In particular, every team needs players who can get, and make, their own shot when the clock is winding down or the game is on the line. CJ is elite in that area.
I'm usually on the side of numbers and CJ's been on a downturn for a bit, but eye test tells me he's elite. Actual NBA players say he's elite (KD multiple times has said unprompted that CJ is one of the toughest guys to contain 1 on 1).
Okay, it's Curry +61 (in 149 minutes) Aminu +57 (in 232 minutes) CJ +55 (in 254 minutes) More minutes for Curry! (Hint: Layman is a net 0 in 103 minutes)
I think CJ is indeed a very good scorer, but I think his strengths aren't likely to shine in our system as it is currently. However, his usefulness will probably be more obvious in the playoffs, when defenses clamp down and players who can create their own shot are more valuable. Y'know who could use him, I bet? Philly. But it seems like they're not prepared to give up on Fultz. Maybe if they caved on that and Thibs got fired, we could see this: Then hire an up-tempo coach to replace Thibs and have Minny play like the Westhead Nuggets.
Playing fine by what metric? His ppg is below 20 for the first time since he became a full time starter. He is shooting 40% from the field (worst of his career) His 3p% is also the worst of his career. He is averaging 2.3 assists, the lowest since he became a starter by far. His FT% is the lowest it has been since he became a starter. His steals are at .4 per game, the lowest since he became a starter. He has a 13.5 PER, which is (you guessed it) the lowest since he became a starter. His TS% is at a career low. 51.4% His Asst% is the lowest it has been since his second year in the league. His offensive winshares are the lowest since his rookie season. His defensive winshares are at a career low. The guy is having his worst season since he became a starter by pretty much any metric you can think of. He isn't shooting well, he isn't passing well, he isn't playing good defense, he is just having an all around bad season so far.
Plus last season, specifically the last 30 or so games. Chill though. One thing that hasn’t been talked about much, his knees. What if he’s not healthy? What if he’s not getting the same lift he used to? I mean, at this point nothing can be ruled out.
Tlong made a point and I was countering it. What does the number of games have to do with it? He said he's playing fine. He's clearly not playing fine.
