Player of the Game - Wizards vs. Mavericks (1/21)

[wateryd]

definitely butler. he came out in the third quarter and forced a few things on offense, even took a couple bad shots. but the tone was set. caron was into it and he was making sure this game was going to be won. you saw the team feeding off that focus and intensity. and 25/9/5 with steals and 3 3s is pretty nice. remember he hit a meaningless 3-pointer with like 5 seconds left in the last mavs game?

stevenson for 2nd because of all those huge shots, of course. he is playing some serious ball, loved when he faked that 3 and moved in for the uncontested 17-foot jumper and nailed it, showing some versatility.

jamison 3rd because he scored big in the second half and continues to be an extremely consistent source of high-level offense, even if it takes a few extra shots to do so.

[Nick Young1]

As nice as that is, he shouldn't be ahead of Carmelo (IMO).

Butler/Anthony

Roland Rating-9.8-4.1
PER 22.11-20.12

Butler
21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 91% FT, 2.3 steal, .4 blocks, 2.6 TO, 36% from 3, 48% field goal%, 40.5 minutes.


Anthony
25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 79% FT, 1.3 steal, .5 blocks, 3.5 TO 29% from 3, 47% field goal%, 37 minutes


I think they are pretty close players. Anthony is a little better scorer, and a little better rebounder, while Butler shoots the 3 better, better passer, and is a great free throw shooter. The big difference between the 2 is that Butler plays good defense. I'd take Butler and while a little bit of homer in me is saying that, the stats back that up as well.

[RickRoll_inDC]

i would vote for the team, but it's a PLAYER of the game poll, so i'm going to have to go with TJ. he played exceptionally well all game, even though DS finished it off. the steals that he had today really sealed the deal for POTG. 5 steals is phenominal. great win for everyone.

[miller31time]

As nice as that is, he shouldn't be ahead of Carmelo (IMO).

Butler/Anthony

Roland Rating-9.8-4.1
PER 22.11-20.12

Butler
21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 91% FT, 2.3 steal, .4 blocks, 2.6 TO, 36% from 3, 48% field goal%, 40.5 minutes.


Anthony
25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 79% FT, 1.3 steal, .5 blocks, 3.5 TO 29% from 3, 47% field goal%, 37 minutes


I think they are pretty close players. Anthony is a little better scorer, and a little better rebounder, while Butler shoots the 3 better, better passer, and is a great free throw shooter. The big difference between the 2 is that Butler plays good defense. I'd take Butler and while a little bit of homer in me is saying that, the stats back that up as well.

When comparing two players who are both capable of playing big minutes and are both focal points of their respective teams' offenses, it's best to use per-40 numbers to even the playing field.

Per-40, Melo averages over 27 points per game, while Caron averages just over 21. A 6 point difference is huge. Carmelo also averages around 3.5 assists per 40, albeit with high turnovers, and he rebounds better than Caron (7.6 to 6.. He shoots a lower ft%, but he gets to the line far more often (8 times per-40 minutes compared to 4.7).

Also, his defensive shortcomings are exaggerated by the media. He really is no worse than average on defense. Butler is a slightly above-average defender who is made to look like a VERY good defender because of his steals. Nothing against Caron. I love the guy, just saying what I think.

So in the end, it's 27/8/3.5 with decent %'s and decent defense against 21/6/4 with good %'s and good defense. I'll take Melo.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

So in the end, it's 27/8/3.5 with decent %'s and decent defense against 21/6/4 with good %'s and good defense. I'll take Melo.

What about when you factor in

-100% gritt/heart/determination all mixed in with a full serving of tough juice

and

- a great back-pedaler

[miller31time]

Touche'

[GilArenas88]

Caron gets it...

But it is amazing of how good a three point shooter Deshawn has become. If my memory serves me right everyone was really down on his shooting when we first signed him.

[Nick Young1]

Anthony also shoots 3 more times per game. And I do think Butler is a much better defender.

And the intangables aren't even close.

I respect your opinion, but I'd go with Butler.

[hands11]

Tough Juice fought the main fight. DS was the snipper at the top of the building. That's why he is The Terrorist. They both played great D as did the whole team.

CG 25955 10-20
DS 13261 7-11

AJ also get props but he was 7-19 so he wasnt as efficient.

