Grant needs to be more aggressive

[Big333223]

Grant's eFG% through his first 7 games is .818 (which is crazy) but he's attempting fewer than 5 shots in 25 minutes a game. If he's not leveraging the efficiency into more opportunities for himself or for others (he's only at 1.7 apg) that would be a disappointment to me.

[Who]

Guys who can't create their own shots struggle to up their volume of shot attempts.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is fine, he won't maintain that with more shots.

[RodyTur10]

Grant always has been an extremely low volume shooter.
Nonetheless he fulfills his role as he's respected as a long distance shooter.
It provides space for Tatum, Brown and Brogdon to drive to the rim.
Which is basically the role of all Celtics players.
To illustrate this, here are the 2FG attempts per player (min. 10 mpg):

Brown 13.0
Tatum 11.4
Brogdon 7.1

Smart 4.0
White 3.2
Horford 2.5
Vonleh 2.2
G.Williams 1.6
Kornet 1.2
Hauser 0.4

[Big333223]

Last season he attempted 5.6 shots per game in 24.4 mpg. Through 9 games this year he's taking 5.0 shots in 25.4 mpg. It's great that he's hitting everything early but he's not going to make 60% of his shots all season. If he's not taking any kind of step forward in terms of his creation (for himself or anyone else) then I'm not seeing any growth from last year.

Now, I'm not saying he needs to be attempting 15 shots a game and averaging 5 assists before I'll be satisfied. I just want to see him do something he wasn't doing last season other than be on a terrific hot streak. If he isn't able to leverage his shooting into more drives to the rim even when he's making everything, then I'm scared he's done developing.

[ozgod]

I think he's doing the right thing by being judicious with his shot selection. That's part of the reason why he's shooting so well, because he doesn't jack up shots willy nilly. He's getting his shots within the flow of the offense. 90% of his shots are either from 3 (65%) or from 3 feet or less (25%) - that's an awesome shot profile. One thing he added to his repertoire was to attack closeouts better and drive to the basket and kick the ball out. But he's not going to be the guy that breaks people down with a crossover, and I think that's ok. I think Grant is realizing what he's good at and focusing on having a real mastery of the fundamentals of that, and that's how he's carving a role for himself in the league.

[Big333223]

I think he's doing the right thing by being judicious with his shot selection. That's part of the reason why he's shooting so well, because he doesn't jack up shots willy nilly. He's getting his shots within the flow of the offense. 90% of his shots are either from 3 (65%) or from 3 feet or less (25%) - that's an awesome shot profile. One thing he added to his repertoire was to attack closeouts better and drive to the basket and kick the ball out. But he's not going to be the guy that breaks people down with a crossover, and I think that's ok. I think Grant is realizing what he's good at and focusing on having a real mastery of the fundamentals of that, and that's how he's carving a role for himself in the league.

Has he? Because his shots at the rim are down this year and his assists, while up slightly, are pretty low.

I'm not saying I want him breaking guys down with his dribble (Hauser certainly isn't doing that but he's managing to get up 4 shots a game in half the time), what I want is more of what you claim he's doing: leverage his hot shooting to create more opportunities for himself or others.

The efficiency is great but, as I said, he's not going to shoot 60% from the field for the season. When his efficiency numbers level off what has he actually improved on?

[gouki88]

He's fine as is. He's shooting as many 3s as he was last year, and just about as many field goals, and we've added a higher usage offence player above him in Brogdon.

[bdm860]

Guys who can't create their own shots struggle to up their volume of shot attempts.

This is it right here.

Grants killing it when he gets an open corner 3.  He's shooting 71.4% on wide open 3's (which is 35% of his shots).  70% of the shots he takes he has the ball for less than 2 seconds. 84% of his made field goals are assisted (compare that to guys who create their own shot, Jaylen is at 61%, Tatum is at 53%, Smart is at 55%, Brogdon is at 36%).  The thing is he needs his teammates to get him those shots, drive and dish, working the ball around, doubling Tatum, etc.  Grants not taking people off the dribble or doing post moves to score.  He's getting open shots from teammates.  Can't generate more of those than what's given by the D.


