Keon Johnson

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Pinwheel1, Feb 4, 2022.

  1. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    He’s a rookie
     
    BBert, blazerkor and RR7 like this.
  2. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2017
    Messages:
    4,423
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    its one season after another (but its the same when trade happens, so i got confused)

    [​IMG]
     
    BBert likes this.
  3. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    Messages:
    13,909
    Likes Received:
    14,825
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I don't know what function the charade of saying we are still interviewing would have, so I'll take Hankins at his word that the search continues. I do think there's a possibility that Cronin's job hinges on the Pelicans pick conveying but I also think there's the possibility in this interview process that someone with a bigger name points out that Cronin took bad deals and is installed as President of Basketball Ops. That would effectively demote Cronin while keeping him GM which might not be something Cronin would be interested in or it could be. Regardless if there is a new GM or a new President on the basketball side of things that Cronin would be under, that could change the entire direction that Cronin has been plotting out. It will be interesting to see what happens. I would rather keep Joe in charge and hope for fast learning/improvement on his part than lose the Pels pick.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2022
    Hoopguru likes this.
  4. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2008
    Messages:
    26,296
    Likes Received:
    19,787
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Selfless Public Servant
    Location:
    South Blazerlandia
    Keon looked really good last night. So much potential. And Dame is his mentor. I expect good things.
     
    BoomChakaLaka and HailBlazers like this.
  5. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2008
    Messages:
    26,296
    Likes Received:
    19,787
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Selfless Public Servant
    Location:
    South Blazerlandia
    In the short term Williams is more effective. In the somewhat longer term, my money is on Keon. And I don't think it will take that long.
     
  6. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    17,596
    Likes Received:
    11,213
    Trophy Points:
    113
    In 17 games for Portland so far, Keon is putting up 9/3/2, with a steal in about 24 minutes per game. Shooting 37% from 3. In 7 games as a starter, he's averaging 12/3/2, shooting 44% from 3.
    All of his advanced metrics are pretty ugly, but the kid clearly has some talent to work with, and his shooting from outside, which is what ultimately will get him minutes with us as a playoff team, looks far better than what he showed at college last season.
     
  7. BoomChakaLaka

    BoomChakaLaka Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    3,376
    Likes Received:
    2,073
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Designer / Artist
    Location:
    San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (formerly PDX)
    Yup, like I said, 4-5 years. But star potential similar to that of Ant, in my opinion
     
  8. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    20,715
    Likes Received:
    32,575
    Trophy Points:
    113
    it's kind of hard to gauge Johnson's shooting ability at this point. He's taken 72 three's and made 26 of them; 36.1%. But if he'd made 5 less he'd be at 29%. And 5 more he'd be at 43%. Meaning the sample size is just too small right now to make any real judgement. But maybe he can be a decent 3pt shooter. Of more concern is that he has taken 136 two's and is only converting 34.6% of them. His 3pt% is higher than his 2pt% and than seems weird
     
  9. damianlillard

    damianlillard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2013
    Messages:
    838
    Likes Received:
    697
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I don’t think so. I think he’s closer to Powell which would still be solid. Keon is solid at attacking the rim and slashing like powell. Someone who’s always putting in effort defensively. Okay obviously the different between the two is 3 point shooting. But there was a time powell struggled with that even
     
  10. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    tbf I think Keon is more advanced as a ball handler/playmaker than Simons was as a rookie. And he’s gonna be developed by Billups. Also he’s already a better passer than Powell imo, his assist % is higher than Powell’s career percentage. I think he’s got a shot to be a point.
     
    UKRAINEFAN and BoomChakaLaka like this.
  11. OneSport3

    OneSport3 The Knowledge Hoarder

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2009
    Messages:
    3,287
    Likes Received:
    5,696
    Trophy Points:
    113
    A lot of his 2pt FGA are him not finishing at the rim. Once he converts those finishes at the rim, that % should rise. Dame was a TERRIBLE finisher at the rim in his rookie season as well.
     
  12. BoomChakaLaka

    BoomChakaLaka Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    3,376
    Likes Received:
    2,073
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Designer / Artist
    Location:
    San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (formerly PDX)
    I meant that his potential is similar to Ant’s. As a youngster, give him 2-3 years under Dame’s guidance and Chauncey’s tutelage and he’s right there
     
  13. BankTeller

    BankTeller Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2021
    Messages:
    2,540
    Likes Received:
    2,381
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It’d be exciting if he could turn into a Shaun Livingston type player for us. Haven’t watched most of the games Keon’s been in, but I saw a lot of post up game that I liked while watching highlight videos. Being able to play backup PG at his size means he should have a size mismatch most nights.
    I loved and hated Livingston on those Warriors teams.
     