It was a tight first half but we played our anti Celtics style killer D in the 3rd. That was the difference. 27-19 in the 3rd.

1) Tough Juice
2) The Terrorist
3) No Nick Name Jamison

Best Dunk: Nick Young
Best Pass: Tie CB to Woodshack for the dunk: AB to AJ reverse layup.

[hands11]

-= original quote snipped =-



It is unbelievable...

...Caron is clearly better than LeBron.

I must be on block because Ive posted that several times.

If I recall, there are lots of these stats in the MVP race thread.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

Tough Juice fought the main fight. DS was the snipper at the top of the building. That's why he is The Terrorist. They both played great D as did the whole team.

CG 25955 10-20
DS 13261 7-11

AJ also get props but he was 7-19 so he wasnt as efficient.

It was a tight first half but we played our anti Celtics style killer D in the 3rd. That was the difference. 27-19 in the 3rd.

1) Tough Juice
2) The Terrorist
3) No Nick Name Jamison

Best Dunk: Nick Young
Best Pass: Tie CB to Woodshack for the dunk: AB to AJ reverse layup.

WORST.NICKNAME.EVER

Being a "sniper" is great, a terrorist is HORRIBLE! How about a better nickname.

[hands11]

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WORST.NICKNAME.EVER

Being a "sniper" is great, a terrorist is HORRIBLE! How about a better nickname.

Hey I know being a terrorist isn't exactly in Vogue these days but he does look the part.

Hey, it was mostly a joke anyway. I wasn't thinking they would call him that on Comcast. I just couldn't help it with the beard and everything.

[Soup's Uncle]

D Steve should try to get in the 3 point shoot out this year.

Caron gets PoTG

[cwb3]

Like others have said today, there have been so many games like yesterday where I want to vote for EVERYONE. We are winning because we are playing so well on offense and esp on defense as a TEAM.

That said I voted for Butler, the steals were key, and his all around game is hard to argue with. D-Steve has been so lockdown on defense, and Jamison so almost quietly does so many things for our team. He should get more POG honors, esp considering how much BETTER his own defense has become this year.

I've never admired a Wizards squad more than I do this one!!

[Donkey McDonkerton]

Hey, it was mostly a joke anyway. I wasn't thinking they would call him that on Comcast. I just couldn't help it with the beard and everything.

I know, I know..just throwing it out there because I thought it was in bad taste. I do like the sniper though....

[jimij]

-= original quote snipped =-



+1

EDIT: But in our defense, his defense this season has been phenomenal. He was decent last season, but nothing spectacular. Oddly enough, after he got his contract was when the defensive switch turned from good to lock-down.

I don't think its that he got his contract, I think its that he got Randy Ayers on the sideline.

Even a decent defender is going to look weak when the team doesn't play any type of cohesive defensive system. With everyone playing together using the same principles, it just allows the good defenders on the team to really shine.

[jmrosenth]

I'm still completely dumbfounded by Stevenson's metamorphosis into reliable 3-point shooter. His last year in Orlando he was 2-15 from 3 -- for the SEASON!! The dude simply never took a 3 and when he did, he was pretty bad at it. I think it's safe to say that we didn't expect this type of shooting when he arrived here.

But wait a minute.

I looked deeper into his splits. If you look at the 2004-2005 season, his 2nd season in Orlando, this 3-point shooting probably SHOULD NOT come as a surprise. That year he started the season as a starter, but slowly got benched because of ineffectiveness and eventually was completely out of the rotation (he may have also had some injuries).

But at the end of that season, the Magic, out of the playoff race, reinserted him back into the starting lineup in late March and he played huge minutes the rest of the way. And he showed something, a la Courtney Alexander. In 10 April games, he averaged 18 per, but more telling, he was very productive from 3 land. He averaged 41.5% from three, hitting over 2 a contest. He made 22 3's that April.

And then he followed that up with 2 made 3's the next year, the entire season, his walk year in Orlando.

What the hell happened? Why didn't Orlando use him a long-distance "sniper" his last year there? Was it Stevenson's doing? Anyone? Bueller?

Regardless, I'm glad Ernie was paying attention to what happened in April 2005. I think Orlando is pretty happy with Bogans (at half the cost?), but I'm happy to have DeStevie in town.

Now just don't be miserable in the playoffs again.