The problem is this is more often the Sam we get in bigger games than not.
He makes some dumb fouls when playing more athletic bigs, and we can't have him getting into foul trouble when the 5 is our biggest depth issue.
Here is a look at 23-24 and the current season numbers:
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]
2024
[/TD]
[TD]PPG[/TD]
[TD]TRB[/TD]
[TD]AST[/TD]
[TD]PF[/TD]
[TD]GmScr[/TD]
[TD]FG%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Top 50[/TD]
[TD]
6.2
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1.2
[/TD]
[TD]
2.45
[/TD]
[TD]
8.62
[/TD]
[TD]
0.61
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]51-100[/TD]
[TD]
7.2
[/TD]
[TD]
5.2
[/TD]
[TD]
0.2
[/TD]
[TD]
1.6
[/TD]
[TD]
6.34
[/TD]
[TD]
0.54
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100+[/TD]
[TD]
7.2
[/TD]
[TD]
4.7
[/TD]
[TD]
0.5
[/TD]
[TD]
2.87
[/TD]
[TD]
4.62
[/TD]
[TD]
0.54
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
2025
[/TD]
[TD]PPG[/TD]
[TD]TRB[/TD]
[TD]AST[/TD]
[TD]PF[/TD]
[TD]GmScr[/TD]
[TD]FG%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Top 50[/TD]
[TD]
0
[/TD]
[TD]
2
[/TD]
[TD]
3
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
2.9
[/TD]
[TD]N/A[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]51-100[/TD]
[TD]
2
[/TD]
[TD]
3
[/TD]
[TD]
0
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
1.1
[/TD]
[TD]
0.5
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]100+[/TD]
[TD]
7.75
[/TD]
[TD]
11
[/TD]
[TD]
0.75
[/TD]
[TD]
2.5
[/TD]
[TD]
9.25
[/TD]
[TD]
0.54
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Yes, I understand he had two bad games and his numbers will go up (it also isn't fair to make a one for one with this year and last, bc it is such a small sample size), but even so...his GmScr from sports-reference is also slightly inflated in 2023-24 bc he had 2 good games vs Houston and Texas Tech out of 15 that were double digit scores. If you take those away his numbers drop significantly.
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]
2024
[/TD]
[TD]PPG[/TD]
[TD]TRB[/TD]
[TD]AST[/TD]
[TD]PF[/TD]
[TD]GmScr[/TD]
[TD]FG%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Top 50[/TD]
[TD]
6.2
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1.2
[/TD]
[TD]
2.45
[/TD]
[TD]
8.62
[/TD]
[TD]
0.61
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]No HOU/Tech[/TD]
[TD]
4.8
[/TD]
[TD]
4.2
[/TD]
[TD]
0.46
[/TD]
[TD]
3
[/TD]
[TD]
2.97
[/TD]
[TD]
0.47
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I know I am picking and choosing, and I am one of the biggest "Sam is a solid G5 starter, backup P5 big". So I am biased and it should be noted when I provide data. I also think he is the best big we have on roster, which is why I am disappointed with our 5 portalees.
If Luke can play like he did yest, I am less worried. His ability to space the floor, unclog the lane and allow Fears/Elvis to work could provide EXTREMELY useful. Especially if he can hit at a 2 for 5 rate from 3 every game.