Outside of two o-fer games from 3 (0/8 vs Miami and UNC), he is shooting almost 47% (21/45) since December.
His outside shooting is huge for us. But I wanted to raise two other points that I see as highly valuable advances in his game:
Perimeter Defense - he has really impressed here. Several times in recent weeks he has picked someone’s pocket straight up or off a cross-court swing pass—to me the classic sign of a wing who “gets” weak side positioning in the pack line.
Defensive versatility & rebounding - He has effectively played the 4 for much of the last two games. And to my untrained eye, his playing above his size on defense has been a major reason this small lineup works. That + his hitting the defensive glass (7 and 9 total Rebs last two games) gives Tony another significant chess piece in lineup flexibility.
His outside shooting is huge for us. But I wanted to raise two other points that I see as highly valuable advances in his game:
Perimeter Defense - he has really impressed here. Several times in recent weeks he has picked someone’s pocket straight up or off a cross-court swing pass—to me the classic sign of a wing who “gets” weak side positioning in the pack line.
Defensive versatility & rebounding - He has effectively played the 4 for much of the last two games. And to my untrained eye, his playing above his size on defense has been a major reason this small lineup works. That + his hitting the defensive glass (7 and 9 total Rebs last two games) gives Tony another significant chess piece in lineup flexibility.
