He's definitely a better passer but Lin is a far superior offensive player and has a better basketball IQ.
What exactly is your definition of a "true PG?" Someone that can babysit the ball and then pass it inside to a big man ? If that's the case then I doubt any NBA team wants a "true PG." Maybe 20 years ago, but with the fall of the "traditional center" (i.e. Shaq and Yao) came the redefining of what a PG's role is. Today, the top scorers can all create for themselves and thus a "true PG" needs to have a balanced offensive game.
The lack of dominant centers today coincides with NBA rule changes that have completely opened up the game for PGs, such as the rule that prohibits handchecking on the perimeter, and the 3 second rule against centers camping out in the paint all day. These rules have opened up the floor for dribble penetration guards to dominate today. These changes have given centers and PGs new roles, so there is nothing inherently superior about being a "traditional" or "true" PG instead of a combo or scoring PG. Westbrook exemplifies the new kind of PG. People who don't like his game talk about his not being a "true" PG, but that's not where the problem really lies. It's more that he has low BBIQ, which is compensated for, and partially masked, by his elite athleticism.
I think he is a true PG in the sense that he can run a team just as good as Lin. Nothing against Lin, but he is going to be more of a scoring PG. Machado will have more of a balanced approach. That is what we are going to need him to be with so many scorers coming off the bench.
Lin actually isn't a scoring pg. He is more of a traditional facilitating point. Potential assists are one of the best ways to suss out the traditional pg's from the scoring pg's & Lins ability to set players up or high percentage shots has him in the mold of Andre Miller who is as traditional of a point guard as you can get.
I think the oft-used distinction between a score-first PG and a pass-first PG is not particularly useful. What matters is taking what the defense gives you. If there is an open lane, then taking the layup is the right move. If a teammate can get off a higher percentage shot, then a pass should be made. Eg, Rondo, usually called a pass-first PG, sometimes gives up layup opportunities and opts instead to dish it. That's where being pass-first is a fail. IMO, the relevant question is not "Is Lin is a passing PG or a scoring PG?" but rather "Does he usually maximize the possession by making the right situational decisions?" Looking at the locations on the court of potential assists is an indicator of whether a PG is maximizing the possession. That's much more meaningful than saying he's a "traditional facilitating PG," which is usually implies pass-first, which sounds more rigid than situational to me.
All the hype about Machado is really prematured. Until he proves he can beat out Toney Douglas and Livingston for the job AND play at NBA level, he is irrelevant at this time. His biggest worry is to make the final cut. ...just putting things into perspective.
@ roxxy, to be clear, I agree with your analysis but disagree with the language of it. IMO, worn phrases like "traditional facilitating PG" and "scoring PG" confuse more than clarify the heart of the issue.
He is an undrafted NBA prospect being discussed on his team's message board. People are discussing how he could turn out. What's being overhyped here? The only thing that needs perspective is the people STILL comparing him to Lin. He's going to be Lin's backup. He understands that, so does everyone else.
As of now, Machado is sitting 4th behind Lin, Livingston, Douglas. We have 3 pages of replies here and at least many other threads on him, yet no one made a thread nor mentioned much about either Douglas or Livingston. If this isn't hype, then I dont know what is. I can understand the hype on our four other rookies, since they will all make the cut and relevant to future the team. Not being a hater on Machado but he still needs to make the final cut to become relevant.
He's irrelevant? Then it wouldn't make sense to sign him to any type of contract, right? They should just let him walk. Like you said they already have Douglas and Livingston on the squad ahead of him, right? Never mind the developing chemistry he had with the other four rookies. So good that by the 5th game, he somehow led them to victory with all 5 scoring in double figures. Talk about Mr. Irrelevant.
LOL I know how you have high hope for all our rookies. I am not even going to mention Courtney Fortson (He might be the first to go). There are two vet players who are ahead of Machado. Livingston is a 7-year vet who had proven to be a solid backup. Shaun Livingston, 6'7", 7th year, 324 games, 22.6 min, 6.8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.6 rpg Toney Douglas, 6'2", 3rd year 175 games, 21.2 min, 9.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.4 rpg That's almost 500 NBA games between them two. Livingston's contract according to basketball-reference is 3.5 w/ 1 million guaranteed, and he can become a good locker room leader. Douglas contract is 2 million, paid by the Knicks. (not sure if it's straight out cash.) Rockets will not waive him but a strong possibility, without Morey swing a trade, that by the beginning of the season, he will end up in DL. Another possibility for Machado to play any real minutes is when team sucks real bad and Morey decides to tank.
The funny thing about calling Lin a "scoring PG" is that he had the 6th highest assist rate in the NBA last season behind Nash, Rondo, D-Will, Calderon, and Paul. When it comes down to it, all Lin cares about is making the right play.
But Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul both are amazing talent, and both are much stronger and has a stronger frame than Scott. Scott does have talent but he will find out really quick about NBA PGs. He doesn't have that speed or quickness to drive the lane or the shooting touch. He is just a pass first PG, but the bad thing is, other teams will expose him when he's in the game.
Machado does look good in those videos and clearly has NBA Skills IMO. We'll just have to see. But, Douglas' defense can be categorized as tenacious and his shot was pretty decent in his rookie year so who knows who will win out.
Sorry but I got to tell ya ... Machado is 205 lbs(185 lbs in college time) now and he looks RIPPED! :grin:
