Is Jalen Suggs our 3rd best player?

[D J C]

Its interesting to look at Suggs career vs Dipo's

Both came in as 'combo' guards and played out of position ultimately as a rookie PG

Both strong defenders and high steal numbers

Both flash abilities to take over games at times

Their roles are obviously much different, but in their 3rd years, Per 36 minutes

Suggs: 17.2 / 5.2 / 3.6 with 2.5 steals on 45/37/84 splits
Oladipo: 17.4 / 5.2 / 4.3 with 1.7 steals on 44/35/83 splits

[eyriq]

Its interesting to look at Suggs career vs Dipo's

Both came in as 'combo' guards and played out of position ultimately as a rookie PG

Both strong defenders and high steal numbers

Both flash abilities to take over games at times

Their roles are obviously much different, but in their 3rd years, Per 36 minutes

Suggs: 17.2 / 5.2 / 3.6 with 2.5 steals on 45/37/84 splits
Oladipo: 17.4 / 5.2 / 4.3 with 1.7 steals on 44/35/83 splits

You love to see it. I wonder how much Suggs will cost.

[Optimus_Steel]

His overall impact right now I would say yes he is our 3rd best player but Cole is pretty close.

[Def Swami]

Its interesting to look at Suggs career vs Dipo's

Both came in as 'combo' guards and played out of position ultimately as a rookie PG

Both strong defenders and high steal numbers

Both flash abilities to take over games at times

Their roles are obviously much different, but in their 3rd years, Per 36 minutes

Suggs: 17.2 / 5.2 / 3.6 with 2.5 steals on 45/37/84 splits
Oladipo: 17.4 / 5.2 / 4.3 with 1.7 steals on 44/35/83 splits

Suggs has been putting constant pressure on the rim this season, even after made baskets. These plays with the burst in transition really remind me of Oladipo when he was here.

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[JoshuaPotter]

If Paulo is out Friday, and Suggs can step up and give us an 18+ PPG effect and keeping up the defensive intensity.

Then I would put him 3rd, just above Cole Anthony. Thus far, Cole is making a case for being a key player for us.

[Last Guardian]

I think the biggest question is - can we afford to have Suggs be our 3rd best player? Or, said differently, can we afford to have our C and PG be 4th and 5th options, or do we need to find a player for one of those slots that is for sure our 3rd best (or better).

Could you explain further what your concern here is as I’m not sure what you are trying to say. Why does a PG or C need to be 3rd best player?

[D J C]

I think the biggest question is - can we afford to have Suggs be our 3rd best player? Or, said differently, can we afford to have our C and PG be 4th and 5th options, or do we need to find a player for one of those slots that is for sure our 3rd best (or better).

Could you explain further what your concern here is as I’m not sure what you are trying to say. Why does a PG or C need to be 3rd best player?

I think he's saying can a 12-14 ppg low usage SG be the 3rd best player on a contender?

Which I think is yes. If Draymond can be the 3rd best player on GSW for multiple championships, Marcus Smart the Celtics 3rd best player as they've reached the finals, Kyle Lowry for TOR, Jrue for MIL, etc etc I think he can have an impact close to those guys.

I think the days of 'Big 3s' running the league are dead. We're going to see a shift of teams with a couple of high volume scorers to lead the offense, focus more on depth and the bench, and on defense & causing TOs.

I think we're kind of a mix of the recent Heat & Celtics teams. Paolo is looking like our Jimmy/Jayson. Franz our Jaylen/Herro. Strong defensive leader in the SL with Suggs = Bam/Smart. Role players to round out the SL. Then obviously our bench is looking killer.

[jayrehme]

maybe Suggs is our 'PG' .. considering Franz and Paolo are great ballhandlers and Suggs can easily guard PGs, the best 2nd starting guard is a 3/D player that doesn't need the ball in his hands... Caleb Houstan? ... or Anthony Black just needs to keep improving his shot.

[tooler]

It's hard to put Suggs on a sliding scale. He's the heart of the team, with a tip of the cap to Cole as well.

That's why I said last season that despite Cole's struggles, he might be the last person in line that you trade. They're the source of the spirit, even more than an energy guy like Mo Wagner.

Whether they turn into efficient enough players to win a championship with is to be determined, but they look like they're well on their way.

