Let me preface this, fully, at the beginning, with the fact that I was one of the biggest Enes Kanter detractors in the history of the universe. I made fun of him even after the season started. Furthermore, I was born in Canada, and continue to claim her citizenship. (Dude, we get free MRI's on our birthday) That said, this season -- the Cleveland Cavaliers Canadian bigman Tristan Thompson is the lesser of the two players when it comes down to quantitative contributions towards his team winning games. And, even further furthermore, Enes Kanter was flat out robbed.
Without going into the advanced stats at all you can clearly see this:
| Rk | Player | From | To | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enes Kanter | 2012 | 2012 | 24 | 0 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 4.0 | .474 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | .714 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 5.1 | |
| 2 | Tristan Thompson | 2012 | 2012 | 18 | 0 | 17.4 | 3.0 | 6.6 | .458 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.8 | .431 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 7.2 |
So T-squared scores two more points? Kanter is way more efficient at scoring, and plays three less minutes per game. Oh, and Kanter has played in 6 more games than Tristan has. And another thing -- Kanter is a beast on the boards. He gets more than Thompson does, and he is a more efficient scorer. And he plays in more games. He's also a bigman who, in his rookie season, is shooting above 70 ft% on a WINNING team. Tim Duncan's career average over his super long lifespan in the NBA is 68 ft%. Let's normalize their production for the same amount of playing time.
| Rk | Player | From | To | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enes Kanter | 2012 | 2012 | 24 | 0 | 348 | 4.8 | 10.0 | .474 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 4.3 | .714 | 4.4 | 7.8 | 12.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 12.6 | |
| 2 | Tristan Thompson | 2012 | 2012 | 18 | 0 | 313 | 6.2 | 13.6 | .458 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 5.9 | .431 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 9.7 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 15.0 |
Wow, Kanter gets a double double with room to spare, while Thompson doesn't. He does score +2.4 ppg than Kanter though. So that's great, over the course of a 36 min stretch, right? Sorry, I'd rather have the +2.5 rpg instead. Both can't really pass, or steal, but that's not what I'm looking for in a bigman. Thompson blocks more shots, but you just can't keep him on the floor in crunch time when he's shooting 43.1 ft%.
Clearly, if you are objective and honest in your heart, Kanter is the better choice. He was even picked higher -- so if you at all look at hype and marketing and giving stuff to rookie who don't deserve anything, then Kanter wins there. He's also younger. And playing on a team winning in the Western conference.
Robbed. Robbed I tell you!
1 recs | 21 comments
I wholeheartedly agree
I was a big Kanter hater before the season began, but he has really surprised me with his play. Def looking like the best big out of his class, and it’s just crazy that TT got the nod over him. Gotta hype the Cavs though, get fans back on board. Downside of us being a small market and having super loyal fans.
Bebop - February 8, 2012
That was my thought exactly
First rigging the Draft for the Cavs and now this?
P-Will - February 8, 2012
well, according to this list
SLC is #50 and CLE is #72
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_United_States_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas
AllThatJazzBasketball - February 8, 2012
Well I was not expecting that
Bebop - February 8, 2012
the internet is full of information!
: )
AllThatJazzBasketball - February 8, 2012
Maybe I am reading it wrong, but isn't CLE #28 and Akron #72?
BobbyD31 - February 8, 2012
oh, maybe, i was skimming
AllThatJazzBasketball - February 8, 2012
Really?
Are you seriously implying that Cleveland is not a small market team? Or that its fans are not loyal? Dude… It’s Cleveland. We are the definition of loyal and small market.
I also think it’s silly for a Utah fan to say the lotto is rigged in complaint that we got the #1 pick. Didn’t you guys get lucky, too, to have that #3 pick?
As far as the actual content of this post goes, I disagree with. Admittedly I haven’t seen much of Kanter play, but I’m guessing you probably haven’t seen much of Thompson. He’s a high energy player who has Andy Varejao-esque traits about him that don’t translate purely into stats. Additionally, you cannot write of the fact that Thompson blocks twice as many shots as Kanter (while being shorter) as easily as you do. There is a small rebounding (very small in the pure stats) in Kanter’s favor, but keep in mind that Tristan has been hurt the past couple of weeks. In his first game back he had 13 boards, which will close the gap. Not saying Kanter didn’t deserve to get in – but Thompson definitely did.
Nicholee - February 10, 2012
This is why
If any of our lottery picks blow up they will eventually leave the Utah Jazz for a bigger market.
