GJ was on fire and I'm glad to see him have an efficient shooting game.....it's been a while. But my opinion about how his style fits in with the rest of the team is not changed by one game. Even while he was red hot, HOW he plays is not team basketball. There was a possession where 3 defenders came at him on the perimeter. This was not like it was a drive and he drew 3 Bucks to him. He was 25' from the basket. That left it 2-on-4 inside the 3-pt line and he still wouldn't give it up. He finally begrudgingly passed to Nurkic I believe after he had crossed over multiple times trying to create an opening. I get that he was hot....but I'm guessing when the rest of the floor is 4-on-2 in your favor and 3 defenders are 20+' from the rim, you can get a better shot. He did go off and that's great....but there was a lot of teammates just standing around (wide open) while he did it.
I’m wishing there was a “multiple like” button for posts like this. Good thing CJ was on last night, because if he wasn’t, he still would have hoisted up 26 shots (because that is clearly how CJ works).......and we probably would have lost. And you have to wonder how his teammates honestly feel when they work to get open and then get ignored for a crappy shot. That has to wear thin as the season progresses.......
Credit where credit it due, he was making shots. But to rely on him to get that 'hot' to overcome the rhythm it takes the rest of his team out of is rickety as a strategy at best. Eventually, he would have to give up the ball to someone who has basically been standing around for multiple possessions and suddenly needs to make a shot. Now I have no issue with him getting more shots when he is on fire. It's HOW he seemingly needs to take those shots because of his style of play that is not a long-term recipe for success. He was the same CJ last night that he has been for the majority of his career, he was just on fire. 'On Fire' has not been his trend for the last few years. I like him as a spot-up shooter and as an option coming off screens even when a few dribbles are involved. It's when he gets into 1-on-1/2/3 mode with no regard for his teammates that becomes an issue to me.
Not trying to make him into Klay at all (even though some people keep bringing that up #FaleNews). However, he is at his most efficient when he is a spot up shooter so why not play to his strengths. Also, I don't mind him creating a shot (more quickly) with handles that Klay could only dream about. It's when he starts going 1-on-2/3 for a large majority of the shot clock that I have an issue with. He's not nearly as efficient with it even though every once in a while he does get very hot. Also, bigger picture, it's what it does to the rest of the team. If he's 'hot', it gets overlooked because of the production....but most often, that is not the case.
Somewhat. I'm glad he is playing better, but I can't say I believe he is the best fit considering the rest of the team. Glad he is scoring points, but: 1) I can't decide if I want him to pass or not pass. When he doesn't pass he misses amazingly open teammates under the basket that Dame or ET (or Curry or Sauce) would easily see. When he does pass it is often a telegraphed skip pass that is picked off easily; and 2) Defense: he is still very limited.
Not to diss CJ, but... was he really the best candidate? Those aren't exactly astounding numbers for three games.
Yep 26 ppg on 50% shooting against 3 good defensive teams made the difference. (and that they were all wins)
They want to recognize the team of the week, so they look for that team's player with the best stats of the week. That's as deep as their analysis goes.
I know most People here won't agree, but that's my oppionion: CJ has to be the new whipping boy right?.... he's just plain awful this year. He's hurting the team on both sides of the floor about 80% of the time he's out there... his "defense" last game was embarrassing.... CJ's defense makes Dame look like Gary Payton and the guy just can't hit a momentum shot to save his life right now.
