MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

We can complain about Naji’s shooting, but it’s not really that bad. And if we’re fair, we should be complaining even more about Cooper’s, although nobody is.

I prefer to see it as a double threat: two guys with size who can handle the ball and relentlessly drive to the hoop. This puts incredible pressure on a defense. 

So they shoot 30% instead of 35% from three. On average, less than 1 point per game difference. I can live with that, if I’m generating the kind of production around the hoop that they both do.

Naji has value, but to play him WITH Cooper, he needs to hit 3s to open the floor. Even if CF gets better at 3s, you want the floor spaced for all the things he can do. This season, with a lost year, it's not a worry that there's no spacing. But it will be, and hopefully soon.

Naji makes a great backup for CF, someone who can get you a basket when the main scorers are getting a break. But he needs to get better on 3s so he can play more. Or, go.