<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I wonder if I’m watching the same game as everyone else.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">How can anyone say that Jason Williams does not create pace and easy baskets for this team? When he is even close to healthy, which I’d say he has been for maybe half his tenure here so far, he makes a HUGE difference in the way this team plays. He runs the break flawlessly, he’s the only other player on the team besides Dwyane the last two years that can run the pick and roll, he has a connection with Dwyane in the halfcourt that has resulted in so many quick ally-oops that I’m not sure many other point guards can see and he is capable of some explosive scoring stretches (though he rarely attempts those bursts when Dwyane and Shaq are both playing).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, I understand he hasn’t been healthy and that’s a concern. But from what I’ve heard, J-Will has looked good this summer, during which he has been able to get his knee completely healthy. Add that to the incentive of being in a contract year, and I think you can expect, easily, the best season from J-Will since he has been here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For those who still think that a quality small forward means more to this team, consider the numbers that the starting SF has put up compared to the starting PG in the three years that Shaq and Dwyane have been together. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">2006-07</p> <p class="MsoNormal">SF: Jason Kapono – 10.9 points, 1.2 assists, 1.04 turnovers</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PG: Jason Williams – 10.9 points, 5.3 assists, 1.64 turnovers </p> <p class="MsoNormal">2005-06</p> <p class="MsoNormal">SF: James Posey – 7.2 points, 1.3 assists, .87 turnovers</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PG: Jason Williams – 12.3 points, 4.9 assists, 1.69 turnovers </p> <p class="MsoNormal">2004-05</p> <p class="MsoNormal">SF: Eddie Jones – 12.7 points, 2.7 assists, 1.24 turnovers</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PG: Damon Jones – 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, 1.2 turnovers</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It looks pretty clear to me that the way this system is set up, unless the starting small forward is something of a natural point forward, then the point guard means more to the team. I mean, Damon Jones basically had a better season than Eddie Jones in 04-05, and Damon’s clearly not the quality of player that Eddie is (also, Jason Williams’ assist numbers are pretty impressive considering Dwyane is most often in position to set up his teammates). And if you want Dwyane to play more point guard, then you’re taking him away from his natural position, and the one he prefers to play. He’ll have more scoring opportunities at the two-guard spot, and that’s what you want him to do primarily is score.</div></p><p class="MsoNormal">Source: Miami Herald Blog</p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3a3d42; font-family: Arial">The article brings up a good point about JWill's overall importance to the team, but those numbers are very misleading. In the first year, Damon Jones mainly served as a spot up shooter, and barely ever handled the ball compared to DWade, who clearly was the main ball handler. Eddie served as a defensive stopper, leaving scoring to Wade and Shaq, so of course he wasn't going to put up the kind of numbers presented in the article. The second year, Posey may have started, but he split those minutes with Antoine Walker, whose numbers really ought to be compared with J-Will's, since again he played a sort of defensive stopper role. And of course this past year, the 3 position was played by committee, so those numbers are again misleading.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3a3d42; font-family: Arial"></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3a3d42; font-family: Arial">Numbers aside, however, the argument for keeping J-Will should just rely on the fact that Wade plays better as a slashing/creating 2 guard, rather than as a shoot-first point. </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3a3d42; font-family: Arial"></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #3a3d42; font-family: Arial">Still, you can get a younger, cheaper point guard who can facilitate that offense just as well as Williams. (seriously, how hard is it to drop it inside to Shaq, or if that doesn't work, pass off to DWade and let him do his thing?) Ithink the smart thing to do is to package JWill for a 3 who's a legitimate scoring option alongside Wade, especially as Shaquille scores less and less each year. You're covered as far as bigs go, with Diesel, Zo and Haslem.Bell and whoever else they get can really cover the point. But thathole at 3 isn't going to be magically filled by Jason Kapono. Kapono's a 6th or 7th man on a contender, and when the Heat are starting him, they simply are not in that class.</span></p>
