DJ & his (Lack Of) Assists

[BETCATS]

i see DJ as a starter averaging about 4-5 assists per game, when we give him heavy minutes thats what it looks like he would do with them. However, playmaker is not the role Larry Brown is using him, if LB was like 'hey be a playmaker' i am sure that is what DJ would do, but we need him for shooting more than playmaking.

[spectre]

BTW - People need to confirm what they think a pass first point guard and what a shoot first point guard is. For example, is DJ a shoot 1st PG because he can take and make shots and Felts is a pass first point guard because he can't make shots?

Heh!

I consider a "pass first" PG who'll look to get others involved first before they take their own shot. Nash of course comes to mind first. He can still score...can even be "the man"...but he works hard first to get the others involved.

A "shoot first" PG is like Baron Davis...is usually the high scorer and will take his shot if he considers it a "good shot" (this is sometimes and usually debatable)...but will rack up some assists because the D is queing on him.

Right now DJ "appears" to be the latter...but as I've said I think some of it is because he's very leary of pissing LB off (being a rook and all) and plays it too conservatively.

There's plenty of other threads on Felton, but since you asked I'd say his tendency is strongly to be a shoot first but is/can be a pretty good mix of the 2. That was LB's main task and the question of whether it could even be done (among other things like his contract) is probably what prompted the trade rumors. Supposedly LB is happy with Felton's progression...but it's definitely still a work in progress.

Personally, I don't want either but prefer a mix. Both types dominate the ball and I much prefer a passing/moving TEAM...which is what we're now building with Larry Brown Ball.

I think both PGs we have can be that...eventually.

[Slam]

Steve Nash takes more FGA per 36 than DJ does.

[spectre]

Not just about FGAs...it's about what the first (and second) intent is.

And of course pace probably has something to do with Nash's FGAs.

[teej]

Yeah, I think any PHX's FGA per 36 dwarfs us. They put up 160 a little while ago.

As far as DJ goes, I was only saying his injury (which is likely worse than other guys, based on his performance versus PT) could be leading him to just sitting around the 3 pt line and waiting to shoot more lately, which is something I've seen him do sometimes. Ray is all over the court, good and bad, but all over. DJ was for a litle bit, but he is much more conservative now. Thats why think the injury might be limiting him.

Also, as far as him playing with the first team, a good deal of that time is with Ray, and Ray is the main point in that situation, the ball almost always goes through him. And I echo whoever said if Radman could hit a few shots DJ would have 3x more assists over the last few games.

The assists dont worry me, the overall scoring of the second unti does.

[Slam]

Not just about FGAs...it's about what the first (and second) intent is.

And of course pace probably has something to do with Nash's FGAs.

That is very true and I agree 100%.

It just seems that some people tend to look at the way DJ is asked to play in order to help the team at the moment and consider him a shoot 1st point guard. I saw enough of him at Texas over two years to know that he is both - he's got great poise, decision making, passing and can stroke the ball.

There seems to be some sort of misconception (not saying by you) that DJ is a Boobie Gibson type PG. I don't feel that way. I also don't think that he is a Rondo type PG (one who is bad at shooting, so doesn't).

IMO he has a great balance to his game - like Nash.

Nash was the player comparison I made to DJ in my profile of him last year before the draft (all be it a poor man's version) and I stand by that after seeing him actually play in the NBA. I see him very much in the style of Nash.

Who would you compare him to?

[Slam]

The assists dont worry me, the overall scoring of the second unti does.

The assists don't worry me either - his current inability to identify a trap and work his way through/around/away from it worries me more.......although I think that can be easily fixed because he has great handles and poise.

[spectre]

Sigh, 1 assist in 29 minutes.

Let me back up; I don't think Nash is a "pass first" PG because I don't believe in such a thing...at least so far as being a pass first and being a good PG. A good PG does both, and he knows when to involve his mates more and he knows when he needs to score.

That'd be Nash/Paul/Kidd and to a point Williams.

The flip would be BDiddy & Mo Williams.

I liked DJ IN SPITE OF him calling himself a "pass first" PG, because I knew it was bullshit (just like I knew that guy Bayless wasn't a freaking PG). That didn't bother me though as I've said repeatedly...I want my PG to be able to score.

What do I see DJ as? I don't think I'm seeing what DJ really is. What I see now is a rook who is a great guy and who is doing his damndest to please Larry Brown. I know he can play in the paint...I've even commented before that he has that speed in the paint (deceptively slow) that Paul has. Thing is he's not doing it. I think he's deathly afraid to fuck up, so he leans on his scoring because 1) he's damn good at it and 2) who's going to bitch about scoring, esp. at such a high %?

It's quite frustrating, because I know he can do more.

[Slam]

It's quite frustrating, because I know he can do more.

1,000,000% agree. I guess he's just doing what's being asked of him though because it's what we need the most of.

I doubt we'll still be having the same conversation about his game in a couple of years time and I'll be very, very pissed (and surprised) if we are.

[Marvel]

I think it has to do with his role right now as outside of DJ and Radman we really have no scorers so me thinks LB has put DJ in a scoring role more than a playmaker.