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OG offensive improvement: Hot streak or has he leveled up?
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technomaster
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He had that strong streak early in the season (capped by his 40pt outing vs Denver)... then came down to earth for a long while. But then following Brunson's injury, he has been pouring it on again. Recently, he was quoted as saying he was working on his handle and keeping the ball low, and that's changed his game.

For years, OG has been compared to Kawhi. As history tells us, Kawhi came into the league as a somewhat raw athlete/defender (an undersized PF in college), and during his years with the Spurs he gradually unleashed his offensive game. His level of development in the NBA made him a bit of an outlier. made an unlikely big leap from high end role player to superstar. He tightened up his handle and developed an outside shot. Combined with an awesome motor, there you have a superstar. He made the leap in his 5th season.

OG is now in his 7th season. The perimeter shot has been there for a while, but critics have said he his handle has been holding him back, lacking star confidence in his drives, largely because of shakey handles.

For the second long stretch this season, he has turned it on again. My recollection was that early in the season, he was scoring a lot from ball movement and shot making. This recent stretch seems a little different in that he looks more like a key focal point, rather than just scoring in the flow of a motion offense. He has been playing at a star level lately.

So the question is... have OG unlocked an all-star level offensive game, or is this a mirage? We understand that with Brunson's return, his touches and scoring opportunities will decrease a bit, but from this point forward will he move and play like a top offensive threat when he does touch the ball?

3 votes
23.08%
Hot streak - he'll return to being a 3&D role player with Brunson's return
10 votes
76.92%
Leveled Up - the Offensive Juggernaut has been unlocked


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DLeethal
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4/7/2025  10:07 AM
Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.
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VDesai
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4/7/2025  10:11 AM
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

He did it in December, but this streak is better/longer. Let's face facts, health is a huge portion of why he plays better- he's had an extended run with no nagging physical ailment. However what he's doing driving the ball and drawing fouls using his physicality is different. His low dribble is improved and he's using his body way better...if he can get to the basket, that gives him more easily looks and creates better consistency.
Nalod
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4/7/2025  10:25 AM
One might look at his situation in Toronto where they got Barnes who needed to be signed and OG was sort of odd man out. The trade was good for them but with Scottie Barnes being an Allstar in his third season (last year) Toronto had to make a choice to diversify its talent which was condensed with him, OG and Siakim and rebuild from there. OG was up for new contract and really to justify a raise he needed to up his offensive game and not sure Raptors were convinced he could take it to the next level. Knicks did. We paid him and he is progressing this season. Players can work on things and then take a step back before its engrained/instinctive and executes. Thats "confidence" in so many words. They have to feel it and when executed they become confident. Easy to type. Im guessing this is what OG has been going thru.
OG can hit that shot but if a defender comes at him he was not great at going by them. He is much improved. This creates movement and OG does make the pass when needed. Perhaps less so because he is a monster and "feeling it".

Last nights reverse dunk might have been telling? OG is very laid back and not one to preen or exhibit emotion. Love that about him and that dunk was a bit obnoxious but maybe this is our staff telling him to open up and express the joy and exhibit the domination as a form of intimidation. On defense players fear him. On offense less so.

WE all expected him to not be this healthy all season and thus reasoning his game was capped. What ever is going on with him its wonderful. Will it last? Hope so.

OG is our 4th option and evolving. I don't know how far they go in the playoffs but it makes things easier for all if he can take over games for stretches. Recall he was having the game of his career last year when he did his Hammy in the playoffs.
nycericanguy
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4/7/2025  11:03 AM    LAST EDITED: 4/7/2025  11:03 AM
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

did some digging, he's only had 2 other months his entire career where he averaged 20ppg and one was a shortened month. Neither were as high scoring as this run. Never anything as prolific as 28ppg over 10 games, 24ppg over his last 20, and 21ppg over his last 30.

So hard to say, he's basically been an efficient 20ppg scorer for half the season as a #3/4 option behind two high volume guys.

I always felt he "was what he was" at this point offensively, but this is a very dominant run unlike anything he's ever done before, and he's doing it in games that matter.

Khawi broke out his 5th season, this is OG's 7th...

I think he might have leveled up, but I don't know if THIS dominance is sustainable either. But I do think he's showing he can be an efficient 20ppg scorer.
BigDaddyG
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4/7/2025  12:44 PM
Second highest usage of his career, best turnover percentage. He's done a good job of taking advantage of closeouts and the team is doing a good job of finding him on cuts. He's been more aggressive going coast to coast and he's a bowling ball. Also doing a good job attacking the bigs and bullying the smalls. He's not doing anything to complicated in terms of dribbling, but he's been quick to recognize advantages. Hope this continues with Jalen back. OG should have even less defensive pressure now, but JB hasn't really been that consistent with his interior passing.
Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right. - The Tick
martin
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4/7/2025  12:47 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:Second highest usage of his career, best turnover percentage. He's done a good job of taking advantage of closeouts and the team is doing a good job of finding him on cuts. He's been more aggressive going coast to coast and he's a bowling ball. Also doing a good job attacking the bigs and bullying the smalls. He's not doing anything to complicated in terms of dribbling, but he's been quick to recognize advantages. Hope this continues with Jalen back. OG should have even less defensive pressure now, but JB hasn't really been that consistent with his interior passing.

