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Draymond Green introduces a new term in the NBA lexicon about a year ago: the "16-game player". When he helped the Golden State Warriors' front office prepare his plans, he singled out the "82-game player," who can be made ineffective in the playoffs, and the kind of guy who can maintain or improve. 39, improve its production when games are important. more.
Being a "16-game player" is a shortcut to having enough versatility and intelligence to survive under the pressure of the playoffs. Typically, this means someone who will not be defensively targeted or ignored as an offense. If this is what the right wickets are looking for, it's worth looking for an independent agency from Green's perspective.
This does not mean that everyone on this list is a deadly shooter, an elite defender and an effective playmaker. It simply means that these 16 guys have the kind of skills that help teams win playoff games rather than playing in the field.
After his 6 for 10 performance from 3 points in the third game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, Green is the only player to have taken at least 50 3 in the final and have achieved more than 50%, by NBA.comMicah Adams. The Toronto Raptors wing probably should have been part of the NBA's defensive defense team this season. A classic 3-D guy who has improved his game a little under Nick Nurse in the regular season, he brings extra value because of his leadership and the way he stabilizes all kinds of formations. Usually, a crisis as serious as the one he endured in the conference finale would hurt an independent shooter, but I'm not sure that will be the case here. Green's record is too strong.
Looney does not blame Looney with low praise for saying that he was the best Warriors center this season. Steve Kerr likes to say that the 23-year-old plays with the intelligence of a vet and that the coach has exponentially more confidence in him than in Jordan Bell and Damian Jones , two bigger ones who risk a lot more flashy dunk. About a month ago, The Athletic's Ethan Sherwood Strauss asked a group of League employees to predict Looney's annual salary at his next contract. All their assumptions were between $ 3 million and $ 5 million. It seems terribly low now, as the Warriors increasingly depend on their ability to change direction, take offensive rebounds and end up in traffic. Normally, you do not think the centers are stuck, but Looney is exactly that.
Morris played one of the best basketball games of his life this season, which is mind-boggling because he seemed to want to be marginalized in a team stacked with talent. He has won a starting spot thanks to his versatility – he can keep multiple positions and, although he is not a star offensive player, opposing teams must take this into account. Morris can tackle the inconsistencies between the defenses, and he will show no hesitation if he is left open behind the 3-point line. His efficiency dropped in the second half of the regular season, but he was solid in the playoffs, with the exception of a stinker against Indiana. I do not always like his selection of throws, but I appreciate the 4 stretch that compete in defense and can create a shot.
I'm still thinking of how Young sued Kevin Love in the playoffs last year. If you need a sharp forward that is fast on the perimeter and physical inside, he is your man. He is also a cunning offensive player and does not need to play for him. Twelve years in his career, defenders have still not determined the timing of his strange little strikes. The only real problem is that, aside from his one-year career at Brett Brown in Philadelphia, Young was a reluctant 3-point shooter. Imagine if a coach could convince him to shoot again.
If Davis had been healthy, the Brooklyn Nets could have won more than one game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. He was instrumental in the opening win of the series, scoring 12 points and 16 rebounds in 25 minutes. Davis is not just a beloved teammate, he is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and can be counted on to provide a timely defense of help. Unlike the next person on this list, Davis has never evolved to a 5, but it's good to accept your role and play hard within its parameters. For playoff teams needing a center, it is an option without maintenance or risk.
If the Atlanta Hawks were an elite team, Dedmon would have been covered like Brook Lopez, another 7-footer Mike Budenholzer was encouraged to start the 3-point program. In his first season with Lloyd Pierce, Dedmon averaged 3.4 attempts in three passes in 25.1 minutes and 38.2%. If you've watched him during his first few seasons, it's hard to understand the ease with which he pulls from anywhere on the field, sometimes on the move. It will be 30 years old in August and it would go almost anywhere since it provides rim protection in addition to soil spacing. In his way, he's a guy 3 and D.
Hill will likely be a free agent because only $ 1 million of his $ 18 million salary is guaranteed next season and the balance sheet of the Bucks is about to be complicated. At 33, he moved to the substation and scored below his average, 31.4% of the 3 points scored in the regular season … but he made the stalemate on the playoffs. Hill was one of Milwaukee's most important players against Boston and Toronto at both ends of the field. His defense upset Kyrie Irving and he made 41.7% of his 3 in post-season. Just as he was in his heyday, he is able to play on or off the ball, and his length allows him to trade more than most 6-foot-3 guards.
Baynes has had a strange year, marked by injuries, but figures on stopped / stopped numbers describe it as irreplaceable. His difficulties in defending Giannis Antetokounmpo must not overshadow what he has done for the Celtics for two seasons: he moves his feet well for someone of his size and is a master of verticality in the protection of painting . Baynes is often described as a murderer, but he has flourished in Boston because of his stance defense and his commitment to doing all that coaches love, like boxing and setting up screens.
How can you watch Beverley against the Warriors in the first round and not want him on your team? He's a manic defender and his 3-point percentage has been around 40% for years. His unparalleled competitiveness also brings intangible benefits – the Clippers would not have managed the biggest return of the playoff history, wiping out a 31-point lead over Golden State without his wit. Personally, I would love to see him on a competitor, if only for the pleasure that he has to be on the big stage, paired with a superstar.
For someone who will be 34 years later this month, the big man has shown much less skid in defense than expected. His work in this respect is enough to make him love his teammates, but he is also a good finisher on the edge. You can perfectly imagine on a title contender, playing the role that David West played for Golden State, with more rim protection and less mid-range jumpers.
The striker has earned $ 15 million for a lost season between Phoenix and Washington, and now is the time he's playing significant basketball games again. The veteran is not exactly a sniper, but he was ready to play seven-for-three goals for the Rockets, and his brain should allow him to remain an outstanding defenseman as his athleticism faltered.
It's odd to talk about Vonleh as a "16-game player" because he does not have many resumes in series, but the way he played in New York suggests that he can hold. Vonleh has improved quietly in almost all areas this season, and the Knicks have given him the power to stretch his game. Barely 23 years old, he begins to realize the potential that he could have in both directions at the exit of the university; If he takes a little more confidence in shooting in 3s, pay attention.
You never know when he's going to play in the playoffs by averaging 3 points, and he's absolutely not afraid of making big shots in big moments. Scott is not type 1 to 4, but he brings strength and lightness to the defense. He quickly became a fan favorite in Philadelphia, but that does not necessarily mean he'll come back.
Rivers has not had a good time in Washington, but has found a home in Houston where his offensive and 3-only approach to the offensive fits perfectly. I wonder if his hot playoff throw will lead him to sign up again with the Rockets – he may want to be part of a team that requires less attacking offense. He's on this list because we have seen him play several big playoffs over the years, and the teams know how important it is to have multiple playmakers on the field in April, May and June.
Dudley created a player-coach atmosphere in Brooklyn, which is hard to do while maintaining respect in the locker room. His teammates were impressed by his vocal leadership behind closed doors, but you could see him improving others in the field. One of the smartest players in the league, Dudley is a constant communicator, a quick thinker and an irritating advocate.
Temple has gone astray in the depth of the Clippers' backcourt rotation, but there should be 6-foot 6-inch guard contenders who can stretch and play games. The fact that he is recognized as a stable presence on and off the field has helped: he rarely makes mistakes and has taken a leadership role in several teams. Temple has the type of game that would suit just about anywhere, but it would be especially useful for a young team aspiring to the playoffs.
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