FriedRise wrote:He can definitely assert himself more offensively because his ballhandling is good enough to not turn the ball over and his passing is sweet enough to make a play for others if the defense collapses. He's also so big and strong that if he attacks the basket more, he should be able to easily absorb contact and go to the line more. Jimmy eventually figured that out and became our 20ppg #1 option. I think Pat can be in the same trajectory. He's also been so efficient shooting the 3s and the midrange and he has a solid repertoire of moves going to the basket (that one-handed push shot / floater stands out in particular). He's turned down a couple of open corner catch and shoot 3s that I thought he should've taken, but I think it's a result of thinking too much about making the right play.
It's unlikely he will ever be quite the penetration spammer that Jimmy became. Jimmy is…really weird as a player in 2021. A really underrated lateral/burst athlete, a poor outside shooter, and absolutely hell bent on proving people he could be a primary ballhandler. We may not see many (any?) more Jimmys in the NBA ever again.
Pat, however, will likely be a way better shooter than Jimmy ever was. He doesn't have a Ball brother form, he doesn't hesitate, and the numbers obviously are there - 84%FT in college, 86%FT so far in the pros (low volume, I know).
I think his shot chart is going to resemble someone like PG more, and that would be a lofty but semi-feasible goal for him offensively. But he's also already made some passes that I'm not sure anybody else on this team except maybe Satoransky would even try. So who knows. For all we know he could be a point forward in five years.
