The curious case of Elliot Williams

In the minutes that he did play he was instant offense and efficient to boot.

Some guys in the media think he could be the surprise starter at SG.

But then I looked at his career numbers, in two seasons:

24 games played | 149 total minutes

They must see something in practice because he's essentially a rookie.

 

We have so many questions, we're not going to be able to come to any conclusions about this team until closer to the end of the year. We may know the individual levels of talent, but how they mesh is another issue.

 

Greg oden of shooting guards

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

He's a shorter version of Greg Oden.

 

C'mon guys, size isn't everything. Oh, wait...

 

We faced him, but I didn't guard him. He was too easy to figure out back then though... a great talent but too easy to force out of his comfort zone to his right.

 

You are Robert Sacre?

 

Somehow I forgot we'd drafted him two full seasons ago.

The biggest difference between Oden and Williams was one was picked at #1 ahead of Durant, and the other was picked #22 ahead of.....almost nobody who has proven much in the NBA.

Interestingly, he's the same age as Batum.

 

People forget how young Nic is. He's only 17 months older then Lilard!

 

I think NOVoodoo went to Tulane, actually.

 

yuck is gonna be pretty good me thinks, hopefully he gets every opportunity to show his stuff this year

 

He was a rookie last year. Why are you looking at "career" numbers?

 

LOL! Needs some 70's funk soundtrack under it.

 

Yes, the sample size is very limited, and much of it garbage time, but he did put up 21.3 pts/36 with a PER = 18.8 and a FG% = .500. There's definitely some potential there.

Mathews, as the incumbent, will be the starter by default. Right now, Williams most likely role will be as instant offense off the bench. He has the tools to be a very good sixth man, and possibly a starter at some point in the future, but not yet.

That's in one season, 2011-12.

He was a rookie last season, and as stated, put up 21.3 pts/36 with a PER of 18.8 and a FG% of .500. Again, limited sample size, but how many rookies put up those kind of numbers? He also has the tools to be an above average defender. The kid definitely has potential and was coming on strong before the shoulder injury. I'm eager to see what he can do with more PT and a bigger role.

It will be interesting to see how these young players grow over the next couple seasons. Lillard, Williams, Smith and Batum are all roughly the same age, and Leonard a couple years younger. It will be fun to watch these guys grow together. If a couple of them reach their potential, this team could be pretty good when these guys start to enter their prime and Aldridge is the proven veteran and still productive at 30 years old. Of course, there will be trades and other players drafted, but three years from now, a starting line-up of: Leonard, Aldridge, Batum, Williams and Lillard could be pretty good. There's a lot of length and athleticism there. At they very least, they'd be fun to watch.

BNM

 

Maybe that's why HCP's wife......

 

No offense Boob - but you are doing it again.

By calling him a rookie last season, you are understating his injury problems.

 

I didn't call him a rookie, the NBA did.

I thought his knee surgeries were more preventative than injury related. He had loose knee caps and the surgeries were to repair "patellae instability". At the time, Williams had never had any kind of surgery in his life. It's not like he's Roy or Oden with a history of multiple knee surgeries. And, even if he turns out to be, it's not like he's being counted on to be a cornerstone of this franchise. He's maybe a 6th man type, possible future starter.

In any case, Williams showed last season the the was completely recovered from the knee surgeries. The shoulder injury was unfortunate, but it happens. Give the guy a chance to see what he can do before writing him off as another Oden.

BNM

 

I wish the kid well but anything at this stage will be gravy for me. Right now, he looks like a guy who might never be able to get through a season and if he keeps missing time he's going to fall behind and probably never catch up.

We'll see what happens.

 

Fall behind who? He's almost a year younger than Nolan Smith, and only a year older than Damian Lillard. I"m willing to give him two more years before writing him off.

BNM