Copyright yardbarker
Sarr spent too much time floating around the 3-point line as a rookie and wasn’t even good at it. As a result, the former second overall pick shot just 39.4% from the field. That’s a poor number for any player, especially one that’s seven feet tall. Fortunately, between his offseason weight gains and decision to do more work around the rim, he’s now a force inside the paint. In four games, he’s averaging 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. He’s also shooting 55.2% from the field, a dramatic improvement from the previous season. George, the 24th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, didn’t quite meet expectations in his rookie season. However, he’s shown that the offensive growth he displayed in this year’s FIBA AmeriCup tournament was real. It’s only been four games, but he’s looked much more comfortable and capable with the ball in his hands. He’s currently averaging a team-high 20.3 points per game on .537-.538-.600 shooting splits. For good measure, adding 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Is There Really A Positional Battle? It’s tempting for people to pit players against each other, whether they’re opponents or teammates. On the one hand, comparison really is the thief of joy, causing people to miss the forest for the trees or look gift horses in the mouth. On the other hand, sports are inherently competitive, and passionate spectators want to see the best of the best. With that being said, the questions about Coulibaly’s role for the upcoming season are darker than they need to be. To be clear, George’s rise truly should have no bearing on Coulibaly’s. For starters, the positional overlap has been overstated. More than ever, positional lines can seem welded when talking about wings, forwards and bigs. Yet, their physical tools and relevant skills suggest that George is a 3 (small forward) and Coulibaly is a 2 (shooting guard). Specifically, George can slot in at either the 1 (point guard), 2 or 4 (power forward), but he’s a true 3. These players are typically a team’s most versatile contributors and are often counted upon offensively. Coulibaly could be utilized as a 1, 3 or even a 4 in certain matchups, but he’s a true 2. These are often the most agile and athletic perimeter players, can be used as secondary or tertiary playmakers, and have a knack for slashing or shooting (or both).
