THE OBVIOUS DECLINE OF JAVALE MCGEE!
Pre All-Star: Off 115.0, Def 105.3, Net +9.7, P/M +3.3
Post All-Star: Off 100.5, Def 106.7, Net -6.2. P/M -2.2
Bubble: Off 90.7, Def 114.5, Net -23. 8, P/M – 8.1
Playoffs: Off 84.6, Def 124.0, Net -39.4, P/M -9.0 pic.twitter.com/vQR7x4ZkwC— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 20, 2020
THE OBVIOUS DECLINE OF DANNY GREEN!
Pre All-Star: Off 114.2, Def 105.5, Net + 8.7, P/M +4.9
Post All-Star: Off 106.5, Def 107.7, Net -1.2. P/M 0.0
Bubble: Off 100.0, Def 115.7, Net -15.7, P/M – 7.6
Playoffs: Off 85.4, Def 124.5, Net -39.1, P/M -20.0 pic.twitter.com/gJBwpq2Nhb— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 20, 2020
This is for any Lakerholic who believes JaVale McGee or Danny Green are not a problem, have been playing well all season, and should continue to start. The stats directly match the eye test.
This is what statisticians would consider to be a downward trend. Note that each of the 4 stats for both players all decline at each step. Off Rtg goes down. Def Rtg goes down. Net Rtg goes down. Plus/Minus goes down. This is prima facie evidence of a major decline in play.
This is not a short term problem. Anybody expecting this trend to change is hoping for fools’ gold. Neither player deserves to stay in the starting lineup or play major minutes at this point. PERIOD!
I can see a world where we switch Dwight for JaVale, give MM some more burn. The real switch I want to see is KCP to the bench and Waiters replaces him as a starter. or Caruso if Frank wants to attack on defense. Personally, I’d go with Waiters and let Caruso continue to play off the bench which he has done pretty well all season long.
I just don’t see one where Frank benches Danny, now matter how much the internet yells about it. Too much invested, too much rep for him still to burn through and the other changes would happen first extending the leash he has. Which is a considerable leash. His role will be reduced first but he’ll stay a starter until we’re down 0-3 in game 4. Maybe not even then.
The numbers for both JaVale and Danny are pretty damning, Jamie. I doubt either will be starters on next year’s team and honestly neither has done the job after the break or in the bubble.
If the best argument for keeping them in loyalty, that diminishes every game we lose in the playoffs. We are twice the team that the Blazers are and will likely win without making a change but the time to do it is now and not when we have our backs to the wall at some point in the future considering the gauntlet we have to run.
If we don’t make the Finals, there will be a new Lakers’ head coach next season. Stubbornness and unwillingness to make a change will cost him the best job in the NBA.