Tyrese leads USA today

[Sigmapolis]

They're always looking for unique size/athleticism attributes which TH has, but there are certain skills that can be even more unique. The world has a handful of players who can both protect and distribute the ball like MM.

Shooting 41.4% from three helps, too.

I love Monté, but from what I saw of him this year, he is still a liability on defense. I feel that will always be the case with his lack of size, length, and athleticism.

Being a huge plus on offense as a spacer/shooter and, as you said, ball handler and distributor makes up for that. He might never have the defensive chops to be a full-time starter on a team with ambitions of a deep playoff run, but as one of the first few guys off the bench for a Nuggets team that has some legitimate ambitions for winning the Western Conference next year, having a guy like Monté on the bench for what amounts to peanuts is pretty great.

I hope it is going to be way more than peanuts here soon for him.

 

[HFCS]

Shooting 41.4% from three helps, too.

I love Monté, but from what I saw of him this year, he is still a liability on defense. I feel that will always be the case with his lack of size, length, and athleticism.

Being a huge plus on offense as a spacer/shooter and, as you said, ball handler and distributor makes up for that. He might never have the defensive chops to be a full-time starter on a team with ambitions of a deep playoff run, but as one of the first few guys off the bench for a Nuggets team that has some legitimate ambitions for winning the Western Conference next year, having a guy like Monté on the bench for what amounts to peanuts is pretty great.

I hope it is going to be way more than peanuts here soon for him.

I'd have to disagree on defense. He was Denver's best perimeter defender throughout the regular season. It was most obvious vs GSW. Pretty much every other player was giving up open 3s left and right and they had play Monte heavy minutes in those games more for his D than offense.

He does need to improve a lot defending dribble drive though.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I'd have to disagree on defense. He was Denver's best perimeter defender throughout the regular season. It was most obvious vs GSW. Pretty much every other player was giving up open 3s left and right and they had play Monte heavy minutes in those games more for his D than offense.

He does need to improve a lot defending dribble drive though.

Yeah, I wouldn't use "liability". His D has come a long way.

 

[Aclone]

Yeah, I wouldn't use "liability". His D has come a long way.

I noticed that his PT went way down in Denver’s final playoff series. Was that because of a mismatch I didn’t know about, some perceived liability—or was he dinged up?

As far as Tyrese, it’ll be interesting to see some NBA team break down and rebuild his shot mechanics, the way the Suns did with Jeff Hornacek.

Unless TH makes adjustments this offseason?

 

[RedDog]

I noticed that his PT went way down in Denver’s final playoff series. Was that because of a mismatch I didn’t know about, some perceived liability—or was he dinged up?

As far as Tyrese, it’ll be interesting to see some NBA team break down and rebuild his shot mechanics, the way the Suns did with Jeff Hornacek.

Unless TH makes adjustments this offseason?

Doesn't Jeff credit his wife, not the Suns?

 

[burn587]

I noticed that his PT went way down in Denver’s final playoff series. Was that because of a mismatch I didn’t know about, some perceived liability—or was he dinged up?

As far as Tyrese, it’ll be interesting to see some NBA team break down and rebuild his shot mechanics, the way the Suns did with Jeff Hornacek.

Unless TH makes adjustments this offseason?

His defense was not great in that series and he wasn’t making shots. Not sure if he was tired or what, but he had an off series for sure.

 

[kentkel]

Doesn't Jeff credit his wife, not the Suns?

This is absolutely true! I have read a number of articles about this and have seen a couple of interviews with JH & he credits Stacy, NOT THE SUNS or NBA, with changing his shot.

 

[Cat Stevens]

His defense was not great in that series and he wasn’t making shots. Not sure if he was tired or what, but he had an off series for sure.

The only guy on the spurs 2nd unit he could feasibly guard would be paddy mills, and he couldn’t stay in front of him.

 

[MJ271]

His defense was not great in that series and he wasn’t making shots. Not sure if he was tired or what, but he had an off series for sure.

Rotations also just generally shorten up a lot in the playoffs. When it's win or go home, you're a lot more likely to ride your best players. Jokic even had the one playoff game where he played 60+ minutes.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I'd have to disagree on defense. He was Denver's best perimeter defender throughout the regular season. It was most obvious vs GSW. Pretty much every other player was giving up open 3s left and right and they had play Monte heavy minutes in those games more for his D than offense.

He does need to improve a lot defending dribble drive though.

The Nuggets were not exactly stocked with plus perimeter defenders last year.

That was their thing — glass cannon. They can score but not defend very much.

You probably watched more games than me so you can argue to the eye test, but MM’s advanced stats for defense last year (stuff like DBPM, DRTG, I am sure you are familiar) were not great. His advanced stats on offense were very favorable, on the other hand.

I just never think he is going to be a great two-way PG given some of his physical limitations. If he proves me wrong, though, he’s an All-Star and winning big playoff games.