NBlue wrote:pepe1991 wrote:NBlue wrote:
Its unclear to me whether Pepe is aware that players are responsible for playing both offense and defense. JI has struggled offensively just like most of our squad -- but he has been a standout defensively -- especially in games 2 & 3. He has basically been the sole player who can defend Siakam consistently as without him on the floor Evan or Ross have gotten completely abused.
Plainly, you are welcome to your opinion that JI has been a "disaster". I don't see that. I see a player that has played exceptionally on the defensive end and has struggled to make shots on the offensive end though he has continued to battle. If any of our more skilled offensive weapons were doing anything against the Raptors it might be that your constant shots at JI (and AG as well) may have some viability but JI has -- at worst -- been our second best player on the defensive end of the floor and certainly has played no worse than Evan on the offensive end.
Did you see stats of Siakam and Leonard and you are calling that "steller " defense? They are combining for 50% FG on freaking 58,5 eFG . Leonard actually has skyhigh TS of 63% and 8,2 OBPM. Nobody , Isaac included is doing anything to stop them, matter of fact best defense on them whole playoffs was done by- illnes of Leonard in game 3
Where you can expect Leonard to be great, it's mindblowing that Siakam is averaging 22 ppg and scores at will on everybody, including Isaac.
Given that he is not diference maker on defense, and is terrible on offense ( again, 30% FG on 7,5 ppg ) , that makes him worst starter. I really don't get how is this even debatable ?! Wide open all the time, can't score at all.
This is getting absurd.
Can we look at actual statistics that have some relevance and not whatever it is you are attempting to do here. Siakam went off in game 3. In that game he shot 9-10 when guarded by Magic players not named Jonathan Isaac and 4-10 when guarded by JI. But, yes, feel free to continue to blame JI's D for Siakam scoring against other defenders and for Leonard's shooting despite the fact that JI has not guarded him the entire series (except on a very few occasions).
AG has also been great on Kawhi, but he makes tough shot after tough shot, dude is a superstar for a reason.