We're at the end of the year and he's currently starting... you don't think a defense has scouted him or is prepared for him? The guy isn't going to be an All-Star, and I'm not even saying he's our starter long term, but I think he's earned the backup shooting guard spot.
If he's the backup shooting guard next year it's more an indictment of the team than it is a tribute to him as a player, IMO. Not to be too obvious, but shooting guards should be able to, you know, shoot. And make shots at a reasonable rate. Barton can't. Ed O.
Unless Matthews is traded then there is no way Barton is backup SG. We are bringing a MLE guy or (or stud draft pick) in at the SG position. Matthews may start for a while longer but ultimately I think he becomes the backup.
Agreed; right now he's a slasher with below-average ball handling skills. If he can develop a shot out to 20 feet, he'll be a good backup. If he can develop a shot out to 25 feet, he could start someday. But these are big things to ask right now.
What I am saying is that Dame is gassed. He shouldn't be playing right now honestly. At least not the minutes that he has. He played 40 plus minutes in a HUGE blowout last night. The first night of a back to back. If Barton was playing those minutes, taking those amount of shots, and getting that kind of attention from the defense in the last month then I wouldn't be worried about his shooting or turnovers.
There are obviously different types of shots and therefore different types of shooters. For instance Rudy was a pretty good outside shooter, but his mid range pull up jumpers off the dribble....sucked. Wes is also this type of shooter. I think the league is full of players who are good "set shot" shooters, but are not very good at getting in the lane and scoring. But I think Barton will be. Right now he does not have the long distance range, but his mid range pull up J is decent.
I don't care if he shoots 38% standing still or 38% taking the most difficult shots in the world. Either way it's terrible and I want a guy who shoots a higher percentage... especially if he doesn't hit any three pointers, so it's an empty 38%. Ed O.
He only started getting regular minutes about six games ago. Explain how 15.3 ppg, 7 boards, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and shooting 58% is not making shots at a reasonable rate?
Barton could do wonders for his game by becoming at least decent from 3. It would open up his game dramatically. Im not sure if thats possible but its what I would like to see him work on.
What his shooting percentage is this year does not tell me what type of shooter he will be for the rest of his career. Or quite frankly what type of 3 pt shooter he will be. Jason Kidd was horrible his rookie year from behind the arch. But from watching Barton shoot, he looks like he has a good mid range jumper off the dribble. Regardless what his stats show.
He seems like he might be ready to contribute, but then I try to think of a role for him, and I'm unsure where that fits, exactly. He's not the type of guy I ideally want as our scoring threat 6th man, but I don't know how effective he'd be playing alongside someone like, either. Maybe your 9th man? He'll get regular minutes, but more of them in the first half of games.
Steve Kerr made a decent comparison last night during the game - Corey Brewer. Obviously Barton has a ways to go but the body type and energy seems to be similar
Yeah, I combined the two names, apparently. He was known in college as Rubber Band and The Plastic Man. The Plastic Man seemed to stick more in the NBA, though. Which is odd. Because the meaning behind The Plastic Man name would make more sense if Rubber Band was the nickname.
Some people think SG's are only there to shoot three's on offense. If those people were running basketball teams, they'd all suck. I don't think Ed O can answer this one.
