Playoff Aminu

[KingSpeed]

I was listening to a podcast (can't remember which one) and they were talking about how most players are about 15% worse in the playoffs but a small group of people are better and you need those players on a championship team. It made me think about how great Aminu has seemed to be in the playoffs. In Dallas. And in Portland against the Clippers and the do or die game last year against the Warriors. I always pay close attention to who plays well on our team when our backs are officially against the wall and the only people who showed up in Game 4 last year were Dame and Aminu. So I looked up the stats to see if they backed up my perception. Sure enough, they do. It is jaw dropping how much he steps up when the season is on the line:

Aminu's career regular season stats: 7.4 ppg 5.8 rpg 1.2 apg 1.0 spg 0.6 bpg 42.4% FG, 33.7% 3FG in 24.5 mpg

Aminu's career playoff stats: 13.3 ppg 7.9 rpg 1.5 apg 1.1 apg 1.1 bpg 45.9% FG, 42.9% 3FG in 31.8 mpg

On this note, we still haven't met Playoff Nurk. I can't wait to see him this spring.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Aminu is the type of role player that the Spurs get. For the money we pay him he's perfect.

 

[BonesJones]

The context being that many teams dare him to shoot in the playoffs.

 

[Strenuus]

Can we break down the stats for wins and losses, were we down big, etc?

It'd paint a much better picture of how he is in certain situations. Which is what should be looked at.

 

[KingSpeed]

The context being that many teams dare him to shoot in the playoffs.

True. The Clippers were running away from him when he had the ball and he made them pay.

 

[KingSpeed]

Can we break down the stats for wins and losses, were we down big, etc?

It'd paint a much better picture of how he is in certain situations. Which is what should be looked at.

He pretty much won us one of the games in the Clippers series.

 

[KingSpeed]

Playoff Aminu in Game 4 win over Clippers:

30 points 10 rebounds 11/20 FGs

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201604250POR.html

 

[KingSpeed]

Playoff Aminu in Game 3 win over Warriors:

23 points 10 rebounds 8/9 FGs

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201605070POR.html

 

[KingSpeed]

And Game 4 against Warriors in 2017 was a blowout, yes, but it's telling who showed up when chips were down. Dame, Aminu, and to a lesser degree, Napier:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201704240POR.html

 

[KingSpeed]

Can we break down the stats for wins and losses, were we down big, etc?

It'd paint a much better picture of how he is in certain situations. Which is what should be looked at.

Done. Playoff Aminu is real.

 

[BonesJones]

True. The Clippers were running away from him when he had the ball and he made them pay.

Yup, but I wouldn't say hehes better, just Thai he's allowed wide open 3s.

Also, he didn't make the playoffs in the first few years of his career when he was worse than he is now, which makes his regular season stats look worse than his playoff stats.

 

[KingSpeed]

Aminu in playoff win over Houston while in Dallas:

16 points 12 rebounds

Anyone who remembers that series knows that Aminu was the only guy on Dallas who seemed interested in winning those games.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201504260DAL.html

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Done. Playoff Aminu is real.

Truth. Aminu single-handedly won us at least one game and that other he was a huge hand in.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yup, but I wouldn't say hehes better, just Thai he's allowed wide open 3s.

Also, he didn't make the playoffs in the first few years of his career when he was worse than he is now, which makes his regular season stats look worse than his playoff stats.

Kinda. He only averaged 5.6 ppg for Dallas the year he was in the playoffs and only 10.2 ppg in the year we played the Clippers. So yes, his numbers took a huge leap in the playoffs. And just because one is open, doesn't mean that person will make that shot. If we're ever going to win big with Dame & CJ, we need guys like Aminu who can make defenses pay for trapping them.

 

[KingSpeed]

Like I said, I can't wait to meet Playoff Nurk. We saw a hobbled version for 16 minutes last year and he gave us an impressive 2 points 11 rebounds 4 assists performance with a team high +8. We looked best in that 16 minutes than at any other time in the series. If he's healthy, I think we win some games in that series.

 

[Chris Craig]

Like I said, I can't wait to meet Playoff Nurk. We saw a hobbled version for 16 minutes last year and he gave us an impressive 2 points 11 rebounds 4 assists performance with a team high +8. We looked best in that 16 minutes than at any other time in the series. If he's healthy, I think we win some games in that series.

Yeah but thats before Terry got his claws all the way on him. Now in Terry's system the beast has been for the most part subdued.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yeah but thats before Terry got his claws all the way on him. Now in Terry's system the beast has been for the most part subdued.

Explain. Is it Terry's fault when he turns over the ball or misses layups?

 

[riverman]

I love Chief...he's a guy who puts defense first...doesn't need to score to help you win a game but he can score...his form is improved this season. When he dribbles the ball you can tell he played soccer growing up...his handles look like a soccer forward pushing the ball ahead a step and a half at a time...at least struck me that way..he's loose with the ball and I think that's why..I see some of that same looseness in Nurk's game...both improve their control and handles and they'll make a leap as players.

 

[KingSpeed]

bump

 

[Chris Craig]

Aminu is a playoff prince...for real

 

[Strenuus]

Man, he's been great this postseason for sure. Big props. Crow eating commencing.

 

[TBpup]

Easy....Aminu was shooting 33% after three games.

Great game tonight, but that is 1 game out of 4 on the offensive end.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Easy....Aminu was shooting 33% after three games.

Great game tonight, but that is 1 game out of 4 on the offensive end.

Now they’re inconsistent and it can game to game, but when Harkless and Aminu give them this type of production on both ends of the court, thats when the Blazers can look like legit contenders.

 

[TBpup]

Now they’re inconsistent and it can game to game, but when Harkless and Aminu give them this type of production on both ends of the court, thats when the Blazers can look like legit contenders.

Absolutely. But relying on that 'consistently' is a lot to hope for.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Absolutely. But relying on that 'consistently' is a lot to hope for.

Every single game in this series you cant fault either on their energy / effort and just being consistent there is a big thing (especially for moe).

 

[TBpup]

Every single game in this series you cant fault either on their energy / effort and just being consistent there is a big thing (especially for moe).

Agreed. I'm just nervous about having to count on their ability to make shots on a regular basis.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Agreed. I'm just nervous about having to count on their ability to make shots on a regular basis.

Oddly enough I think they both missed a lot of easy shots tonight. What Im more concerned about is what do they do if Dame and or CJ are cold for a whole game. The difficulty of the shots they’re making is insane. I know they’re absolutely special offensive players but thats hard to keep up. Aminu and Moe and really everyone is gonna continue to have numbers and open shots.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't care what percentages he has shot. Aminu has made timely shots and has been a total beast around the rim.
He is making me eat every bad thing i have said about him over the last couple years.
When Aminu shows up the Blazers win games. Right now he is showing up more than not.
Same with Harkless.

 

[BonesJones]

Easy....Aminu was shooting 33% after three games.

Great game tonight, but that is 1 game out of 4 on the offensive end.

Yup, but ya gotta love his hustle and heart.

 

[wizenheimer]

both Aminu and Harkless were great tonight. Hustle, defense, rebounding...intense and focused