Is Aaron Brooks good or bad? Does he actually contribute to winning??

I guess its the same way you can't say he is a shoot first PG(which he is) and use that to say he does not help us win.


As a point guard. He is different. Not better. Not worse. (I guess you could try to argue that if he doesnt shoot the ball he doesnt help us, but then again, if Alston isnt making an occasional good pass he isnt helping us either, because he sure as heck can't shoot the ball very well.

 

Why so many talks about Brooks?

The Blazers' game plan is called "stop Yao" not "stop Brooks". They care less if Brooks scores 20 or not. They'll play the % which Brooks is a .406 (.365 3P%) shooter. Steve Blake is better than that.

Brooks is a good scorer/shooter? I guess not.

 

Percentages can also be a reflection of shot selection and inconsistent playing time.

Brooks' FG% is low for two reasons. He doesn't finish well around the basket and he takes a huge percentage of his shots from outside.

Brooks' AFG% is actually better than Lowry's: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/stati...gue=w&split=0&season=2009&seasontype=2&pos=pg

AFG%: Adjusted FG Percentage = [(PTS - FTM)/FGA]/2

ADJFG% measures shooting efficiency by taking into account the total points a player produces through his field goal attempts. The intention of this adjustment is largely to evaluate the impact of three-point shooting. For ex: If Shaquille O'Neal has 3-5 FG, all two-point shots for 6 points, then his ADJ FG% = [(6/5)]/2 = .600. Meanwhile, if Ray Allen is 2-5 FG, but his 2 FGM are both three-pointers for 6 points, then his ADJ FG% = [(6/5)]/2 = .600

Just because his percentages are low, I don't think you can simply conclude he is a bad shooter. My guess it that Brooks will improve his shot selection in the future and his numbers will be more in line with those of a "good shooter." I think he'll also get better around the basket as he learns to create space with change of speed as well as finish with contact.

Brooks also probably took more half court and full court shots with time expiring than any other player on the team during the regular season. Unlike Battier and Alston, Brooks doesn't worry about his percentages. Morey himself said he'd seen evidence that Battier purposely waited until the game clock would expire at the end of quarters and halves when shooting prayers.

 

Thats interesting that Morey noticed that about Battier.


I would have just said "25 and 6."

 

2 turnovers at the end....

 

That's a big deal if Brooks is better than Lowry!?

your list is showing Blake is with ADJ .536

 

btw. Lowry does more other things on the court.

 

It was in that big piece about Battier somebody posted about a month or two ago. Morey was pointing out that Battier's unselfishness can actually hurt in some situations and that he is actually selfish in a few areas. For the most part, the article obviously praised Battier's hidden value.

 

No, it's not a big deal beyond the fact that several people have pointed out Lowry's superior raw FG% without understanding shot distribution and the impact of the 3 ball.

The point I'm making is that Brooks' %s are unimpressive but I don't think you can conclude that he is a bad shooter with no potential to have this percentages eventually reflect that fact.

Some players will have a low FG% even with optimal shot selection because they have poor form and simply don't shoot well under any circumstances.

I think Brooks is a good shooter that has yet figure out how to optimize this ability in game situations. He may never figure it out but maybe he will. I assume you think he'll never figure it out. I may draw that conclusion at some point but I haven't yet.

 

by your logic, Steve Blake is an all-star.

 

First, Blake is a good shooter. I am an old school Terps fan and it is amazing how much he improved his outside shot as a pro.

Second, he makes very good shot selections. 9 out of 10 of his shots are wide open. Brooks attacks the basket far more and takes far more shots with a higher degree of difficulty. He also takes more dumb shots.

Nowhere did I say Blake was an all-star. As far as shooting goes, which was what I was discussing, Blake is a good shooter that doesn't shoot much. When he does, it's a good shot leading to greater efficiency.

I wasn't arguing that any of the PGs that I mentioned were all-stars. I was simply explaining how low percentages do not always mean that a player is a bad shooter with no potential to eventually shoot better percentages.

If you want to evaluate shooting efficiency among PGs, then yes, Blake was very, very good this season.

 

Eh, lets just break down the obvious reasons why Brooks is starting...

1. Been on the team longer and knows Adelman's system and has Adelman's trust as to how he will play.
2. Outside shooter. With Yao and Scola around the basket, you need the outside shooters ready and given the inconsistency at it that we see with Ron and Shane, it doesn't hurt having a three options.
3. Speed, Lowry is quick but not Brooks fast. He can penetrate and dribble right back out to the 3 point line very well.
4. Scoring, you can't deny it. When he is hot and looking for his own shot, he is lethal.


Lowry is good but he plays the same game as Rafer but quicker, also with a better finish and less height. He's good in the middle of the game or when you want to keep things fairly under wraps, but starting him alongside Battier limits the offensive weapons in the starting line up. Lowry brings little actual returns compared to just starting Brooks, despite what people think about his performances so far, he hasn't earned a starting role yet.

 

who cares how many shots Yao is getting. It is a team game. I believe whoever has the hot hand should continue shooting the ball. Also as long as the team wins thats all that matters. Yao can have 2 shots who cares. As long as the winning team is The Houston Rockets shots shouldn't matter.

 

Well the team lost, so what does that mean?

 

He's not a great Point Guard. He is a good Shooting Guard but most of the time is passing is alright, not great. I mean I'd rather see it when Lowry is the Point Guard and keeping Aaron as a Shooting Guard and have him just focus it all on shooting.

 

Are you going to watch half of game 3 also?

you can make a "Is Kyle good or bad? does he actually contribute ?"
thread

then for game 4, I'd love to see your "Is Luis Scola good or bad? does he?"
thread

thanks for entertaining us.