PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3584
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-26-18 12:58 AM - Post#249547
In response to Streamers
I don't understand the idea that Aj's scoring is somehow hurt with Max on the floor. I have seen that assertion a few times and simply don't understand where it comes from. The offense runs the same with those two. When AJ posts up Max is usually on the weak block and his guy never doubles. When someone else is in there they are behind the arc on the weak side and often that guy doubles AJ and the remaining defender zones the 2 weakside players.
I really don't see the argument for a more productive AJ with Max out there.
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SomeGuy
Professor
Posts: 6404
Reg: 11-22-04
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02-26-18 09:03 AM - Post#249551
In response to PennFan10
It comes primarily from the stats with them both on the floor. When Max plays under 20 and they play a lot of 4 wings, AJ averages 16.3 per game. When Max plays 30 or more and they play a lot of 2 bigs, AJ averages 8.0 per game, and has never scored more than 12.
Last I checked, the team ORAT goes down noticeably when they play together (while the DRAT does too, which is good).
So at core I make the assertion because it seems to be true. As to why, my guess is simply that Max takes possessions away from AJ inside just by being there. For the team, that means a less efficient offensive player is taking away shots from a more efficient player. Yes, Max isn’t necessarily gumming up the works for AJ once he gets the ball, but he may be gumming up the works some by limiting where AJ can set up.
So those are guesses as to why. As i’ve Said before, I love the way this team defends, and I love the way we share the load and move the ball on offense. I think the current lineups maximize us pretty darn well. So no complaints with Max intended — just some explanation as to why in another scenario AJ could score more (and we probably would lose more).
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3584
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-26-18 09:11 AM - Post#249552
In response to SomeGuy
It makes sense that Max takes possessions away from AJ. AJ is also much better passing out of double teams when its just him where last year he struggled in league play. His teammates also cut better to get open, giving him outlets off the double team.
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TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
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Inquirer Story
02-26-18 11:02 AM - Post#249563
In response to PennFan10
It may also matter that when AJ and Max are on the court together they are typically facing the opponent's first team. On Saturday for example I think Welsh was on the court when Max wasn't. AJ against Welsh and not Lewis is more significant than AJ + Max on the court together.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3584
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-26-18 11:13 AM - Post#249567
In response to TheLine
I agree, yet AJ made his biggest buckets with Lewis guarding him Saturday.
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TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
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Inquirer Story
02-26-18 11:26 AM - Post#249570
In response to PennFan10
Maybe because the level of difficulty of some of those shots, but he had his way against Welsh. As he does against almost all backup centers.
Last year AJ had trouble with the way he was defended in conference play. His play has grown so much that he's been picking up steam this year.
Edited by TheLine on 02-26-18 11:27 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts: 3584
Reg: 02-15-15
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02-26-18 11:30 AM - Post#249571
In response to TheLine
The two of them together are a matchup problem as both do different things and are versatile. That’s really the story across the roster as SD can go big against big, big against small, small against big and small against small. The depth and talent on the roster affords great flexibility.
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