THT has a bigger defensive upside and will likely become stronger than Monk is which works for him as a slasher.
Monk has a bigger shooting and scoring upside. ESPECIALLY with Westbrook mentoring him.
This is the kinds of games Monk can have.
J.C. Smith wrote:
An important thing to consider when talking about THT and Monk... THT is only 20 years old. Monk is 23. At THT's age Monk averaged: 8.9 points (38.7% fg, 33% 3p), 1.9 rebounds. 1.6 assists in 17 minutes on a Hornets lottery team.
Last year THT averaged 9 points (45.8% fg, 28.2% 3p), 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 20.1 minutes on a contender.
As a rookie Monk was 2 months younger than THT was last year. And his rookie stats on that bad hornets team were 6.7 points (36% fg, 34.2% 3p), 1 rebound, 1.4 assists, in 13.6 minutes.
It's important to remember that when talking about players and upside.
It's also important to remember him getting his minutes jerked around in Charlotte. But last season when he was given a consistent role (the coach was forced to, but it happened finally).
Malik went on a 25 game tear where he was played off the bench but at 24 MPG.
During that time Malik Monk put up
15.3 PPG
3.1 RPG
1.9 APG
0.6 STL
46% Field Goal
41.5% Three(on 6 attempts per game)
83.1% Free Throw
That run included 18 vs Milwaukee, 36 vs Miami, 23 vs San Antonio, 20 vs Utah, 29 vs Phoenix.
In there was a 6 game span where they played Utah, Phoenix, Golden State, Sacramento, Portland and San Antonio. Where Monk averaged 22/3.7/2 on 50% from the Field and 40% from three.
But after this amazing run of games he had, the coach went back to not playing him. Monk came back vs Brooklyn and suffered an ankle injury, which kept him out for the next 15 games. He returned for the final 10 games of the season but was clearly not 100%.
So you take that into account too when talking upsides. Monk where he is now, has a higher floor than THT does. THT has a higher ceiling barring him developing a 3 point shot, which will likely take more than one off-season. Aside from that THT is just his body getting stronger and his basketball IQ developing further.
For Monk he just needs the opportunity and has no issues coming off the bench for it. But as long as his minutes aren't jerked around and his role inconsistent, we should benefit tremendously.
With THT the benefit will truly come once his three point shot develops.
It's only 1 pre-season game but I wonder if Monk starting will help the team in terms of lineups. My pick was Ellington, but if Monk starts, we could run a bench unit with THT at the 2 and Ellington at the 3, and Nunn of course at the 1. Which could be beneficial as well, which keeps Monk and THT from overcrowding each other's minutes. But then the odd man out is Bazemore so that's another thing to consider. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6284 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:05 am Post subject:
Whoever starts at SG needs to be able to shoot well from the perimeter. I have my doubts that THT is really ready for this yet. It might be Monk, but it could be Ellington, Bazemore, Dunn, the kid working at Foot Locker; they all shoot better at this stage.
And managed expectations for THT, despite his being the 4th highest paid Laker this year, should really him being the off the bench guy replacing AC. With all those one year contracts, THT may be closer to being ready as a starter next year. Assuming of course, he becomes a better perimeter scorer. _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
he's currently a 28% 3 point shooter... its safe to say this number isnt going to magically rocket up this new season
Maybe. Maybe not. Players have been known to achieve significant jumps in their shooting season to season. Witness Ingram going from 33% on low volume to 39% on high volume - a 6 point jump. There's no certainty either way.
Becoming a good three point shooter, at least consistently takes more than just a single off-season most of the time(Lonzo, Randle, Russell, Ingram). I'd be fine with his three point shooting to be anywhere from 32-35% this season. Anything more than that is a bonus, and anything under that is a let down. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6284 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:45 pm Post subject:
Managed expectations - he is this year's AC, energy guy off the bench, very good driving to the basket. Maybe, and I stress maybe, if we had traded for Hield, THT maybe, maybe might have been able to start at SG. But we can't have a backcourt where neither guard can shoot 35% from 3.
THT is about where Ingram was in his second year, a guy with a lot of potential, really good in his game's strengths and below average to below average minus in his game's weaknesses, which unfortunately is shooting the basketball.
The Lakers were smart to pay him the $9 million a year, probably next year he will actually really earn that money, be a better offensive player and compete for a starting job.
When he actually starts making his jump-shots, I'll be the next guy on the bandwagon. But for right now, THT is a bench guy. _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 4372 Location: Lake Nacimiento
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:22 pm Post subject:
Laker4lifer4real wrote:
Lakesh0wtime wrote:
THT gonna be the new Dlo/BI in here lol
I know, right? It was the first preseason game.
