Let me know if rather I post in The Nest or Gerry V
While the Hornets have done a ice job filling their roster with an obvious upgrade in talent,the one area that still ends with a question mark is the point guard position.Discuss Vasquez and Rivers if you wish as the summer league displayed an Austin Rivers with basketball talent,passion,attack mentality,fearless,streaky, but obviously not ready to command and wear the hat of a floor general. (* let's also remind ourselves that summer league games deal with the simplistic elements of the game as players are evaluated on the basics.
At the moment do the Hornets have the guard that can do the following:
PICK AND ROLLS
1-Handle the ball and execute the pick and roll?
A-can he turn the corner in the P&R? Get into the teeth of the defense?
B- make the pass off the dribble? Either hand?
C- can he score out of P&R's? How?
D- Can he escape the trap thus putting pressure on the defense?
OPEN FLOOR
1-Does he have open floor acceleration? Which allows him to separate himself from the pack?Get foul line to foul line?
2- Can he make the pass off the dribble to runners and cutters?
3- Court vision? See "corner to corner? ( left to right)
4-Change of direction quicks and make a play? Handle with either hand?
5-when to push it and when to run a set play?
6- Does he understand when and how to "keep the bigs happy?"
7- handle defensive pressure and traps?
DEFENSE
1- Can he defend? ( how well can he defend at his position within his Conference/ Division?
2- Does he understand defensive concepts
SCORING
1- Can he score? He better have a jumper.
2- Can can he get his own shot?
3- Can he get "to the rim?" or dotted line?:
THE MENTAL
1- Leadership/personality/mental toughness
2- vocal?
3 knows time and score/ timeouts/foul situations/ match ups?/ shot clock
4-understand whom has the hot hand?
5- Pace, when to push it and when to run.?
6- *[toughest part] When to shoot and when to pass.
I have listed a variety of skills required to play the toughest position on the floor.As you discuss the pt guard position on the Hornet roster, tell me if you feel they are currently in good hands.
Makes for some good basketball conversation.
Next Scoring Swings
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