<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The other night, against New York in a pre-season victory, a guard from Philadelphia scored 30 points. No surprise there, but Allen Iverson was not playing. Instead it was John Salmon, 6'7" guard, who was in 2002 the 26th pick of the first round by the Spurs. Soon thereafter, he was traded to the Sixers in the trade that brought them Speedy Claxon (and a Spurs championship season) several years ago. This is the same John Salmons that has averaged all of 4.3 PPG and in college never had a season at Miami where he averaged more than 13.3 PPG. It is pre-season but still should we not be surprised by a 30 point game? Yet, Coach Maurice Cheeks and his assistants, were by all press reports, not surprised that Salmon can score. For he has been impressive in practice and in other games, and seems fearless going to the hole. According to statements by Cheeks, he also seems to have the capability to draw fouls on the oppostion. The NY game has not been a fluke performance this pre-season. As another example, tonight in a hard-fought four point loss to the Cavaliers, he scored 15 points. If he indeed keeps this up into the season and "breaks through" it would not be a total surprise. For, according to his nba.com player site, he was also named the most outstanding player of the 2003 Reebok Pro Summer League averaging 19.6ppg and 5.8apg. His rookie biography also said that he frequently guarded the toughest opposition player in college, which would mean that the Sixers might well have another stopper on the bench comparable to the athletic Andre Iguodala (who was usually tasked with this last year as a starter for the Sixers). Facing teams like New Jersey with Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson or Miami with Wade and Walker, having defensive stoppers is not a bad thing. <u>Also with Willie Green, out for the season from his playground injury</u>, and the Sixers not having seemingly a lot of depth after Iverson, Korver, and Iguodala at the guard or SF starting positions - it would seemingly definetely help the Sixers to have a solid back up guard who might also be able to play some SF with his height versus some teams.</div> link:http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_14654.shtml i hope that salmons really becomes the player that we all envisioned him to be. hopefully, he can give us a spark off the bench, or even maybe win the starting small forward spot? either way, im looking for a big season from him. also, it said that willie's out for the season? i thought it was only a short amount of time?
Salmons has potential, but it's time for him to start producing on the regular. Of course he needs minutes as well but if he plays like he is capable he should get the minutes he deserves. If he could give 10 or more points off the bench I'd be happy.
The time is now for Salmons to produce if wants to stay with the team. If he stays healthy he should blossom into a very good player for the team, and we need that extra scorer besides Nailon coming off our bench.
I was really surprised to see how well he's doing this pre-season, he had limited time from the bench last season, and although he proved to be a useful tool, he didn't look like he could go get a high points total. Hopefully he'll carry this form into the regular season.
I predicted Salmons would start for us this season though I am not sure if he will he has made a case to start. He is playing the best basketball of his young career, because he is being given the opportunity to do so. I for one believe he should start over Korver. He provides another dimension when he is on the court something Korver does not the only difference between the two was that Korver was given his opportunity to play prior to Salmons. It is the preseason, but Salmons has done all he can to prove himself.
I saw him at UM and I thought he could make it to the NBA, he is showing potential but last he was absolutely broken by RJ on this one crossover that I never that the RJ could do.
Salmons is continuing to play well. Did this man earn him a starting job? So far it seems as if he has, in my opinion at least. But will he be able to play with the same ability as a starter?
Yeah, I have a feeling this is Salmon's breakout year. Cheeks seems to be pretty happy with him, undoubtly he'll get more playing time since he's one of the only reliable players on the bench, and if he doesn't contribute now it'll be really hard for him to find a team. He probably won't be getting the start over Korver, but since I'm not Cheeks, who am I to predict anything? Its just that Korver as a shooter fits a lot better with the combo of Iverson and Webber. Any more penetrators and it pretty much clogs the entire lane up. With Korver as a starter, we can get a smooth rhythm going right away since Iverson can just dish it out to him whenever he drives into trouble.
