Tony Snell Thread

[Rerisen]

Nowhere good to put this, we might as well get a Snellycat thread going. He's going to be playing a big role for us at least till Butler comes back. Probably near 40 mpg!

I think Tony has gotten comfortable offensively finally, hitting his open shots, taking initiative and scoring in other ways too.

But now where I'd really like to see Tony progress is by starting to fill out his all-around game. For being 6'7 with decent athleticism his rebounding totals are weak, compare Butler (5.5 /36) to Tony (4.3 rebs). Tony's playmaking has also been anemic to this point in his career, but I am seeing some positive signs lately that he knows how to make the right pass driving inside. He just has to keep being aggressive with the ball, and now that he doesn't have to overthink scoring, look for the open man.

There is no reason he can't build on these other aspects of his game just like he has with his offense. On the boards front, I think continuing to lift and get stronger will help, he's already filled out a bit since he was a rookie. He has a good frame too.

[pylb]

I just hope once his shooting comes back down to earth, he stays confident.

[HomoSapien]

He was tragically bad rebounder in college. I don't expect him to get significantly better at that, but it's not a huge deal since he's surrounded by good rebounders.

That said, I think he knows how to make plays and I could see him being good at it. It's a matter of usage, and he's going to get a chance to have the ball more in his hands.

[Axl Rose]

as long as he keeps playing confidently and hitting his shots im good

i'd like to see him progress in other areas aswell but im not gonna get greedy

[Ice Man]

He still looks damn skinny to me. I like his court awareness, quicks, and shooting accuracy. His handle looks alright but he's a long ways from being a playmaker. As with HS, I'm not sure that Tony will ever be a rebounder.

The main thing is I feel pleased when Snell enters the game, rather than worried. That is a good thing.

[fleet]

He can catch the ball and dish. No real midrange game or signature shot besides catch and shoot 3s. So he ought to be the designated cutter and hockey assist facilitator right now.

[poolshark52]

I agree that adding strength is a big goal for him. It will help his all around game. Same thing holds true for McDermott. They both need to hit the weight room big time this off season.

[BeatDaCavs420]

Oh nooo the jinx thread of doom!!!

Reason he turned good was cause of HS thread of how awful he was at the time LOL!

[fleet]

I agree that adding strength is a big goal for him. It will help his all around game. Same thing holds true for McDermott. They both need to hit the weight room big time this off season.

getting space to get your midrange shots off takes physical strength too. Not a lot of players have midrange shots so its not really a knock. Just saying, he should be able to develop some with his skillset

[Mech Engineer]

This might be a slight diversion but I hate the Noah standing in the high post passing. It is going to get figured out by teams which come in prepared during the playoffs. I don't know if Thibs thinks that is the only way he can incorporate Noah on the offensive end but it is a disaster waiting to happen. He is like Peyton Manning without the luxury of the wide space of a football field to throw. He doesn't drive/move and tries to thread the needle too much. It works sometimes but it is waiting to fail.

It is related to Snell because Snell is a moving and willing passer. He can create and is long enough to pass over a defender or take a dribble and thread the needle better. If Snell puts on some weight(muscle), he can do the Joakim's role from the top of the key next year. Joakim doesn't draw the big either because of his inability to make a jump-shot.

If there is a bigger role for Snell, it is his playmaking role which needs to be explored. And, with McDermott looking like he needs time, Thibs has to develop this ability of Snell a little bit for the next few weeks when Derrick and Jimmy are absent. He obviously defers to Noah a lot when he gets the ball.

[DJHill]

I just hope once his shooting comes back down to earth, he stays confident.

I don't see his shooting "coming back to earth" as in he's going to regress to how poorly he shot it early this year or even last year. Of all the aspects of his game his shooting is the one I have the most faith in. I just like how pure his stroke looks. As far as rebounding, I agree that adding more weight should helpmhim there but I don't see rebounding being his greatest strength no matter how much he improves. I'd like to see him continue to work on his handles and one on one game, just so that he can score in more ways other than catch and shoot situations but ultimately I'm happy with where he is now. He doesn't look so lost and timid on the court and his BBall IQ has improved tremendously. Rarely nowadays when I watch Tony play do I find myself saying "what the hell are you doing man?" when he makes a play offensively or defensively. It was the same way when I watched Jimmy during his second year in the league. Great sign considering Jimmy's progression now (though I'm not saying he will become an all star like he did necessarily).

Keep ballin Tony, I always believed in you! I knew short, two minute stretches of play here and there were never enough to declare a player a bust!

[pylb]

I just hope once his shooting comes back down to earth, he stays confident.