Feel like this is one of the steps the team needs to make as a whole to get to that next level. KAT and Brunson are so talented that it sometimes feel like they just default to ISO mode instead of recognizing the team advantage and trouncing on that first.

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Rookie
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4/7/2025  12:47 PM
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

To me, it looks like he has improved on his footwork. He is finishing through contact instead of always off balance and falling down. His confidence looks like he believes he will make every shot. Good technique leading to increased confidence. This is sustainable
BigDaddyG
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4/7/2025  12:59 PM
Rookie wrote:
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

To me, it looks like he has improved on his footwork. He is finishing through contact instead of always off balance and falling down. His confidence looks like he believes he will make every shot. Good technique leading to increased confidence. This is sustainable

Kind of reminds me of a bigger, less explosive Mike Finley. Mike didn't have the most advanced dribble package, but it was good enough to get to his spots. Especially for those fadeways. OG has a physical advantage against 90% of the league. He just needs to take his time.

Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right. - The Tick
martin
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4/7/2025  1:04 PM    LAST EDITED: 4/7/2025  1:49 PM
Rookie wrote:
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

To me, it looks like he has improved on his footwork. He is finishing through contact instead of always off balance and falling down. His confidence looks like he believes he will make every shot. Good technique leading to increased confidence. This is sustainable

I thought we all agreed this was an Anne Hathaway, Celebrity Row type of deal and he was just now properly motivated and good to go?

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BigDaddyG
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4/7/2025  2:08 PM
martin wrote:
Rookie wrote:
DLeethal wrote:Hot streak, he's done this before. But I don't necessarily think he's going to regress to his low points either.

To me, it looks like he has improved on his footwork. He is finishing through contact instead of always off balance and falling down. His confidence looks like he believes he will make every shot. Good technique leading to increased confidence. This is sustainable

I thought we all agreed this was an Anne Hathaway, Celebrity Row type of deal and he was just now properly motivated and good to go?


OG injury incoming.

Always... always remember: Less is less. More is more. More is better and twice as much is good too. Not enough is bad, and too much is never enough except when it's just about right. - The Tick
martin
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4/7/2025  2:27 PM
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fishmike
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4/7/2025  2:36 PM
Hot streak or has he leveled up?
Both. OG is a better offensive player. Even Clyde/Mike were talking about how they have not seen these types of moves before.

I think we have seen a legit level up from both OG and Hart. OG is clearly a better offensive player and Hart has just been tremendous as a starter and the 2nd ball handler.

To me this is why you leave a core and coach together, especially one like this. Just let them cook and work.

Look at these guys. Do they play with joy? Do they look scared to make mistakes? (I didnt mention Kolek, YOU DID) It just feels like this group and these guys can keep getting better.

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
martin
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4/7/2025  3:04 PM
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Philc1
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4/7/2025  3:49 PM
He stepped up when JB was out and now he’s Galvatron
VDesai
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4/7/2025  4:06 PM
I think his to the basket drive game has Shade of Giannis. Just absurd wingspan/physicality makes it hard to stop him or foul him once he finds a seam to the basket. IN the past he would lose balance or finish away from contact and get blocked, but now he's using patience and his stoutness to feel the contact and finish through.
GustavBahler
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4/7/2025  4:30 PM
OG's finishing skills look like they've leveled up.
ramtour420
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4/7/2025  4:46 PM
His offence previously has been FAFO outside of the 3 ball. Now it's downright kinda scary for opponents when he drives. Definitely leveled up. He is confident and that's the difference
Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear- George Adair
Knixkik
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4/7/2025  8:19 PM
martin wrote:

It’s looking pretty good. I think his confidence is high and he doesn’t seem to have any nagging ailments. A lot of it for him is consistent health. At his current age, it can’t be ruled out as a breakout coming into his prime. I’m hoping most of this level is here to stay because it raises the ceiling of this team longterm.
Panos
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4/7/2025  8:25 PM
GustavBahler wrote:OG's finishing skills look like they've leveled up.

He's dunking it more instead of some weak layups he was shooting earlier, missing bunnies, something I was very critical of.
Nalod
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4/8/2025  8:09 AM    LAST EDITED: 4/8/2025  8:10 AM
I voted neither in this poll. Im not sure its one or the other. Something in between perhaps.
OG is a very interesting player. We see his demeanor and assume he lacked confidence or aggression as he does not preen or celebrate. At the same time he does not complain or seem to talk trash. But this "demon" of player is a defensive gem and is using his strength into offensive production. The new found lack of injury might be due to a new routine or perhaps core physiological growth/strength to endure better thru the season. I hope he gets DPOY consideration.
Regardless this is a good thing for a playoff run!

Bridges, KAT, and OG are all finding a chemistry as they are all fairly new to the team. Likewise JB and Mitch have to adjust to them. Fan frustrations should tempered when reminded that it takes time to develop championship chemistry. Might take more time than one season in fact. Coaching change might even delay it.
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