Ace Bailey ROY watch

[jazznik]

Ace's defensive highs are better than Cody's, but Cody is the most solid when it comes to rotations and generally playing sound defense consistently.

There is no other Jazz player who takes defense more seriously than Cody (with Kessler out, of course). He never gets rattled, upset, never loses focus, always trying to stick to the coach's plan. There is a bit of Kawhi in his game. With his attitude and physical gifts Coby will be steadily getting better and better defensively.

He looks like he actually likes playing defense too.

 

[KqWIN]

I don't think I can find it on my source, nba.com.

But I also do not understand this obsession with the FTA. Yes, even now, in January, Ace gets fouled and goes to the line just once every two games. But that is because he is able to deliver efficient 15-20 PPG - all on wide open threes, unimpeded drives to the rim and uncontested long twos. This is a reflection of his great skill to get open for easy shots. As he gains more experience, adds weight and improves his handle Bailey will add contested shots to his bag.

After all, all of our best players- Key, Lauri, Kessler, Nurk - were able to significantly increase the amount of FTA just several years after their rookie season. Ace will be fine.

In the month of January Ace is a below league average efficiency and it's because he doesn't get to the line. That's why there's a special interest in his FT attempts. January is the perfect example as to why it's important, because he's played well and still isn't efficient.

 

[framer]

In the month of January Ace is a below league average efficiency and it's because he doesn't get to the line. That's why there's a special interest in his FT attempts. January is the perfect example as to why it's important, because he's played well and still isn't efficient.

How many rookies play at league average efficiency? Probably a long list, right?

 

[KqWIN]

How many rookies play at league average efficiency? Probably a long list, right?

There's a decent list of rookies that are above league average efficiency and a much longer list of rookies who are more efficient than Ace. But that's not the point. The point is that he getting FT's is an important part of his development. His poor efficiency despite strong performance perfectly demonstrates the problem.

If you want to further move the goalposts again in an attempt to be a homer who does not see flaws, I have no interest in this convo.

 

[framer]

Good lord shutup. Its not a dumb thing to focus on when he's statsically one of the worst players at it in recent history at it.

Yeahhhh, I am going to need you to show your work here. . .

 

[AK47]

This may sound stupid and I actually really like Ace but I noticed a few games ago that I don't know if I've ever seen him run full speed. Am I imagining things? Even on fast breaks it seems like he is more worried about getting to his corner rather than becoming an outlet.

 

[Flc]

Yeahhhh, I am going to need you to show your work here. . .

Cy’s right on this. Ace has a free throw rate of .08something, which is very much a meaningful statistical difference. Keyonte and Tatum both had a free throw rate of around .3 their rookie years.

Now, as other posters have stated, Hardy has banned Ace from more than two dribbles in the half-court, and so we’ll hope he develops the handles quickly. He’s young, but this is a low free throw rate for those that go on to be stars. If it isn’t noticeably up over the next two years, it does raise concerns. (I’m not concerned yet.)

 

[jazznik]

Cy’s right on this. Ace has a free throw rate of .08something, which is very much a meaningful statistical difference. Keyonte and Tatum both had a free throw rate of around .3 their rookie years.

Oh, come on. Players dramatically increase their FTA all the time. Avdija in his rookie year was worse than Ace, with 0.8 FTA in 23 minutes. Today he is SECOND in the FTA per game (after Doncic) at 9.7. Siakim and Kawhi as rookies also had the FTA rate barely higher than Ace. In general, tall SFs who cannot dribble do not shoot many FTs, but quite a few of them then learn dribbling and their FTs explode.

It al depends on how much effort Ace wants to put in improving his ball handling. Many stars in his position managed to do it.

 

[KqWIN]

Oh, come on. Players dramatically increase their FTA all the time. Avdija in his rookie year was worse than Ace, with 0.8 FTA in 23 minutes. Today he is SECOND in the FTA per game (after Doncic) at 9.7. Siakim and Kawhi as rookies also had the FTA rate barely higher than Ace. In general, tall SFs who cannot dribble do not shoot many FTs, but quite a few of them then learn dribbling and their FTs explode.

It al depends on how much effort Ace wants to put in improving his ball handling. Many stars in his position managed to do it.

You just named 3 players with significantly higher free throw rates than Ace in their rookie year. Do you realize that horrible arguments work against your case, not for it? And yes, free throw rate, not raw free throw attempts, is the correct way to understand the concern.