Evaluating Mickael Pietrus

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 1, 2009 9:00 AM EDT in Evaluations Comment 19 comments

This week, 3QC will take a look back on each Magic player's 2008/2009 season. Each day focuses on one position: Monday for point guards, Tuesday for shooting guards, Wednesday for small forwards, Thursday for power forwards, and Friday for centers. I'll evaluate each individual player at that position at regular intervals throughout the day, while Eddy will make a general survey of the position later in the afternoon.

Mickael Pietrus, who started for the Magic at shooting guard on opening night, but wound up playing more minutes at small forward anyway, starts the proceedings. Hedo Turkoglu is due up later today.

Mickael Pietrus
No. 20	Small Forward
Points Per Game	Rebounds Per Game	Assists Per Game
9.4	3.3	1.2
Points Per 36	Rebounds Per 36	Assists Per 36
13.8	4.8	1.8
PER	Rebound Rate	Assist Rate
11.6	7.5	8.0
FG%	3FG%	FT%
41.3%	35.9%	70.9%
eFG%		TS%
50.7%		53.8%
All statistics in this table from Pietrus' player page at basketball-reference. Career-high statistics highlighted in gold.

When he came to Orlando last summer in free agency, Mickael Pietrus brought with him a reputation for inconsistency, injury-prone play, and erratic decisions. He also brought athleticism, defensive skill, and the ability to hit the corner three-pointer.

And that reputation? It's well-earned. We saw it all from him this year.

It could have been his injuries--the bruised ribs, fractured wrist, and dislocated thumb ligament--that opened the door for some of the Magic's in-season moves. Orlando had to rely on Courtney Lee to start for most of Pietrus' time on the inactive list, which proved that he could play, which in turn shifted Pietrus to a reserve role--at small forward behind Hedo Turkoglu--when finally healthy. Lee's emergence increased his stock to the point that the New Jersey Nets refused to part with Vince Carter in last week's trade were Lee not included.

Of course, that "butterfly effect" is mostly conjecture. Lee could have emerged even if Pietrus managed to stay healthy, for all we know.

But despite his injuries and overall mediocre performance in the regular season, MP was still a key to Orlando's success in the playoffs. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy attributed Pietrus' coming on strong to his finally being heathy and in-rhythm for an extended period of time, and I tend to agree with Stan. For the most part, MP played the best ball of his professional career in the Magic's run to the Finals. 15 double-figure scoring games for Mickael, in 24 games, off the bench in the postseason, including a 9-game stretch spanning Game 6 of the Boston series to Game 1 of the Finals.

And he managed to improve his offense while playing the same solid, if foul-prone, defense. Through the first 3 games of the Finals, Pietrus held Kobe Bryant to 44.1% shooting when he guarded him one-on-one, the second-best such mark in the league, according to Orlando Magic Daily. In the regular season, Lee was far-and-away the Magic's best perimeter defender. In the playoffs, a healthy Pietrus proved he was even better.

That's really the point. Pietrus probably played above his head just a bit in the playoffs--a 14.0 PER, 58.9% eFG% and 62.2% True Shooting--but nevertheless, the Pietrus we'll see next year and the ones to come in Orlando will be closer to that one than to the regular season version. That bodes well for the team. One thing he really needs to work on this summer is his handle. It's not that he needs to be Allen Iverson or Deron Williams with the ball, but he should at least be able to run a fast break without double-dribbling or traveling. Even in halfcourt situations, he dribbles the ball too high, making him vulnerable to weak-side help defenders. Other than that, and his tendency to finish with finger-rolls and scoop shots rather than more conventional, higher percentage shots, he's a solid player.

Grade: B

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Comments

Once again,bullseye.

Although I’d give him an A,don’t know why either,I just like this guy.
He has part of that ’Shard’s coolness.
Happy to have MP!!

by Dzogi on Jul 1, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

MP.has talent.

