The Bench: Where Has Nate's Jumper Gone?

[Jon]

Noticed Dahntay Jones is on bhe block. Could he help our bench? Good defender, especially on Kobe. Interested if the price was right.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/69923/20101104/pacers_trying_to_trade_dahntay_jones/

Not a rotation worthy player but a solid end of the bench, 13th or 14th man type. Good defender and good athlete but not much else to him. I'd like to have him as a fifth wing on this team.

The big problem with Jones is he's earning $2.5 million and has three years left on his contract. Big commitment for an end of bench player ... definitely not worth his paycheck.

For that reason + the complication of matching salaries in a trade for him ... I wouldn't pursue him.

But I'd happily have him on a minimum contract stashed away at the end of the bench.

Yeah, and he's not going to do a lot of good on Kobe from the bench. 

[lon3lytoaster]

Noticed Dahntay Jones is on bhe block. Could he help our bench? Good defender, especially on Kobe. Interested if the price was right.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/69923/20101104/pacers_trying_to_trade_dahntay_jones/

Not a rotation worthy player but a solid end of the bench, 13th or 14th man type. Good defender and good athlete but not much else to him. I'd like to have him as a fifth wing on this team.

The big problem with Jones is he's earning $2.5 million and has three years left on his contract. Big commitment for an end of bench player ... definitely not worth his paycheck.

For that reason + the complication of matching salaries in a trade for him ... I wouldn't pursue him.

But I'd happily have him on a minimum contract stashed away at the end of the bench.

Yeah, and he's not going to do a lot of good on Kobe from the bench. 

True.. Plus, he was with the Celtics for a brief pre-season stint in 2007. If we didn't keep him then I doubt we would now.

[blceltsfan]

I think he’ll get better once Delonte returns and becomes the primary ball handler off the bench.

I actually think that will hurt Nate's game.  He is not a spot up shooter*.  He plays much better with the ball in his hands, pulling up off the dribble.  Conversely, Delonte IS a good spot-up shooter, and is a little out of control with the ball.  So personally I hope it doesn't happen like you're suggesting.

It looks to me like Nate and Rondo don't mesh too well on the court together.  Nate can't seem to find his niche as a 2 guard (again, because he's a poor spot up shooter*).  I think Doc needs to change up the personnel he puts out there with Nate in order for him to be more effective.



*According to hoopdata.com, Nate was only assisted on 35% of his jumpers out to 23 feet, and 58% of his 3s.  For comparison, Ray Allen was assisted for 79% of his jumpers and 92% of his 3s.  Delonte was assisted on 80% of his 3s last year in Cleveland.  Hence, Nate is poor a spot up shooter and scores best by creating his own shots.
link: http://www.hoopdata.com/player.aspx?name=Nate Robinson

I agree Nate is better with the ball in his hands so he is in the rythm of the game. West can still bring the ball up, but get it to Nate in a motion offense, which allows West to spot up shot or going to the hole. When the ball rotates, Nate gets the ball back, on the fly, which makes him more effective.

[Celtics4ever]

Jeesh talk about panic mode, its early in the year and he lost reps as they were trying to figure who to keep.

[xmuscularghandix]

I think he’ll get better once Delonte returns and becomes the primary ball handler off the bench.

I actually think that will hurt Nate's game.  He is not a spot up shooter*.  He plays much better with the ball in his hands, pulling up off the dribble.  Conversely, Delonte IS a good spot-up shooter, and is a little out of control with the ball.  So personally I hope it doesn't happen like you're suggesting.

It looks to me like Nate and Rondo don't mesh too well on the court together.  Nate can't seem to find his niche as a 2 guard (again, because he's a poor spot up shooter*).  I think Doc needs to change up the personnel he puts out there with Nate in order for him to be more effective.



*According to hoopdata.com, Nate was only assisted on 35% of his jumpers out to 23 feet, and 58% of his 3s.  For comparison, Ray Allen was assisted for 79% of his jumpers and 92% of his 3s.  Delonte was assisted on 80% of his 3s last year in Cleveland.  Hence, Nate is poor a spot up shooter and scores best by creating his own shots.
link: http://www.hoopdata.com/player.aspx?name=Nate Robinson

I agree Nate is better with the ball in his hands so he is in the rythm of the game. West can still bring the ball up, but get it to Nate in a motion offense, which allows West to spot up shot or going to the hole. When the ball rotates, Nate gets the ball back, on the fly, which makes him more effective.

