http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/958122 Many of us started spotting this after Shandon's honeymoon period ended in Nov 2000. I for one was flabbergasted when Shandon complained about Francis and wanting more touches and post-ups. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the NBA defenses were catching up to Shandon lack of fundamental shooting guard skills. And on top of that, he wasn't assertive and blames Rudy's system for it. It is just so cute how Mr. Hardworker, consummate Team Player is being all nice and quotable now that he's a free agent again wanting to stay since we landed Griffin. When is the Shandon love-fest going to end. The guy is not that good of a player. Why are we to believe he will settle for 10-15min off the bench, and humble pay equal to that. Given the Cato-esque admission above, why would you bargain with this player who is simply promising to get better. He deserves no raise. I would offer Fegan salary consistent with his 3rd-yr option that he opt-ed out of and tell him to explain why we should no longer consider him a complaining SG lacking fundamental skills like "ball-handling" and "shooting". If he wants a big raise, he can sign a 1yr deal and prove that we wants to stay as a consummate role player, because he is no longer a consummate starter. Shandon lacks Ballhandling & Shooting skills for a SG either from lack of practice or he simply can't learn it....which is it! Guys like that don't try to improve themselves through practice. They may have stamina to run hard and fast and executive practice drills, but that is not enough to improve on your weaknesses. He just wants to learn when to cut so Stockton will pass him the ball for a layup. Anyone can do that. I think Shandon was in denial about his weaknesses, and so what is the value of a 5-yr veteran who is just now admitting to his weaknesses. One this is for sure, a GM who rewards bench role players with $5m paydays before their team becomes a contender is spending too much money on the bench, too early.
This reminds me of Pippen all over again. Pippen, like Anderson, is content to float around the three point line and watch the action. When they do get the ball, the defense knows exactly what they will do. I like SA, and I think he will find a team where he fits better. I look forward though, to finding a small forward who is aggressive, and will create the action for himself. Rudy T has a fine system, he just needs to find a 3 who will makes things happen. ------------------
Id be happy if Shandon would give us what he used to give utah. He could gome in for spells and play d and score in the post. He's an entirely different player than I remember watching when he did us dirty as a Jazzhole. ------------------
Since he's admitting his weaknesses, why don't you admit your weakness for making false statements to try to prove points?
Crispee, I agree that Shandon's lack of shooting and ballhandling skills made life tough on our guards, but don't try and make Shandon out to be complacent. I've watched Shandon hours before games countless times, and he and the coaches constantly practice shooting shots that will be available to him in the flow of the offense, and work with him on his off the dribble game ie: catching the ball at the top of the key, dribbling, and hitting the midrange jumper around the freethrow line area. I agree the cons outweigh the pros with Shandon, but he IS a hardworking player who's trying to improve, and he's not going to become complacent in his skill level after he gets paid IMO. ------------------ I am Rainman [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited July 06, 2001).]
ok, crispee, let's get one thing straight: kelvin cato and shandon anderson are both basketball players. that's where the similarities end. their work ethics cannot be compared, only contrasted. ------------------
TPL, I didn't say he was complacent. Nor did I say he would stop being a hardworker if we give him a contract. I said I think he is an offensive liability now that NBA defenses back off him to use his man in help-defense situations. He is a 5-yr vet promising to get better in a role he wants changed??? Honeymoon is over.
