Surprising Skal Stat

[Aike]

I was checking out some advanced metrics for our team earlier today, and one thing in particular stuck out at me.

Skal has the second best defensive box plus/minus number on the team, only slightly behind Marcus Lee.

So I watched the game tonight with that in mind, and left with a little more appreciation for his defensive effort.

Here's the bad news...he came into the game with a NEGATIVE offensive box plus/minus. That won't surprise anyone, but I was surprised how bad it was. He was the worst on the team among regulars by far.

So as disappointing as Skal has been, his defensive numbers tell me that he isn't far from making an impact.

He only needs to slightly improve on offense to be worth his minutes. He needs to do little things like receiving a post pass cleanly. Accepting a double team and making the right pass.

I thought he took baby steps tonight. It's too bad that he isn't ready to be on the floor in the last 4 minutes of a game like this, but it is what it is.

But looking at his defensive numbers made me realize that he may be a little closer than we thought.

 

[jrpross]

4 rebounds in 14 minutes actually isn't bad either. Small sample size but at least I didn't think he was a liability when he was in tonight. When he gets doubled he does turn it over too much though.

 

[Aike]

4 rebounds in 14 minutes actually isn't bad either. Small sample size but at least I didn't think he was a liability when he was in tonight. When he gets doubled he does turn it over too much though.

For Skal, 4 rebounds in 14 minutes is Moses Malone levels.

He has been awful rebounding for a guy his size. But apparently his defensive impact has been decent.

Just being 7 feet tall and staying in front of people goes a long way.

 

[cal=8]

I thought Skal would play well tonight.. Miss St. has one big that can play.. I saw tonight as an opportunity for Skal.. He did look a little better, especially when he blocked that shot.. I could see his confidence build.. So although he looked a little better I still expected more.. I think Skal will eventually help this team..

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

When a guy is really long and is able to just be a threat in altering shots in the lane it's goig to change the dynamic of the game.

 

[Aike]

When a guy is really long and is able to just be a threat in altering shots in the lane it's goig to change the dynamic of the game.

Absolutely, and the numbers bear that out. If we can get him to stop hurting us on offense, he can be on the floor.

Pulling his weight on offense would be a nice bonus.

 

[The_Answer1313]

See this is why I think the major issue is simply not being able to stay on the court.

If he can avoid getting into foul trouble and stay on the court, I do think he provides SOME defensive value. He should rebound better tho on the defensive side.......that's my only gripe. When Briscoe has a better DR% than you, something is wrong.

 

[Aike]

See this is why I think the major issue is simply not being able to stay on the court.

If he can avoid getting into foul trouble and stay on the court, I do think he provides SOME defensive value. He should rebound better tho on the defensive side.......that's my only gripe. When Briscoe has a better DR% than you, something is wrong.

Right on all points, but he has to get stronger on offense too. Stop getting stripped and making weak turnovers at minimum.

 

[kyboy1998]

It's amazing to watch a guy go from "the next big thing" and potential top pick, into a guy who gets ovations for going after a loose ball and people digging up metrics to suggest he doesn't suck.

 

[bluelifer]

I realize Skal has a lot of work to do, but man, it's really going to piss me off when he's draining 15-18 footers in the league next year. That's a skill he possesses right now, but he can't stay in the game long enough to work it in.

 

[wild mandu]

It's amazing to watch a guy go from "the next big thing" and potential top pick, into a guy who gets ovations for going after a loose ball and people digging up metrics to suggest he doesn't suck.

 

[4UK]

If that's what the advanced metrics say, then I have to go with Charles Barkley on this - advanced metrics are bunk.

 

[Jkwo]

It's amazing to watch a guy go from "the next big thing" and potential top pick, into a guy who gets ovations for going after a loose ball and people digging up metrics to suggest he doesn't suck.

I mean, it's unequivocally better than continuing to crap on him.

And I didn't need metrics to see it - he's been altering a ton of shots and fighting for rebounds in his limited minutes over the last couple games.

He just gets it stripped more than anybody else I've ever seen play and is now missing all the bunnies that he drained towards the beginning of the year. Both of those things are easily fixable in theory.

His attitude and deer in the headlights look was by far my number 1 concern - now that he's actually fighting (and producing like a role player in limited minutes instead of being a huge negative), there's light at the end of the tunnel. A month ago when he looked like he wanted to cry after every rebounding battle, there wasn't even really anything to hope for.

 

[Aike]

It's amazing to watch a guy go from "the next big thing" and potential top pick, into a guy who gets ovations for going after a loose ball and people digging up metrics to suggest he doesn't suck.

Looking for a silver lining for sure. Are you surprised that he's our second best defensive player, at least according to one measure? I was.

 

[kyboy1998]

I'm not against the kid or a basher. I'm just amazed at how the tenor of conversation has changed regarding him nationally.

He may become a serviceable player in the league some day, and he has a ton of work to do, but we won't see much fruit of that labor.

He will always be tall and he can run, jump and is fairly coordinated when he has a comfort level (like a put back or a rotated mismatch) so he isn't hopeless by any means.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

To be honest he didn't achieve a high ranking by banging down low. He did his work by running the open court and shooting 4-15 ft from the basket.
What he is asked to do is something that's made for say a Ellensen who went to Marquette or the guy who went to Purdue. ( name escapes me)

He is somewhat like Diallo whom I said several times on this board that if you put a body on him he disappears.

If you watched Thon Maker play he's all about playing like Skal does both are very similar. You bang on them and they wilt like a pulled flower. Those guys are easy to defend against. An amateur coach could scheme around them in college if you have the personel and game tape.
What needs to happen is play to his strengths. Well we know that's not happening. Cal is forcing him to learn to play a way he has never played before and that's a big lead in curve when your playing against semi professionals and your as green as you can be.
If I was Cal and against a zone I'd move him out of the paint and say behind the zone to utilize his length to grab the quick pass from the other side of the court and get some shots up in the 10-20ft range. It might take several of them before he knocks a couple down but then his confidence will get up and he will force the D to not sag deep and double Murray.

 

[UKGrad93]

Right on all points, but he has to get stronger on offense too. Stop getting stripped and making weak turnovers at minimum.

This X 100. He has to stop bringing the ball down low.