Since Trent has moved into the starting line-up: 14.5 points (avg of 7.8 for the season) .458 FG% .448 3Pt% He has certainly improved his efficiency. What doesn't show up is his defense. That is a big difference at the SG since he has taken over.
For all the praise Trent gets and the shit CJ gets, I'm surprised people don't call GT out for being such a black hole. Dude just has a one track mind and constantly misses the extra pass. Over the last few weeks after the all star break, his numbers are startling. Only 21 passes (not assists) per game in 34 mpg. He has the worst AST to Pass % ratio on the whole team over this stretch. CJ, is at 40 passes per game over the season in 36 mpg (58 per game after the AS break). https://stats.nba.com/players/passing/?Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season&TeamID=1610612757&sort=PASSES_MADE&dir=1
Look at Gary's total touches, seconds of possession per touch, dribbles per touch, and points per touch in comparison to CJ's, and then tell me if you're still surprised. https://stats.nba.com/players/touches/?Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season&TeamID=1610612757&sort=PTS_PER_TOUCH&dir=1
2nd year player barely 21 years old versus seasoned veteran's 7th year in the league. Not quite an apples to apples comparison.
So McCollum has a Lillard like game and Trent has a McCollum like game and posters praise Trent and very little for McCollum. Great game from both last night.
The post above mine is disputing the notion that Trent had a "McCollum like" game, as though CJ plays alongside Dame the same way Trent has played alongside CJ (which simply isn't true). That's completely different than the commentary about how CJ has played in Dame's absence, which has been excellent and praiseworthy. Compartmentalize the two. Nearly all complaints about CJ are about how he plays at shooting guard, not how he tends to play when starting at point guard.
For me, I look at usage rates too and if you have a low AST% your usage rate better be low too (which Trent's is usually). The thing is if we traded CJ we'd be missing someone who can do what he does. Trent can't (at least not now) just come in and play point guard when Dame is down or on the bench. I think CJ would be better if the bench was better. If Whiteside or Nurk was in the 2nd unit he'd likely get more assists. When Dame is healthy and since they're going for the playoffs I think Simons should start to be squeezed out of the rotation and just have Dame, CJ, and Trent play the guard positions.
I think people are also pleasantly surprised that Trent isn’t nearly as much of a gunner (or nearly as bad on D) as they thought he was when he was drafted which helps him be viewed more favorably, imo. Also, I think there is some “the best player on the team is the backup QB” syndrome here...
even the wizenheimer guy coughed out *small* praise for CJ I was scared thought I died in my sleep for sure, never thought I’d see that
For me I think Trent is a good 3 and D guy, probably never going to be more than a role player, but it's good to see a second-rounder turn into someone who looks deserving of minutes. Not really claiming he's "better" than CJ, he might be a better fit in the right situation I have no idea, but I kind of like guys who got drafted late and work really hard to make it.
As we were discussing yesterday, CJ has historically been substandard as a second-unit point guard, primarily (I believe) because he's had a poor lineup to play alongside. At this moment, CJ's starting at PG alongside 4 guys who should, ostensibly, be backups to their positions, and doing so very well. This just further reinforces the notion that this team would be incredibly formidable with a Dame/CJ/Hood/Collins/Nurk starting lineup and a Trent/Ariza/Melo/Whiteside (+CJ) bench.
Our bench production has been abysmall this year and fortunately much of it has to do with having end of the bench players becoming role players. Like you say, add in Hood, Nurkic and Collins into the mix makes us a much deeper team and more productive.
Yeah, unfortunately Hood's health is the only thing preventing that possible lineup later this season and Melo/Whiteside's free agency could prevent next year (along with Hood's health still). I'm still not convinced that Whiteside and Melo would accept those roles though.
Yep, best we can hope for this year is Dame/Zach/Nurk coming back (the latter two in a reserve role), and either Little or Gabriel filling that backup 3 role behind Ariza. I do think that if Zach comes back healthy he should start ahead of Melo.