B is for good. He was billed as a defensive guy but started out as more on offense and then defense and then in playoffs did both. He has ability.

The Surfdog

by Surfdog on Jul 1, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

B+ for me

It would’ve been just a B based on regular season, but the step up in the playoffs earns him a plus for me. Also, this is my first comment on the site…long time reader and huge Magic fan.

I like Air France, but I like him off the bench. I would love to see us make a move for Rasheed and move Rashard down to the 3. Our defense would improve, our rebounding would improve, and we would provide even more spacing for Dwight while adding an extra perimeter shooter.

I also think we should be giving Fran a call. If we were ever going to lure him over, now is the time.

On Gortat: While I think Gortat is a solid player, he is going to get overpaid after his performance in the playoffs. We are better off saving our money and finding value elsewhere. Anyways, thats my 2 cents

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on Jul 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome

Defense isn’t really the Magic’s problem, as they had the most efficient one in the entire league last year. Offense? That’s an issue. It was 11th.

We’re happy to have you.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Central

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 1, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

just because it wasn’t a problem, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon.

"I'd hate to leave right when the getting is good." -CC

by Matt Bishoff on Jul 1, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Defense can always be improved, but upgrading the offense is a bigger priority.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

He deserves a 'C' TOPS for the regular season

so a ‘B’ for the whole thing really does sound about right.

by fwedo on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Considering how bad he was in the regular season and how good he was in the postseason.

I think a B is just right .. not too high and not too low.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

great points about Gortat and Fran. Magic need to get him now or forever forget about him. If he tries to go to another NBA team later in the future, Magic have his rights and leverage.
I think MP can defintely start and be very efficient, but I am open to the idea of Rasheed coming in too.

by derekk on Jul 1, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Good thoughts.

As Ben said, welcome to 3QC.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

B- for regular season, A+ for playoffs

A- for early half of season and a C+ rest of the way but some of it is injuries what can he do about it, he was averaging a sturdy 13 PPG through about 2 months, before he got the injury runs, and everyone seems to forget that. He had quite a few 15+ PPG games in that stretch too.
He doesn’t need to necessarily handle better, because I dont remember saying there MP goes losing the ball again. Its more like he needs to drive and slash more. And better. He doesn’t try to elusively finish, if there’s someone in the way, it’ll be a contact play. MP would still finish the play many times anyways, but this contributed to TO’s, offensive fouls (something he cant spare, Dwight/MP need foul control, they are important defenders), and it also contributes to landing/falling in a bad manner that can be conducive to getting injured. So he needs to learn to drive/slash smarter so he can finish it more often and to land the correct way to avoid injury. He is Gerald Wallce Part 2 in that regards. He also lacks focus, he doesn’t try to defend so hard in some games, but then when the playoffs come he shows better defense than C.Lee and its obvious he can maintain it because he did that from Round 2 and on pretty much. He was also good at handling pressure situations, so while his IQ can cause a few silly mistakes, it doesnt much care for pressure moments either, which is a plus! All the criticism of his driving and slashing is constructive though, because he is a good driver and really ought to utilize it more, even though his 3P% is decent and was rather quite good in the playoffs.
I dont think he played above his head in the playoffs, right about where I was expecting him to be when I wanted him signed the most last summer. He is not really a veteran yet, he’s like 26,27 and can keep the playoff production into the next regualr season and playoffs, but I actually expect MP to get alittle better. He is a very underrated Magic player in the playoffs playing defense and hustling, doing what C.Lee did in the regular season, so now MP has it on his shoulders to do the same in both the regular season and playoffs, not just the playoffs. MP has the potential to be a very good player, he’s a key defender already, on offense he is mostly a role player, but he could offensively take over more than most people think he can. Yes, I have a little bias, Jameer and MP are my favorite players besides Dwight Howard of course, but the potential is easily there to be had, and I expect to see more of it and some consistency.

by derekk on Jul 1, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions