Why can't Delfino be our slasher?

[Pchu]

Delfino doesn't have that quick first step that can get by defenders. He is a decent ball handler, who would rather take a contested mid range shot then drive to the basket.

[ILLuMiNAUGHTY]

because he doesn't like writing gay erotic stories

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_fiction

[AfricanSensation]

LOL I know that we were supposed to get Salmons, thats why I mentionned him, if not I would have said that I wish we had Kevin martin and his 39 pts in 28 mn

Seeing Salmons the past few games hitting all these clutch shots and getting to the rim as will was hard though I mean he was the go-to-guy down the stretch yesterday even with Kevin Martin on the floor and he delivered big time including the game winner.

Why did God had to get involved in this?

[Alfred]

-= original quote snipped =-



I don't think that Delfino is without potential, he already does several things very well. I just don't think that he a crafty, get-to-the-rim type slasher nor is he a guy that draws a lot of fouls going to the hole (the mark of any great slasher).

As for my comment about him handling the ball, I don't think that he has a bad handle just that he stiil makes some very poor decisions and tends to get selfish and take bad shots.

I think that part of the reason that he is taking bad shots is because they are exactly that, shots. He is handling the ball and attempting shots off of the dribble, often with no screen to help. The problem here is obviously that that is a low percentage shot, one that he relies on far too much.

Part of the reason for that is because you don't really see any plays designed for Carlos to use screens. If he's going to be an effective offensive player, he's going to have to have a few plays set up for him, and Sam has to call those plays more often. Beating a guy one on one in the NBA is really, really hard to do and CD is put in that position a lot.

Plus he ends up breaking away from the offense too often in those situations. For that reason I'd like to see him handle it less, not more. I think his shot selection is his biggest weakness right now and that tends to get really bad when he puts the ball down and tries to create. If you look at his 2-point % on 82games.com, it's really bad. He's just as accurate on a catch and shoot 3-pointer as he is trying to create something closer to the rim.

For your first point, I'm sure that Sam is encouraging what Delfino is currently doing. He tries to turn every guard that he has gotten his hands on into a shooting-oriented player. Sometimes it's great, because it opens up a player's game, like TJ and Jose have shown, sometimes it doesn't work, a la Fred Jones. Delfino does have a decent jumpshot, one that he is able to create off the dribble, which is something that I'm sure Sam is quite comfortable with Delfino taking.

The problem that I see is that I think Delfino can become a more complete scorer than he currently is. He has shown the ability to score and create around the basket, and what we need to do is put him in that position more often.

Basically, while he might be a better slasher than Parker, Graham and Kapono, It's still not part of his game that I want to see him turning to more often.

So he's better than every one of our wings at slashing into the paint, we have a criminally low points in the paint total and you don't want to see him do more of it? With TJ out of the lineup, we have exactly ONE player who is willing to generate points on the inside and that is Chris Bosh. Why not run a few more plays going to the basket? It's not going to kill the team.

[YogiStewart]

i wonder if God told Salmons the following:

-"Thou must groweth that silly chin-tee"
-"Thou must playeth on a celler-dwelling team instead of a playoff-bound, up-and-comingeth team"
-"Purple is the new black"

[reptar15]

i wonder if God told Salmons the following:

-"Thou must groweth that silly chin-tee"
-"Thou must playeth on a celler-dwelling team instead of a playoff-bound, up-and-comingeth team"
-"Purple is the new black"

we should have kept out old jerseys

[Darrick Martin]

I agree with him not doing well as a finisher around the basket but he can slash and create for others especially for JK.

[The_Hater]

I think that part of the reason that he is taking bad shots is because they are exactly that, shots. He is handling the ball and attempting shots off of the dribble, often with no screen to help. The problem here is obviously that that is a low percentage shot, one that he relies on far too much.

Part of the reason for that is because you don't really see any plays designed for Carlos to use screens. If he's going to be an effective offensive player, he's going to have to have a few plays set up for him, and Sam has to call those plays more often. Beating a guy one on one in the NBA is really, really hard to do and CD is put in that position a lot.

And what you described above doesn't make him a slashers. Slashers are usually considered guys that can beat their man to the rim or get in the lane without the help of a pick. You just described a pick and roll.

I think that Delfino can handle and pass well enough but the problem is, he fancies himself more of a scorer whenever he puts the ball on the floor. And it's not always an easy mentality to break a player from. Heck, we made Juan Dixon a PG and he still spent almost every set looking for his own shot (no matter how awful it was). And DMart is only marginally better.

Either way, this is not a player that I want to see the Raps running more plays for. And that appears to be what you're suggesting. I think that it would be counter productive to both the team and Defino's primary strengths. Our strengths are running our plays through our best player Bosh, our PG's who can both create and pass and using ball-movement to find open shooters. Delfino needs to remain one of those shooters.

