If all you are about in judging players and teams are stats, I understand. But I, and others, go beyond that, and also factor in an eye test. And you choose to focus on one stat, scoring, and totally ignore a very telling one, 5 fouls, really 6 factoring in the tech, in 13 minutes.
As for cutting him some slack, why? He was cut slack via the shin excuse all last year and with that resolved still played the EXACT same game he was cut some slack for all too often last year. How about trying maturing on the court?