Schilly's Summer Shakeup

[Rastapopoulos]

Perhaps Batum's presence and role are compromising Lillard's PG development, similarly to how you suggest Ellis' did Curry's...

You're sort of assuming that assist numbers are necessary and sufficient for PG skills. I disagree. I think they're entirely indicative of the role you play. Sure, if Lillard were forced to play a more traditional, ball dominant PG role his assists would go up. Would that mean that his court vision and passing ability had improved? No. I think Curry always had great passing skills and I think Lillard has always had rather average passing skills. Kerr has discovered that having the ball in Curry's hands more means more wins. Stotts discovered that having Batum take over more PG roles led to increased wins. Everybody wins, two different players.

(Another example: McHale essentially made Harden the Rockets PG and it worked out for them. Meanwhile Westbrook getting triple doubles isn't really doing OKC any favors because he hasn't got elite level PG skills.)

 

[Schilly]

So assist numbers aren't indicative of a pgs ability as a PG... kinda scratching my head on that one. BtW, I said in the OP, I would like to see him play the role.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So assist numbers aren't indicative of a pgs ability as a PG... kinda scratching my head on that one.

Let me help you out:

Allen Iverson, 1996-7 (rookie year) 6.7 assists/36
Allen Iverson, 2000-1 (got to finals) 3.9 assists/36

Did Allen Iverson HAVE PG skills and then LOSE them? Was he suddenly less valuable to the team? No, and no, obviously.

(And I didn't say they weren't at all, I said they weren't necessary or sufficient (that is, player 1 can have higher assist totals than player 2, but player 2 be the better passer).

 

[Schilly]

I think it can be argued that Eric Snow was the PG and he added 7.6 assists. Iverson never was a PG in my eyes, but, when we switched to playing PG in 04-05 his assists per 36 bumped up to 6.8, 6.2, 6.1, 6.2... And he had 2 of his 3 best scoring seasons at that time.

To add to it, Westbrook's best assist season has also been his best scoring season. 9 assists per 36 is not too shabby for a guy without PG skills.

So many of the differences though is the supporting cast and how they shoot or if they ISO.

 

[blue9]

I think what Rasta is saying is that not all assists are created equally. Standing still passing to another stationary player who hits a jump shot will generate an assist, but is not quite the same as a PG hitting a rolling big with a no-look pocket-pass for a dunk.

 

[Schilly]

I think what Rasta is saying is that not all assists are created equally. Standing still passing to another stationary player who hits a jump shot will generate an assist, but is not quite the same as a PG hitting a rolling big with a no-look pocket-pass for a dunk.

That's true, in that case Batums assist numbers are misleading. As he stand on the perimeter and feeds Lamarcus.

 

[blue9]

That's true, in that case Batums assist numbers are misleading. As he stand on the perimeter and feeds Lamarcus.

But he also plays P/R with Rolo and generates high-percentage shots - something that's SORELY lacking from our offense.

 

[RR7]

That's true, in that case Batums assist numbers are misleading. As he stand on the perimeter and feeds Lamarcus.

Feeding Aldridge in the post won't lad to assists, though, since Aldridge usually takes his time, negating assist potential.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Why don't why all just make our summer shake up threads?

 

[Schilly]

Go for it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's true, in that case Batums assist numbers are misleading. As he stand on the perimeter and feeds Lamarcus.

Apart from the fact that feeding the post is actually a difficult skill, and it helps to have a tall guy who knows how to do it, don't make me post this again:

 

[KingSpeed]

Keep in mind that Dame won the Skills Contest twice. His passing is underrated.