AirP. wrote:Shewasfly wrote:AirP. wrote:Spoiler:
You say it's about maximizing a known quantity and I say that's exactly what we're doing. What we've been doing. He has the ball in his hands a ton, but he mostly ends up just facilitating for better offensive players like Tyler or shooters who are willing to shoot like Duncan. But we have all seen and called out during games times where Bam will get the ball, have a wide open lane or jumper, and do nothing with it. Or he'll be so hesitant that he just ends up messing it up. Essentially a turnover. And he knows it, which is why the majority of the time he makes the choice he does to pass. Keep in mind, we are also small because of Bam. That thing we all complain about ad nauseam on here? Yeah, a huge part of that is to accommodate Bam's limitations on offense.
The fact is, you can't draw blood from a stone. Bam is not a player that you can give the ball and look to to get a bucket. He's also not a guy who defenses will start inching towards and looking to collapse on when he has the ball in his hands, making it easier for other guys. He's the guy who sets great screens for others, DHOs, and here and there can take a less athletic big off the dribble, if they're not too tall or solid physically. I would actually like to see Bam develop more of a UD style game, where he is that outlet to a #1, spotting up immediately after a screen to take a mid range standstill J. That's about the ONLY thing I can say we don't see enough of out of him. But even that is mostly a decision Bam is making when the ball gets kicked back to him (and to be fair, we don't have a #1 kicking it to him).
Its not about not acknowledging roles, it's about using your eyes to see what a player is capable of and accepting it for what it is. The conversation continually being framed as if the coaching staff is doing something to prevent some offensive juggernaut that is lying within Bam is laughable and needs to stop. They're working with what they have with Bam as far as his capabilities.
I don't think Bam is some offensive juggernaut, I think he can score some near the basket and is a good passer as a center, back when he was more of a focus of the offense Bam's career average calculated ORTG, is 117 in 8 seasons. Herro, having the best season by far of his career is putting up a calculated ORTG of... 118. Bams has had 2 seasons of over 120 so far in his career, the reason for previous years being so low in scoring was Herro's shot diet of loving the midrange shot while being a very good 3pt shooter.
Right now, Miami has an ORTG of 114.1, previous season in descending order... 114.0, 113.0, 113.7, 111.2, and 111.5, the issue, the defense has become worse at a higher rate than the offense has gotten good.
Maybe it's time to sell not only Butler but Bam too and just lean into 3pt shooting with a big rim protector. I don't think you're going to like the success that does/doesn't bring Miami.
Keep using your eyes, I'll continue to look at actual production and success.
Well, it must be Jimmy eyes too. You are free to keep looking at your numbers and calculations though. I just know what I see as far as Bam's offensive limitations and how the coaching tries to accommodate for it.
I'm not even dumping on Bam. I actually think keeping Jimmy helps Bam, and I prefer to keep Jimmy if we can. Jimmy keeps the focus off of Bam underperforming, so you should love that. But more than that, I actually think it's going to be too hard, damn near impossible, to replace Jimmy with a player of his caliber that will be able to carry he and Tyler the way Jimmy often does come playoff time. None of those types of players are available and they are hard to come by. I think the people clamoring to get rid of Jimmy for picks are underestimating that. It should be the absolute last resort.
That said, if Jimmy goes...You don't have to tell me twice about selling high on Bam. He's never been untouchable to me. I'm just one of the few that has been willing to say it. Although, I think it might be too late to sell high anyway. But you've set up a false dichotomy that selling on him would mean the only option is to get a big rim protector, which certainly isn't the case.
