Off-Day Open Thread: Jameer Nelson's Point-Guard Worldview

by Evan Dunlap on Mar 31, 2010 8:00 AM EDT in Off-Day Open Thread

After the Orlando Magic's come-from-behind win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 21st, in which point guard Jameer Nelson and shooting guard Vince Carter scored 8 points apiece during the decisive 16-3 run in the game's final moments, a reporter asked Nelson about his aggressive drives to the basket during that stretch, and whether he'd maintain that mentality. His response serves as today's point for discussion, and a plain statement on his point-guard worldview:

I don't get many plays called for me, so I have to be aggressive when the opportunity presents itself, whether it's for myself to score, or for others. One thing we... as a team, everybody has a role. My role is to get into the paint and make plays and be aggressive. And if I'm not doing that, I'm being selfish.

Whenever a point guard talks about needing to take shots, it seems that he's bound to face criticism. "Point guards should pass first, second, and third before looking for their own shots" seems to be an accepted line of thinking, even in 2010. What I'm curious about is your response to Nelson's comments here, which more-or-less convey the idea that he'd be selfish not to look for his own shot every now and again. I can't help but feel like some Magic fans will see that quote and pine for the halcyon days of Scott Skiles or Carlos Arroyo running the point. If it's any consolation to those folks, Jason Williams has proven to be a darn efficient playmaker, which prompted coach Stan Van Gundy to call him "the best passer we have" last Friday.

So: what do you make of Nelson's philosophy?

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Comments

I think it’s clearly the best thing he can do. That’s exactly what the Magic need from Jameer, he is aggressive attacking the paint and the Magic offense will never stagnant like it likes to do at times. He’s not a ballhog, he still is getting great assists too. He’s been trying to get back to last year I can see, but he’s only making it work sometimes and he hasn’t hit his shots as much as I’d know he could, even if I considered last yr shooting %‘s slightly abnormal. But to me, I would tell him not only to keep being aggressive like that, but that I understand if Jameer makes a few more turnovers and less %’s when attacking, because I know Jameer can be absolutely lethal later in the playoffs and there are zero teams that can handle the Magic if Jameer is always aggressive on top of everyone else that contributes, Dwight, VC, Lewis, etc.

by derekk on Mar 31, 2010 8:25 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 6 recs

I agree with this

That threat of Jameer driving or pulling up to shoot is part of what makes our offense so potent. He’s certainly a talented enough scorer, so I’ve got no problem with him creating some offense for himself when the opportunity is there. Why not use all the options we have at our disposal?

by madhjsp on Mar 31, 2010 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

my sentiments exactly...

The game has evolved and its necessary for him to be this way for us to succeed. If he doesn’t look for his own shot…then in our offense….he will become a liability…because of how our offense is set up…

"He is fast, but what I like about him is he looks like one of those track guys that actually knows how to run the ball and has good vision and patience. He is not just running at top speed. He knows when to use his speed, and he has some power and toughness, too.'' Barry Sanders about CJ2K
Dwight Howard >The Justice League of America

by Bonafidebrother on Mar 31, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep yep. Jameer knows what he’s gotta do. He said it perfect in that quote and it reflects everything we’re saying too.

by derekk on Mar 31, 2010 8:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

recrecrec

perfect.

by fwedo on Mar 31, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Jameer looking for shots frees up everybody else

When he’s on, he becomes a distraction to the off-ball defenders, because he could PnR, PnP, drive off an iso, drive and pop, or just bomb from long range. He’s best when driving, because the collapsing defense creates the passing lanes and open shots that are what this offense feeds from. When he establishes himself as a scoring threat early, it opens up opportunities for other shooters (and Dwight) to get more open looks.

