76ciology wrote:Sorry Stormi but I think you’re looking too much at the numbers you look at but not the overall numbers, like age. Conley is averaging 13ppg and is already 34 years old.
I'm trying to recreate the 2018 Rockets, but here with Harden and Embiid.
In 2018,
Chris Paul was shooting
10.1 3's per 100 possessions at 38.0%, averaging
12.2 assists per 100 possessions and had a steal rate of 2.6%.
In 2022,
Mike Conley is shooting
9.9 3's per 100 possessions at 39.7%, averaging
9.1 assists per 100 possessions and has a steal rate of 2.3% (in consecutive seasons).
I hope we've learned from the Elton Brand / Tobias Harris fiasco of compiling PPG and assuming that it'll all add together like an overly simplistic calculator. We need players that can elevate the talents of James Harden and Joel Embiid. We need shooters, we need shot creation and we need a secondary ballhandler. Conley is a relentless shooter and an elite one on high volume which helps the both of them. He can take control of the offense to give Harden a break at his age who can't isolate all game anymore. And he would immediately be the second best playmaker on the roster that could get others involved.
Also keep in mind you're comparing the PPG of Conley (with Harris) without context and using it to make a conclusion on his scoring ability.
Per 100 possessions:
Mike Conley: 23.1 PPG, 9.1 Assists, 9.9 3's @ 39.7%, 2.3 steals,
23.1% field goals assisted, 52.6% 3PFG assistedTobias Harris: 25.4 PPG,
5.0 Assists, 5.0 3's @ 34.7%, 0.8 Steals,
44.5% field goals assisted, 86.8% 3PFT assisted Their scoring prowess in a vacuum is negligible when you normalize the data for total possessions. Harris is a fake scorer, who, as we've seen can't replicate his numbers with talent because he isn't a natural shooter or talented off the dribble. It's why he tanks in the playoffs as well against intensive defenses.
Mike Conley is an off-ball savant and more reliable in isolation than Tobias, but he excels as a floor spacer.
Personally they aren't the same caliber of player to me. Conley is the better shooter, passer and man defender that has elite impact metrics. Tobias Harris is a bad basketball player on a winning team on offense and defense because he's a horrific defender, not a playmaker and not a volume floor spacer. I think this swap makes our offense better and extends the life of James Harden by reducing his creation load. Maxey nor Harris have the vision to take over as the lead playmaker.
And if you're concerned with rebounding, go sign Thad Young and put 6'8 Rudy Gay in the starting lineup. That part is replaceable. Start Paul Reed. The bundle of creation, shooting and playmaking in a bundle is not.
Just my thoughts.
