Is Enes Kanter 'figuring it out?'

[erudite23]

Over the last 5 games his per36 numbers are at 20.3/12.6 with only 2.0 TOs on 66% FGs and 83% FTs. And he's not far off with 28mpg during that stretch, so its not just a product of limited minutes.


He also looks like he has discovered a new sense of confidence and purpose on the floor, and he's been doing it against very good frontcourts, obviously except the Bobcats, in Milwaukee, New York, Chicago and Cleveland.

Is he figuring it out, or is this just a little hot streak?

[Reckless]

when he hit that 3 at the end of the knicks game i was like suck it corbin

[RyanStorm]

Yeah Kanter is the guy I rather build the team around...not Jefferson...I would have done that the day Kanter came aboard and whether we would have been 8th or better wouldn't matter, cause its not like were gonna do any better with Jefferson.

Kanter could play any role, he could be like a Howard in the paint, or a Dirk on the 3pt line.

[Paper Face]

Dude looks confident. This stretch looks nothing like a fluke.

(enter reapaman in black cloak w/ storm cloud above head, stage left)

[Nate505]

He's figuring out that he can put up 20/10 games and still not crack the starting lineup.

[silentenigma]

Because of Corbin, he lost two years which he can develop faster. Kanter has an amazing fundemental. He can shoot. If he practice his shooting momentum, he can easily become a 3-pt shooter. His foot work is awesome. He can be a mix of Nowitzki and Duncan in terms of style. Utah should trade Al Jefferson and Millsap in this summer. And should build a team around enes. I think Enes should not play 5. He should play 4. He should work as last summer to become more quick. He could become a star PF who can shoot, rebound, finish inside.

By the way, Where are you reapman where are you? What the hell are you gone?

[reapaman]

He has done well lately. Good for him. Still far from buying that he could do this month in and month out playing major minutes and especially with teams actually game planning for him like they do BIG AL but as I said all along, I could be wrong. We shall see.

[pickIBL]

Was there just a Kanter reference to Dirk? Come on guys... let's not get crazy. Kanter is a real good young player. So first let's start there, but he is also the perfect player to trade away. Why? Because it pisses a lot of you (Jazz fans) off... which means he's a talent and has real value. When you do a trade it is supposed to hurt a little bit... because you have to satisfy a demand from the other team. So basically I see Kanter being paired with Marvin in a Harden type deal.

Why Kanter? Well we don't don't know what will happen with Jefferson and Millsap... but we do know the deal with Favors. Next year he should be starting and getting over 30 minutes a night. And personally I like 4 (even more ideal if all 5) guys on the floor have outside jumpers. So to me that makes Favors a 5 and since I prefer Favors to Kanter... it means Kanter is the guy eligible to be traded if it brings back the star "closer" I am looking for.

This is why Thomas Robinson was a bad pick for the Kings & they ended up shipping him out. He and Cousins just got in each other's way. That's why a pairing like Tomic (or Lorbek even) with Favors makes a lot more sense. Guys who can pass & shoot too.

[jjscap]

He needs a lot more PT. He's played 1817 minutes so far in his NBA career, which is too little. He never played organized ball games after leaving Fenerbahce at the age of 17, excluding international games. Give him 25+ mpg and watch him improve game by game.

You'll be surprised to learn he already could play like he is playing now three years ago on the offensive end. In fact he was a pretty good long range jumper. He could shoot threes well. But in his first two games with the Jazz last year he had 2/15 FG. After that he never tried much probably after getting a warning from the coaching staff.

If he had had 2000+ minutes in his first year now Jazz would have had twice the player they have in Kanter now.

But give him some credit, he has improved his defense vastly and has a much stronger body. I also notice he's picked up a few things from Big Al. But that's not enough. This dude can play, has much room for improvement. And he and Favors complete each other so well. Btw I actually think Favors is as good as Kanter now if not better. Only problem with him is I am not sure if he is a hard worker and cares about winning, that is, can bring the same intensity consistently.

[RyanStorm]

I already know Kanters worth, everytime I ask about trades with other fans the first thing they want is Kanter...not hayward, not favors, not burks, not Al....but Kanter...

So yeah, selling him off would bring big money/players/trades, but he was already a big steal for us(Dwill turned into Favors and Kanter plus Devin Harris/Marvin Williams, 2015 2nd rounder, and I think some other 1st round pick)..

Do we want to keep on paying Jefferson 15+ million or do we want to our best pick since Favors and D-Will, and sell him off so we can someone else..Kanter's contract has us paying a low price for his performance.

Everyone knows:

Burks - Hayward - Carroll - Kanter - Favors is the best line up from PG to C. Favors is the best defender at Center, and with Kanter oversized on PF it makes him a beast machine. Them two play better frontmen than Paul and Al.

I wasn't saying Kanter is Dirk, I am saying we can play him like a Dirk, where he is a PF who can shoot the 3pt. Then if at Center position he can beast and play like a Dwight. Its the versitile beast mode that everyone wants for their team.

Unless we can get our future john stockton, I wouldn't trade him. I have heard trades for Kanter and we get John Wall or Wizards pick for Smart, but that is about the best I have ever heard compared to others. Until we play Kanter and make him a super star were not going to get as much out of him. Which is why I thought we were playing Al and Paul.

[pickIBL]

realistically Favors is more valuable around the league to teams than Kanter. Hell I'd be all for an Iggy, Hamilton and a first for Favors, Marvin, and the rights to Tomic. Wouldn't offer anything near that for Kanter.

[Inigo Montoya]

that trade is a highway robbery for the nuggets. is it not enough the jazz is getting the shaft from the lakers again?

[pickIBL]

that trade is a highway robbery for the nuggets. is it not enough the jazz is getting the shaft from the lakers again?

yes because trading away Favors would be plum dumb. My only point is the offers would be better for favors than kanter.

[Fido]

How is he turning out results like that? I thought Corbin was holding him back and destroying his potential.

[RyanStorm]

Kanter benefited from increased role....So says everyone including Corbin...but we seriously better not even consider bringing back Paul or Al....there is a big big reason why everyone thought they were hitting the road, and its because everyone knows Favors and Kanter are the best two big guys to come out of the last couple drafts. If they got drafted with Kyrie on the Cav's they would be superstars.

[Ruckusmh]

Just wanted to get in here to tell Reapaman to eat it. Kanter is SO much more than you thought.

[Litany]

He has done well lately. Good for him. Still far from buying that he could do this month in and month out playing major minutes and especially with teams actually game planning for him like they do BIG AL but as I said all along, I could be wrong. We shall see.

[reapaman]

Just wanted to get in here to tell Reapaman to eat it. Kanter is SO much more than you thought.

Yea go ahead ... taunt ... keep it up. As I said when my oj mayo predictions looked bad years ago (among others) .... "it aint over yet, not even close".

[Jazzfan12]

Just wanted to get in here to tell Reapaman to eat it. Kanter is SO much more than you thought.

Yea go ahead ... taunt ... keep it up. As I said when my oj mayo predictions looked bad years ago (among others) .... "it aint over yet, not even close".

Mayo isn't even an 16 PER player in his best season ever (which is mostly due to ridiculous shooting that could easily fall off to his previous percentages next year) though.

[erudite23]

Reapa, I have never seen anyone so out of touch with reality.


Kanter is becoming the player most of us thought he would be. His TS% is soaring and is about to hit 60%, the mark where scoring efficiency becomes elite, while his TOs have dropped precipitously over the last month, and his rebounding is recovering to last year's elite levels as well.

Look at it like this: there are 5 players in the league this year who have a usage rate over 22 and a TS% above 59%. Those 5 players are:

Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Amare Stoudemire
Chris Bosh
Enes Kanter

Now, that's obviously some creative use of stats. Carl Landry (usage of only 20), Javale McGee (fraction under 59% and 22), and Blake Griffin (only shooting 58% TS) all are really close, along with a couple other players who have played very limited minutes and are probably statistical anomalies....but as a broad stroke it gives you a good idea for what he's doing. He's been extremely efficient while creating a good amount of shots. It used to be a trade off for his turn overs, where he was giving the ball away at a copious rate. Lately, though, that has changed quite a bit and that's why his PER is suddenly threatening to top 18 for the first time in his career. He's always scored efficiently. Not THIS efficient, but he's always been efficient if he can get to where he's actually shooting. Where he has struggled is getting to his spots and creating those shots without turning it over. Now that that is changing, he is becoming a real weapon. If he can get that TO percentage under 15, and do what he's doing with more minutes, we're talking about an All Star. And that's without any improvements in his passing or defense, which are highly likely to happen as he matures.

Its still to early to start jumping for joy, but these are all incredibly positive signs that point toward genuine stardom. Of course, reapa will hold on until the end. Still quibbling about whether he deserved to make the All Star team over X player because of X reason or whether his rebounding numbers are real or 'stat padding' and other manner of stupidity. But its getting to the point that all of the naysaying is pretty much been proven wrong. This guy is already a real NBA player who is going to be a starter in this league for awhile. The only question that remains is how high the arrow can climb before it plateaus. And he's 20.