[Residual-Heat]

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[jonbob17]

I feel like last year people were complaining about how out of control Suggs was all the time, and offensive fouls. Looks like basketball reference tracks those and offensive fouls taken.

Season; Off Foul per game; Off Fouls taken per game
2021 0.4 0.5
2022 0.2 0.5
2023 0.1 0.9

[Residual-Heat]

most of those off fouls taken are on moving screens i think.

[jonbob17]

Always thought Jrue Holiday was the high end comp for Suggs. Both good athletes, strong/physical, about the same size

Comparing YEAR 3 of each player per 36...Holiday was playing 34 minutes a game at PG on the 8th seed Sixers team vs Suggs 27 minutes on a good/deep team.

Holiday 14/4/5 1.7 Steals 0.3 blocks Shooting splits 43/38/78
Suggs 17/5/4 2.5 Steals 0.6 blocks Shooting splits 45/37/84

[Audi]

I think the biggest question is - can we afford to have Suggs be our 3rd best player? Or, said differently, can we afford to have our C and PG be 4th and 5th options, or do we need to find a player for one of those slots that is for sure our 3rd best (or better).

Could you explain further what your concern here is as I’m not sure what you are trying to say. Why does a PG or C need to be 3rd best player?

I think he's saying can a 12-14 ppg low usage SG be the 3rd best player on a contender?

Which I think is yes. If Draymond can be the 3rd best player on GSW for multiple championships, Marcus Smart the Celtics 3rd best player as they've reached the finals, Kyle Lowry for TOR, Jrue for MIL, etc etc I think he can have an impact close to those guys.

I think the days of 'Big 3s' running the league are dead. We're going to see a shift of teams with a couple of high volume scorers to lead the offense, focus more on depth and the bench, and on defense & causing TOs.

I think we're kind of a mix of the recent Heat & Celtics teams. Paolo is looking like our Jimmy/Jayson. Franz our Jaylen/Herro. Strong defensive leader in the SL with Suggs = Bam/Smart. Role players to round out the SL. Then obviously our bench is looking killer.

Correct, that’s what I was meaning.

I think you make a good point here - the days of the big three are coming to a close. Our cap space may be more about maintaining flexibility to resign/acquire quality depth, rather than make a big acquisition.

[MagicMatic]

I like how this thread went from:

Jalen Suggs isn't good and he isn't 3rd best player

to

Jalen Suggs is going to be expensive to keep around

In like.. 3 pages..

[basketballRob]

Suggs looks like he put on 5-10 lbs of muscle over the summer.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[JoshuaPotter]

I like how this thread went from:

Jalen Suggs isn't good and he isn't 3rd best player

to

Jalen Suggs is going to be expensive to keep around

In like.. 3 pages..

I think that Wizards game with Paolo clearly injured won people over.

To me, the season is young. I am not sure yet if it is Cole or Suggs.

WCJ still on paper might be, but the fact that we have been able to keep the streak alive is more because of Cole and Suggs then Goga and or WCJ. Although Goga has done....perfect for a 3rd stringer walking into the starting lineup.

I think what might happen is by seasons end we will be one of the lowest scoring teams in the league due to our pace and defense and that will mislead a lot of people here who like to over analyze stats. (Guilty)

I just know what I am seeing, and I am liking it. So much so, I honestly wondered what Suggs and Cole were doing out there so long in the 4th. I attribute that to my current lack of game sense.

For now, it's a good problem to have.

[JoshuaPotter]

I like how this thread went from:

Jalen Suggs isn't good and he isn't 3rd best player

to

Jalen Suggs is going to be expensive to keep around

In like.. 3 pages..

I can't state this enough....I have to post and quote you again.

The fact that we resigned Cole Anthony for what we did. The fact that he accepted his role as a 6th man. The fact that he seems to be becoming what we saw as the potential peak. Puts me in some rose colored glasses to say. He may be a role player, but may legitimately be our 3rd best player.

Suggs is turning it around. As a "PG" maybe turning into something else. He may need that crucial one more year to find his peak as a 2-way player. All just depends on how the rest of the season and next year goes.

I do not mind paying for a big 3 when the idea / identity of the team is defense / role players / deep bench of "something to prove" guys.

[eyriq]

Jalen getting his flowers. Ranked 92.

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/

[MagicFan101]

Happy for Suggs making the list but I call BS on there being that many players in the league better than Paolo or Franz!

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