JJ Redick is Awful....and other observations

[Nemesis21]

So I live in Chicago now..moved here 2 years ago and I always hit up the UC when my Magic are in town. I was at the new years eve game a few months back which was a great victory. Anyways after attending last night's game, a few observations stuck out to me. Lemme know what you think.

1) Whoever JJ is guarding will undoubtedly score. Always. I know that last night the Bulls shot ridiculously well, but JJ was personally responsible for at least 12 bulls points. Kirk, BG, Rose, & Salmons all lit him up. Teams always attack him right off the bat, and I've honestly never seen a player get abused worse on a consistent basis. Seriously. Have You? When Peitrus Returns, JJ should never see the floor again. Ever. I wish he was better, but lets face it, legit..he is not.

2) Rashard has absolutely no handle, and can't post up to save his life. I know he's a nice guy and all, and I wont rehash his ridiculous contract here, we all know its insane, but sometimes he drives me nuts. I could live with it if he posted up better, but he's got 2 moves. The righty hook he misses 8/10 times, and the fadeaway move he misses 9/10. The guy is essentially a 3 point shooter who plays hard to get some boards. Nice Complimentary player, but thats it...

3) We need to tweak our offense just a bit. Mainly we need to run more curl screens. We rarely do it, but when its done we usually get buckets. Its a good way to free up Rashard, since he cant get to the hoop on his own and variations of it can be used for other players, including C-Lee who can use it to pop off his mid-range J.

4) What is it with the fascination everyone here seems to have about Gortat? Sure he plays hard, and I appreciate his effort, but he's a scrub. Bad rebounder, always commits silly fouls, has no offense, and gets shot over constantly. I'm not saying we should give up on him, he can develop, but Battie is light-years ahead of Marcin.

Thanks for reading....

[craig01]

Bad thread.

[LBPTarHeel27]

I have been trying to explain how bad of an NBA player he would be for years...

[Versubio]

Redick has been decent this season. However when his offense is not clicking he's pretty much a liability on the floor. Overall, he has been a serviceable player for the Magic this season.

[richboy]

The thing about Redick defense is he does get beat and often the team has to send help his way which opens things for others. As a third string SG he isn't bad. I guess for a lottery pick you want more than a third string SG. Really he is just a specialist.

One thing that is becoming more overrated about JJ is his jump shot. He gets a ton of wide open looks but has yet to shoot 40% from 3. He definitely can make the 3 at a high rate. He should be hitting like 45% from downtown.

Rashard post up game is better than what you say. I haven't been too happy with Lewis level of play lately. He pretty much equal to what he was a year ago. Only true impact is with the 3 point shot.

[bicatmit]

One thing that JJ does that really bothers me and doesn't show up in the stat sheet is he'll often have the ball as the shot clock is close to expiring and he'll always dump it off to somebody with about 5 seconds left on the clock. It's not like he's finding the open man either-- it's often to Rashard or Battie who is being covered near the elbow or along the baseline. They end up having to jack up a bad shot, which is essentially like JJ turning the ball over except it doesn't appear in the box score.

[EasternMagic]

LOL @ East Magic...Dude I've been a Magic fan from day 1...so don't question that. And I even mentioned that Chicago did shoot abnormally well. I also have league pass and catch as many games as possible. Bandwagoner I am not.Disagree with me sure...that's why I posted, but dont go on saying stuff like that. JJ is wack. Just my opinion. He gets worked by every single player he goes up against. Its not like he gets burnt, but guys light him up nonetheless. You're seriously gonna dispute that? And Rashard has a REPUTATION of being a good post player from Seattle, but he has never shown it here. He can't finish.

I'll question what I want. Especially with posts like this. Next time you want to post your OPINIONS make sure you say they are your opinions, you came in here and basically bashed half our team, and wrongly so for the most part. JJ's defense isn't amazing but he puts in the effort every night, and he hasn't been severely burned on that end for the most part of the season with the exception of last night and that's cause Salmons is huge. Once again saying Rashard can't finish just makes me think you have only seen one game this season.