buffalo that was just a cheap shot with no point. here's a smiley for ya Seriously though, his ballhandling is poor, and he shoots too many bricks. He is nice on the fastbreak, though. He might have had a low-post game in Utah, but he often gets stripped now, and I attribute this to defenders learning where he holds the ball win he makes his move. Besides, I could care less about posting-up Shandon ala Utah. Utah did that only against certain match-ups, and they had no other guard to use in a post up. We do. We have better match-ups to exploit. Shandon often ran the floor and was the first one down on a turnover. He loved to post up immediately. Francis did not use him often in the quick strike post on transition. I do feel like that was questionable decision-making on Francis's part often, and I stated that back in December when Shandon and him got vocal about it, and people started spotting it on the court. I do feel we can improve by doing better transition. But I also feel no one should EVER complain about touches to a PG in the middle of a game. I have strong convictins about that. The PG makes mistakes, but has a lot on his mind. The very last thing we want is for Francis to second-guess himself based on who yells for the ball the most. bottomline: Shandon brings transition and low-posting quick strikes (possibly), but there is not much more to his offense. Calling him unselfish and a team passer is ignoring the effect he has on the team when he fails to drive or shoot when necessary, as he says in his quote of admission above. If a defense backs off him and he ends up with the ball, we are screwed if he passively passes.
Whoa...You KNOW?? what is your definition of SG skills? What games were you watchin?? I can't count how many times last season I saw SA try to put the ball on the floor and run..just to have him either fumble the ball or get outright stripped .. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't having ball-handling skills imply that you can run and dribble at the same time without bouncing it off your own(or someone elses) foot at the very least?? ------------------ This space for rent
I agree with Crispee. I think Shandon is welcome back into the fold if he signs for a price appropriate to an off-the-bench-role-player. Anything more would be a mistake. ------------------ Gascon
Shandon is not a decent shooter, you can throw that nice little stat about him shooting over 50% when you take out his 3 point shots, but it doesn't matter. You know who else shot over 50%? Carlos Rogers Do you think he can shoot as well? The only baskets Shandon can hit are layups, any SG can make a layup. SA's defense is overrated also, his lack of offense hurts this team more than his defense helps it. If he's okay with backing up Mobley and getting a 7th or 8th man's salary, then I'm okay with signing him, but from all indications by his agent, it looks like SA wants a starters salary. If that's the case, then he can start for some other team, I'll look forward to seeing him brick shot after shot for someone else. ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own... Have no fear kiddies, the name's changed, but the Mobster is still the same...
Hey now!! No raggin on my boy Los!! I'm gonna miss him... I think we should resign Los and let SA go away!! ------------------ This space for rent
Chrispee/HP- Where were you when we discussed this article a week ago? ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
Here's a question for some of you: Can you name a 2 guard with worse ball handling skills than Shandon? Times up!!! I can't think of one. If he can't consistently hit an open J, and can't handle the ball well enough to drive and dish then his only role should be to come off the bench as a defensive stopper. Not even a 6th man role. I want my 6th guy to score. It's time for Shandon to move on unless he's willing to get paid what he's actually worth and not what his agent believes he's worth. IMO of course! ------------------
pete rose, you're comparing apples and oranges. there's a big difference in a 6-5 SG playing out of position as a SF shooting over 50% on 2pt-ers and a 6-11 PF/C shooting over 50% (los don't take no 3s (okay, he took 1)) ------------------
ZRB, trying desperately to keep the server on when it was getting hammered, and then my roadrunner goes out for 5 days. <ul> [*]Tell me seriously though ZRB, what do you think Shandon's value is monetarily. [*]Do you think he deservers $4.5m simply because we are allowed to pay him that under Early Bird? [*]How many years would you sign him to?[/list] I recall you being a champion of yelling for Shandon in the 4th Q, and questioning Rudy for not playing him. Do you think that situation still exists? Do you agree with my assessment and others that defenses can and did back off Shandon making life tougher for Steve and Cat, certainly in any 4th Q defensive clampdowns by the opposition? If you agree, how do you put him in the rotation. To me, his value is in resting Mobley and injury insurance that helps cover 2 positions, and even the PG position by extension. Basically, he has the same value as Kenny Thomas imo, yet Kenny has more upside.
The point in my post was the reason Anderson's FG% is inflated is because the only shots he makes are layups. I want my shooting guard or small forward to be able to hit an outside shot. Shandon can't do this... ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own... Have no fear kiddies, the name's changed, but the Mobster is still the same...
