2007-2008 Player predictions:Raymond Felton

[ziggy]

Continuing our player by player predictions for next season:
Give everyone your best case scenario, worst case scenario and most importantly your prediction of what you think this player will do on the court this upcoming season.
As the season progresses, we'll be able to refer back to these threads to see who had the best handle on what the players were going to do on the court.
We'll add one or two more players on the Bobcat's roster each day until we get predictions for the entire team.

Next up: Raymond Felton
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w301/bobcatsplanet/2002-05-08-inside-felton.gif

Best Case
Raymond thrives in Sam Vincent's uptempo offense and with the addition of Jason Richardson, Ray stops forcing circus shots, starts dishing more and puts up 18ppg, 10.0 apg, and shoots 44% from the field

Worst Case
Ray continues to shoot under 40%, take too many shots and begins to piss of Emeka and J-Rich by not getting them the ball enough. Ray is exposed as a career backup PG at best.

My prediction
Ray's assist numbers should go up because of the style of play and the added talent. Plus now there is no Brevin Knight looking over his shoulder. I think his assists skyrocket, but his FG% only increases slightly
16.4ppg, 9.3apg, 40.5% from the field

[walkerl]

Best Case: Raymond averages 15 ppg, 12 apg, and shots 44% from the field

Worst Case: Raymond averages 14 ppg, 8 apg, 6 turnovers per game and shoots 36% from the field

Prediction: Raymond averages 12 ppg, 10 apg, 3 turnovers per game and shoots 42% from the field, and makes 2nd team All NBA

[chabber]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/chabber/felton.jpg

Of all the guys this year I think an improvement in Felton's game could have a huge effect. If he is getting the ball to the right guys and becomes focused on creating for others then that will make a huge difference because I didn't see as much of that last year from him. Also I have to say that no matter what In all of these scenarios I think he's a pretty good defensive player. Definitely better than Paul and Deron in that department at least.


Best Case

Felton is inspired by our up tempo style and it leads to easier looks for himself and others. Also since there are more options out there he doesn't force as many shots bad shots and learns to dump the ball off more when he's driving wildly to the basket.

16ppg, 9.0 apg, and shoots 43% FG

Worst Case

Basically a repeat of last year. In this case we can pretty much assume what Felton will be for the next few years of his career. Shooting too much, is out of control going to the hole and doesn't feed the post enough.

15ppg, 7.5 apg, 39% FG

My prediction

I'm looking at a balance between the two. I don't think Felton is a ballhog so I see him getting people involved more and his assists going up. Whether or not he realizes Okafor in the post and tries to get him the ball may be up to the coaches too but he needs to make these decisions on his own and realize who's hot, mismatches etc....
Also I just don't see his driving improving. I think his handles are somewhat shaky and until he composes himself better when driving to the basket he will continue to take off-balanced out of control shots around the rim that help keep his FG% down.

14.5ppg, 8.5apg, 41% FG

[dvdbumpus]

Best Case

Felton thrives under former PG's tutelage and the uptempo style of play. Jason Richardson and Felton pair up with Crash to form a trio more feared than the likes of Kidd Carter and Jefferson. Felton has more room to drive in transition and really gets it together, just like he did in UNC.

18 PPG 9.5 APG shoots 44%

Worst Case

He still thinks he doesn't have a reliable team and tries to do too much with the ball. He leads the team in shots all the while leaving teammates wide open. Has decent assist numbers, but will never get the team into the playoffs or anywhere if they make it, ala Stephon Marbury.

My prediction

I think that this will be the year he becomes legit as a full time point guard. J-rich will be a godsend for him, as will be the new offense that brings out his strengths, especially that of speed.

Deron Williams stats last year: 16ish PPG, 9+ APG, lower FG%(42) but higher 3pt % (37)

[twebb]

Best Case: Felton stops forcing shots and in turn sees his own assists go up. Because of these new assists, he feeds the Crash, Jrich tandem and allows them to become the highest flying tandem in the NBA and in turn the Bobcats are the new Suns where people of all teams want to watch them play.

