Enes Kanter: Immaturity and controversial path he took
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Bawse Dawg
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Jesus Christ we are still ****ing talking about this guy?
RJF
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It is. Been to Bismarck, Mandan, Rugby(and the half dozen in a 50 mile radius), Minot,.
LogGrad98
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I guess we better just start asking the college guys where they want to play before we draft them. I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings by drafting them when they might not want to be here. Maybe we could just send out a questionnaire instead of scouting and then make a list of the guys that check "Utah" as a place they would deign to play. Then we can draft accordingly. That way no one gets their feelings hurt, no one has to worry about being in such a horrible place, and we can guarantee we get a guy that wants us too. Everybody feels good and no one has to be an adult. Win-win for all the crybaby ******* out there.
SojoDave
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https://www.basketballinsiders.com/the-c ... es-kanter/
He had several games with 20 points and 10 rebounds.....seems productive, but he gives up 110 points a game.
All of this is encapsulated in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus metric (RPM), which ranks Kanter at 385th in the league (-3.28), due mostly to his abysmal -3.75 defensive RPM rating. To give more perspective, Kanter ranks dead last in defensive RPM among all qualified centers, including Andrea Bargnani of the New York Knicks.
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Specifically, what should the Thunder do in regards to their newest center, Enes Kanter?
Kanter is set to be a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason and will be looking for a significant, long-term contract. Our Alex Kennedy recently explained why Kanter may not find the deal he is looking for this offseason.
One of the reasons for this, explained by Kennedy, includes Kanter’s comments about his former team, the Utah Jazz. But an even bigger concern for the Thunder than Kanter’s recent comments is his performance on the court.
Kanter, age 22, has put up nice per game statistics in his short time with the Thunder. Over his last 10 games, Kanter is averaging 21.3 points and 13.1 rebounds, while shooting 58.8 percent from the field. So what is the problem with the way Kanter is playing?
Kanter’s former Utah Jazz teammate Trevor Booker summed up the problem concisely after the Jazz beat the Thunder on March 28.
“He did what he always does: he got his stats, he didn’t defend, he took an L,” Booker said of Kanter, according to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune.
This was a bold and candid statement from Booker, but is exactly what the Thunder’s front-office needs to consider moving forward. On many nights, Kanter looks imposing and like a guy who deserves a lucrative deal. But look closer, and you can see the defensive limitations that puts a strain on his team’s overall defense. In 21 games played with the Thunder, Oklahoma City is scoring 108.1 points per 100 possessions, while surrendering 109.5 points with Kanter on the court, according to NBA.com. That comes out to a -1.4 net differential, which isn’t great, but isn’t terrible. However, consider that a 109.5 defensive rating would rank as the worst defensive rating in the entire league, including the last-place Minnesota Timberwolves. And things have only gotten worse recently.
Over the last 10 games, the Thunder are giving up 111.6 points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the court, while scoring 107.1 points (-4.5 net). And it’s not as though Kanter is offsetting his lack of defensive impact with his offense. In that same span, when Kanter is off the court, the Thunder are scoring 110.8 points per 100 possessions.
Still not convinced that Kanter’s box score numbers blur his actual on court impact? Let’s take a look at the Jazz, who have become the league’s most dominant defensive team since trading Kanter. With Kanter, the Jazz scored 102.9 points per 100 possessions, while allowing opposing to teams to score 106.1 points, according to NBA.com. However, since trading Kanter, the Jazz have an offensive efficiency rating of 101.3 and a defensive efficiency rating of 93.2, good for an impressive +8.1 net rating.
To be fair to Kanter, being replaced by Rudy Gobert will make anyone look bad by comparison on the defensive end. That, and the Jazz collectively are showing signs of internal development and chemistry that were not there at the beginning of the season. But the numbers confirm what we can see with our eyes. Kanter is not a good rim protector, he isn’t very quick and he doesn’t have the foot speed to effectively defend the pick and roll (though he has improved his foot speed since losing weight). All of this is encapsulated in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus metric (RPM), which ranks Kanter at 385th in the league (-3.28), due mostly to his abysmal -3.75 defensive RPM rating. To give more perspective, Kanter ranks dead last in defensive RPM among all qualified centers, including Andrea Bargnani of the New York Knicks.
Nevertheless, despite all of his defensive shortcomings, Kanter still has room to improve. He’ll never be Rudy Gobert or Andrew Bogut, but he can probably improve to an average, or almost average defensive center. Kanter is very strong and capable of banging in the post against opposing bigs. Add in the fact that Serge Ibaka is one of the best shot blockers and overall rim protectors in the league, and we start to see a foundation for success with Kanter and Oklahoma City. Steven Adams is no slouch on defense either, and with him on the court, Kanter can stretch the floor on offense with his improving jump-shot.
Unfortunately, none of these things are certain to happen. Consider that Kanter was paired up next to defensive stalwart Derrick Favors in Utah, and the results for that tandem on defense were mixed, at best. But even if we assume Kanter will improve defensively and that he will fit well with Ibaka and Adams moving forward, it’s still not clear what to pay a player like Kanter. That question becomes even more difficult when we consider the Thunder’s current financial situation.
He had several games with 20 points and 10 rebounds.....seems productive, but he gives up 110 points a game.
All of this is encapsulated in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus metric (RPM), which ranks Kanter at 385th in the league (-3.28), due mostly to his abysmal -3.75 defensive RPM rating. To give more perspective, Kanter ranks dead last in defensive RPM among all qualified centers, including Andrea Bargnani of the New York Knicks.
=========================================================================================================
Specifically, what should the Thunder do in regards to their newest center, Enes Kanter?
Kanter is set to be a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason and will be looking for a significant, long-term contract. Our Alex Kennedy recently explained why Kanter may not find the deal he is looking for this offseason.
One of the reasons for this, explained by Kennedy, includes Kanter’s comments about his former team, the Utah Jazz. But an even bigger concern for the Thunder than Kanter’s recent comments is his performance on the court.
Kanter, age 22, has put up nice per game statistics in his short time with the Thunder. Over his last 10 games, Kanter is averaging 21.3 points and 13.1 rebounds, while shooting 58.8 percent from the field. So what is the problem with the way Kanter is playing?
Kanter’s former Utah Jazz teammate Trevor Booker summed up the problem concisely after the Jazz beat the Thunder on March 28.
“He did what he always does: he got his stats, he didn’t defend, he took an L,” Booker said of Kanter, according to Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune.
This was a bold and candid statement from Booker, but is exactly what the Thunder’s front-office needs to consider moving forward. On many nights, Kanter looks imposing and like a guy who deserves a lucrative deal. But look closer, and you can see the defensive limitations that puts a strain on his team’s overall defense. In 21 games played with the Thunder, Oklahoma City is scoring 108.1 points per 100 possessions, while surrendering 109.5 points with Kanter on the court, according to NBA.com. That comes out to a -1.4 net differential, which isn’t great, but isn’t terrible. However, consider that a 109.5 defensive rating would rank as the worst defensive rating in the entire league, including the last-place Minnesota Timberwolves. And things have only gotten worse recently.
Over the last 10 games, the Thunder are giving up 111.6 points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the court, while scoring 107.1 points (-4.5 net). And it’s not as though Kanter is offsetting his lack of defensive impact with his offense. In that same span, when Kanter is off the court, the Thunder are scoring 110.8 points per 100 possessions.
Still not convinced that Kanter’s box score numbers blur his actual on court impact? Let’s take a look at the Jazz, who have become the league’s most dominant defensive team since trading Kanter. With Kanter, the Jazz scored 102.9 points per 100 possessions, while allowing opposing to teams to score 106.1 points, according to NBA.com. However, since trading Kanter, the Jazz have an offensive efficiency rating of 101.3 and a defensive efficiency rating of 93.2, good for an impressive +8.1 net rating.
To be fair to Kanter, being replaced by Rudy Gobert will make anyone look bad by comparison on the defensive end. That, and the Jazz collectively are showing signs of internal development and chemistry that were not there at the beginning of the season. But the numbers confirm what we can see with our eyes. Kanter is not a good rim protector, he isn’t very quick and he doesn’t have the foot speed to effectively defend the pick and roll (though he has improved his foot speed since losing weight). All of this is encapsulated in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus metric (RPM), which ranks Kanter at 385th in the league (-3.28), due mostly to his abysmal -3.75 defensive RPM rating. To give more perspective, Kanter ranks dead last in defensive RPM among all qualified centers, including Andrea Bargnani of the New York Knicks.
Nevertheless, despite all of his defensive shortcomings, Kanter still has room to improve. He’ll never be Rudy Gobert or Andrew Bogut, but he can probably improve to an average, or almost average defensive center. Kanter is very strong and capable of banging in the post against opposing bigs. Add in the fact that Serge Ibaka is one of the best shot blockers and overall rim protectors in the league, and we start to see a foundation for success with Kanter and Oklahoma City. Steven Adams is no slouch on defense either, and with him on the court, Kanter can stretch the floor on offense with his improving jump-shot.
Unfortunately, none of these things are certain to happen. Consider that Kanter was paired up next to defensive stalwart Derrick Favors in Utah, and the results for that tandem on defense were mixed, at best. But even if we assume Kanter will improve defensively and that he will fit well with Ibaka and Adams moving forward, it’s still not clear what to pay a player like Kanter. That question becomes even more difficult when we consider the Thunder’s current financial situation.
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
I think the offensive stuff is the stuff he said when visiting SLC as a member of the Thunder.
gomretat
Well-Known Member
I am still a fan of picking the best player available. The Jazz thought that was Enes and I have no problem with that - and I hope they keep drafting that way. The article does clear up why he did not want to come here which is understandable. None of that changes how immaturely he has handled the situation.
LogGrad98
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Yeah there is a big difference between saying and doing. It isn't really the saying that matters, it's the doing that proves your true colors. Malone said all kinds of weird ****. But then be brought it with everything he had every night (remembering of course that he is human and is going to have ups and downs). But Kanter not only talked ****, he then turned around and purposely dicked around. That, to me, is a personal integrity issue. Of course immaturity plays into it, but even young immature people can have integrity. Look at Gobert. Can you picture Gobert doing anything but busting his ***? I could see him complaining about things not going his way or the team's way in a pre-game, then coming out and putting up 15/15/4. Bottom line Kanter is an entitled punk ***** and it is a good thing he is gone. **** him and the horse he rode in on.
Beer
Well-Known Member
I get that. The radio this morning was acting like he said something outrageous again though.
They're gonna grab onto any little grain of controversy and try to blow it up. That's just what they do.