Among the players in MSU’s regular ten-man rotation:
- Which player ranks 3rd on the team in offensive rating?
- Which player ranks 2nd (tie) in defensive rebounding percentage?
- Which player ranks 4th in assist rate?
- Which player ranks 3rd in block percentage?
- Which player ranks 2nd in steal percentage?
- Which player ranks 2nd in free throw rate?
Hint: The same player is the answer to all six questions.
Got an answer yet?
No cheating.
Ready?
Are you sure?
OK
The answer is . . .
Draymond Green
Not bad for a guy that Tom Izzo was planning to redshirt up until preseason practices. Green has obviously posted these tempo-free stats in fairly limited minutes*, but the stats indicate he’s been productive across the board when he’s been on the floor.
The simplest complimentary descriptor one cay apply to Green is “basketball player.” He makes plays.
Green is the odds-on favorite to start next to Delvon Roe in the frontcourt next season. For now, though, he’s gone from preseason afterthought to key postseason contributor in a span of four months.
*I find that individual tempo-free stats are actually more useful for bench players than for starters. For a guy playing 30 minutes/game, we have a pretty good idea what 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game means. For a guy playing 10 minutes a game, it’s harder to know what 3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game means. (Numbers are made up.) The tempo-free numbers are, threrefore, more illuminating for the guy getting limited minutes per game–once you have a full season of data, at least.
KJ, do you think that he’ll take Raymar’s place in the starting lineup? I think it’ll look something like this:
Lucas
Allen/Summers (whoever has the hot hand, I guess)
Roe
Morgan
…this fifth slot is kind of a tossup. Maybe it’ll be Green to start the season, but eventually I’d like it to be Sherman/Nix/Herzog, depending on who develops.
I got it right. I’ll take an A+ on your pop quiz.
Did you know? In February, Green and Roe combined for about the same minutes, points, blocks, steals, and rebounds as UConn’s All-Conference PF Jeff Adrian’s season average, but with a better Eff/Poss and eFG%.
Green showed something new in the USC game: he took his man off the dribble and drew the foul on dribble penetration! Beautiful play. Green will be a legend in E.L. before he’s through.
I think he and Roe are the early favorites for the team’s Blood and Guts award next season.
I have always loved Day Day’s game from when I saw him go up against Manny twice a couple years ago. Was very disappointed when he ended up at MSU because I thought he would have been a great piece at the four in Beilein’s offense. I know the term basketball IQ gets scoffed at a lot but Day Day definitely has it.
Seems like whenever I tune into MSU games he is playing good minutes too. I guess maybe he is just one of those guys you can’t keep off the court.
G0EL, I’m working off the assumption, Izzo will continue to use Morgan primarily at the 3 spot.
Lucas
Allen/Summers
Morgan
Green
Roe
Regardless, Green will be in line for 20-25 minutes/game next season.
I think we may see some:
Lucas
Lucious
Summers
Morgan
Roe
When we’re looking to push the ball and put away a slower, less athletic team. That could be a heck of a tough match-up for a lot of teams. You have to worry about the turnovers, though.
I meant to say “Glue and Guts” not “Blood and Guts”
Green has played very well and is showing more on offense than I think anyone expected. His rebounding is amazing given that he is only 6’6″ – Morgan is taller by an inch. Next year I see him being our 6th man because with him Roe and Morgan in the lineup we don’t really have anyone to match up against an opposing team’s center – I’m not sure Roe is quite tall enough. Green would also be somewhat vertically challenged against an opposing power forward.
I see Green splitting time with Morgan when he needs a blow and also with some other front court players (as an undersized but effective 4) when they need one. Size-wise he’s basically another Morgan and if he can develop enough of a midrange game I think he would be great at the 3.
Hopefully we can get meaningful minutes out of one of our incoming big men (a la Roe this year but at center) or Herzog. Otherwise we’ll be undersized at center and power forward. Granted, a lot of teams don’t have a true 6’10 – 7′ plus center, so the fact that we don’t have anyone proven there may not hurt us in a lot of games. A guy like Mullens or JaJuan Johnson would eat us alive though if Roe is the biggest guy we can put on him. Add to that being undersized at the 4 (which would be the case if Green is in there as a starter) and we have a problem on D. Still if none of the aforementioned 6’10″ plus guys can contribute Green will probably crack the starting lineup.
I know I started it, but now I’m officially banning any further discussion about next season. Still two very big weeks (potentially) left in this season.
I agree – it’s a little early to be thinking about next year (although I obviously have been). I’m just glad we can still think about this year, unlike most of the other fans out there.