Who is our true "go to" 2nd PG?
by James Burnett on Sep 10, 2010 3:04 PM EDT
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I think Duhon is pretty clearly the no. 2 PG going into the season. Williams is insurance.
His drop-off at the end of last year raises a lot of red flags. The team didn’t commit to Duhon for four years to sit him at the end of the bench. Then again, we said the same thing about Brandon Bass last year.
My thoughts about Bass are what prompted this post
We also went “all in” on Carter, only to spark debate about JJ starting and Vince’s days being over. I can likely see the “2 headed monster” approach with Duhon & Williams, much like the NFL is using multiple RBs in different situations. Let Duhon run around a bit and wreck havoc, then bring Williams in to bring the ‘run n gun’ with smooth passing. It will be interesting, but I bet Stan ends up having J Dubb in the game in the 4th qtr when Jameer needs a rest. Duhon has the Lebowski tendency to be lazy. J Dubb just needs more gas in the tank and Duhon may provide that needed rest to bring out the best from White Chocolate. Heck, 3 of the top 10 plays of the Magic last year involved Jason!
by James Burnett on Sep 10, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know if a highlight reel is the best way to evaluate player performance.
The fact is that Williams never really looked comfortable working with Dwight Howard, and once his shooting fell off—his really hot, fluky shooting to start the year—he became a liability on the court.
So you're saying...
….you expect the Magic to play Duhon sometimes…
…and then bring in Williams…
…for his passing?
I’ll admit there are some question marks about Duhon, but passing isn’t one of them by any means.
Unfortunately for Williams’ chances of getting situational PT, he doesn’t really have any strengths that are also weaknesses of Duhon. Williams is a decent passer (albeit an erratic one), but Duhon is an excellent passer who works well in a structured system and on the pick-and-roll. Duhon is no high-percentage scorer, but Williams is no better. Duhon is a good one-on-one defender who has struggled in a team concept… Williams is a lousy one-on-one defender who has struggled in a team concept.
Not to say Williams can’t still bring something to a team. it’s just that all the things Williams can still do are things Duhon can do better.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
Sorry, but I disagree on Williams' passing
I’ve been watching basketball for 30+ years and I have never seen someone that can pass the ball with the skill, craftiness and accuracy + degree of difficulty that Williams can. Herein lies his strength. It will prevail over ole lazy Duhon, mark my words.
by James Burnett on Sep 10, 2010 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, it didn't last year.
I know you’re a fan, but it’s hard to make that argument when the evidence we have suggests otherwise.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
I don't know about his lack of chemistry with D12
But you’re right about a highlight reel being a rude way to evaluate a player. You have to admit though, when Williams was playing at the top of his game last year, he could have given Jameer a run for the starting nod!
Well, find out about his lack of chemistry with D12.
Even early in the year, when Williams was posting decent stats, he struggled to grasp the offense. Sure, he was putting up the assists, but he wasn’t playing the offense right, and he frequently wasn’t running plays to get high-percentage shots for his teammates.
Remember, the peak of Williams’ involvement with the team’s offense coincided with the peak of Vince Carter launching too many 39% shots, Dwight disappearing from games and suffering from frustration, etc. I’m sure Williams got the assist in a lot of those scenarios, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he made the team’s offense better.
And the less said about his defense, the better… even before he crashed midway through the season, his D was horrendous.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
And once he cooled down shooting
His passes and ability to run the offense definatley did not make him a “liability” by any means. Orlando has, by far, the absolute best 3rd string PG in the league – for now – til he switches roles with Duhon! :)
Not so.
Look at his stats for the second half of the season. “Liability” is a polite way of putting it.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
AST/TO looks great
We have scorers, it’s just a matter of getting them the ball and not trying to force shots (Jameer). If he was a liability Stan and Otis would not have brought him back. He’s here for a reason and I bet it’s to light a fire under Duhon’s lazy butt to do something. If he doesn’t, expect #44 to be filling that 2nd PG role.
If he was a liability as a third PG, Stan and Otis wouldn't have brought him back as a third PG.
If he wasn’t a liability as a second PG, they wouldn’t have gone out and signed a real second PG.
You’re obviously a big fan of Williams’, and I respect that. But at some point, you need to look at the facts. And the facts suggest that Williams struggled to work within the Magic’s offense in the first half of the season, and due to fatigue, was completely ineffective after January or so. He did not have a good season, and it wasn’t simply a matter of fatigue that prevented him from having one. That’s unfortunate, but it is a fact.
It’s also a fact that, for all his current shortcomings, playing Williams at backup point is probably a better idea in case of injury than (for example) signing a guy out of the D-League. But I’d try not to read more into the situation than that fact.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
You got me on D
He’s no defender by any means.
There's a reply button on posts, you know.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
Yes. I know.
But if it’s you and me talking, what is the point. Please don’t be one of those technical junkies that insists on grammar, spelling and reply buttons.
by James Burnett on Sep 10, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Well if there is a third party included in on the conversation, I will make every effort to categorize.
Thoughts on this debate Mark?
You know, I'm on the fence here.
I’m suspecting this guy might be that troll, but I don’t know for sure.
Then again, I seem to recall that guy building things up slowly last time, so I suppose it remains to be seen.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
Yep. I'm off the fence now.
Thanks for clearing this up.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
Williams had a good season
He was very good in the first half, and bad in the second half. Getting an average NBA season out of a vet off the bench for the minimum is classified as a good season, for me.
You can’t let the end of the season cloud your view of his overall performance, just like you can’t let the start of his season make you overlook the bad end of his season.
He’ll be a solid 3rd option, I’m really glad we brought him back. He’s a much, much better shooter than Duhon so if the second unit needs someone to hit a shot, I’m sure he’ll get game time. And he’s a savvy vet with plenty to teach, and probably a good locker room presence as well.
But I don’t think there’s much chance of him taking over the backup role, unless Duhon screws the pooch, so to speak.
I don't think Williams is a "much, much better" shooter than Duhon.
I feel last year’s numbers (.444 from the field, .380 for three) were flukey… this is the guy who shot .384/.353 in his last season with Miami. And we know he had one really uncharacteristically hot streak…
Meanwhile, look at Duhon. Yeah, his numbers last year were bad (.373/.349)… but in ’08-09, he was .421/.391, while attempting almost half his shots from beyond the arc, for 56.9% true shooting.
Duhon has 52.4% career TS, compared to 50.6% for Williams. Neither number is great, but Duhon’s is better.
Duhon has shot more threes than twos in his NBA career. He has a 36.2% career three-point percentage. Last season was only the second time Williams surpassed 36% for a full year.
And while Williams has played much of his career with effective scoring teams, Duhon is set to line up alongside an offense which works at a level he hasn’t enjoyed in the NBA.
Last year’s stats aside, I can’t find much evidence which suggests that Duhon isn’t the better shooting option.
Unless, of course, it takes playing time away from Ryan Anderson.
I don't agree
But I’m not going into it for about the 11 millionth time.
by eltharion_doa on Sep 11, 2010 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions
i think duhon will have a great year and answer the questions of his critics.....
….i think his pick and roll ability will be valuable to our three point shooter this year…..in this offense i cant see his 3 point percentage taking a dive….he and redick will be steady with the ball in their hands this year…….
Just one mans opinion...
"We will pick 2 corners within the first 4 rounds" - 2009
"We will have 4 new linebackers via FA and the draft" - 2010
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