EcERyda69 - February 8, 2012
You really think this?
Then what’s the point of even watching our team?
Yucca Man - February 8, 2012
Yes i really think this
And Wtf is up with that question? Who are you to ask somebody that?
EcERyda69 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I don't think that everybody is in the same midset to leave Utah if they blow up, the players we would want in utah longterm I think would stay anyway if given the same money
It comes down to what you want your legacy to be as a player and I think we have seen many players be pleasantly surprised with the environment and community here recently and really want to stay in Utah
WildcatUte - February 8, 2012
I'm just asking why watch a team
If you believe every good player will leave ASAP?
To me it feels like downer viewpoint that I honestly don’t get. It seems like creating an utterly hopeless expectation that Jazz can never be an elite team.
Yucca Man - February 8, 2012
Leave ASAP...
If one of these lottery picks become a super star he COULD leave LATER…Not now, NOT ASAP like you mentioned. The Jazz could have these guys for the next 5-8 years with one of them being a super star, and they could eventually get a ring, or get them to be title contenders. But if all they can do together is make the playoffs every year without getting to the Finals, I can see that super star “eventually” leaving to chase a ring. It’s a trend that’s happening in the NBA, and it’s something I doubt will ever change
Getting lifers like Stockton, and Malone to stay together for a small market team chasing a ring…Guys like that are hard to come by. (Yes, I know Malone left, but I consider him a lifer for sticking with Stockton all those years)
I should have expanded more on my comment than what I had, but it was not meant to be a “downer viewpoint”
I see a bright future with this team, and this organization for a looong time. They actually have “assets” as KOC likes to call it, to make it work.
EcERyda69 - February 8, 2012
Bummer for Kanter
Personally I could care less,.. what the NBA does or doesn’t know about Kanter yet is becoming abundantly clear to us Jazz fans.
Kanter is very quickly adjusting to the NBA game and is going to be a star for years to come. I’m just happy that we drafted him and have him locked up for how may more years?
The kid is only 19 and is pushing solid veteran NBA players around in the post. I love watching veteran big men matched up against him for the first time aggressively calling for the ball in the post thinking they’ll school the rookie for some easy points. Then they drive to the hoop and figure out that Kanter is made of bricks and can’t be moved and throw up a poor shot.
He still has a lot to learn and will never jump over the hoop like Griffen, but I’m thinking by his third year with even a little more strength, lots more understanding of all the NBA tricks, and fully realizing how to use his freakish strength to overpower opposing players he will be a force that every NBA team will have to seriously plan for each game.
JazzMT - February 8, 2012
Another tremendous post by ATJB.. I just wish we could get favors and Kanter a little more playing time
I know he has played better in spurts but I really hope we can ship Al even if we don’t get much in return, clear some cap, etc.
I think what we have all seen lately is that we really need a pass first lock down defender at PG. With that said I feel like that might be like finding a needle in a haystack… AND looking at this years draft it is devoid of PG’s… yikes
Looks like the best options so far are Tony Wroten from Washington and the kid from up the road Damian Lillard from Weber State…
WildcatUte - February 8, 2012
Agree with everything. . .Have you watched Kendall Marshall at all?
I think I could go for him. His passing is truly amazing at times and his assist-turnover ratio is like 3.3:1. . . in the ACC. Not the quickest and not athletic but his overall play and numbers are very similar to Jason Kidd. Check him out if you haven’t.
Hestari - February 8, 2012
Wow, really great pure passer, In fact Marshall might be exactly what the jazz could use with
a plethora of good bigs and wings in the future just needing a great distributor. I’m watching his stuff now and i’m actually impressed. Good size for his position too, I just would worry about his quickness on defense, but this is all a long way off anyway.
Good Stuff
WildcatUte - February 9, 2012
Robbed is right
We’re too busy giving Jefferson all of Kanter’s and Favors minuets. Hopefully it’s all part of KOC’s master plan to maximize Jefferson’s trade value and get us a good lottery pick.
socaljazzfan - February 8, 2012
i wish
Id love to see our young 4 playing 30 minutes a night each even if it meant half as many wins… But that has been discussed here ad nauseum..
sherbs - February 9, 2012 via mobile
not sure about robbed
Obviously I’d rather see Kanter playing but the key stat is probably minutes per game. Yes Kanter is better on a per minute basis, but he averages less court time. Sure it’s not a huge difference but more than enough to say that he wasn’t robbed… Neither of them have huge advantages statistically at this stage of their career.
sherbs - February 9, 2012 via mobile
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