2025-26 Season
CEDRIC COWARD
2025-26 Season
CEDRIC COWARD
Coward produces at an average rate for a 26-minute workload.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 22 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 235 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
If impact was negative despite high scoring, explain what hidden costs dragged them down." -> 10/29 vs PHX: 14 points (above avg), -3.2 impact. Explained by "defensive rotations were frequently a step slow". Are 14 points considered "high scoring"? It's his 5th highest scoring game out of 20. It's above his average. It fits perfectly. Let's check the exact text of 10/29 vs PHX: "10/29 vs PHX: 14pts/4reb/1ast in 28min | FG:5/10 3P:2/3 | Impact:-3.2 (box:+5.8 hustle:+3.5 def:+2.5) | Bench | Defensive rotations were frequently a step slow, bleeding value despite capable offensive execution." My text: "...where he scored a capable 14 points but posted a frustrating -3.2 impact because his defensive rotations were frequently a step slow." Matches perfectly. Let's check the exact text of 10/31 vs LAL: "10/31 vs LAL: 13pts/10reb/3ast in 26min | FG:4/11 3P:0/4 | Impact:+8.1 (box:+16.3 hustle:+3.5 def:+1.7)
Cedric Coward spent this stretch oscillating wildly between dominant interior bully and deeply frustrating perimeter chucker. The contrast was jarring. During the 12/30 vs PHI matchup, he battered the opposition for 28 points and 16 rebounds, generating a massive +13.4 impact score simply by unleashing unrelenting aggression on the offensive glass. Even when his jumper completely abandoned him on 01/25 vs DEN, he still scraped out a +0.7 impact on an ugly 4-for-12 shooting night because his relentless hustle created vital second-chance opportunities. Yet, far too often, Coward sabotaged his own value by falling in love with terrible habits. Look no further than his 12/28 vs WAS performance, where a decent 11-point outing translated to a dismal -4.9 impact because he bled momentum through poorly timed fouls and careless ball security. If he wants to be a reliable weapon, he has to stop settling for bad decisions and get back to doing the dirty work.
Cedric Coward’s midseason stretch was defined by maddening volatility, oscillating wildly between dominant two-way flashes and empty-calorie scoring nights. He frequently bled value despite finding the basket, as seen on 03/18 vs NYK where his 15 points were completely undone by poor off-ball defensive positioning, resulting in a brutal -6.8 impact score. When he actually locked in, however, the results were staggering. On 03/28 vs CHI, Coward put together an absolute masterclass, suffocating opposing wings and scoring 24 points to post a massive +16.7 impact score. He didn't always need heavy scoring volume to swing a matchup. During his 03/10 vs PHI appearance, relentless positioning on the glass netted him 16 rebounds and a +6.3 impact score by generating vital second-chance opportunities. If Coward wants to be a reliable rotation fixture, he must eliminate the hidden mistakes and contested jumpers that routinely sabotage his baseline production.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Coward's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~5 points per game.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 59% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Coward consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 4 games. Longest cold streak: 6 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 68 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
60 games played