Worst Case: Felton does not spread the ball around enough, and in turn creates a locker room disruption between Jrich Crash and Emeka. THere is not enough touches to go around if you just dribble down and pull up for an awkward shot.

Prediction: Felton's speed and handles pair well with Vincent's quick style, and we see him thrive in assists, bringing it up to at least 10 apg. Points go down only a little from last year due to his passes and because he starts the season trying to force passes to improve from last year. By the all star break though I think he will have the perfect combo of pass/drive/shoot down and will be able to get his pts back up.

[Jonathanmartin7]

Best case, 17pts 12ass. and 3 reb. with J-rich on the team he ends up being able to drive to the hole and haveing only the guy in front of him to worry about.
Worst Case, Injury. If we lose him to injury then we will have the #1 pick in the draft next year.
prediction, my prediction is Best case.

[Mustachio]

im just giving my prediction...

Jrich, Crash, Okafor, May, Morrison, Hermann

all with one more year of experience and make for a well rounded cast for Raymond to distribute.
With a running team theres just too many options to pass out of Jrich to the right Crash to the left, Oak down low... i just cant see him forcing shots this year to keep us in the game.

He will do what good PGs do... shoot the ball ONLY when he is wide ass open or needs to penetrate the middle to open things up a bit... this is the big step this year.

[spectre]

Best Case

Felton thrives under former PG's tutelage and the uptempo style of play. Jason Richardson and Felton pair up with Crash to form a trio more feared than the likes of Kidd Carter and Jefferson. Felton has more room to drive in transition and really gets it together, just like he did in UNC.

18 PPG 9.5 APG shoots 44%

Worst Case

He still thinks he doesn't have a reliable team and tries to do too much with the ball. He leads the team in shots all the while leaving teammates wide open. Has decent assist numbers, but will never get the team into the playoffs or anywhere if they make it, ala Stephon Marbury.

My prediction

I think that this will be the year he becomes legit as a full time point guard. J-rich will be a godsend for him, as will be the new offense that brings out his strengths, especially that of speed.

Deron Williams stats last year: 16ish PPG, 9+ APG, lower FG%(42) but higher 3pt % (37)


Well said.

X2

[ALong13]

Best Case: Felton learns to pass more and shoot less, he succeeds in the run and gun offense, and scores 14 ppg, 12 apg with 43% from the floor.

Worst Case: Felton does terrible in the new offense, doesn't pass the ball, continues to shoot badly, and gets moved to #2. 9 ppg 4apg, and shoots at 37%.

Prediction: Felton does much better, and proves to be the Bobcats point guard for years to come. Doesn't get injuried and goes 13 ppg 10 apg, and shoots just over 40% from the field.

[Beekizzle]

Best Case: Felton shoots 49% from the field and averages 17 and 9.

Worst Case: No WC, he will avg 17 and 9 8)

[dav7z]

Felton becomes a assist machine, With Rich and Wallace on the wings numbers have to go up. 16ppg 12 apg and 3.5 turnovers per game . 1 .7 steals per game 45 percent from the floor 83 percent from the line.

[dvdbumpus]

If Raymond gets over a dozen assists like some of you are saying, I'll buy you all beers. If Steve Nash can't average 12 assists a game, no way Raymond goes that high. I can see realistically around 8-10.

[dav7z]

If Raymond gets over a dozen assists like some of you are saying, I'll buy you all beers. If Steve Nash can't average 12 assists a game, no way Raymond goes that high. I can see realistically around 8-10.




Im telling you with Jordon and Pipen on the wings and Oakfor down low 12 assist is realalistic. NA, Rich and Wallace no differance 12 assist average this year16 ppg and a lot higher shooting percentage.

[Jonathanmartin7]

Didn't Brevin average like 11, one year? if he can do that the surely it can happen for felton.

[dnbman]

I think most people have put up fairly good predictions on the scenarios, though the assist numbers are probably a little high. I put his assist cap at 11, and a generous cap at that.

