Many Spurs players need to prove themselves in the 2021-22 season, but few people are under such great pressure as Pelter. We now know the answers to these questions, but by the modern NBA's standards for big men, his way of playing is impressive and a relatively different approa

This big man lived up to expectations and defended the penalty area, but he still showed his offensive versatility, which also concealed his range problems and insufficient athletic ability.

Many Spurs players need to prove themselves in the 2021-22 season, but few people are under such great pressure as Pelter. Not only is he expected to be a defensive shield like he used to be, he also grows into an offensive threat point. In his first year of starting full-time, he basically did not have a reliable substitute.

We now know the answers to these questions, but according to the standards of modern NBA for big men, his way of playing is impressive and it is a different approach, which is worth our careful study.

traits, expected roles and statistics

Jacob Pelter is a 7-foot-1 experienced center. The 2021-22 season is the second year of his contract extension. As a starting inside player surrounded by outside players, he is expected to be able to play on the court for a long time and defend the penalty area while contributing more on offense than in the past.

68 games, he averaged 29 minutes per game, and averaged 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

season review

Pelter's importance in the Spurs was revealed very early, not only because he had a pretty solid start this year, but perhaps second and more importantly, the team's performance after he was absent. During the season, Pelter missed 7 games due to security protocol . Although the Spurs' record in these games has not fluctuated much, the problem of the Spurs' lack of depth in the inside is fully exposed. Pelter isn't necessarily the best player on the team, but there are reasons to prove that he is the most indispensable. The team's record in the game he missed was 4 wins and 10 losses, and his net score on the court was 6 points higher than when he was not on the court, which was second only to the Josh Richardson who came to the team in the middle of the season. Although Zach Collins made the situation better after returning from an injury due to , it is difficult to hide the importance of Pearl in the team this year.

His influence at the team level is due to his inherent technology and new development skills. Pelter is still an excellent basket guardian. His interfering shooting in the penalty area is second only to Joel Embiid . He is also flexible enough to occasionally delay opponents' shooting. On the offensive end, he is still the screener and offensive rebounder who worked tirelessly throughout his career. Overall, his physical fitness has improved and he can be on the court for a long time without losing oil, which was a minor problem early in his career, but his more obvious change came from his offense. On a team that lacks a ball-holder, he took on part of the ball-holding job and was encouraged to find a phone in the penalty area, Jacob's usage and assist rate hit career highs while minimizing turnovers and playing a role within his offensive range.

season score: A

Pelter took almost all his skills to the extreme last season, proving that he is more than just a defensive expert. He is not a top-notch passer skill, but he plays an important role in the Spurs' offensive system, and the Spurs need him to find a cutter in the offense. He also improved his low-scoring feel, according to Synergy Sports, which finished 26 finishes under block last season, below the league average, but this season's rating hit a good 102. He also increased his shot speed near the basket, which made him an excellent roll in the pick-and-roll and made up for his lack of vertical explosive power. He can simply get the ball and rely on his height to complete high-quality shots over the defender's head instead of a rough all-over dunk. On the defensive end, he still chooses to squat more, and struggles when facing the space-type fifth position. When the opponent plays a big lineup, he has to change defense, Popovich still leaves him on the court, and he does a good job. The reason why

failed to get Pelter's A+ was due to lack of aggressiveness and poor free throw shooting percentage in the inside.Jacob rarely faces the need for double-teams, so it is not his fault that he cannot create threats to his teammates at low posts, but once he faces single defense, he needs a more determined attack, just as the coaching staff asked him. Getting the ball to watch and passing it back is just a waste of time. As for free throw shooting percentage, this is an old problem in his career. After All-Star Game last season, his free throw shooting percentage reached 62%, so it is reasonable to expect him to improve. Alas, he is the same this season, but his overall shooting percentage has dropped, which is a bit disappointing.

In the future

Spurs are lucky to have such an excellent and stable starting center. Only in specific games will he perform poorly. However, two factors may make the Spurs suspicious of him over the next five years: his age and his next contract.

Pelter has entered the last year of his contract, which is valuable to the Spurs. Players with his influence are worth more than seven figures in the NBA. The question is whether a traditional center is worth twice the value of Pelter now at 9.4 million, because his next contract annual salary may reach 15 million like Clint Capela , or even 20 million as Steven Adams . Even those who think he deserves a renewal (which is reasonable) worry about whether he fits the growth schedule of the rest of the team.

The good news is that his age is similar to Dezhangtai Murray , but the Spurs can still use a younger big man to grow up with young stars. For example, if the Spurs find such a person in the upcoming draft, then Pelter could also be victimized in a deal like Derek White being sent to Boston . We also know that the team at least considered some of his offers last season.

For now, it's gratifying that Pelter will almost certainly be on the team next season. Even if the Spurs are not in a hurry to return to the top and when that time comes, Pelter may no longer be on the team, Pelter will still bring incredible help to the team in the near future. His defense makes up for the defensive experience of young teammates, and his continuous improvement offense can also prevent others from having to bear so much offensive pressure.

Sometimes, the problem of rebuilding the team is being too ambitious. For players like Pelter who have proven valuable, as long as the reasons are right, it may be a good choice to keep them.

(text/Johnny Moore)