dckingsfan wrote:I think you are going to see something different than what you expect (IMO). I think you will see Whitmore getting minutes because he is so darn strong and has pretty quick hands. He is going to be playing like someone possessed to prove he deserved more minutes in Houston.
This is my hope. That he becomes an offensive driver of the team, and picks up his focus on the defensive end. He is saying the right things, and for a stretch late in the season was showing better energy on that side of the ball.
I see Whitmore, George and Coulibaly splitting minutes when Coulibaly is healthy. And I see that because Whitmore can play in the post better (at this time). I also see George as a secondary or probably tertiary ball handler (I don't think that keeps him on the court per se). I could see all three averaging mid-20 minutes. I can see any of the three playing next to each other. But when Sarr is the lone big on the court - I think you will see more Whitmore
“Better in the post” on offense or defense? Because he blocks fewer shots than George or Bilal, shorter wingspan, and despite the advantage in strength only snatches one more board per 100 possessions than George.
The tunnel vision thing is real though. On both ends. In that same 100 possessions Cam takes 25 shots. It was the reason his college coach knocked him before the draft, and the reason Udoka gave up on him. It messes with unity and a team scheme. A portion of his steals are not from on ball pressure but from jumping the passing routes, which puts him out of position if his gamble fails. That stresses the defense of everyone else on court. Is the opposite of what this front office has tried to recruit with getting players who are long for their position, so they can switch and not have to work so hard to cover ground. If you jump out of the pattern everyone else has to shift to adjust.
Coach BK benched Poole for similar patterns, and when he came back JP gave better effort at both ends. Ime Udoka is a better X's and O's coach than Keefe, though Keefe may be better at player development and locker room chemistry, I dunno. Hopefully he reaches Whit on this score. To do so though he may need examples and role models.
Kyshawn plays better team ball, better defense; Whitmore is a pure scorer, elite athlete. Depends what the team is emphasizing. So far it looks like BK lands on the defense part of the equation, or defensive effort anyway if not results. If PT is determined by defensive hustle Kyshawn was among the league leaders:
Just outside the Top 10 in contested 3pt shots, league wide. In a grouping with Dyson Daniels, Siakam, and Derrick White.
Just outside the top 30 in overall contested shots. Behind Daniel Gafford. The majority of the guys who lead this category are Centers and inside players, the top 15 are C's and F/C's. Kyshawn was a perimeter player but managed to scrap his way into this group.
To emphasize it, thats not among rookies, that's all stars and all NBA defensive types. Pretty good for a first year player.
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