It honestly feels like a re-run of BI for sure.. I was shocked then how some couldn't see some of the blatantly obvious skills that were growing consistently not only year to year but throughout the season as well.. I see the same kind of progress with THT (not saying he'll be as good as BI, just development wise).. People saying we should have kept Caruso instead of him is kind of mind boggling as well. I'm just thankful the front office handled it how they did.
I do agree THT should be coming off the bench though until he proves he can knock down the perimeter shot at a decent clip which I completely have confidence he'll do as his shot and confidence are fine. I just hope it happens this season instead of next. It's not unheard of though for young players to have big jumps in percentage in there early 20's.. Look no further then Monk, the other young guy on our roster.
Yeah, the roles off a supporting starter with AD, vs with AD/Westbrook/Bron are so drastically different, it is hard to evaluate THT. At first look he still shows me to be a talented bench guy right now. Doesn't do one particular thing so well that you can start him around superstars. You need some specialists IMO, to be that big minute starter (Such as a good reliable 3 point shooter, defense, or a defensive anchor who can play above the rim on D etc).
Still think we're going to end up looking for one starter that can give us rim protection, boards and an above the rim/threat for scoring inside game. And then from the second supporting starter some 3 point shooting and perimeter D. Just based on 2 games, in PS, individually THT does not strike me as either guy naturally. Just on little we have seen
Dwight is the most ready starting compliment.
Ellington is the most ready starting wing compliment.
Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6284 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 8:30 am Post subject:
He is still just 20 years old, he has time, but man if he stinks it up from the perimeter this year, he is going to be this year's Kuzma from the fanbase.
Guards making $9 million a year, need to be able to shoot the basketball.
That's all I'm saying.... _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
BI and DLO, we could see their upside. THT, people are just hopeful because we have no other young talent, except the better Austin Reaves. While THT is young, fast, athletic, and crafty.... he plays too fast, needs to work on his shot, forces plays that leads to turnovers; he has a problem making the right play. I actually don't know his position. He plays like a shooting guard, that can't shoot, but has a body type of a point guard, but doesn't really like to pass and isn't necessarily a floor general.
BI and DLO, we could see their upside. THT, people are just hopeful because we have no other young talent, except the better Austin Reaves. While THT is young, fast, athletic, and crafty.... he plays too fast, needs to work on his shot, forces plays that leads to turnovers; he has a problem making the right play. I actually don't know his position. He plays like a shooting guard, that can't shoot, but has a body type of a point guard, but doesn't really like to pass and isn't necessarily a floor general.
You know if you take out the young part I swear you was describing our PG from last season.
BI and DLO, we could see their upside. THT, people are just hopeful because we have no other young talent, except the better Austin Reaves. While THT is young, fast, athletic, and crafty.... he plays too fast, needs to work on his shot, forces plays that leads to turnovers; he has a problem making the right play. I actually don't know his position. He plays like a shooting guard, that can't shoot, but has a body type of a point guard, but doesn't really like to pass and isn't necessarily a floor general.
You know if you take out the young part I swear you was describing our PG from last season.
He’s out of control to often for my liking; is forcing the game. He’s
young and has a ways to go yet.. _________________ Lakers need to build a freaking team !
He’s out of control to often for my liking; is forcing the game. He’s
young and has a ways to go yet..
The game will hopefully slow down for him.
This was his first real offseason. Looks like a guy that put a lot of work in and is pushing the issue to try and show it. Typical young guy stuff.
I agree, but he’s got to fight and earn minutes. He plays like he’s Kobe sometimes in that he looks for his before any open teammates or setting up the 3 when the defense collapses. Having Rondo on the floor with him helped settle him down in 4th.
Good work from THT. 20 min, 17 points (5-10) (1-3 from 3), 3 rebs, 2 assts, 1 stl. _________________ Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.
He’s out of control to often for my liking; is forcing the game. He’s
young and has a ways to go yet..
The game will hopefully slow down for him.
This was his first real offseason. Looks like a guy that put a lot of work in and is pushing the issue to try and show it. Typical young guy stuff.
I agree, but he’s got to fight and earn minutes. He plays like he’s Kobe sometimes in that he looks for his before any open teammates or setting up the 3 when the defense collapses. Having Rondo on the floor with him helped settle him down in 4th.
He hasn’t played with Russ and Lebron yet. Hopefully that settles him down.
Looked solid last night. He's forcing himself on the game more than he should though. But hopefully his basketball IQ improves along with his game. He's still 20, but he needs to know when and where to attack. Once he gets that down if he can hit the three with semi consistency this year it will be a nice step forward. _________________ How NBA 2K18 failed the All-Time Lakers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxMBYm3wwxk
Monk is the best shooter on this team. THT has the most upside. Both will be big contributors all season. Nunn was also a big pickup. Team does lack a true PF on this roster. LBJ/Melo are 3/4s and AD is a 4/5. I think they need one young PF on this team.
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