Richardson keeps working on game

[spectre_]

Since JSwish is from Michigan it's probably not surprising that they'd do a nice piece on him. Amazing how a guy who's so good continues to work and improve his game. He's exactly the kind of player this team was built for and I'm very happy to have him.

Michigan Live

Early in his high school career, Richardson helped Arthur Hill pull off a major upset by downing a talented Flint Southwestern squad led by current Milwaukee Bucks guard and former Michigan State standout, Charlie Bell.

As a junior, Richardson led the Lumberjacks to their first district title in 32 years and capped off his senior year with a berth in Michigan's Class A title game.

Talent certainly factored in Richardson's stellar play on the prep level.

But Slaggert was even more impressed with how Richardson worked on improving his all-around game, despite usually being the best player on the floor.

"A lot of times after our practice, and we had some pretty grueling ones, he'd go over to Saginaw Valley State and shoot like 500 or so shots with his uncle," Slaggert said. "Jason has unbelievable talent. But he understood even back then, that he had to work on his game to become a really good player."

He has spent a considerable amount of time improving his perimeter shooting, which for a while was considered his greatest weakness. This season, he's shooting a career-best 42.2 percent from 3-point range.

"When you look at his development from when he came out of Michigan State, the one thing that everyone's surprised with, is his ability to hit 3s," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "That's probably the biggest change. I don't think anyone anticipated he would be that type of 3-point shooter."

And that 3-point shooting, added to an already impressive offensive game, makes him a tough player to defend.

"Just watching him play, his demeanor, his athleticism, his ability ... he's one of the rare guys, he has the ability to get a shot off whenever he wants," Saunders said. "Whether it's a 3-point shot, whether he wants to get the ball going to the basket, whether he wants
to post-up ... he can hurt you in a lot of ways."

Which is similar to another No. 23, huh?

[Bowens]

Nice article and nice to see he's a hard worker. HOWEVER, he still kills us on the defensive end. How can someone such as JRich be so athletic, yet stink on defense? I'm having a hard time understanding that.

[Paydro70]

Because honestly his lateral movement isn't that great. He's a great leaper, and he's pretty fast in a line, but he's not "quick" exactly.

However, it seems like he could be better if he's really that hardworking.

[floppymoose]

There is another issue, although this is just a theory. It is a theory based on a lot of observation, though.

Jason's 2nd season was Gilbert's breakout year on the Warriors. Both of them were options #1 and #2 on an otherwise no-talent Warriors squad. Muss would bench them for extended periods if they picked up a 2nd foul early. Since the team had nothing on offense - at all - if those two were off the court, they both got it in their heads early that they were supposed to stay out of foul trouble.

Gilbert was actually pretty amazing at contesting 1 on 1 breakaway fastbreaks that season, but no matter how great a job he did of giving ground while defending the rim, the refs blew the whistle on him. So eventually Gil just stopped doing that kind of thing. Jason followed his lead.

In games that are important to Jason, and where it's near the end and he clearly isn't going to foul out, I have sometimes seen Jason do some fairly amazing things. In one of the stretch drive games to make the playoffs in his last Warriors season, I remember he was guarding someone at the arc, and they shot a stepback three, and Jason went up and blocked the crap out of it.

Maybe if the Cats come around to the point where they are competing for a spot, you will see more of that. But for the moment I would expect Jason's man defense to be pretty awful, with some occasional passing lane steals and help defense steals.

[BigSlam]

He does tend to pick up cheap, silly fouls.

[Bowens]

There is another issue, although this is just a theory. It is a theory based on a lot of observation, though.

Jason's 2nd season was Gilbert's breakout year on the Warriors. Both of them were options #1 and #2 on an otherwise no-talent Warriors squad. Muss would bench them for extended periods if they picked up a 2nd foul early. Since the team had nothing on offense - at all - if those two were off the court, they both got it in their heads early that they were supposed to stay out of foul trouble.

Gilbert was actually pretty amazing at contesting 1 on 1 breakaway fastbreaks that season, but no matter how great a job he did of giving ground while defending the rim, the refs blew the whistle on him. So eventually Gil just stopped doing that kind of thing. Jason followed his lead.

In games that are important to Jason, and where it's near the end and he clearly isn't going to foul out, I have sometimes seen Jason do some fairly amazing things. In one of the stretch drive games to make the playoffs in his last Warriors season, I remember he was guarding someone at the arc, and they shot a stepback three, and Jason went up and blocked the crap out of it.

Maybe if the Cats come around to the point where they are competing for a spot, you will see more of that. But for the moment I would expect Jason's man defense to be pretty awful, with some occasional passing lane steals and help defense steals.

What? Gilbert Arenas is just as bad as JRich on D. If JRich was taking his cue from Agent A-hole, then you know he will never be good on D.

But seriously, like Paydro said, don't ask JRich to cover his man laterally, it ain't happening.

All the more reason why we desperately need a point guard who can pressure the ball.

[Paydro70]

Whether Gilbert is good or bad on defense doesn't necessarily mean he can't contest 1v1 breakaways (which don't happen very often). Agent A-Hole though? Jeez.

I still feel like Ray can pressure the ball... he never seems like that bad a defender when I watch him.

[floppymoose]

To answer both of you... yes, Gilbert is bad on D. What I'm saying is that it didn't have to be that way. Gilbert has the length, quickness, jump, and strength to bother opposing point guards if he put his mind to it.

But he doesn't. And I watched him learn not to. And so did Jason.

[BigSlam]

I love that you can obviously see that he has been working on his FT's and it's showing in his conversion rate from the line.

I love that he's still a work in progress and he's not content to sit back and rely only on his rep.

[Bowens]

To answer both of you... yes, Gilbert is bad on D. What I'm saying is that it didn't have to be that way. Gilbert has the length, quickness, jump, and strength to bother opposing point guards if he put his mind to it.

But he doesn't. And I watched him learn not to. And so did Jason.

Isn't that what they say about all bad defensive players in the NBA? Shoot I watched Charles Oakley for 10 seasons with the Knicks, that dude had zero lateral quickness and no hops. Somehow someway he always found a way and got the job done on defense. Defense is about heart, desire, toughness and willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of the team. Unfortunately todays players are all about me, myself and I. Like Agent A-Hole.

[floppymoose]

Bowens, we are in violent agreement!

[spectre_]

[BigSlam]

^^^

"Like Mike. If I could be like Mike"

[floppymoose]

hey, JRich was the all star MVP this year for the D-league! That guy will go anywhere to work on his game!!!

[Walt Cronkite]

GGG Hilarious...