative is empty stats.