I’d love to see Jameer’s “hockey assists” totals, because I think a lot of his non-assists passes are Jameer driving, kicking to a shooter, and that shooter swinging it to a more open shooter – no assist for Jameer, but he creates the play.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Mar 31, 2010 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Excellent Point

I was thinking the same thing but couldn’t figure out what to call it. PGs like Paul, WIlliams and Nash have offenses set up totally different. They know where their player’s “sweet spot” is so the assists can pile up. Orlando is all about getting the ball to a point and the swinging it around (which is a beautiful thing when it’s on) if needed so Jameer’s assists are decreased significantly but he’s just as effective. Much like the “trashman players” I love to watch (Rodman, Rambis, Outlaw, Andersen and even Varejao) who’s accomplishments rarely show on the stat line, Jameer’s numbers may not be eyepopping but the team recognizes his importance.

by telka on Mar 31, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

We're a team with a dominant center and 3 point shooters.

Other than Dwight having the ball, how else would you create open shots for your snipers? You drive and dish. simple. Attacking the rim is almost always a good decision.

by Alex9 on Mar 31, 2010 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

I like it when he's aggressive

Last season, it was mostly Hedo’s job to drive to the paint to either find Howard or take his own wild shot and hope that Howard would clean it up. I know they’re a good 3 point shooting team but I still think they’re more efficient when they’re getting into the paint. Nelson needs to do that more often. I also have not seen much of the Nelson to Howard alley-oop connection this season.

by jax502 on Mar 31, 2010 9:21 AM EDT reply actions

Jameer's drives create other offense

I agree with what others have been saying on this topic. In that quote, I don’t think Jameer was necessarily saying that he’s selfish if he doesn’t shoot. I think he’s saying that if he’s not aggressive by driving the ball, forcing the defense to react, and either getting an easy shot for himself or his teammates, then he’s not helping the team as much as the times when he simply wastes the shot clock dribbling around the perimeter.

by real thrilla on Mar 31, 2010 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

It's what he does best

It’s what he fits into our team doing, and it makes him and the players around him more effective. Got no problem with him doing it, although when his shooting hand is banged up, he could probably dish it a little more.

by eltharion_doa on Mar 31, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

Scotty Skiles will always be one of my favorite players.

But no, I’m not pining for those days. I think Jameer’s philosophy is sound. His aggressiveness opens up the other shooters and stretches the floor for Dwight. It also creates some great dynamics with pick and rolls like what you saw with Vince and Jameer during that Cleveland game you mentioned. It is dismaying though that the Orlando Magic aren’t one of the better teams in the NBA at assists per game. You’d think with all the great ways we can get assists as a team that we’d be higher in that ranking.

The intensity has to go up, up! Not down...UP! -Stan Van Gundy

by cgsimone on Mar 31, 2010 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting to see so many supporting Jameer.

Glad to see it, too. Sometimes he’s over-aggressive which can lead to a TO or a bad shot occasionally, yes, but I’ll take the positives that his mentality gives us with those negatives. Obviously as he’s rounded into better shape (along with VC), the whole team has taken off. Pretty big correlation to both of them being aggressive and driving to our team’s success.

I hate Varejao.

by slickw143 on Mar 31, 2010 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Yea, very big correlation with Jameer and VC to the Magics success.

by derekk on Mar 31, 2010 8:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Jameer Rules

I cringed when I read the name Carlos Arroyo.

My comments have been insightful lately I know.

"Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons shitty diaper n it"~Matt Barnes

by BS Patrol on Mar 31, 2010 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

I cringe when I...

read the name Scott Skiles. I loved/hated him as a player with the Magic. For all the great plays he made, all I can remember is him shuffling down the lane and bricking shots off the bottom of the backboard (then looking for the foul). One positive thing is that I now have a very stout forehead from four years of smacking it in disbelief/frustration over this. Unlike Skiles, I think that, more often than not, Jameer’s aggressiveness leads to positive plays for the Magic. When Jameer is on and attacking the lane, the Magic offense is nearly unstoppable. Whether it’s him shooting a floater or kicking it out or throwing an oop, when the Magic are rolling opposing coach’s have to be crapping their pants.

by TheOtherWhiteMeat on Mar 31, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions