Scoot McGroot wrote:BK_2020 wrote:Nesmith was a 25 mpg guy. Elite role players don't get asked to sit half the game. So either Rick Carlisle doesn't know how to coach, or Indiana was intentionally trying to lose, even the finals when they played their supposedly elite role player only 28 mpg, or Nesmith isn't as elite and superb as he looks on paper in somewhat limited minutes.
A dark horse alternative is, Nesmith would foul out every game if he played 32 mpg.
Hard to knock Nesmith for 25-28mpg when Indy succeeded off depth? For example, in the playoffs, Haliburton, Nesmith, and Siakam all largely tied for the team lead with 33mpg.
Nesmith played 28 mpg in the playoffs, not 33.
And in any case the minutes distribution requires some context. Haliburton playing 33 mpg for the playoffs was certainly not by design as he was injured in the finals and neither was Nesmith playing 28 mpg since he committed 27 fouls in 132 minutes in the final 5 games.
You might say well Nesmith will foul less as he matures and plays with more poise but the fact is his defensive value is 90% from his crazyman energy.