165bows wrote:cupcakesnake wrote:bledredwine wrote:I'm disappointed in Edwards' lack of improvement.
I really thought that he'd make a leap this year, but he looks similar to last year.
He's made a leap, just not the one we were hoping for. Everyone who has watched Ant (even people who just tuned in for his playoff run) wanted him to make a playmaking leap. Turn some of those deadly drives into passing reads that generate easy offense for his team. It's what superstars need to do to be elite offensive anchors.
Instead, Ant has leveled up as a shooter. He's been wicked effective at it. Like... so far this season he's been probably the most dangerous long range shooter in the league. #2 in 3-point field goal attemtps, shooting 44%. Only Curry is anywhere near that combo of volume and efficiency. It's cool and all, but only so dangerous if can't combine it with better playmaking. Also he's unlikely to sustain quite this level of shooting. It's gonna come down soon (or worse, what happens if he goes cold for a long stretch?). He's never gotten to the rim so little in his life. His assists are down, but his turnovers are the same. The defense hasn't meaningfully improved and looks worse with a worse backline behind him.
Playmaking comes later imo. Obviously small sample size but Tatum for example has increased his assist/36 rate more this season at 26 than his his past four years put together.
But it doesn't always come. Every player is different. Tons of guys develop playmaking through on ball reps and experience. Ant was on a good trajectory, but this season has been disappointing because it feels he's regressed.
His instincts are that of a consciousless gunner. That gives him the super power needed to hit tough shots against good defenses, but it prevents him from learning to hunt better shots. It's the Kobe dilemma.
Tatum actually looked like a solid decision maker in a medium sized role from day 1. Then he regressed a little and fell too in love with his mediocre pull game. He eventually found his drive and kick game in the context of Boston's offense. I think Tatum is good, not great. The assists are up, but he's not an amazing passer in terms of reads or passing bag. He is however, a totally functional playmaker in the context of Boston's five out offense. They depend on him, and he delivers. His drives attract the most attention, and he knows how to punish those help defenders.
Compared to Ant though... Tatum looks like Tim frck Duncan. Tatum learned that there are better shots than a contested pull up, and worked to hunt them. Ant still thinks every shot he takes is amazing. Sometimes they are amazing, but there's a lot of disapointing possessions in there.
I do wonder a little what they'd look like swapped. Ant driving in all that spacing, supported by very smart boys in Jrue, White, Horford etc. How would Tatum look trying to do point forward stuff with Gobert, Randle, and McDaniels in the way. I still think Tatum is just a flat out better decision maker, but the dramatic difference in offensive environment feel stark.
