Can Vasquez improve enough?

In my last post there was a bit of a discussion on weather Vasquez has reach his ceiling or not. IMO he can improve in some aspects, and not in others.

If Vasquez was to be our starting PG next season and his numbers were to be:

15 PPG up from 13.9

9.5 APG up form 9.0

3 TOPG down from 3.2

0.48 FG%, up from 0.43

0.380 3p % up from 0.34

13 shots per game down from 13.3

0.5 hero ball shots per game down from about 2 per game average

And his defense is about the same as last season, would you think this would be enough to offset his defensive shortcomings?

Due to the ankle surgery, I don't think Vasquez will improve enough.

That is possible, but my question is if his improvement was to be what I just posted would that be enough?

Unlikely. He will end up being one of the best backups in the league, however. Wish that he'd take a low enough payday to be ours but I really doubt it.

I think it would be enough. The guy is on his way up, and has already shown that he has more potential than expected. I say keep him, let him grow. As he gains confidence in the rest of the team I am sure you will see less hero ball out of him.

I think I may have chosen the wrong title for my post. I am not asking if people think Vasquez can improve or not. I am asking if the improvement I posted (hypothetical) would be enough to offset his defensive liability

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Originally Posted by morsatun

I think I may have chosen the wrong title for my post. I am not asking if people think Vasquez can improve or not. I am asking if the improvement I posted (hypothetical) would be enough to offset his defensive liability

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I think it could offset if we acquire a defensive-minded guard that could help in hiding Vasquez.

OK, this is going too much into Vasquez been able to become a better athlete or not. I just want to know, if you think that a PG (whoever it is) with Vasquez's defensive limitations, and posting the stats I posted (15 PPG, 9.5 APG, 48% FG%, 38% 3p% 3 TO pg, 13 shots PG and 0.5 hero per game, could be a decent starting PG in the NBA?

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Originally Posted by morsatun

OK, this is going too much into Vasquez been able to become a better athlete or not. I just want to know, if you think that a PG (whoever it is) with Vasquez's defensive limitations, and posting the stats I posted (15 PPG, 9.5 APG, 48% FG%, 38% 3p% 3 TO pg, 13 shots PG and 0.5 hero per game, could be a decent starting PG in the NBA?

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Define decent ? When guys only play one side of the ball well, it's really hard to give them a vote of confidence. Specialist typically don't start.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

Define decent ? When guys only play one side of the ball well, it's really hard to give them a vote of confidence. Specialist typically don't start.

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I agree, if you play only one side of the ball you usually don't start. But of course there will always be a point where if you excel on one side so much, that would compensate for the shortcomings in the other side. The question is are the numbers I posted enough to compensate?

Steve Nash never met a defense he wanted to play.

Don't think we should be comparing the two.

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Originally Posted by morsatun

I think I may have chosen the wrong title for my post. I am not asking if people think Vasquez can improve or not. I am asking if the improvement I posted (hypothetical) would be enough to offset his defensive liability

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If he becomes a fringe 15-10 guy (which would be consecutive seasons where he took steps forward), I'd say that would be enough to satisfy me and off-set his defensive shortcomings. Frankly, when it comes to that, whereas I think GV isn't ever going to win DPOTY, he's also not one I think who would be a liability having in the starting lineup in that avenue.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

Don't think we should be comparing the two.

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At the same point in both of their careers it's earie how much better GV is, and it's even earlier that people here want to toss him aside like he did something personal to them.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

At this point in both of their careers...yes we should.

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That's fine. You can keep comparing them. I'm not going to play along though.

That's fine you don't have to. Comparative reasoning is all, but please go on.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

At the same point in both of their careers it's earie how much better GV is, and it's even earlier that people here want to toss him aside like he did something personal to them.

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I'm one who isn't... Granted, I wouldn't object to seeing them get a CJ McCollum, and have GV play 30-32 minutes a game between point and the 2.. I may be alone in that.

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Originally Posted by Psalm 102.6

I'm one who isn't... Granted, I wouldn't object to seeing them get a CJ McCollum, and have GV play 30-32 minutes a game between point and the 2.. I may be alone in that.

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Like MJ said, you are not alone. I am here with you.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

Like MJ said, you are not alone. I am here with you.

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Lol good one, ol' chap. And McCollum is probably the safest pick if no one slips worth taking. We need a backup SG badly, and he fits the mold Demps and Monty seems to be in love with, versatile players who can play more than one position. He'd be good, unless we can get ATL to commit franchise suicide and give us Horford for our pick and some other assets, which is very unlikely.

If he's the starter, I don't think that'd be quite enough to get us over the hump.

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Originally Posted by Pelican589

If he's the starter, I don't think that'd be quite enough to get us over the hump.

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With CP3 and this roster we wouldn't get over the hump. This team has many holes, starting rec league talent and using biddy ball backups is our problem.

Vasquez needs to get a better 3 ball so that he can play better off ball with EG. That would go a long ways for him to overcome his defense shortcomings.

I actually like Gravy. For his first year starting I think he played very good. Yes he needs to improve defense but everyone seems to think we need to dump our entire team because no ones good enough. That's a sure fire way to stay in high lottery picks. Give the guys some time to gel, dang. I want Lopez and Gravy on the team next year, heck I want Gordon next year too.

The only position that I really want to shake up is SF.

I vaguely remember reading read a few articles written on gravy recently were they all stated he was noticeably thinner, and he is specifically working on his body to better adapt to the quicker style played in today's nba. Im still not sure though that even if he was to drop a few pounds and get quicker that it would be enough to elevate his game in specific areas. Or his D to that of an average/good defender. Although it does interest me that if he was to accomplish this task what kind of player he would be with a bit of extra speed and acceleration. Even if he were to lose some weight he would still hold a large advantage over most PG when it came down to physicality merely due to his abnormal height for the PG position.

Personally im a big Vasquez fan and enjoyed watching him play this year and I hope he takes it up a notch this next season. IMHO Vasquez should start at pg once again this season. At the moment his contract is incredibly friendly and provides flexibility. Not to mention he would hold some value around the league as a trade chip if a great trade were to come along.

He can improve his offensive efficiency. Shoot better from the field and cut down his turnovers. Defensively he can get stronger and try to max out his lateral quickness.

Yeah - I'm not concerned with offensive improvement from him. On that side of the ball, he's a fine player as a point guard.

Defensively, he just can't cover speedy point guards, which will always make him a liability as a starter unless we had an Avery Bradley type in there to switch with him on defense - but I don't think Vasquez could cover a whole lot of 2-guards either.

As the poster above wrote - it is def. possible for him to be more effecient offensively - so if he improves a lot there, maybe it will be worth it to deal with his defensive problems for a little while.