NBA PICK UP GAME 2012: Shooting Guards (You don't want on your team)

Felipe M

I conducted a small poll asking the simple question, "Which five NBA players would you not want to have on your pickup team?"  Needless to say, I ended up getting very different answers so I decided to split this into a 5 part series based on NBA positions.  What follows is the list of players followed by the reasoning behind the selection. Players are ranked based on perception of most talented, to least talented player.

1. Joe Johnson--Brooklyn is in the house! Unfortunately, Johnson was hated on this list. Might just be the most overrated player in the NBA. As we're finding out in Atlanta, Johnson might've been holding back the Hawks and has underwhelmed fans in terms of counting stats. His last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder saw him post 33 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, but his previous game against the San Antonio Spurs, he only scored 12 points, 0 rebounds, and 2 assists. Pretty adequate stat line, but for a second banana like Johnson, this is disappointing. He frustrates fans by dribbling the ball too much (a recurring theme in this edition), but the best line came from one fan who stated "being overpaid made him actually think he's worth it."
• Johnson's scoring, rebounding, and assists' averages are down from last season. Also down are his field goal percentage (FG%), free-throw percentage (FT%), and 3-point percentage (3PT%) from last year. Johnson is also 31 years-old and is playing in his 11th year in the NBA. Add it all up and that would explain why I was confident in predicting the struggles for the New Jersey Nets.
2. Jamal Crawford--This one is a no-brainer.  You ever play with a guy who all he wants to do is dribble the ball and constantly try to break defeders' ankles and also thinks he can blow by a defense by his lonesome?  Well, that's Jamal Crawford. His handles are fun to watch, but let's face it, in the playground game, unless you're playing in New York City or you're watching a one-on-one tournament, he can be one of the most annoying people on the court. As a Chicago Bulls' fan, Crawford was a very annoying player to watch because of his selfishness.  And he also plays terrible defense (at least that's his reputation).
• Many fans agree as one person stated that he would "want to play... [with] guys who look to make the right play instead of going for their own shot all the time."  
• Despite the perceived selfishness, Crawford is indeed an integral part of the surging L.A. Clippers' bench, providing instant offense. He's averaging his most points/game since 2009, averaging over a steal per game for the first time since 2007, and showing improvements in FG% and 3PT% compared to last season.
3. Tyreke Evans--After 4 seasons in the NBA, Evans has become sort of the ringleader and holding down the title of "Dumbest Player in the NBA" playing for the "Dumbest team in the NBA." It's no secret my disappointment of Evans whose NBA career started with so much promise only to have fizzled in the last couple of seasons. Injuries have a lot to do with it, I'll give him that, but you can't deny his poor play. The Sacramento Kings have tried to do everything with Evans, utilizing him at point guard, then adding guards who can switch to point so Evans can be the off-guard on certain possessions, and they even have placed him at small forward where he clearly does not like to play. After all this time in the NBA, the same old story still is true: if Evans doesn't have the ball in his hands, he simply just isn't interested in playing in the game. It's true in the NBA and it's true when you and your other 3 teammates are working up-and-down the court, but Evans isn't doing much except waiting to get the ball back.
4. Jason Richardson--This was an interesting one. Richardson has certainly tried his best to go from a high-flying athlete, to a savvy veteran who is comfortable taking shots from anywhere on the court. One fan, however, vented his frustration because of inconsistent play when Richardson was on that fan's fantasy basketball team: "he always came up short, but then just when I was ready to cut him, he'd show up with a big game and then I was forced to keep him around." 
• The best way to desribe Richardson is by saying that he's a poor man's Joe Johnson: both players are 31 years-old and in their 11th year in the league. Obviously, Johnson plays more minutes, but both have similar shooting percentages from the field and 3-point range. Although Richardson is producing similar numbers like he did last season with the Orlando Magic, Richardson's career, in general, has been declining in the last couple of seasons or so. 
5. Leandro Barbosa--Yet another guy who is perceived to have a low skill-set, but makes up with athleticism. However, Barbosa, as one fan pointed out, is on this list for a different reason as he has been accused of "sleeping and impregnating Steve Nash's wife."  Besides having a player on your team who is posting his lowest FG% of his career, you can't have a teammate who might end up sleeping with your spouse.  That just can't be accepted. (Let the record show that these are just allegations).

