NBA Scenarios: If Jimmy Butler's business means that Dario Saric is unleashed by the Timberwolves, we are all winners

Before this season, Saric had already sacrificed for the team. In order to make room for Simmons last season, he improved his 3-point shot and accepted less responsibility for the game. He still had his chances, however, and he scored 20 or more points five times in the 10 games of the playoffs of Philadelphia. When the opposing teams changed against the Sixers, he could punish them at the post. His one-on-one forays with the cart were not always fluid, but he has the touch necessary to create hooks and kickbacks that make defenders mad. It was not quite the same as his rookie year, though.

In the second half of the 2016-17 season, when Joel Embiid was put out and Simmons had not yet played in an NBA game, Saric was by far the most talented player from Philadelphia. Over a 25-game stretch from early February to late March, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists, claiming the rookie of the year award. (Malcolm Brogdon of Milwaukee Bucks eventually won.) Beyond the good numbers, Saric seemed special at the time because of his unusual and unpredictable passes. He used angles that most players from 6 feet to 10 inches can not see. He made quick passes to open the shooters and found knives when the heads of their defenders were turned. His creativity, the defining element of his game, was on display. It has not been since.

This version of Saric regularly saw double teams. Once, he was quadruple team. He hit the jumpers face up, step back, he created parts for himself and others for dribbling. In general, good things happened when he touched the ball and the reason he was described as a benefit in the preliminary screening reports was obvious. His room was then so different from what we saw recently, I would say that no one – or at least no one who receives regular minutes – has been further marginalized. Maybe the Minnesota Timberwolves can change that.

In Minnesota, Saric will not be the No. 1 option. In attack, Karl-Anthony Towns is the Wolf employee, and Saric will be asked to continue throwing net entry cards. The rate of use of Andrew Wiggins could reach a level before that of Butler. Their leaders – Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose and Tyus Jones – are not the type to have their hands on the floor. If coach Tom Thibodeau wants to breathe life into their attack, he must make sure Saric is involved. Immediately, he is the best passer of Minnesota, and I want to see his fault cross it from time to time. I want to see him be himself.

In theory, Saric is an ideal complement for Towns and Wiggins in attack. Despite his recent slump, he can do a 3 and he is certainly able to give them some simple paces. The issues here relate to the other end of the field and the global ecosystem. The cities and Saric are not the idea of ​​a dominant defensive duo in the front zone. Thibodeau does not lead a movement-oriented Sixers offensive. Before he and his teammates get used to each other, even before he has played a single game with them, I can not help you. to say if Saric will unleash with the Wolves. All I know is that if he does, we are all winners of this trade.

The Spin Doctor

Toronto Raptors striker Pascal Siakam – excuse me, Pascal Siakam, Eastern Conference Player of the Week – has a rotating maneuver that he deploys so often and with such efficiency that he deserves his own mixtape. Here is this mixtape:

I was late in February when I wrote this Siakam could be special if he started making his 3 points. He is clearly special despite everything. And hey, he went 5-for-8 from the bottom of his last two games.

Does New York still live in the past?

In May, the New York Knicks received a lot of praise for hiring coach David Fizdale. When he met the media, it seemed like he was going to shoot the Knicks from the stone age. He wished that they disturb the defense and enter as much as possible into transition. He talked about installing a fluid system, sharing the ball and playing basketball without a position.

In 14 games, little has been translated. New York is forcing more turnovers, but it is 26th in terms of defensive score. Only Charlotte managed to force the mid-range pitchers, as Clean The Glass proved, and the Knicks give corner 3 more often than anyone except Dallas, Denver and Memphis. They foul too much, they do not protect the rim well and, despite many big queues, they are not particularly good at the defensive rebound.

On the other end, things are not better. New York is ranked 26th in the offensive rankings and, according to Synergy Sports, it is the least efficient half-field attack in the league. The Knicks are 20th in the last row in terms of assistance and no team takes less than corner 3. They went from second to second 2s to seventh place. Often, their best crime is missing one shot: they are fifth in offensive rebound percentage, and they caught 29.6% of the offensive boards available when Enes Kanter, a master in this particular trade, was on the field.

Before New York faced Orlando Magic Sunday, Fizdale acknowledged that in a perfect world, the Knicks would speed up the pace and shoot more than 3. He knows exactly what he said this summer.

"It all sounds good when you come in, saying I want to do that and I want to do that, "Said Fizdale," but you have to work with what you have now. "

About the pace, Fizdale said it was largely due to the fact that he had decided to play more than two big formations. It's also because he does not want his team to be reckless. New York plays three recruits. His best player, Kristaps Porzingis, is injured. There is not enough shooting and there are not even enough passes. Fizdale said that he always insisted on the need to get on and off the field quickly, but not at the expense of the organization.

About the rate of attendance, Fizdale said the Knicks hold the ball too much and need to develop more confidence. He however defended his players, saying that it was a matter of timing and awareness, not selfishness. He also pointed out that assists needed shots, and that the Knicks were not particularly competent in this area. (Counterpoint: They are in last but one potential attends, by NBA.com.)

Regarding their 3-point rate, Fizdale said the injuries of rookie Kevin Knox and former Courtney Lee had an impact. He has been forced to take advantage of the strengths of his players and he wants to help them succeed.

So, does Fizdale only take into account the reality of imperfect alignment, or is it not enough attached to a modern approach? One month into the season, I do not think there is a definitive answer. In general, I tend to think that rebuilding teams should establish a style of play even when the pieces do not fit neatly – Kenny Atkinson did it with great success in Brooklyn these last years. However, maybe Fizdale is disinterested in trying to put his players at ease and in confidence, knowing that he will have to accept critics of the short term intelligentsia.

Shortly after the Fizdale press conference, the Knicks scored 10 points in the first quarter against the Magic, who were without Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac. During those 12 minutes, they had eight turnovers and failed to register a pass, an attempt to throw 3 or a free throw attempt. Fizdale does not seek sympathy, but I felt bad for him.

Gary who?