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: 57 – The number of games Jason Williams has missed in his three years with Miami. Hardly perfect attendance, but what team can survive when their only starter-worthy PG has missed this much time?
THE GOOD STUFF: Jason Williams was the starting PG on a championship team. Steve Nash isn’t. Jason Kidd isn’t. Heck, Chris Paul isn’t… yet. Why am I telling you this? No reason really, just trying to fill a few lines. In all seriousness, knee problems have slowed what should have been a better career. Long deemed a hot-dog and was once compared – prepare to shudder – to Maravich The Great, Williams actually became an assist-to-turnover nut in Memphis, and hasn’t averaged more than two turnovers a game since 2003. True story. And his 3:1 ASTS/TO ratio lifetime is something to write home about.
THE BAD STUFF: Williams’ shooting has gone down every year in Miami, ditto for his points-per-game, double-ditto for his effectiveness. In a year that began with Pat Riley almost begging for “the old Jason Williams” – yes, he was asking for that Sacramento King craziness to return – he got much less than that. Season in microcosm: 34 points in a loss to Orlando in March, followed by 36 points total in his next three games. You see, chances are your going to get an old-school performance out of him sometime, but reality hits and you get sub-par consistently after that.
THE BACK-UP: Chris Quinn was thrown into duty when the realization that Miami couldn’t win twenty games hit sometime in March. Quick story: In ’96, the Sixers had tried Vern Maxwell, an old Scott Skiles (who they brought out of retirement), Trevor Ruffin, and Greg Sutton – bonus points for recognizing either of the last two names – at the point during the season, and over the final 10-15 games of an 18-win season, they handed the keys to Rex Walters. Look, the guy wasn’t great, but he played very well over those few pointless games, and I’m convinced it actually earned him three more years in the greatest league in the world. Chris Quinn probably did himself the same, averaging 15/4/6 in April. He’s solid, unspectacular and, while destined for back-up status for eternity, he’s a good guy to have around – just don’t ask Shaq.
EVALUATION: Two words: Derrick Rose. How bad is it that I'm pinning their hopes on a guy they don't have yet? Pretty bad, but hey, this is Miami, bad is OK. If they can get him, then they have to. He’s 6’4’’, strong, athletic, and just imagine him playing alongside Wade and Marion. I mean, you can see some potential there. And what about the positive effect he could have on a team that, quite frankly, was awful this year. Of course, Miami will have a high pick, Rose will be a high pick, it’s natural right?
ALSO SEE: PG Evaluation Index
No comments:
Post a Comment