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Nick Young--"he's a chucker and his 'swagger' would irritate the [hell] out of me," and "he would leave in the middle of a game because he didn't want to miss his barber shop appointment." I've actually played a game with a guy who did indeed leave in the middle of a game because he had to go get his haircut. And is there anyone more annoying than playing with a guy who is more concerned with the way he "looks" on the court than how his "play" looks on the court?  Oh yeah, the jerk who takes countless, stupid shots would be more annoying.  In this case, Young takes the cake on this one.
• Ben Gordon--Speaking of guys who chuck up shots, Gordon has never met a shot he did not like. The most frustrating part about Gordon is that he will actually make the luckiest shots ever so you really can't yell at him for constantly shooting.  His best years came as a Bulls' player where he would, more often than not, come off the bench and single-handedly ignite countless Bulls' comebacks. He can still shoot the ball, but hasn't averaged 15 points per game since he was a Bull and hasn't averaged over 3 rebounds per game since...he was a Bull.  
• Best part about Gordon however is he gives every guard that's 6'3" with large wingspans, but who cannot play defense or play point guard hope that he too can one day shoot his way into a multi-million dollar contract
• DeShawn Stevenson--It only seemed like yesterday that Stevenson was selected out of high school and became an instant bust for the Utah Jazz. However, this is Stevenson's 12th season in the NBA! One of the most inconsistent NBA players you'll ever find, showing flashes in one game, and then doing nothing, but take up space for several games after. If there are intangibles to Stevenson's game (good defender?) that I'm not aware of, I would like to hear them now. 
• Gerald Green--If the NBA was void of skill and talent and was just a young, athletic, dunking league, then Green would be the greatest player of all time.  

 More NBA discussion is welcomed here.

NBA 2012-13 Fantasy Preview: THE BAD AND UGLY

Felipe M

(The following article will now deal with NBA players who are destined to see a dip in their production as we enter the upcoming NBA season. All projections are based on fantasy point, head-to-head leagues.  I apologize, once again, to any roto fans out there).

Unfortunately, what goes up, must come down in the real world, and it's no different in the NBA as some players' stock just has to come down for various reasons (age, new coach, new system, new teammates, new rules, etc).  The following is a list of players who will most certainly see a dip in their stock for this upcoming (and maybe beyond this) season:

• Jameer Nelson--Despite being the de facto best scoring option and playmaker in Orlando, projections show that he will not produce as much as most guards who are in similar situations (i.e. Ramon Sessions).  There's a reason why Dwight Howard did not want to play with him in Orlando. 
• Gerald Wallace--How "experts" can pick the New Jersey Nets as a title contender with Wallace in the starting lineup is perplexing to me. His career will continue to "crash."
• Andrew Bogut--After sustaining a number of injuries (most of them very serious) Bogut gets a fresh start at Golden State, but it's doubtful that he will post up the numbers he used to post up in Milwaukee. 
• Elton Brand--You can make the argument that his decline began a long time ago, but many fantasy owners still believe that a fresh start in Dallas where he will play in a more conventional half-court offense will revitalize his career.  My prognosis is that he cannot be relied on too heavily for this season.
• Anderson Varejao--Despite the fact that his production comes in the hustle categories, Varejao's time in Cleveland might be coming to an end as the Cavs might use him as trade bait for a contending team, which might mean a decrease in minutes/production.
• Chauncey Billups--Age and decline in production and play time play a factor in him making this list.
• Tyreke Evans--What should be the prime of his career, Evans is stuck in basketball limbo as he has refused to develop another dimension to his game. 
• Jose Calderon--Mr. Calderon, here's Kyle Lowry.
• Nene--No longer will benefit from the fast-paced game of the Denver Nuggets and was already unhappy being traded to D.C.
• Ray Felton--This is an obvious submission to this list as his timing is horrendous in returning to New York only to have coach Mike D'Antoni missing.
• Paul Pierce--He's still the best scoring option in Boston, but every year, he's relinquishing more and more control to Rondo.  
• Devin Harris--His days as a starting point guard in the NBA have come to an unexpecting end.
• Gerald Henderson--With the selection of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Henderson's days in Charlotte and as a somewhat fantasy relevent player might be nearing an end soon.
• Dorrell Wright--Was a fantasy darling when he played at Golden State, I don't expect him to do much in Philly despite the similar styles in play by both teams. 
• Caron Butler--Too much talent in Clipper-land and not enough basketballs to go around. Butler is in "Swingman Hell."

