NBA: **Cyclones in the NBA and G-League, 2019-2020

[I-stateTheTruth]

Final lines for the Monte vs. Matt showdown today (I didn't see it but I know Matt fouled him once and Monte hit the FTs):

Monte Morris: 30 MIN, 16 PTS, 4-14 FG, 2-7 3PT, 6-6 FT, 6 REB, 4 AST, 1 BLK and 2 TO.

Monte led the Nuggets in REBOUNDING but not assists.

Matt Thomas (started): 28 MIN, 12 PTS, 4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL and 2 TO.

A Matt 3 in transition:

Shot of Monte scoring (on a long pass) with Matt in pursuit:

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Is Nader hurt? Don't see him on the live box score.

You're right - he doesn't show up in the boxscore anymore. Must be resting for the playoffs since he played all 7 games. Deonte Burton got a few 1st half minutes though.

 

[Rabbuk]

Matt thomas has never missed.

 

[simply1]

Matt thomas has never missed.

Did the shayok block count

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

On Friday night, Naz dressed and got in for the last 2 minutes. He doesn't seem to be at all in the Pacers' plans in spite of playing well in the two games that they needed him when both the Pacers' PGs were hurt.

Abdel Nader rested in OKC's final bubble game - as did most of the starters - and that left a lot of minutes for Deonte Burton.

Deonte's line: 32 MIN, 6 PTS, 3-11 FG, 0-4 3 PT, 6 REB, 5 AST and 4 TO. I thought he made some good passes but a few times over-dribbled which led to turnovers. Much of the time on offense, he looks a bit lost. He took a couple corner 3 pointers that seemed like they had no chance of going in (and they didn't). It's too bad but I don't see him as being able to convince a GM that he can help the squad without some time in the G League or something. If nothing else, NBA wings have to be able to knock down threes.

Marial Shayok got 8 MIN as the 76ers' 13th man (by PT) and scored 5 PTS on 1-4 shooting. He hit a 3 and was 2-2 from the line.

And thus concludes the regular season for the Cyclones. Regarding the playoffs, Georges and Monte are rotation guys. Talen, Matt and Abdel have all proved that they can contribute and I'm hopeful that this means some PT for them in shortened playoff rotations. Deonte, Naz and Marial are unlikely to see playing time in their playoff series.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Summary of regular season stats - I'll split the guys into groups of 4, starting with the guys that made the biggest contributions. I'm going with old-fashioned stats, not player efficiency ratings etc. Old dog, new tricks.

Monte Morris - Games: 73 (of 73; he hasn't missed a Nuggets game in 2 years). Games started: 12 (up from 6 last year). PPG 9.0 (down from 10.4). Total points: 660 (he's up to 1521 for his career). MPG: 22.4 (down from 24). FG% 45.9 (down from 49.3%). 3PT%: 37.8 (down from 41.4% last year). FT%: 84% (up from 80%). RPG: 1.9 (down from 2.4). Assists: 255. APG: 3.5 (down from 3.6). Turnovers: 53. TOPG: 0.7 (up from 0.6). Assist-to-turnover ratio: 4.8 (sheesh). Blocks: 17 (up from 4 last year; if he can increase by 4x every year, he will eventually lead the NBA )

Mr. Mid-Range --30% of Monte's shots were from 3PT range.
Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3059310/monte-morris

Georges Niang - Games: 66 (of 72; he had some DNPs in the first part of the year). Games started: 1. PPG: 5.9 (up from 4.0 last year). Total points: 392 (up from 235 last year; he now has 657 for his career). MPG: 14 (up from 8.7). FG%: 43.8 (down from 47.5. 3PT%: 40% (down from 41%; he was at 43% for a long time this year and dropped below 40% while in the bubble but rallied). FT%: 83.3% (remarkably consistent after shooting 83.3% last season). RPG: 1.9 (up from 1.5). APG: 0.7.

