The Future = Bright
by Jake Whitacre on May 19, 2008 11:29 AM EDT
in Player Analysis
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Print| Player A | Player B | |
| 17.6 | PP36 | 17.4 |
| 4.3 | RP36 | 3.6 |
| 3.0 | AP36 | 2.0 |
| 41.7 | FG% | 43.9 |
| 37.5 | 3P% | 40.0 |
| 81.9 | FT% | 81.5 |
| 18.5 | TOV% | 15.0 |
During the off-season I like to use a lot of Player A vs. Player B analysis because I like using tables and I like building the suspense as everyone tries to figure out which player is which.
For the first installment, we've got two players per-36 stats stats from their rookie seasons. I could've just stuck with their per game stats since Player A averaged 15.5 minutes per game and Player B averaged 15.4, but I didn't want to leave anything to chance. Even though neither player got major minutes in their first season, they both were among the top rookies in their class, with Player A making the All-Rookie 2nd team, and Player B just missing the cut.
By now, you've probably deduced that Player B is The City, Nick Young. But what about Player A? After the jump, you'll find out rookie has player A's stats.
Is Player A Kevin Durant? Nope. he only shot 28% from beyond the arc.
It's no JC Navarro is it? No, he only averaged 15.2 points per 36, so it's not him.
Well, then who is it? The rookie stats of Player A actually belong to this man:
(Player A is the guy on the right, just so there's no confusion.)
It's important to mention that Kobe was 18 when he was putting that rookie year together whereas Nick is currently 22, so Nick doesn't have quite the ceiling of the reigning MVP, but you can't help but be impressed by the numbers. Even if he only pans out to be a weak man's Kobe, that's still a lot better than being the strong man equivalent of a lot of players in the NBA.
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WHAA??
Just kidding. I knew it was gonna be something like that. Here’s to optimism.
The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.
Word to that
I can recall Gilbert mentioning in one of his endless posts how Nick was “basically Kobe.”
Interesting -
I thought Gilbert was crazy in his blog for comparing Nick to Kobe. Maybe not after all.
Kid's got game...
Let’s just see how hard he works to develop it. He did some really nice things this year. His confidence grew. I think it’s just a matter of time – perhaps sometime next season – before he supplants Deshawn in the starting lineup. What I don’t want to see him doing is settling too often for jumpers. He’s very creative getting his shot, and needs to keep being aggressive.
I like Nick
I was largely impressed by Nick’s rookie season and am very optimistic for his future. He certainly seems talented and skilled enough to become a high-scoring shooting guard in the league. I didn’t realize his 3-point percentage was so high, and I was very impressed with his his ability to get his own shot. I was even more pressed with his excellent FT shooting, which shows not only his high proficiency in an important skill, but also a high level of concentration that’s sort of rare among rookies.
The rookie numbers and the general descriptions of their games obviously validate the Kobe comparison, but Nick’s got a looooooooong way to go, and a lot less time to get there (four years from 18 to 22 are pretty major in an athlete’s development). The two things that I think Nick has to do first to begin to close the Kobe gap are 1) improve his strength and conditioning; and 2) improve his shot selection. Nick’s offensive potential is vast, as he combines quickness and explosive moves with a terrific shooting touch, but he needs to improve his ability to finish at the rim and his ability to get there, both of which require increased strength. More strength also would bolster his subpar defense. Shot selection also is related to strength, inasmuch as I think he should take the ball to the basket more, and as I mentioned, greater strength would help in this endeavor. Not only would his shooting percentage likely go up as he shoots closer to the basket, but he’d get more FT chances, and he’s already a strong foul shooter.
The thing that perplexed me most about Nick’s game this season was his post game. He did quite a bit of posting up, I thought, for a slightly-built rookie, and I wondered why it would be such a focus. I can’t recall a single Nick Young post-up that didn’t result in an off-balance fadeaway from at least 15 feet. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I also cannot recall a single Nick Young post-up that resulted in a score. I guess I’m just wondering why a guy with what appears to be little proficiency in the post should try to play there so often, and why we threw him the ball in the post. Perhaps I missed the games where he was effective there.
"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."
by Vanilla Gorilla on May 19, 2008 1:46 PM EDT reply actions
you didn't
I watched at least 80 of 88 games, and I don’t recall his post game ever being effective either.
I actually want NY to spend the next 5 months dribbling a basketball against pressure. I think his dribbling skills would equate to across the board offensive imrpovement.
'he nails an open three from the corner....just like you and me, this one was made by penetration' - Truthaboutit - Round 1 Game 5 Recap
Nick's calling card
Nick fades away so often it wouldn’t surprise me to see him try to do it on a drive. He loves that move because it worked so well for him at USC. He was really able to do a lot of post-up to fade-away moves in college and I think that’s one of the areas of his game that he’s been slowest to adapt to the pro game. It’s fine to have as a component, but it can’t be his bread and butter.
Nick and Kobe are also polar opposites when it comes to killer instinct, which I guess is a qualitative analysis and I can’t really back up from stats. But Nick’s had a goofiness about him since his high school days while Kobe is all business. I can only remember about two games this year where I really could see an outward expression of Nick’s intensity. That’s not to say he can’t get that “fire in his eyes” (see junior year at USC at home vs. UCLA) but it’s definitely something worth noting, IMO. Here’s to hoping that I’m just making the call too early, though.
I think this is a good point
I wonder whether Nick is going to want to make the type of improvements Kobe made in his first few years of the league. Certainly, he’ll get better, but I doubt he ever becomes great because I wonder how hard and how effectively he’ll work to get there.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Nick is working out with Don McLean’s group right now. Ryan Hollins (Charlotte) is there too working with “Priority Sports”.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Cross-Country-Workout-Swing,-Part-Two-Priority-Sports-LA-2884
Don't forget Kobe's defense
Is defense even on Nick Young’s radar?
I don’t know the kid….and he is still very young, but I’m still not under the impression that he even has the desire to improve on D.
Having Gilbert as an example certainly isn’t going to get him anywhere.
Ouch!
“Having Gilbert as an example certainly isn’t going to get him anywhere.”
Truth hurts.
"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."
by Vanilla Gorilla on May 19, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That's not to say
That I don’t have the hope that Gilbert will improve on D…..but with his knee and all, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an afterthought’s afterthought.
Nick's biggest problem
First off I’m a huge Nick Young fan and while i don’t think he’s the next Kobe, i think he does have a chance to be something like a ray allen/ michael finley in their primes.
IMO Young’s biggest problem seems to be his confidence. He’s clearly confident with the ball in his hands and isn’t afraid to take on anyone, but when he makes a mistake he drops his head and seems to get very down on himself. His body language says it all.
He’ll have a few moments of brilliance followed by complete mental lapses. Once he has one of these by making one/two careless turnovers or completely blowing a defensive assignment it takes away from the aggressiveness and confidence he exudes on the offensive end and forces Jordan to take him out of the game.
He also needs to get a little stronger so when he gets bumped in the air he can still finish (ditto for blatche).
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