Player The Layne Staley Depression-Laden Foxhole of De'Aaron Martez Fox

[ambchang]

turning it on would be situational. Not about how many points he average but about him just taking over games when necessary when the youngins are struggling. Could be a game, could be a few minutes, but when necessary.

 

[Ice009]

i think the assumption would be we have a better chance of winning if Fox does what you say in option B

its kind of a weird scenario. like what is a better wemby performance, a 40/20 game with 8 blocks while shooting 60% from the field going going 5-8 from 3 but we lose... or he goes 4-14 from the field and scores 13 points with 9 rebounds 1 block but we manage to win

I also think Fox being more aggressive is going to open it up more for everyone else.

I agree with what you said about the scenario as your Wemby example sort of shows that. It's very hard to say what way of playing best translates to wins. Can you tell everyone (even Victor) to take a back seat and play more balanced as that would give them team a better chance to win? I'm not sure. Going to be a very interesting to see how they play it.

If he puts in that stats of Option B and we still win the chip, obviously everyone is going to be very happy (other than the Fox haters).

I used those two specific stat lines for a reason though. Option A is his exact stat line from this season, the stat line that delivered 62 wins. The Option B stat line is his best statistical season (a season SAC didn't even make the playoffs). But Option A is the result of the Spurs playing the way they do... a way that got them 62 wins and put them in position to even be a title contender to begin with. A lot of us think we can potentially win a chip, all based on this 62-win season... so my question is... why do we suddenly want that team to be something else?

What I mostly want to see from Fox is the kind of calming, smart decision making that prevailed in the first half of the season before the ASB. Before we found our groove, there was a bit more chaos and Fox would be the one to settle things down. The team is going to need that. I don't think we need Fox trying to "do more" per se, we just need him to do what he does more consistently and without mistakes.

I just don't know if the young guys are going to be able to keep up their level of play in the playoffs (they're young and it's their first playoffs, so there might be some consistency issues). I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong, but they may drop off a bit and I think Fox will have to pick up some of that slack. Do you think the young guys will continue to play as well over even better in the playoffs? What do you think in that regard?

I'm using that Christmas day game in OKC as a loose example of what I am thinking of. I think that was a really powerful win (the best of the season up to that point), as the Spurs had already beaten OKC twice and it was on their own home floor and I'm guessing they really wanted to win that one. That was a big game and Fox was great in it. I think he'll need to play more like that in some of the playoff games. He may not need to play that way every game, but who knows how everyone else will perform consistency wise. I think Fox is capable of being more consistent from game to game. I don't know, maybe they will all continue to play great and keep the balance they've had during the regular season and all Fox has to do is to what you said he was doing in the first half of the season to settle things down and not make mistakes.

turning it on would be situational. Not about how many points he average but about him just taking over games when necessary when the youngins are struggling. Could be a game, could be a few minutes, but when necessary.

Pretty much this. This would be what I want to see him do, but is it realistic for him to be able to do it if he doesn't get more touches and be in rhythm to be able to do it. Is Fox the type of player that needs the ball more and more shots to be able to get into a rhythm?
But ideally, this is what I want, for him to pick up the slack when the young guys are struggling (I'm sure they will struggle in some playoffs games, or maybe they won't struggle much at all - going to be interesting to see), but also be more focused on defense and not making many mistakes.

 

[ginobilized]

I'm hoping that Fox gets it together. He's too aggressive with the 3-ball and is pretty streaky with it. The 3 airballs vs Denver are a case in point. Theoretically, the defense is giving him those shots and he should take them, but, man it's ugly sometimes. Mid-range and transition are where he shines and his distribution is better than expected. That's the style of play I like to see and then his 3 can start to drop. He seems to work best by scoring inside and mid-range first and then he's more open for 3's and has better rhythm. Lastly, his flat-footed defense and lack of movement toward loose balls is mystifying and aggravating to me. So many times he's the closest to the ball and makes no effort and our opponents are gaining possession.

 

[blueguy]

turning it on would be situational. Not about how many points he average but about him just taking over games when necessary when the youngins are struggling. Could be a game, could be a few minutes, but when necessary.

This 100%. I still think Fox has the hardest role on the team to figure out, and it seems to change game by game. He's been a smart enough teammate and player to try to figure it out with the Spurs, and if he hits two extra shots in Denver, there are 90% less people panicking right now about Fox and his role. Given his age and salary, I get it, but to win a title, a LOT has to go right, and Fox is just one of like 5-6 keys for us to have a chance to win.

 

[elpimpo4cc]

If spurs LOBT bring back the whole team + austin spurs. Don't even draft

 

[frenchfred]

I agree that is the assumption... but that's where I think some people are making a mistake (at least, those who are making that assumption). Option A are the exact stats that won 62 games and have us even discussing the playoffs.

I think the fairest, and best, criticism of Fox is that we need more consistency out of him in the playoffs. But at no point this season have I ever felt "man, how much better would we be if Fox we're averaging an extra 5ppg" or whatever statistical norm people are hoping for (because those points would have to come from somewhere. We rated 4th in ORTG, it's not like we were 22nd and hurting for offensive production).

When I proposed the trade for Giannis, it is not because I want Fox to score more points, I want him to be more reliable and efficient. He is not a good 3-point shooter, weirdly he seems to have a hard to beat his defender off the dribble and let's be honest he is an average defender at best; and next year he is going to make the max. Of course, if he has good playoffs, i.e., only a couple of stinkers and all the other games are efficient, we run again with him next year but if he disappears, I'm all for a trade