[craig01]

I repeat..........bad thread.

[cjrwell22]

So. Eastern Magic.....your argument is that JJ doesn't suck because he tries hard? Seriously? Thas your argument? OK so if someone sucks, but they try hard, then that somehow negates the fact that they suck. Please don't ever go to law school, you'll get laughed out of the building with logic like that. I keep seeing that sort of thing from a few other responses as well...qualifying JJ's garbage defense by saying something along the lines of " well he's been trying really hard". Effort's great, but ultimately results are what matters. When he's out there he's a liablility to our team, regardless of how much he tries.

[craig01]

When he's out there he's a liablility to our team, regardless of how much he tries.

He's a reserve.

He doesn't "kill" the team when he's on the floor.

He doesn't have much impact either.

What do you expect?

[maginno]

So. Eastern Magic.....your argument is that JJ doesn't suck because he tries hard? Seriously? Thas your argument? OK so if someone sucks, but they try hard, then that somehow negates the fact that they suck. Please don't ever go to law school, you'll get laughed out of the building with logic like that..

Alright you asked for it son.

All Logic would indicate that we have one of the best coaches in the league - widely recognized. Said coach barely would play JJ in years gone by. Stan doesn't play guys just to give them minutes. Deny this and you will be exposed for the neophyte to Magic basketball you undoubtedly are. Therefore (denoting a construct of logic) If stan plays a player consistently more minutes it is because Stan the verifiable expert in coaching the team merits the player worthy of minutes. yes JJ has gotten more minutes when Pietrus is injured but Stan has also found minutes for him even when he didn't need to.

To claim that he is nothing but a liability when he is on the floor insults Stan. It Logically would indicate that Stan wants to lose BBall games or even risk doing so. The "logic" is therefore asinine and illogical. JJ is on the court because Stan wants him there. Period.

Finally to answer your taunt against EasternMagic learn some Bball. Try hard in the NBA is another word for hustle and movement. There is nothing wrong with JJ on offense. He moves the ball around, the respect NBA players has for his three ball continues to spread the floor for interior play and he is a crafty player. He's no starter and definitely no superstar but he's beginning to come around and frankly his lack of defense rests a great deal upon reputation as it does upon reality. JJ is a much better defender than previous years but if you have the reputation of being below horrible you don't shake it easily. Stan has ruled on this by playing him and in the past has said the only way he would play him is if his defense improved which it has. Period.

[maginno]

One thing that is becoming more overrated about JJ is his jump shot. He gets a ton of wide open looks but has yet to shoot 40% from 3. He definitely can make the 3 at a high rate. He should be hitting like 45% from downtown..

I don't know where these tons of shots are. Maybe we define "ton" differently. Half the time I don't think JJ shoots enough to get out of a funk. even so he's just short of 40%. Theres no rational reason to doubt his stroke.

[cjrwell22]

Alright indeed. I reject the entire premise of your argument. First of all you're assuming that the only reason that Stan would play a guy is through strong performance, but you're overlooking the obvious, which is that Stan also plays who he does based on who is available. Right now with Peitrus being out and Bogans traded, we have no choice but to play this bum in our rotation. That doesn't mean that he earned a thing, simply that there's no one else available. This is a guy who's not in the top 50 in Guard efficiency rating, in fact Bogans, Pietrus, and Lee all are higher. He's our LAST OPTION.

Secondly, while his shot is a threat, too often he can't get it off because he's scared and/or unable to get his shot off consistently at the NBA level. Since he cant drive, that's about it for him on offense. He spreads the floor, which is a tangible benefit, but when compared to the liabilities on the defensive end, its a net loss. Courtney Lee has shot the 3 ball only 7 less times (120-113 attempts) so far this year, and shoots it better at 43%, while also playing dynamite D, and a mid-range game with some handles. JJ's position defense is decent, but again its about results. Other team's guards score on JJ....often. Deny it all you want but it is what it is. Right now I hope he improves, hell I want him to succeed. But theres nothing....absolutely nothing that suggests he'll ever be a solid rotation guy. Ideally once peitrus returns and can hopefully stay healthy JJ will be kept on the bench, and eventually move on with another team in a year or two. Come with something better next time kid.