Similar to Rob Williams, who would have led the league in FG% last year had he had enough attempts.  You look at his FG% and wonder why not let him shoot more?  Well he can only hit certain shots (lobs, putbacks, dunks) and relies on his teammates to get him those.  You try to get him to shoot more, shots that aren't lobs/dunk, and his FG% would drop big time.  Same thing would happen to Grant.

[Somebody]

Guys who can't create their own shots struggle to up their volume of shot attempts.

To be fair Grant does have a post game and passing chops even though his three point shot is very much a C&S one.

[nebist]

This thread is why I have a hard time believing Grant will get the 15-20 mil offer some people think is out there. He is a very effective role guy. I would happily pay him in the 10-13 range with the current market. But he has not proven himself as capable of larger shot creation.

[Vermont Green]

I guess it depends on what is meant by "more aggressive".  If you mean take more shots, I don't agree.  I think he should keep doing exactly what he has been doing.  Being more aggressive can mean other things though.  For example, I am fine to see him take it to the hoop a bit more.  Maybe work on a mid range.  Teams are going to rush out at him now that he is established as a 3pt threat.  That opens up new things.  The next layer of his game he needs to add.

But he has to stick primarily to his bread and butter.  This season, he is scoring more points (9.4 vs. 7.8 ) on fewer shots (5.0 vs. 5.6).  That is great.  He doesn't get many FTs.  Usually players who have that kind of points to shot ratio are picking up points at the line as well as shooting efficiently.  FTs are easy points but also get the other team in the penalty quicker.  That is why I say maybe Grant should look to pump fake the 3 a couple more times a game and drive to the hoop.  He may draw some fouls.  Maybe draw a second defender to open up an assist opportunity.  Gives the defender something else to think about.

Our "second" unit has been some combination of Brogdon, Hauser, Grant, Kornet, and Vonleh.  Often it is only 3 or 4 of these with a starter or 2.  This group has been great.  Brogdon and Grant see minutes also as kind of a first unit extended.  I like what Grant is doing  He should just keep doing it.  If he tries to start scoring more with his eye on his next contract, it could backfire.  I mean if he takes 6 shots instead of 5 shots, whatever but I want him to mostly just stay in his game.

[Big333223]

I guess it depends on what is meant by "more aggressive".  If you mean take more shots, I don't agree.  I think he should keep doing exactly what he has been doing.  Being more aggressive can mean other things though.  For example, I am fine to see him take it to the hoop a bit more.  Maybe work on a mid range.  Teams are going to rush out at him now that he is established as a 3pt threat.  That opens up new things.  The next layer of his game he needs to add.

But he has to stick primarily to his bread and butter.  This season, he is scoring more points (9.4 vs. 7.8 ) on fewer shots (5.0 vs. 5.6).  That is great.  He doesn't get many FTs.  Usually players who have that kind of points to shot ratio are picking up points at the line as well as shooting efficiently.  FTs are easy points but also get the other team in the penalty quicker.  That is why I say maybe Grant should look to pump fake the 3 a couple more times a game and drive to the hoop.  He may draw some fouls.  Maybe draw a second defender to open up an assist opportunity.  Gives the defender something else to think about.

Our "second" unit has been some combination of Brogdon, Hauser, Grant, Kornet, and Vonleh.  Often it is only 3 or 4 of these with a starter or 2.  This group has been great.  Brogdon and Grant see minutes also as kind of a first unit extended.  I like what Grant is doing  He should just keep doing it.  If he tries to start scoring more with his eye on his next contract, it could backfire.  I mean if he takes 6 shots instead of 5 shots, whatever but I want him to mostly just stay in his game.

Grant played 37 minutes against Memphis and didn't attempt a FG (he was 2-2 from the FT line).

I don't just mean take more shots per se, I mean create more opportunities both for himself and others. Hauser creates himself opportunities with his quick release and movement away from the ball. Rob creates himself opportunities with his movement off the ball in a totally different way.

For a guy who is as capable of making shots as he is (yes, the efficiency is good) it's not good that he was on the floor for 37 minutes and never found himself a place to attempt even a single FG, beyond what got him to the FT line.

[Big333223]

Happy to say, I think Grant's been better since the 0-0 in 37 minutes game.

[Sophomore]

Happy to say, I think Grant's been better since the 0-0 in 37 minutes game.

Can confirm.