My realistic predictions for him are:

16ppg
9 assists
41% Shooting
1.8 steals
3.5 boards
1.5 3s on 37% shooting
2.8 TOs

Basically, Nash light with significantly worse fg%

[dvdbumpus]

Didn't Brevin average like 11, one year? if he can do that the surely it can happen for felton.


It was 9 assists, but in only 30 minutes. He could have gotten 11 if he played 35-40.

In all honesty, the last person to average more than 12 assists/game was John Stockton in 1995, and I don't think that Raymond is the one to break that record. Sorry guys, but Raymond is no Nash or Kidd. He's a great playmaker but not the next coming of Stockton.

[dav7z]

Im not giving Felton all the cradit for this . Just look at the suporting cast. Of Wallace , Oakfor, Rich, Herrmann, The floor is wide open , to go along with a run and gun offence. Felton is one of the fastest points in the league. Hes going to pull Stockton like numbers. Then you going to say i told you so.[ Bumpus],.lol

[Alex]

Best Case:
20 ppg, 10 apg, 4.5 rpg, 45% FG
Felton flourishes in Vincent's fast paced offense and quickly establishes himself as one of the best PG's in the league. His FG% goes up due to the many easy shot opportunities that he has from all the fast breaks that the team will be creating.

Worst Case:
He has the same season he had last season. He has the skill and potential to be one of the best in the NBA but there's certain things about his game that he has to fix in order to take himself to that next level.

My Prediction:
17 ppg, 8.5 apg, 3.5 rpb, 43%
Raymond WILL have a great season for us. I really think that the style of play Vincent will promote will suit his game best and with two wing players like Wallace and Richardson he'll have plenty of assist opportunities. His FG % doesn't go as high as we would like because he continues to chuck up too many 3s.

[dvdbumpus]

Im not giving Felton all the cradit for this . Just look at the suporting cast. Of Wallace , Oakfor, Rich, Herrmann, The floor is wide open , to go along with a run and gun offence. Felton is one of the fastest points in the league. Hes going to pull Stockton like numbers. Then you going to say i told you so.[ Bumpus],.lol


Nash: Amare Stoudamire, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, Barbosa, and Joe Johnson a couple years back.

Now, add to that near 50% shooting as a team and 40% 3 pt shooting as a team. And Steve Nash still couldn't average 12 assists/game in uptempo offense with better offensive players, and Nash played 35 minutes.


As for Stockton, he had Mailman Karl Malone shooting nearly 20 shots and averaging about 26 points a game...the scorer of the most points in history...to go along with the team that made it deep in the playoffs...

Dav7z...I'm just going to continue to argue until you concede...so just :bowdown: haha. Just kidding, but we'll have a friendly wager of a beer for over/under 12 assists a game for the season. Sound like a deal?

[dnbman]

Over his career, that's too long of a wager.

Why don't you settle this now by both buying me a beer.

I'll be happy to serve as moderator in this regard, with my eyes solely focused on justice. :burp:

[dav7z]

Hell 2 assist per game or 14 lets all say screw it and go for the bear......LOL

[spectre]

Do we really want Felton getting 12 assists per game? If he did (highly likely regardless o'course) then that would mean he's dominating the ball. I'd much rather we move the rock fast and a lot vs. it just staying in Felton's hands like BK used to do.

I'd much rather Felton get 7 or 8 and JRich get 4, Crash get 3 and Mek get 3 vs. Felton getting 12 and the others only get 1.

Ball movement.

[dav7z]

Spectra i agree with you in a half court set ball movement is the key . But with the run and gun i expect it to be a lot of fast break points. Or a kick out on a secondary to sone one like Carroll , Rich, Herrmann, so i dont expect a hell of a lot of passing except on made baskets... Then ball movement is key.But even then i dont expect over two or three passes . It wont be many shot clock violations this year.

