I forget what game it was but he had a smaller defender on him and we posted him twice in a row and he scored both times. I hadn't seen it since until he got one tonight. His fadeaway high arching turnaround is pretty much impossible to defend in the post. I'd look to start exploiting that a couple times a game.
Since this game was on ESPN, Jake got a bigger audience tonight. It’s going to be tough to hide his talent from others.
I keep thinking that the more people catch on to him the better. First off any players that warrant extra attention open up the floor for others. Second of all what Jake's doing is stuff that's hard to gameplan for. GS was definitely aware of the lobs and were taking that away. What that does is it gives him more space on his 3 pointers. Plus as we saw tonight if the defender stays between him and the basket he can still catch it and score on a little floater or mini hook. It's not quite as easy as a dunk but the versatile ways he's been scoring are hard to stop completely.
@hoopsjock ...I noticed that as well. Jerebko was paying very specific attention for any backdoor cut and would not leave Jake to help at all. It opened up things for other players but once he started hitting shots, it didn't matter who was guarding him.
Leading up to January 4, Jake had 11 DNP's in his last 19 games. He had played a grand total of 82 minutes over a 37 day stretch. Before that string of DNP's (CD), he hadn't been playing poorly shooting .513 from the field but for some reason, Coach kept sending him back to the bench. Since then in 19 games.... 97-168 = .577 from the field 27-69 = .391 from 3-pt range 15.93 PPG In his last 15 games, his +/- is a 109 for a 7.27+ average. That includes a -14 game or it would be even higher. Not to say he is necessarily that '3rd scorer' that we have been clamoring for, but that is quite a stretch of productive and efficient ball from a position that was dying on the vine for quite a while.
One thing I see of Layman he doesn't pass up shots it doesn't matter who he playing with. He can score at all 3 levels what you want your small forward to do.
That’s what makes him pretty unique. Usually off ball “specialists” don’t also have the ability to play above the rim or in the post. Those guys are hard to guard regardless. Add two other dimensions, and it becomes a pick your poison scenario. If Layman can hover around 36% shooting from outside, he’s going to be a problem for a long time.
Still working on that 'Bowen' thing. However, Hayward in a comparison of the same last 19 games: Hayward 76-159 = .478 from the field 19-55 = .345 from 3-pt range 11.16 PPG Layman 97-168 = .577 from the field 27-69 = .391 from 3-pt range 15.93 PPG That is not to compare the two at all because it's still too small of a sample size. But you have to like the direction it is trending.
So here is the hypothetical. If Jake continues playing like this, he's gonna get paid. Especially if he plays like this in the playoffs. What is the maximum you would match for Jake? There are 15 teams with significant capspace this offseason and not really that many good free agents to go around. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/2019/ Of the teams with significant capspace here I can see these teams have a need at SF: Jazz Pelicans Magic Suns Pacers Hawks Clippers Knicks Some of these teams have high aspirations (max FAs), some will need to sign their own guys. But as we've all seen in the past, all it takes is one crazy team to royally fuck another. Of these teams I'd be most worried about the Jazz. They have 16 million to spend and Jingles isn't getting any younger. We've also screwed them in the past multiple times with Matthews and Millsap. For reference I'd put Jake at around ~30th best FA according to this list but some of the guys ahead of him have player options that they will not decline: https://hoopshype.com/2019/02/08/nba-free-agency-2019-the-top-players/ The Blazers have the 4th highest payroll, and it's gonna stay that way unless they can offload one of the three albatrosses. Sneaky move may be to move CJ for picks and young player. That would help a lot as well. Personally, I'm really hoping Jake doesn't get an offer above 10 million. Max MLE I can see him getting, and I would be willing to match. Anything more than 12-13 gets dicey...
Jake has proven he is much better than Crabbe, Meyers, Harkless and Evan Turner. I'm not concerned, if he get's something like 10 Million, you Match.
Their ranking are strange to me. For example they have Bobby Portis at 60th and Whiteside at 40th...while a 34 year old Marc Gasol is the 14th best option? your ranking of Jake seems more reasonable.
