Point Guard Problems
Ridiculous, isn’t it? Jason Kidd, arguably one of the 5 best point guards to ever play the game and 1 or 1a playing today, is unhappy. This is made even more remarkable because Kidd has been touted as the guy who doesn’t take any of this “trade me!” guff from his team mates, figuratively slapping them about the face and urging them to prove their points on the court. Whether you buy the Migraine/Tanking story from Kidd’s or the media’s point of view, he is clearly not satisfied. Then again, I wouldn’t be either if I was playing with Vince Carter. On a related note, how good is Richard Jefferson?
Then we move up North and West (slightly) to Toronto, where TJ Ford has returned from injury to find that he is no longer the best point guard on the team. Sure, there have been nights before when Calderon played better than TJ, and many more where the vice was versa, as it were, but Sunday night against Houston, TJ looked lost. It seemed like every time he touched the ball, he was turning it over. Really, the argument for keeping both players was that they gave different looks: José takes better care of the ball and distributes it more effectively, but TJ was better offensively for those times when you need your point guard to take over the game. Recently, though, Calderon has shown that he can do that. And without the turnovers. I know it’s been said to death and refuted by Mitchell as much if not more, but Ford is the only tradeable piece that we have and can afford to part with. I would not be surprised to see him gone before Tip Off ’08.
As if this wasn’t enough, Jamaal Tinsley has to go lose his mind and be an idiot. A really big idiot. Guns and celebrities do not mix. Clubs and sports stars do not mix. The three together are never going to end well. Tinsley is having a breakout year, really leading an Indiana franchise that nobody expected anything from. Combined with Granger and the steady play of Jermaine O’Neal, they’re overachieving. But now? This is not even the first time Tinsley has done something stupid. Can Indiana really let this slide, without even a suspension? Let alone Mr Stern…
Toronto Talk
Has Jamario hit the rookie wall to some extent? He wasn’t his normal self against Houston, but I think that may have had more to do with being demoralised after Boston and Bosh’s return lessening his offensive importance. Speaking of CB4, how good was he? 4 blocks, a double double, leadership, free throws, inside help…everything we’d been missing. Rasho continues to be solid in more ways than one, keeping Yao outside the key for the most part, once he realised that if he was going to shoot, he needed to be outside or dunking. Humphries was incredible last night, went after everything and had some nice crowd-popping moments. Kapono also impressed me, some nice passes and a couple of good drives proved that he isn’t one-dimensional.
When you look at the players we picked up for virtually nothing (Moon for nothing, Delfino for 2 second-rounders, Humphries for Hoffa the Dancing Bear), Colangelo has done what is required to build a contender: get people who contribute for no cost. Add in Parker and Jose, signed from Europe, and you have the core of this year’s players.
Quick Questions
Is this the year Atlanta finally do something?…..Is there an unluckier team than Charlotte so far?……15+ assist in 5 games – is anyone better than Nash right now?…..How bad are Cleveland without LBJ?…..How hot is Ashley Kapono?…..When will Toronto fans realise that there are precisely two players worth booing that were ever Raptors: Vince and Mourning?…..Who’s going to be the team that pulls the trigger on the first blockbuster – one of Kobe, AK47 and Marion – causing the other 2 to get traded soon after?….Why isn’t Carl English on an NBA roster?
I’ll be back next week with more stuff you really, REALLY wanted my opinion on. Even if you didn’t. Because I’m Lansdellicious…and you’re not!
Related posts:
Colangelo has done what is required to build a contender: get people who contribute for no cost.
Lets revisit this around Jose contract negotiation time.
First-off, I think this is the best article you have written yet, Chris.
Secondly, I’d like to address a few points of contention. Ford’s signing has made him a BYC player, which means there are less options when trading him, which means the likelihood of him being traded is incredibly diminished. The chances of the Raptors trading him and keeping Jose (something a lot of us want) are slim.
Thirdly, I’m getting really tired of this Bosh is our saviour talk. Let’s get the facts straight on the Houston game. Bosh SUCKED the first half, and he also SUCKED for about half his possession in the second half. I think someone should do a study on Bosh’s percentage of shots made 10-15 feet away from the basket and the number of drives he makes towards the basket and the probability of him either getting the bucket or going to the line. It seems that he misses more and more of the 10-15 footers but instead looks at these shots as his number one option before he looks to drive and get fouled. I believe the latter is not only what we need, but contributes to a much likelier chance at getting points.
The Carl English thing has to stop though, because it gets harder and harder to believe your a credible source and not just a homer advertising for one of your friends. Worse than Chuck Swirsky.
Spudz
I was wondering about Jamario myself. I don’t think it’s the rookie wall. He was playing in at least two leagues a year previous to being picked up by the Raptors. Though, I expect the level of effort may have been less than he is having to put out in the NBA.
Was it Jack Armstrong raising questions about the number of minutes he’s been playing in the 6 or 7 games before meeting the Rockets? He seemed to share your opinion a bit.
I suspect his game on Sunday had a bit to do with Bosh coming back and changing the team dynamics. Moon just seemed a little more unsure of where he should be playing. I would expect him to get back in step, and then Jamario’s liftoff will return.
As Scott pointed out, he has got accustomed to sitting on the wings in a halfcourt offense without moving at all.
I don’t think that has anything to do with playing time, but he sure seems unsure of the system (or he’s just bull headed).
Who knows though, as I see a lot of players unsure of what the heck is supposed to happen on the offensive end.
Very true. Again, one of the things you pick up on live and you don’t really see often on tv: on virtually EVERY offensive possession, Moon runs the floor and….stands there. Could it be drawn up that way? Sure. I doubt it, though, the way Sam has been riding him for lack of effort in attacking the basket.
For a team short on inside help, athletic help, persistent help, you’d hope for a bit more from him rather than letting him continually looking for a running rebound or putback.
Look at Sam’s quick hook in the 3rd quarter of the last game if you want more.