3-point specialist: 70% of Georges' shots were from 3PT range.
Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/2990969/georges-niang

Abdel Nader - Games: 55 (of 72 because of DNPs and injuries). Games started: 6. PPG: 6.3 (up from 4.0 and higher than Georges' number). Total points: 345 (up from 241; he now has 732 career points). MPG: 15.8 (up from 11.4). FG%: 46.8 (up from 42.3). 3PT%: 37.5 (up from 32%). FT%: 77.3% (up from 75%). RPG: 1.8 (down from 1.9). APG: 0.7 (up from 0.3). TOPG: 0.8 (up from 0.4)

Slasher from the wing: 49% of Abdel's shots were from 3PT range.
Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/2595435/abdel-nader

Matt Thomas - Games: 41 (of 72 because of DNPs and injuries). Games started: 1. PPG: 4.9. Total points: 202. MPG: 10.7. FG%: 48.7. 3PT%: 47.5 (if he had enough attempts, this would be #1 in NBA). RPG: 1.5. APG: 0.5. TOPG: 0.4. And one block!

More mid-range than Georges: 66% of Matt's shots were from 3PT range.
Link: https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3059311/matt-thomas

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Summary of regular season stats (NBA games)- for the guys who didn't contribute as much for the big club.

Deonte Burton -- Games: 39 (of 72; up from 32. Spent time in G League and had a lot of DNPs). PPG: 2.7 (2.6 last year). Total points: 104 (186 over the last 2 seasons). MPG: 9.1 (up from 7.5; inflated because of two games in NBA bubble in which the regulars rested). FG%: 34%. 3PT%: 19% (10-53. Down from 30%). RPG: 1.5. APG: 0.4. TOPG: 0.5.

Naz Mitrou-Long -- Games: 5 (2 of which he was pressed into service and played important minutes; played 14 games last year for Utah). PPG: 2.8. Total points: 14. MPG: 9.4. FG%: 35.3 (30% last season). 3PT%: 17% (2-12; only 2-11 last year). RPG: 1.4. APG: 1.6. TOPG: 0.6.

Talen Horton-Tucker -- Games: 6. Games started: 1. PPG: 5.7. Total points: 34. MPG: 13.5. FG%: 47%. 3PT%: 32%. RPG: 1.2. APG: 1.0. TOPG: 1.0

Marial Shayok -- Games: 4. PPG: 2.8. Total points: 11. MPG: 7. FG%: 25% (3-12). 3PT%: (2-6). And one block, which was against Matt Thomas, which also led to his only 2-point FG of the season.

A look at these guys' G League stats might be more instructive.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Matt's plays from his 1st start - a lot of Monte clips in here. Also, Matt can't apparently stop Mason Plumlee on a dunk.



And here are Monte's plays for the same game. It looks like Matt guarded him quite a bit; MM hit a three in the corner as Matt did a fly-by trying to close him out.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I'm not sure Naz is exactly going to be "in" the playoffs - I wonder if he'll dress - but I like this graphic:

 

[JM4CY]

I'm not sure Naz is exactly going to be "in" the playoffs - I wonder if he'll dress - but I like this graphic:

That’s just awesome

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

That’s just awesome

Kentucky and Duke have a bunch of one-and-dones. We have 4- and 5-and-dones, for the most part.

 

[Rabbuk]

I'm not sure Naz is exactly going to be "in" the playoffs - I wonder if he'll dress - but I like this graphic:

*clears throat* whar iowa

 

[Cyientist]

The Jazz are without Conley for the first couple of games since he left the bubble to be with his wife for the birth of their son. It'll be interesting to see if they slide Georges into a starting role and leave Clarkson to run the 2nd unit. Either way, it will probably lead to more playing time for Niang and better match-ups for Monte on the other end.

 

[JM4CY]

*clears throat* whar iowa

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

The Jazz are without Conley for the first couple of games since he left the bubble to be with his wife for the birth of their son. It'll be interesting to see if they slide Georges into a starting role and leave Clarkson to run the 2nd unit. Either way, it will probably lead to more playing time for Niang and better match-ups for Monte on the other end.

Valid points. I imagine Mudiay will get more minutes, too. There's not much offensive punch in that 2nd unit without Clarkson so Quin Snyder will have some tough decisions to make.

With injuries to Barton and Harris, the Nuggets have been playing Grant and Porter as the 2 sometimes (however you call it, those two have been on the perimeter quite a bit when I was watching). Maybe the Jazz will slot Georges in against bigger guys like them.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Tyler Cook will be cheering for Monte and possibly tossing him a clean towel when he comes out.

 

[JM4CY]

Tyler Cook will be cheering for Monte and possibly tossing him a clean towel when he comes out.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Jazz vs. Denver -- Tipping off now. Other series for Cyclones (not including Pacers & 76ers. This post and the following one)

 

[I-stateTheTruth]