It’s not typically an NBA crew is just in a position to pluck a high-end taking pictures prospect off of the waiver wire, however that’s precisely what Oklahoma City did earlier this season after they signed Isaiah Joe to a really team-friendly three-year contract.
After spending his freshman and sophomore season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe discovered himself and not using a job after being waived prior to the beginning of the season. The Sixers, after shaking up their roster in an try to compete for a title this season, skilled their very own roster crunch, and determined to maintain guys like Jaden Springer, Matisse Thybulle, and Furkan Korkmaz over Joe — a fortuitous resolution for the Thunder.
Since then, Joe, a 6-foot-5 shooter out of Arkansas, has thrived with the Thunder, particularly when given vital minutes. In his 32 video games, Joe has been white-hot from past the arc, nailing 44.4% of his 124 3-point makes an attempt.
To put issues in perspective, Joe is considered one of solely 5 gamers which might be taking pictures above 41% from past the 3-point line and making an attempt 13 of them per 100 possessions. And out of these 5, he has been essentially the most environment friendly 3-point shooter to date. That checklist consists of Buddy Hield, Georges Niang, Bones Hyland, and… Steph Curry.
Joe’s gravity — or the defensive consideration he instructions — helps him contribute in different areas moreover 3-point taking pictures, too. Per 36 minutes, the sharpshooter is averaging 2.9 assists to simply 1.2 turnovers, numbers that point out that he’s in a position to swing the ball and kick it to open teammates when he does drive.
And his 2.7 free throw makes an attempt per 36 minutes is the fifth-highest mark for the Thunder this season, and the third-highest when evaluating the crew’s guards. This is much more spectacular contemplating how typically he lets it fly and his 18% utilization charge. Joe is only one of three gamers within the NBA to get to the charity stripe as typically as he does whereas making an attempt over 10 3-pointers per 100 possessions.
Perhaps, the numbers that finest seize Joe’s influence is the Thunder’s two-player lineup knowledge. It reveals that regardless of who Joe is lined up with, it’s leading to Oklahoma City outscoring their opponent. It doesn’t matter if he’s sharing the ground with Darius Bazley or Josh Giddey. And each a kind of lineups are taking pictures above 38% from past the arc, highlighting simply how infectious Joe’s floor-spacing capacity may be.
Joe’s capacity to drag defenders out to the perimeter is ripping open seams in opposing defenses, permitting for drive-heavy gamers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Luguentz Dort to extra simply get downhill and end on the rim, draw a foul, or kick it out to create one other benefit. If you’ve got ever questioned how Joe has a offensive ranking of 130-plus, this is the reason.
Given Joe’s general influence and skill to elevate the Thunder’s offensive ceiling, perhaps he ought to be getting extra minutes. Joe is averaging simply 13.4 minutes on the season, however is averaging simply over 19 minutes in his final 15 contests. But when Joe performs greater than 23 minutes, the Thunder are 4-0 on the season.
Another enjoyable proven fact that the Thunder and their head coach, Mark Daigneault, would possibly need to think about is that they’re 9-8 when Isaiah Joe hits not less than two 3-pointers and simply 6-8 when he fails to accomplish that. And when Joe doesn’t play, the Thunder are a disappointing 2-5.
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