I’ll keep this short. Keldon fills the stat sheet and demonstrates leadership and hustle. However, he is a liability on defense who consistently loses focus and misses rotations. He is inefficient as a top 3 offensive option, demonstrating terrible or rushed decision-making down the stretch. Best case scenario, he becomes an energy guy on a more mature Spurs roster 3 years down the line behind an experienced Sochan-Vassell-Wemby big three with Tre/or role players starting (maybe Branham continues to develop as an off-ball weapon), or he gets traded for some assets. For the Spurs to become competitive, his status with the team needs a big change.
We need a better SF who can create and score without tunnel vision. Maybe Holland, Walter or Castle in the draft. Ideally one that can defend too. That way Keldon can be the bench leader with Tre or Sochan
The only major problem with Johnson this year has been his decision making at times down the stretch. This team is a COMPLETE shit show construction wise (which is to be expected from young teams), and it’s foolish to single out Johnson as the player that needs to move for things to be changed, when there are significantly bigger problems to deal with.
-Doug McDermott and Malaki Branham are quite literally (not exaggerated) two of the worst defenders in the entire league.
-Sochan is a power forward who was already a severely unpolished offensive player, and is now handicapped even more by playing as a point guard. He’s lacked the ability to make both the simple and advanced reads needed to help an NBA offense.
-In addition to Sochan’s just inability to be a PG in the half court or transition, he and Tre Jones are absolute nightmares offensively in the PnR. Teams drop down and gap against these guys so much that Jones is in the 30th Percentile and Sochan is in the 3rd percentile as a “lead ball handler.”
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, JEREMY SOCHAN IS IN THE 3RD PERCENTILE AS A LEAD PNR BALL HANDLER IN THE MODERN NBA.
-I don’t want to diminish Zach Collins too much because he’s been great in the low post to start the season, and I believe in the shooting, but his impact on the game isn’t always consistent. Simply, he’s not a strong rebounder. He’s too advantageous with the ball; which has led him to being 2nd on the team in TOTAL TURNOVERS…He hasn’t been the greatest defensive anchor by any stretch, but that would improve with a personal change. Lastly, but most importantly his tendency to dig in the middle of the floor to float, incorrectly space the floor for drivers, and beg for post touches has killed some of the offensive freedom needed for others, specifically Keldon.
Lastly I just want to say this again because it’s insane to me, the starting point guard for the San Antonio spurs is in the 3rd percentile as a pick in roll ball handler.
Can you spell out what you mean in terms of the Sochan 3rd percentile thing? Are you saying that he’s in the 3rd percentile in terms of how often players are in the ballhandler role in the pick and roll? So, your qualm is that he’s doing that too much, given the ineffectiveness of that strategy for him/us?
He’s in the 3rd percentile of effectiveness/ PPP out the pick and roll. He’s running pick and rolls and he’s really really really REALLY bad at it
He can’t shoot, he can’t defend, he can’t create for himself or others…what can he do? I tried to talk myself into liking what he provides but it just hasn’t been there.
Are we talking about Johnson here or someone else? He’s been the 2nd best playmaker outside of Jones, and his straight line drives are probably the 3rd most effective form of offense on the squad. He, Vassell and Wemby have been put in a position where there are negative floor spacers next to them, multiple defensive liabilities, and no advantage creators to be found.