Slingin' Sammy "Super Soaker" Merrill

[Randolphkeys]

This dude was as important as Levert in getting the Cavs out of the first half in striking range. It's crazy how much attention he got when he was on the court. His man NEVER left him all series. Dude doesn't need 30 minutes a game, but a consistent 12-15 could really make a difference.

I see Sam as Darius Garland's primary backup going forward. The big problem has always been his defensive limitations, especially against a team with positional size at SG and SF.

Today DG was all in his own head after a few non-calls and some bad turnovers. Luckily it sparked Sam to get some time. I do believe the right time to get Merrill his shots has to be at primary backup point guard, and JBB made everyone work much harder by failing to seize those minutes, however few.

 

[WorldWideWoe]

Totally disagree about his defensive limitations. He moves his feet well and uses his hips to shade guys into our shot blockers in the paint. Honestly it reeks of racial stereotyping. Not saying teams don't attack him; just saying it isn't as effective as they want, and we shouldn't assume he's bad at defense because of it.

 

[foucault87]

He did draw a really big charge today

 

[Randolphkeys]

Totally disagree about his defensive limitations. He moves his feet well and uses his hips to shade guys into our shot blockers in the paint. Honestly it reeks of racial stereotyping. Not saying teams don't attack him; just saying it isn't as effective as they want, and we shouldn't assume he's bad at defense because of it.

This is not a matter of racial stereotypes, this is a matter of standing reach. He hasn't been measured officially by the NBA combine, but he is estimated on the Cavs website as 6'5 with a clearly below average wingspan for the NBA. Against a team who starts Suggs - and his 6'6 wingspan - at point guard with a bunch of forwards on the wings, the Magic rotated size to his matchup and took Sam into the paint. There, his weaknesses in guarding near the basket were only the initial problem. He was a major liability in getting rebounds after the shot goes up. Unfortunately, Sam is just limited by his physical dimensions. Please save the race baiting because that is putting some very incendiary words into my mouth. That is about as polite as you will find when faced with wild unsubstantiated accusations around here. Stop.

 

[WorldWideWoe]

This is not a matter of racial stereotypes, this is a matter of standing reach. He hasn't been measured officially by the NBA combine, but he is estimated on the Cavs website as 6'5 with a clearly below average wingspan for the NBA. Against a team who starts Suggs - and his 6'6 wingspan - at point guard with a bunch of forwards on the wings, the Magic rotated size to his matchup and took Sam into the paint. There, his weaknesses in guarding near the basket were only the initial problem. He was a major liability in getting rebounds after the shot goes up. Unfortunately, Sam is just limited by his physical dimensions. Please save the race baiting because that is putting some very incendiary words into my mouth.

You've just repeated exactly what I described he does well. He rotates, carries out the defensive plan, and pushes guys into better defensive players in the paint. It's what any coach wants a player who isn't a plus defender to do. He's not guarding at the point of attack, and we weren't worried in any way about perimeter guards in this series.

It's not race baiting to say white "slow" defenders are perceived as poor defenders given the history of the league. Sorry if you took it that way.

 

[Randolphkeys]

You've just repeated exactly what I described he does well. He rotates, carries out the defensive plan, and pushes guys into better defensive players in the paint. It's what any coach wants a player who isn't a plus defender to do. He's not guarding at the point of attack, and we weren't worried in any way about perimeter guards in this series.

It's not race baiting to say white "slow" defenders are perceived as poor defenders given the history of the league. Sorry if you took it that way.

Your summary of what I say doesn't match my posts at all. I doubt you will be able to sustain a conversation through a series of strawman fallacies, so we are done here. Go Cavs though.

 

[WorldWideWoe]

Against a team who starts Suggs - and his 6'6 wingspan - at point guard with a bunch of forwards on the wings, the Magic rotated size to his matchup and took Sam into the paint.

In response to me saying "He moves his feet well and uses his hips to shade guys into our shot blockers in the paint."

Maybe don't think that any disagreement with you is a question of your supremacy around here?

 

[Randolphkeys]

In response to me saying "He moves his feet well and uses his hips to shade guys into our shot blockers in the paint."

Maybe don't think that any disagreement with you is a question of your supremacy around here?

I don't understand people who pick Internet fights in general. Your summary of what I say doesn't match my posts at all, so we are done before it becomes harassment. Go ahead and stop quoting me, I am not here for instigators I'm here for celebrators. Go Cavs. Look forward to seeing Sam on the court if he is put in the right situations.

 

[Don-no-vann!]

This is not a matter of racial stereotypes, this is a matter of standing reach. He hasn't been measured officially by the NBA combine, but he is estimated on the Cavs website as 6'5 with a clearly below average wingspan for the NBA. Against a team who starts Suggs - and his 6'6 wingspan - at point guard with a bunch of forwards on the wings, the Magic rotated size to his matchup and took Sam into the paint. There, his weaknesses in guarding near the basket were only the initial problem. He was a major liability in getting rebounds after the shot goes up. Unfortunately, Sam is just limited by his physical dimensions. Please save the race baiting because that is putting some very incendiary words into my mouth. That is about as polite as you will find when faced with wild unsubstantiated accusations around here. Stop.

6-5? Looks more like 6-4, maybe even 6-3, based on comparisons to other players. Don, for instance, is listed at 6-3, but more like 6-1 or even less. Barely taller than DG or Mike Conley.

 

[Randolphkeys]

6-5? Looks more like 6-4, maybe even 6-3, based on comparisons to other players. Don, for instance, is listed at 6-3, but more like 6-1 or even less. Barely taller than DG or Mike Conley.

Donovan has a wingspan over 7 feet, and his standing reach is in a comfortable 8'4. This allows the pairing with Darius to work overall, since it's hard to hide more than one undersized player against an averaged sized opponent. The metrics on Merrill and Garland on the court together instead of Mitchell and Sam on the court together play this out and have been discussed all season long.

 

[MirORich]

The issues with Mitchell and Garland in the backcourt have been far far less about defense and far more about offense.

If Garland remains next year, have to find a way for both his mindset and the offense scheme to make him more a 8-10 3PA volume shooter than trying to remain as a classic PG offensive orchestrator n a team where Mitchell frankly thrives better and the team seems to thrive more with Mitchell in that role. In other words, reduce (but not eliminate) the amount of possessions where DG runs the point while they’re both on the floor and then essentially stagger the minutes so he’s the backup PG, running the point when Mitchell sits for 12mpg in the regular season and 6mpg in the postseason

 

[Cassity14]

Merrill was huge today. Without him, they likely collapse in the first half.

Boston presents a much better series of matchups for him in my opinion. Less perimeter offense to go at him on defense, and there's a similar quality of athletes coming off Boston's bench. I hope Sam gets some real run against them.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Don-no-vann!]

Donovan has a wingspan over 7 feet, and his standing reach is in a comfortable 8'4. This allows the pairing with Darius to work overall, since it's hard to hide more than one undersized player against an averaged sized opponent. The metrics on Merrill and Garland on the court together instead of Mitchell and Sam on the court together play this out and have been discussed all season long.

I did know about Donovan's wing span but it's Merrill I'm questioning.

 

[Don-no-vann!]

I havnt seen any evidence the past two seasons that point to our coaching staff being able to draw a play for anybody that doesn’t involve a high pick n roll or Garland/Mitchel/Levert iso

I see plays for Strus that don't involve them with Strus coming around picks.