tsherkin wrote:[
Scottie has looked much better to start the season. When his 3P% normalizes, he's going to take a hit, but like, he looks very much worth his role at the moment and that's BIG.
Funny how much a 3 ball changes the perception of the player.
On one hand you have IQ missing 3's he usually makes (and the consensus is he is a scrub), on the other you have Scottie making 3's he usually missed (and he is a leader, big, etc.)
Scottie is simply just getting put into better situations. Career high in assisted 2pt% (60% right now, previous high was 45%), and he is a little smarter with his shot selection. Overall though, his base box score figures are nearly identical to the last two years, just with better 3 point shooting. He is 14/26 on above the break 3's this year which is mental (for reference, was about 26% on those shots last year).
But his %'s at the rim, mid range, etc. are all virtually the same. Rebounds/assists are down, stocks are up. Eye-test wise though he looks much improved, although the stats don't support that yet.
He's shooting almost 49% from 3 at the moment, but even if he drops to 35%, he'll be at 58.5% TS, which is league average. And we've been bitching and moaning for years that if he was even at league-average efficiency, he'd be tolerable. And he isn't over-shooting, he's only rocking about 16 FGA/g.
Very, VERY important to remember that if Scottie's 3 point goes back to his career averages (which unfortunately, is the most likely outcome), his expected TS% is 53%.
Also not to nitpick, but if his 3 pointer drops to 35%, his TS% will be 54.9%, not 58.5%.
I've been fairly negative on Scottie over his time with us, so I don't usually let myself get too excited, but he looks locked-in and is doing an excellent job being aggressive. I hope he can keep it up, because he's very strong for us like this.
I 100% expect the 3 ball % to drop (and will be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't), but his defensive energy and better shot selection has been great, and was exactly what I said would be what he would have to do to make me happy this year. So glad it has happened, with an improved 3-ball on top of it all.
Scottie is being more selective with his 3 pt shots and his release looks more repeatable and his base stable.