[spectre]

Spectra i agree with you in a half court set ball movement is the key . But with the run and gun i expect it to be a lot of fast break points. Or a kick out on a secondary to sone one like Carroll , Rich, Herrmann, so i dont expect a hell of a lot of passing except on made baskets... Then ball movement is key.But even then i dont expect over two or three passes . It wont be many shot clock violations this year.


Even if we can run as well as Phoenix...which I highly doubt...we'll still be running half court sets as we can only run when given the opportunity.

Look at the Suns...even with Nash dominating the ball and handing out almost 12 assists per game Bell, Diaw and Marion together also averaged 9 APG. Ball movement is ALWAYS key.

[dav7z]

I agree with ya about ball movement. It is the key. But with the speed of Felton, Wallace, and Rich we may run the break as good if not better than the Suns. Can any one name a point guard wing combo better or quicker than thease three guys. Felton, Wallace, Rich. I CANT THINK OF A BETTER WING COMBO.

[chabber]

That's easy...Billups, Hamilton, Prince. Obviously not as quick or fast but better none the less.

I'd be happy if Felton gets 8apg a game. 10 I'd be ecstatic. For Felton to increase assists totals from 7.5 to 12, besides a miracle, it'd probably require a legit 20+ppg scoring threat down low to help increase efficiency.

[chabber]

my bad. ;)

[dvdbumpus]

Just theoretically, if we did get a legit 20-30 point big man without losing any core, how far do you think we'd go?

[dav7z]

Chabber . It would be close . I think they shoot better and I think we a lot faster on the break .IS GOOD FO THOUGHT........
Bumpus A 20pt big in addition to Oakfor wins us a NBA Champion ship no weakness in the starting five plus a beanch. A 10pt 8rpg defencive big would win the east for us.
Thats why i wanted us to go for that one legit big this year in a trade. That and a back up point and we set.

[chabber]

If we added a legit low post player that could score 20+ we'd be in contention in the East along with Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Boston. We'd be lacking a backup PG, maybe a defensive player off the bench and relying on unproven depth in Herrmann, Ammo, Dudley but we'd be set for years.


As for the trio comparison. Felton is the weak link. I could see someone making claim that Wallace/Richardson vs. Prince/Hamilton is a wash but knowing what the later can do in the playoffs, and the fact that they are better shooters is a big difference. Especially in the playoffs when things are slowed down and every possession matters in a half court set.

[dav7z]

I have to concead to your coments about Felton being the weak link. I think Rich and Wallace have a ever so slight edge but when you add Felton and Billips into it they end up with a slight edge. Its damn close over all and if Felton comes out gunning we might have a slight edge.
GOOD POST REP IT UP..........

[Slam]

Best case
He really "gets it". The up tempo style really suits his game and he leads break after break with JRich on one side and Crash on the other getting them the ball in the right spot every time. He uses the pick and roll with EO50 and stops throwing the ball away with the 1st pass of the offensive set. He only takes 3's when his feet are set and he's square and he's money from down town. He starts his layups from further out (more at the top of the key and not past the foul line) meaning he stops getting caught under the rim or the back board forcing himself to jack up circus shots.

18ppg on 44%, 10apg, 4rpg, 2spg, 3tpg

Worse case
He really still doesn't "get it". He thinks with JRich on the team now he has some competition to be "the man" so not only does he continue to jack up ill advised shots, he jacks up even more. The up tempo style exposes all of his weaknesses, the main one his lack of poise and frantic style. He turns the ball over more and more and with the shots he takes you'd think he was playing with the Globetrotters, not the Bobcats.

16pp on 36%, 8apg, 3rpg, 1spg, 5tpg

My prediction
Another year in the league and the starting gig under his belt has meant the world. He's going to have grown up a lot and having a new coach will help him a lot. He felt pressue playing under BB (not because of BB but because BB is the guy Felts begged to draft him) and under an ex-pg as head coach, Felts works it out. JRich coming to town takes a lot of the pressure that Felts put on himself to take the shots he took. This will all be great because our season will depend heavily on how much Felts matures - more so than any other player.

15ppg, 4rpg, 9apg, 1.5spg, 3 tpg