The Anthony Black Thread

[Knightro]

People not accepting basic facts that can easily be looked up and confirmed as true makes me not even want to post anymore.

It just saps my enjoyment of this board much

[Bensational]

Guess what everybody, WCJ didn’t play PG last season. That’s a FACT. It’s also utterly worthless as an observation on its own unless you’re prepared to draw a conclusion from it.

[eyriq]

People not accepting basic facts that can easily be looked up and confirmed as true makes me not even want to post anymore.

It just saps my enjoyment of this board much

I'm over the debate and appreciate your knowledge and insights beyond a dispute over grammar. I think you're right according to your way of thinking about positions and I'll chalk the differences up to grammar.

[Knightro]

This is literal common sense stuff.

Anthony Black Year 2
48.5 touches per game - 4th on the team
27.7 backcourt touches per game - 3rd on the team
20.8 frontcourt touches per game - 6th on the team
3.8 average time of possession - 4th on the team
4.25 average dribbles per touch - 1st on the team

Anthony Black Year 1
26.4 touches per game - 9th on the team
14.0 backcourt touches per game - 7th on the team
12.4 frontcourt touches per game - 11th on the team
1.5 average time of possession - 7th on the team
2.64 average dribbles per touch - 8th on the team

On what planet are these two things the same? Hint: they're not

Anthony Black as a rookie played the vast majority of his minutes off the basketball in a catch-and-shoot role. He rarely touched the ball. He rarely dribbled the ball. He stood stationary and waited for a pass and if he got a pass and was open, he'd take a 3 pointer.

This year he's bringing the basketball up. He's initiating sets. He's using more possessions with the ball in his hands. Touches, dribbles, everything has increased dramatically. Why? Because they're using him as a point guard.

If anything, how they're using him THIS year is clear indication that he WASN'T being used as a point guard last year. Regardless of whatever his BREF PxP said or the graphics package on the Bally's broadcasts said.

And this isn't a "oh well he was a point guard last year too, just not to your definition of what a point guard should be" because that's BS.

[basketballRob]

I've been a big AB fan since the beginning, but he didn't play PG last season. He had a stretch this season when he was racking up potential assists, but he's got away from that in the last several games.

He still needs to work on his handle.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Residual-Heat]

yeah definitely needs to work on his handle and whole offense really.

At the end of the day we have two point forwards that can run the offense (and Suggs), that is why we dont need him to have an elite PG skillset. That is why its possible that Black can one day become our starting PG. I am not sure though if he will ever be capable of being a PG on ANY team, if that makes sense.

[MasterGMer]

I have high hopes on AB. And I hope he can become Orlando's future at PG position.

Now with Franz and Paolo both out, I hope he steps up big time taking control of the offense and produce. His opportunity will come.

I also hope Suggs can seriously carry this team offensively. We have no choice.

Big game tomorrow. See ya

[GelbeWand09]

We don’t need to really rehash what Black was asked to do last year. I’m right and you’re wrong. The numbers back me up entirely.

Say WHAT??? LOL

That debate is conclusively over and if you lookup the position he played last season you'll see a big old POINT GUARD written out in plain letters.

Position <> Role

He doesnt played PG at all. He was a 3 & D wing/guard standing in the corner without any on ball reps. Just because sites still have to use antique position labels, they chose him as the PG because he was drafted as. He had no PG duties at all.
I don't see anyone saying he isn't a PG too. I said as example in every Post, that I don't know if he is a PG or not because he wasn't used as a PG yet, but he is the only hope. He was a mystery as a PG.

So far he looks like he can be a PG in the Ben Simmons or Lonzo mold. A big PG with solid vision and passing for his position, elite defense, but who is limited in the half court, because he can't beat his man without a pick and that he is super raw in every offensive aspect.

Like I said before. I'm a fan and he was my draft pick but I don't see him as the solution for our guard trouble no matter how good he gonna be because of his player type, shooting and physical limitation. He gonna be part of the solution but we need a complete different player type next to him and Suggs in the future (more dynamic, fast, elite ball handling and at best high volume 3point shooting).

[pepe1991]

I think it is troublesome that he looked better last year when he didn't play PG at all, than this year when he is given some backup PG duties.

He is having pretty bad season from offensive POV.

And there is no reason to continue to engage into "was he PG as a rookie". He wasn't. There is nothing to be said to change it. Can't rewrite past, it's over.

[KillMonger]

It's simple....he just has to hoop....hasn't been hooping lately, just get it together and put together some good minutes of ball where you're effective.....

[eyriq]

I think it is troublesome that he looked better last year when he didn't play PG at all, than this year when he is given some backup PG duties.

He is having pretty bad season from offensive POV.

And there is no reason to continue to engage into "was he PG as a rookie". He wasn't. There is nothing to be said to change it. Can't rewrite past, it's over.

Nah, he's clearly better this year, statistically speaking.

[JoshuaPotter]

People not accepting basic facts that can easily be looked up and confirmed as true makes me not even want to post anymore.

It just saps my enjoyment of this board much

I'm over the debate and appreciate your knowledge and insights beyond a dispute over grammar. I think you're right according to your way of thinking about positions and I'll chalk the differences up to grammar.

My AI translated the conversations as "bury the hatchet, get back to rooting for Magic basketball."

Keeping it on task. AB is fine. Its why when everyone called to start him I said I was OK with it but the moment he has a series of poor games you have to keep your stock.

Here we are, people are already trying to sell.

[Knightro]

People not accepting basic facts that can easily be looked up and confirmed as true makes me not even want to post anymore.

It just saps my enjoyment of this board much

I'm over the debate and appreciate your knowledge and insights beyond a dispute over grammar. I think you're right according to your way of thinking about positions and I'll chalk the differences up to grammar.

My AI translated the conversations as "bury the hatchet, get back to rooting for Magic basketball."

Keeping it on task. AB is fine. Its why when everyone called to start him I said I was OK with it but the moment he has a series of poor games you have to keep your stock.

Here we are, people are already trying to sell.

I have zero desire to get rid of Anthony Black. I wish he had played more on the ball last year and I'm glad he's on the ball this year, young player struggles be damned.

[JoshuaPotter]

I'm over the debate and appreciate your knowledge and insights beyond a dispute over grammar. I think you're right according to your way of thinking about positions and I'll chalk the differences up to grammar.

My AI translated the conversations as "bury the hatchet, get back to rooting for Magic basketball."

Keeping it on task. AB is fine. Its why when everyone called to start him I said I was OK with it but the moment he has a series of poor games you have to keep your stock.

Here we are, people are already trying to sell.

I have zero desire to get rid of Anthony Black. I wish he had played more on the ball last year and I'm glad he's on the ball this year, young player struggles be damned.

Yeah, well see. The challenge is an injury to Franz / Paolo doesn't really hurt the G depth chart. If anything it hurts him because they'll flex him back into last years role if need be. Which TDS is thriving in right now mind you.

I don't have high hopes for the cup. But, if the game is close. That'd be nice.

[jezzerinho]

I'm over the debate and appreciate your knowledge and insights beyond a dispute over grammar. I think you're right according to your way of thinking about positions and I'll chalk the differences up to grammar.

My AI translated the conversations as "bury the hatchet, get back to rooting for Magic basketball."

Keeping it on task. AB is fine. Its why when everyone called to start him I said I was OK with it but the moment he has a series of poor games you have to keep your stock.

Here we are, people are already trying to sell.

I have zero desire to get rid of Anthony Black. I wish he had played more on the ball last year and I'm glad he's on the ball this year, young player struggles be damned.

Yeah, I personally would trade AB for the right player in a heartbeat. I pretty much guarantee I was the first on the Magic board talking about this kid and - while my preference was to trade that #6 pick - once we used it I was happy to use it on him.

But, having watched him I think he's the classic guy that you can get a great trade deal for from a team that needs D in the worst way. We don't need D in the worst way and, while he brings more than that, there's enough evidence to be fairly sure his D will always be the side of the ball he dominates.

He has talent, length, selflessness, work ethic, team spirit... it's a very enticing combo. But I truly feel like this is one film when we can guess the ending. By no means is it a bad ending, but it should appeal to others more than it's ever likely to suit Orlando.

If we're happy to be wrong he isn't an AllStar in waiting then sure. Keep him as a longterm versatile piece that fits any direction. I personally would take advantage of how useful.he could be to defensively challenged teams. But I think it's clear by now Weltman and I don't think the same.