[maginno]

Alright indeed. I reject the entire premise of your argument. First of all you're assuming that the only reason that Stan would play a guy is through strong performance, but you're overlooking the obvious, which is that Stan also plays who he does based on who is available. Right now with Peitrus being out and Bogans traded, we have no choice but to play this bum in our rotation.

See. thats what I like about you. The more you post the more obvious it becomes that you really don't follow the Magic. Redick HAS come off the bench when Pietrus is healthy. He's the third option but he has seen time. The "bum" for a stretch was used over Bogans as well and I don't see anyone claiming that Bogans isn't NBA caliber. Stan's assessment trumps yours . - every time.

Secondly, while his shot is a threat, too often he can't get it off because he's scared and/or unable to get his shot off consistently at the NBA level

Spoken by every JJ hater whose a closet Duke hater. JJ is very good at rotating the ball and the idea that JJ won't be able to get his shot off in the NBA has now been proven false.

Since he cant drive, that's about it for him on offense.

Actually he can and has gotten to the rim . Not going to happen much if your job is to stay posted outside but thats the same for any three point specialist - no he's no slasher and never will be. So what?. Again watch more than a few magic games at the sports bar in your area anyone that watches JJ shoot will laugh at the idea that Lee has a better shot from the 3. Not right now anyway. Spare me the partial season stats, Lee gets more minutes and that creates fluidity. I suspect by the end of the season JJ's percentage will break 40s. Its in the mechanics and everyone with any sense knows he has them. Whine all you want about what will happen when Pietrus comes back. Pietrus has been back and JJ has still gotten some minutes. NO one denies that JJ is third stringer . Lee is a great young player and Pietrus was brought here to start but that does not logically translate that Stan believes he is a net loss when he is on the court or he would NEVER get off the pine. News Flash. We've seen what that looks like when JJ got no burn because Stan had no confidence in him at all. Thats no longer the case. The proof is in the pudding not in your mind.

MY bet is that you were a fan when you lived in Orlando. Never really gave them up officially but surely didn't follow them and probably got into other teams that your friends hung with. Now well they are doing well so you are bandwagoning it coming on like you have the 411 on the team's deficiencies.

Your claim that all four players in the Chicago game lit him up has already been pointed out for its biased foolishness. Thats an average of 3 points each and they all lit him up? Maybe it doesn't take much to light your world. JJ may in fact be traded but thats because he is a tradeable asset that many GMs have inquired about. Another point that logically deconstructs your arguments.

Enough. Ramble on.

[zuppafly]

My goodness, what has the world come to... I'm 100% with maginno.

I supposed it had to happen sometime.

[magicmamma]

The more you post the more obvious it becomes that you really don't follow the Magic. Redick HAS come off the bench when Pietrus is healthy. He's the third option but he has seen time. The "bum" for a stretch was used over Bogans as well and I don't see anyone claiming that Bogans isn't NBA caliber. Stan's assessment trumps yours . - every time.

Yes, and Stan has said that he wanted to make sure that no one gets buried on the bench, "particularly JJ and Marcin." He has even played JJ with two other guards (usually Lee and a pg, so JJ was the biggest of the three) on the floor in several games.

JJ has developed into a solid bench player and still is improving. You can call him trash if you like, but not without saying Stan doesn't know what he is doing. If Stan didn't like JJ he would certainly have been traded in the pg crisis.

[craig01]

Redick does not start, and rarely plays more than 20 minutes.

I could list a couple of dozen or more "reserve" 2 guards in the league that have flaws as well, thus the reason as to why they are "reserves".

Redick fits this team well for what he brings to the table. As for his defense...yeah, he has some match up issues.......but so does almost every player for that matter. Ever watch Hedo? Or Johnson? Or Lue?

SVG must think he's a viable option too, as he wouldn't play him if it wasn't the case.