PG Evaluations: Charlotte

Over the coming weeks, 'Runnin' The Point' will be taking a look at every team's PG situation based on this year and offering an assessment, starting with non-playoff teams.

KEY NUMBER: 12.5 – As in, shots per game by Bobcats PG Raymond Felton, which is good for third on the team. Why am I telling this? Well, Felton led his team in shots taken last season – something I noted prior to this season. He’s the point guard. He plays with Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson. This is more like it.

THE GOOD STUFF: Any time you put up 14.3 points and 7.3 assists, you can play. That’s good. But what’s even better from Felton is that, in roughly 36 minutes – or three quarters per game – he turns it over just a shade more than twice a game, for about 2.5 assists per turnover. For a young pup, you’d think that would get better the older, wiser, more experienced that he gets. Of course, Stephon Marbury was a better PG as a rookie than he ever was after that… so who the heck knows?

THE BAD STUFF: Like last year, Felton’s shooting was questionable. No one will mistake him for Dale Ellis – sorry, how about a name you know, like Larry Bird – when shooting the ball, as his 41% FG indicates. His 28% from three-point range indicates he should perhaps have a clause in his contract prohibiting him from taking a shot outside 15-feet. Luckily enough, he has time to get better.

THE BACK-UP: Charlotte went with Jeff McInnis as their top back-up. He went to North Carolina. So did Felton. So did the guy who bought them to Bobcatville, some guy named Jordan, who they say was a good player in his day. See the theme? Anyway, McInnis once played for the Clippers, so he knows how to lose with pride, so Charlotte is right up his alley. He put up 4 points and 4 assists per while playing roughly two-thirds of the season. Earl Boykins was also bought in, and although he stands roughly the height of a Doberman, he is strictly a shooter first.

EVALUATION: While there wasn’t a drastic increase in his numbers, Felton added another year of experience as a starting PG. While fellow ‘05ers Chris Paul and Deron Williams were fighting for playoff position – and in Paul’s case, trying to decide where the MVP trophy would best fit in his living room – Felton was punching the clock down in Charlotte for a fourth-year team still vying for its first playoff appearance. Still, Felton is an up-and-coming player on an up-and-coming team. His numbers, if he was drafted any year other than ’05, would compare very favorably others at his position. Good player.

ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index