Nate is good when he has the ball in his hands, but he’s not good when he’s trying to play point guard. I know that sounds bass ackwards, but it really makes sense. Right now Nate is not only trying to get his own shots, but he’s holding himself responsible for the whole 2nd teams offense. This backup unit will work better once it has two combo guards who can both get their own shots AND set people up. Not to mention having either Shaq or Jermaine out there with them.

[Celtics4ever]

He hit some shots tonight and one of them kept us in the game.

[xmuscularghandix]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

[kozlodoev]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

0 rebounds in 20 minutes is not an acceptable production from a starting center. I couldn't care less about him hitting a bunch of jumpers, he better hits the boards hard next game.

[Fafnir]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

0 rebounds in 20 minutes is not an acceptable production from a starting center. I couldn't care less about him hitting a bunch of jumpers, he better hits the boards hard next game.

Yeah, I still need to watch the game but he and Davis have to do better.

57 front court minutes, only two rebounds between them. Thank goodness KG/Pierce have been hitting the glass so far this year.

[Tai]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

0 rebounds in 20 minutes is not an acceptable production from a starting center. I couldn't care less about him hitting a bunch of jumpers, he better hits the boards hard next game.

Rebounds are one thing, but spare me not liking him hitting jumpers.

[snively]

Nate's depending far too much on his jumper and too early in the shot clock.  He's not being patient and putting very little pressure on the defense with his speed

[hwangjini_1]

Nate's depending far too much on his jumper and too early in the shot clock.  He's not being patient and putting very little pressure on the defense with his speed

Good points. Nate in the game last night tried too hard to win the game by himself I thought.

 I would have preferred he pass the ball more, then if others can't score, they might be able to pass it back to him and nate could have more of an open shot. Nate should get more players involved in the offense more often.

Hopefully when delonte is back nate can bring the ball up the floor, pass it to delonte, then let delonte be the pg. I think nate will be more effective moving without the ball and having delonte pass it to him.

If so, he could be Ray Allen-lite for the second team.

[kozlodoev]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

0 rebounds in 20 minutes is not an acceptable production from a starting center. I couldn't care less about him hitting a bunch of jumpers, he better hits the boards hard next game.

Yeah, I still need to watch the game but he and Davis have to do better.

57 front court minutes, only two rebounds between them. Thank goodness KG/Pierce have been hitting the glass so far this year.

I missed parts of the game as well, but my impression was that O'Neal was a complete non-factor on the defense. He wasn't able to step up and close up space in front of Rose drives.

Also, I don't know what was going on with the defensive rotations under the basket, but the Bulls were taking piles of uncontested layups and short jumpers. This just cannot happen.

[Jon]

Him and Jermaine looked like they were finally heating up. Once Delonte gets back theres gonna be hardly any let down from starters to reserves.

0 rebounds in 20 minutes is not an acceptable production from a starting center. I couldn't care less about him hitting a bunch of jumpers, he better hits the boards hard next game.

Yeah, I still need to watch the game but he and Davis have to do better.

57 front court minutes, only two rebounds between them. Thank goodness KG/Pierce have been hitting the glass so far this year.

I missed parts of the game as well, but my impression was that O'Neal was a complete non-factor on the defense. He wasn't able to step up and close up space in front of Rose drives.

Also, I don't know what was going on with the defensive rotations under the basket, but the Bulls were taking piles of uncontested layups and short jumpers. This just cannot happen.

O'Neal was better than Baby (who the Bull could drive on at will).  But you're right, he wasn't spectacular. 

I hope he comes around, though.  In the best case scenario, he could offer us most of what BBD does offensively and much of what Perk offers us defensively.  Time will tell if he can actually do that though. 

[manl_lui]

Nate's just having bad games and a couple of cold days...

at least he scored 7 points against the bulls, and not only that compare him to House

House just shoots, and when he's cold hes scores 0 points, and shoots like 7 threes

Nate on the other hand if he doesnt shoot the 3s, he can still drive and occasionally knock down free throw line jumpers