[Shaazzam]

I like delfino when he moves without the ball, he is one of the few guys that does

[Danchan]

Shania twain:

He's got the move but does he, got the touch?
Now don't get me wrong I think he's alright~

[jeffya2]

I'll get a lot of heat here but I think Calderon & Delfino limit their drives to the basket as they are in contract years. Driving the basket gets you hurt plain & simple & they have witnessed TJ'S & Garbo's injury whoo's. Moon clearly has the talent but often lacks the balls

Having said that I love all 3 players & but believe there is some caution in an attempt to protect upcoming contracts

[emfive]

if he isnt a slasher maybe we could trade Kapono for one. Or bring back JYD and waive DMART.

He has has his teeth fixed and I am sure will not want them ruined. JK

I do not think he ever was a scorer but more of a hustle guy really. Also the game has passed him by.

[Alfred]

And what you described above doesn't make him a slashers. Slashers are usually considered guys that can beat their man to the rim or get in the lane without the help of a pick. You just described a pick and roll.

Using screens doesn't make a hard cut to the basket not a slash, it just makes it easier to do. While you are right that good slashers have the ability to get to the basket without help from a screen, it doesn't make players who require one not. I am suggesting a pick and roll play be run for Delfino, but with the mind to get Delfino to the basket more often.

If he could consistantly use screens to score at the basket, he would in fact be a slasher.

I think that Delfino can handle and pass well enough but the problem is, he fancies himself more of a scorer whenever he puts the ball on the floor. And it's not always an easy mentality to break a player from. Heck, we made Juan Dixon a PG and he still spent almost every set looking for his own shot (no matter how awful it was). And DMart is only marginally better.

I'm not asking him to be a PG, which is a change of position and responsibility, I'm asking him to attack the basket more, which is definitely one of the responsibilities a shooting guard has. I think Delfino would actually be put in the position to pass more often if he did attack the basket more, rather than shoot contested jumpshots like he does now.

Either way, this is not a player that I want to see the Raps running more plays for. And that appears to be what you're suggesting. I think that it would be counter productive to both the team and Defino's primary strengths. Our strengths are running our plays through our best player Bosh, our PG's who can both create and pass and using ball-movement to find open shooters. Delfino needs to remain one of those shooters.

Really? If anything, I find that the Raptors are too easily figured out, in that we have only a couple of different ways to score. Bosh is definitely a big option out there, and our pointguards facilitate opportunites for our shooters, but other than that, we don't have a whole lot going on in terms of strategy. Teams with good coaching and veteran, experienced players can figure out what makes us tick, and try and shut those options down. Adding more to our gameplan would diversify our offense, and make those strategies aimed to shut us down not work as well.

Sam spoke about this with Parker recently, where he has decided to give Parker more ballhandling responsibilities so that he can be a more potent scorer. While Parker isn't a fantastic ballhandler, he is smart about it, and is doing a much better job at scoring. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that Sam is allowing him to be a bit more creative with the ball, and I could see this strategy working with Delfino as well.

I also don't agree with your notion that Delfino shouldn't be getting more plays run for him. This season, with the ball in his hands, I've seen him do some pretty incredible things. Great passing, good ballhandling and streaky shooting. I think playing him as a pure shooter like you're suggesting is restraining his offensive game, especially when we are in need of a player who does what he can potentially do. One of our biggest criticisms as a team is our inability to get easy buckets in the paint, and I think that encouraging one of our better ballhandlers to do that more would be a good way to address that deficiency.

[emfive]

Delfino has done a good job at handling the ball in the half court recently. The trouble is Sam doesn't go back to it very often and has played Jose to the level of dangerous minutes. Sam has given up on Dixon and Martin. I hope. Perhaps matchups have not favoured Delfino in that role but it should be tried rather than having Jose play more than 40 minutes a game ... for Cripes sake.

I am hoping that with more minutes and given the role of handling the ball in the half court Carlos will show his worth. His tendency to jack them up happened earlier in the year. His decision making lately has been much better. What better place to get him into this role than against his old team.

[J Dilla]

He can take it to the cup with his speed, but he never finishes. I love him for his rebounding and defensive intensity, but he's very inconsistent offensively.

[AVC]

He can be inconsistent, but he's getting long runs and being solid. This detroit game is case and point. He is creative and is the only raptor driving and being 'consistent.' A little support and nourishment and this guy can and will grow. Inconsistency at finishing when you don't get minutes and time is not unexpected, see Darrick Murray. I for one have only seen carlos miss really tough drives this year, and when he misses the raps crash the boards and have often benefited with second chance points, or he's dropped some gorgeous dimes...

Steathlfino for raps 6th man is solid.