    Scalma likes this.
  14. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2008
    Messages:
    20,715
    Likes Received:
    32,575
    Trophy Points:
    113
    that's a decent theory but I don't think the math supports it

    he's had 208 FGA; and 136 2pt FGA. 29.9% of his shots have been at the rim; that = 62.4 shots at the rim. And he's converted 50% of those shots; 31.2 makes. Now, if he had a 55% conversion rate he would have made 34 shots at the rim instead of 31. If he had made 60% of his shots at the rim he would have converted 36 instead of 31

    * so then, a 55% at-the-rim conversion rate would have elevated his overall FG% from .351 to .365. And it would have elevated his 2pt% from .346 to .368.

    * and, a 60% at-the-rim conversion rate would have elevated his overall FG% from .351 to .380. And it would have elevated his 2pt% from .346 to .390.

    it changes the numbers upward, but not significantly enough to elevate his numbers out of the abysmal zone

    and by the way, as far as the Lillard comparison, it's one thing when a 6'2 guard shoots 53% as a rookie; it's another when a 6'5 guard shoots 50% as a rookie. I'm trying to think of a good Blazer comp in this area for Johnson. Trent didn't play enough or shoot enough to be a valid comp. Will Barton shot .542 at the rim as a rookie but has a career mark of .622. His overall FG% was a crappy .382, so maybe he's a workable comparison, but it was that low because Barton was 9-65 on three's (13.8%). Wesley Matthews shot .597 at the rim as a rookie.
    ***********************************

    that's not to say he'll end up a bad shooter. The fact that increasing his made FG's by 3 or 6 changes his numbers that much shows how small a sample size he has. He's in his rookie season; will play less than half of the games; has played for 2 different coaches on 2 different teams in 2 different offensive systems. And he's had no consistency in role or minutes. That's a formula for uncharacteristically bad shooting. But his numbers are bad enough to be a concern. But it's a minor concern at this point IMO

    upload_2022-4-3_9-13-7.png

    upload_2022-4-3_9-13-39.png

    just looking at those numbers, yeah, he should improve his at-the-rim FG%. But I'd say the biggest room for improvement he could have would be if his assisted FG rate increases. And I'd think that would happen once he plays more with Dame, Simons, and Williams/Dunn. His corner-three conversion rate is really poor as well. That should get better. His minutes have mostly come when the Blazer G-league lineup has been free-lancing. Need to see how he responds in a better system with better playmakers getting him more catch-n-shoot and spot-up shots
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2022
  15. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    he’s just gotta trust his athleticism and be more aggressive. Im sure it’ll come with time because in college he was a good finisher. He’s probably just giving too much respect to defenders, which is leading to a bunch of difficult shots.
     
    blazerfan11 likes this.
  16. Scalma

    Scalma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2014
    Messages:
    23,631
    Likes Received:
    34,978
    Trophy Points:
    113


    Shooting 44% from the field and beyond the arc the last five games, averaging just under 16 points and over a steal per. Also would have more assists if scrubs like Elleby could knock down an open shot.
     
  17. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    31,952
    Likes Received:
    40,230
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Much more calm and under control than one would normally expect from someone whose calling card is supposed to be other-worldly athleticism.
     
    UKRAINEFAN and Pinwheel1 like this.
  18. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    22,362
    Likes Received:
    34,003
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Investment Management / Financial Planner
    Location:
    Lake Oswego
    Great to see him grow. 20 and 19 points in back-to-back games, but not a single FT in either one. Hopefully that comes with time and it will not only increase his efficiency, but open up other scoring opportunities and make him even more of a threat.
     
    UKRAINEFAN likes this.
  19. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    19,592
    Likes Received:
    16,198
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I think Keon is talented and could be a starter down the road somewhere, however, if Cronins mission is to make it Dame time and leap into contention asap, I just dont see room for too many youngsters on the team, come fall.
    I think Joe could use the ones under contract in trades, but I just dont see more than 2/3, young non role players on the team and that would include maybe 1 draft pick this year. Yeah there is the G league or two way.
    I expect the next 1/2 years to be all in, on getting Dame in contention with min players and season vets.
     
  20. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2017
    Messages:
    4,423
    Likes Received:
    4,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    if keon develops into some player, that clippers trade might look different in a hindsight

    lets see if joe cronin saw something nobody has
     

Share This Page