re: The Curious Case of Darius Days

If Days is not scoring he needs to be on the bench replaced by Gaines. He is too much of a defensive liability. If his offense cannot overcome his normal lack of defense he shouldn't be on the floor. At least Gaines gives this team top notch defensive play and can get in the high single digits on second chance opportunities, steals and scrums. But if Days' offensive game is on play him as much as possible.

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Perhaps maybe more than any player on this team (and any player in the last several years) he confidence goes from one extreme end of the spectrum to the other. If he makes his first three you can almost guarantee the next one is going to go down as well. And if he is feeling it he is a guy that can literally give 8 points and 5 rebounds in a span of 5 minutes. But when he is off his body language looks like a guy who is completely defeated. Say what you want about Watford, Smart and Thomas, but those guys NEVER lose confidence in themselves. Even to their team's detriment at times. They don't care if they have missed 6 shots in row. They fully believe the 7th is going to go down and they are on the cusp of a career night. Days has to get a little bit of that in his psyche

You usually have a good sense of where Days is about 5 minutes into the game.

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This is the perfect explanation. In looser terms, Days is a headcase. It's all about confidence with him. You'll know where his head is after his first few shots.......

Any team that has a quick/ smaller center like Bama will give Darius problems. Some teams have it, some don't.

When you lose 25% of your scoring you usually lose the game.
When Days isn't hitting it frees up another defender to collapse on Thomas and Watford.

Guy making threes at a 50% clip helps you win.. who knew?

Another factor is he will get in foul trouble a lot of the time when he’s off which just compounds the issue. If he off but doesn’t foul we can still stay in the game because of his rebounding

The basket gets a whole lot bigger once you see one go in.

It’s mind-boggling that WW doesn’t get him an easy bucket to start the game, whether it’s down low or at the free throw line.

It’s just like a QB, an easy throw to start the game can lay the foundation for a solid outing.

Metrics for value of Days

Offensive Win Shares
1. Skylar Mays, 2016-17 to 2019-20 10.0
2. Tasmin Mitchell, 2005-06 to 2009-10 8.5
3. Torris Bright, 1999-00 to 2002-03 8.4
4. Darrel Mitchell, 2002-03 to 2005-06 7.9
5. Glen Davis, 2004-05 to 2006-07 7.1
6. Marcus Thornton, 2007-08 to 2008-09 7.1
7. Darius Days, 2018-19 to 2020-21 6.8
8. Collis Temple, 1999-00 to 2002-03 6.7
9. Ronald Dupree, 1999-00 to 2002-03 6.4
10. Brandon Bass, 2003-04 to 2004-05 6.2

Complete 1995-96 to 2020-21


Offensive Box Plus/Minus
1. Darius Days, 2018-19 to 2020-21 5.5
2. Tremont Waters, 2017-18 to 2018-19 5.0
3. Emmitt Williams, 2018-19 to 2019-20 4.4
4. Skylar Mays, 2016-17 to 2019-20 4.0
5. Trendon Watford, 2019-20 to 2020-21 3.7
6. Antonio Blakeney, 2015-16 to 2016-17 3.5
7. Keith Hornsby, 2014-15 to 2015-16 3.4
8. Javonte Smart, 2018-19 to 2020-21 2.8
9. Jarell Martin, 2013-14 to 2014-15 2.7
10. Tim Quarterman, 2013-14 to 2015-16 2.2

Complete 2010-11 to 2020-21

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When Darius isn't scoring Smart & Thomas start forcing things and making some poor decisions.

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When Days isn't scoring someone else is forced to make up the shots.
Which leads to forced shots, misses, and probably another loss.

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I figured he was gone after this season but wonder if he'll come back to improve his consistency?

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Gone where?
His not nba talent
Not even close