Next up, we will take a look at the NBA players who are in the crossroads of their careers coming into this season.

Kings @ Bulls Oct. 31, 2012 Preview

Felipe M


It's opening week in the NBA and I am excited for the new season.  As a Bulls' fan, however, I can't say the same.  Regardless, we march forward and anxiously await the return of super-sensation, Derrick Rose (who might not return until NEXT SEASON!) and preview GAME 1 of the 2012-13 NBA season.

1. What to Watch for:

• Sacramento Kings:
• They are simply the Noah's Ark (no, not Joakim Noah!) of the NBA; they have two of every player at every position, therefore, lack versatility on their roster.  
• They have the quick and speedy Isaiah Thomas and he will be backed up by the quick and speedy Aaron Brooks.  Marcus Thornton is a poor man's Tyreke Evans. Backing up their spots are the three-headed-monster of Francisco Garcia, Travis Outlaw, and John Salmons, who all have similar skill sets and are not very good except for standing outside the perimeter, waiting to shoot a wide-open three-point shot. And let's not forget the glut of big men led by DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, rookie Thomas Robinson, James Johnson, and Chuck Hayes. 
• It will be very interesting to see if Cousins and Robinson play together during tonight's game.  Both have similar games, but Cousins is clearly light years ahead of Robinson. But what Cousins has in talent, he lacks in personality as he's quickly becoming one of the biggest jerks in the NBA.  Conversely, Robinson comes with a reputation of being a motivated, hungry, hard worker and holding a good head on his shoulders.  
• Chicago Bulls: 
• As mentioned, the Kings have a very quick backcourt and will certainly want to run all game long.  So can the Bulls' backcourt, led by Kirk Hinrich and Rip Hamilton, with Nate Robinson coming off the bench, slow them down? 
• The entire city of Chicago made a big deal about Carlos Boozer sitting on the bench in the 4th quarter of games last season as Taj Gibson was on the floor for those critical minutes. If Noah gets into early foul trouble, should be interesting to see if Gibson comes in AND is able to play well alongside Boozer. 
• Rookie Marquis Teague is the long-term solution for the Bulls while Derrick Rose is out, but clearly is not ready to see heavy minutes.  Nevertheless, seeing him play some minutes would give Bulls' fans a small taste of what this kid can do.  
• A dream scenario would be if he comes into the game as the Bulls' backcourt struggles on the court, especially on the defensive side and Coach Tom Thibodeau is forced to put him in the game for defensive purposes. But this is only a dream.
• Finally, while their primary scorer is out for a long period of time, who on this Bulls' roster will step up and fill in his absence?  Which player will be the one to take those last minute, game-tying/winning shots?  Who will be the playmaker?  

All these questions about both teams won't be answered in one game, but it's safe to say that the answers will begin to unravel.  

So I have yet to get a straight answer about Tyreke Evans and his decline in productivity. Anybody else want to take a crack at this puzzle?