I don't see his shooting "coming back to earth" as in he's going to regress to how poorly he shot it early this year or even last year. Of all the aspects of his game his shooting is the one I have the most faith in. I just like how pure his stroke looks. As far as rebounding, I agree that adding more weight should helpmhim there but I don't see rebounding being his greatest strength no matter how much he improves. I'd like to see him continue to work on his handles and one on one game, just so that he can score in more ways other than catch and shoot situations but ultimately I'm happy with where he is now. He doesn't look so lost and timid on the court and his BBall IQ has improved tremendously. Rarely nowadays when I watch Tony play do I find myself saying "what the hell are you doing man?" when he makes a play offensively or defensively. It was the same way when I watched Jimmy during his second year in the league. Great sign considering Jimmy's progression now (though I'm not saying he will become an all star like he did necessarily).

Keep ballin Tony, I always believed in you! I knew short, two minute stretches of play here and there were never enough to declare a player a bust!

By coming back to earth I didn't mean crater back to where it was last year. But he's shooting 50% on 3s these last two months, I'd expect that to drop to 40%.

[umfan83]

I think Tony levels out as a nice role player on a contending team, which is exactly what GarPax envisioned when they took him. It's crazy though, he seems like he's just a catch and shoot type of player and then every so often he explodes with freakish athleticism...often makes me wonder if there is a higher ceiling out there for Tony.

[bullboy18]

With Noah, Mirotic, and butler being good rebounders, Snell doesnt need to be great, just needs to box his man out.

Snell is legit, dude has put some players on turnstyles dicing. His cross over isnt too shabby. It is crazy how his shot went from the biggest clanks in NBA history to now being silky smooth. Under Thibs (or hopefully the next coach too), he could be an all star in a year or 2. When I say that, not saying he will because there are too many bulls on the team that would make it then, but he could if he were a 2 or 3 option on another team.

Possible all stars going forward. Rose, Butler, Snell, Mirotic, Noah, Pau?. McDermott is yet to be seen, but I give him a year to pull a snell/butler. Bulls are almost drafting too well now because it will be hard to keep everyone on big contracts, even with the new cba cap.

[VintageBulls]

I'd like to see Tony add the post up fade away jumper to his game like Jimmy did last summer.

[MC3]

I think Tony levels out as a nice role player on a contending team, which is exactly what GarPax envisioned when they took him. It's crazy though, he seems like he's just a catch and shoot type of player and then every so often he explodes with freakish athleticism...often makes me wonder if there is a higher ceiling out there for Tony.

He has it. I seen it. He has great and fast crossover dribble. I seen him couple of times this season ISO'ing his guy, beating him with crossover and attacking lane and going into rim. Not mention his lenght and wingspan will help him finish around the rim. He is no Deng if you ask me. He already has better handles. He has dimension in his game. He can beat his own guy pretty easy if you ask me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-epl9rA9mE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZDs2RzHz7U&t=59

[Fl_Flash]

I'd like to see his midrange game evolve (exist?). He's either bombing three's or driving to the basket. I've got no problem with either of those skills - just that he's had chances to simply stop-and-pop and he doesn't take the shot. He gets that aspect of his game down, he'll be a pretty damn good player.

Been impressed with his progress. The kid has put in the work.

[MC3]

I'd like to see his midrange game evolve (exist?). He's either bombing three's or driving to the basket. I've got no problem with either of those skills - just that he's had chances to simply stop-and-pop and he doesn't take the shot. He gets that aspect of his game down, he'll be a pretty damn good player.

Been impressed with his progress. The kid has put in the work.

Well thing is Derrick is great mid-range shooter, and Butler also (but he is also respectable behind 3pt line). Snell doesnt really need midrange game in this moment. He is better as the slasher and 3&D. Just like Mirotic doesnt need one (for now) cause we have Noah, Gasol, Taj doing work inside. In ideal condition he is floor spacer for those guy who can beat his own man and finish around the rim. There is so much room for all-those guys doing same thing. I like the role he has now. With Butler, Derrick and Mirotic and sometime Gasol as go-to-guys we dont need another one unless some of this guys missing games.

[pylb]

On draft night, didn't one of the analysts say he had the best shooting percentages on pull up mid range jump shots ?

We haven't really seen that, he's gone to the fadeaway a few times and has added a floater this year, but supposedly he at least used to have a midrange game.

edit:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGFiW5AuAM&hd=1[/youtube]

...where he really is, is as a shooter. He does a good job off pull up jump shots, he's got a really good release. He shoots over 40% on all of his jumpers, but he shoots 47% on pull up jumpers, that's the best in the country. And not everybody can shoot pull up jumpers well, Tony Snell can.

[logical_art]

It goes to show how far Snell has come that we are now not satisfied with him looking like a very nice three and D player but instead want him to fill up the box score more.