In his second season in the NBA, Terrence Shannon Jr. is starting to become somewhat of a playoff riser, particularly with his scoring. After appearing in just one game for seven minutes over the first four outings of the opening round against the Denver Nuggets, Shannon totaled 39 points in Games 5 and 6.
With the Minnesota Timberwolves missing their starting backcourt for the next round (Anthony Edwards at least to start the series), TSJ should remain in the rotation. Going from Denver’s interior defense to the San Antonio Spurs is a big difference, though, and a much bigger challenge. Shannon will likely find it more difficult to constantly penetrate and score at the rim.
Victor Wembanyama awaits
The Spurs, of course, are anchored on the defensive end by the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in Victor Wembanyama. At 7-foot-4, no player in the league deters their opponent from challenging them at the rim quite like him.
That is where the 25-year-old Shannon got busy in the last two games of the Nuggets series, especially in Game 6. Eight of his nine made field goals were inside the paint, and the other was just outside of it. As good as TSJ was in that game, he had an off shooting night from beyond the arc (1-for-7).
When Shannon gets going, not only can he score inside, but he can also be adept at drawing fouls. If he’s not able to do that as well against Wemby and the Spurs, then his minutes could become limited. If Ant-Man returns, he could once again be outside the rotation.
During the regular season, San Antonio allowed the fourth-least shot attempts within five feet. While the Portland Trail Blazers did get more field goal tries within that distance than what the Spurs normally allow during their five-game first-round series, the Spurs only allowed them to make 56.4 percent of them, which is tied for the best mark in the postseason.Â
This season, the majority of Shannon’s shot attempts came at the rim or from 3-point distance (just shy of 80 percent). I don’t think TSJ will totally shy away from penetrating to the basket, but if he’s stifled inside a few times, he may begin settling for 3-pointers.Â
Finch’s quote from after Game 5 regarding Shannon’s defense makes it likely that if he’s not scoring often, he won’t be playing. It won’t be easy, but TSJ has done it before against an all-time great defense in the Oklahoma City Thunder last postseason. He won’t be short of confidence, that much is for sure.
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