THE CURIOUS CASE OF: Tyreke Evans

Felipe M

BACKGROUND--IN THE BEGINNING: When former Memphis Tigers' combo guard Tyreke Evans was selected #4 overall in the 2009 NBA draft, it was at the apex of youth basketball developing explosively quick, fast, strong, and athletic guards who can play both point and shooting guard positions at a moment's notice and the NBA's willingness to eagerly acquire these players.  The 2008 NBA draft, saw a plethora of talent at this hybrid position as 5 out of the 11 first picks of that draft were players that fit that mold of the super-fast, score-at-will guards, including future league MVP, Derrick Rose. 

HITTING THE BIG TIME: Evans became just the 4th rookie player in NBA history to score 20 points per game, and have 5 rebounds and assists per game, joining a very exclusive class of players who achieved that feat in their first year in the NBA--Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.  There were even arguments that Evans might be better than Rose given his size and athleticism.  Already in his 3rd season however, and Evans' production seems to be decreasing, his basketball IQ is somewhat mediocre, and the lofty expectations that were bestowed upon him and the rest of his young teammates in Sacramento are not even close to being met.  

THE ISSUES--THE BAD: So what has been the biggest problem for this promising, but dwindling superstar?  Well, for starters, one can look at his Pre-Draft Scouting Report and see that the question marks about his game back then, are still prevalent in his third season as a pro:

• Ball-handling skills makes one believe he can be a successful point guard, but prefers to play shooting guard--but he's a player that needs to have the ball in his hands, at all times, to be successful.
• Loves playing a fast pace of basketball where he doesn't have to worry about calling plays.
• Prefers playing in a system where isolation plays are designed for him.
• His shot is still questionable, bounded by an even worse outside shot. 
• Could be careless with the ball and does not distribute the ball enough to his teammates.

To reiterate, these are the same issues that scouts had with Evans' game that pundits are still bringing up about him to this day!  Suddenly, Evans goes from being a match-up problem at the point guard position, to being labeled a tweener in the backcourt--does not possess the court awareness to be a point guard, nor the shooting touch to be a shooting guard.

THE ISSUES--THE GOOD: Supporters of Evans will argue that despite these flaws in his game, he still has immense potential that has not been successfully tapped by an inept Sacramento Kings' franchise who: 

• Lack veteran leadership on the roster.
• Have drafted and/or acquired other young projects such as Jason Thompson, J.J. Hickson, Donte Greene who cannot be trusted to play heavy minutes.
• Seemingly overstocking on similar-playing guards seemed to have hurt Evans' production having to share the ball in the backcourt with John Salmons, Jimmer Fredette, and Marcus Thornton (though Thornton proved late last season that he can complement Evans the best in the backcourt).
• Only has another player on the current roster who can match Evans' talent in the gifted, but enigmatic DeMarcus Cousins (also a former John Calipari coached player in college).
• Former coach Paul Westphal did not utilize Evans to the best of his abilities.

A coaching change was being begged by Evans' and Kings' fans alike with the team finally firing Paul Westphal and replacing him with Keith Smart.  Evans has seen his scoring go from 14.29/game to 19.11/game with Smart.  His rebound and assists have also seen a slight increase as well since the coaching change.  However, the team still has a losing record despite the coaching change, going 2-4 under Smart, heretofore.  

IN CONCLUSION: Tyreke Evans is still a highly gifted player with the talent and athleticism to be a superstar hybrid player in the mold of Derrick Rose: A player that can score at will from the point guard position AND create plays for others.  However, as his athleticism goes down and refuses to develop his point guard skills, learn that you don't always have to possess the ball for a majority of the time to be a dominant player, or improve his outside shot, Evans will become just another average player in the NBA.  

Pathological Hate will like to thank Dan Plotsky for contributing to this article.

To look back at the 2011 NBA DRAFT, click here.

To look back at the 2008 NBA DRAFT, click here.