How has Acie Law been playing so far this season?

[writeous]

I havent been able to see as many Hawks games this year due to my work schedule, but I do look at stat lines every night. I've noticed that Acie seems to pick up an alarming number of "0"s in the assist column and almost never hits double digits in scoring. I know that stats dont prove everything, thats why Im asking your opinion on his play.

[HoopsGuru25]

Law has played nervous and poorly for the majority of the season. He was getting to the basket but he was missing an unusual amount of easy layups and his jumpshot looked very flat. He put together a string of good games as the starter in November(before he got hurt)and has started to play better recently(and got hurt). He's getting better at finishing at the rim and has hit about 6 jumpshots in the last 3 games(which I expected from watching him in college) which is about as many as he had hit in the previous two months probably.

He's also just playing with much more confidence...you can tell just by the way he handles the ball. I watched the last two New Jersey games and I can tell you that young pg's look much better when they have their coaches confidence and aren't afraid of getting pulled. The Bibby/Law combo looked as good as we could have hoped for in the 1st 3 quarters but then Law got hurt and the team made their usual 4th quarter collapse. I just hope Acie's ok because he was finally playing well when given consistent minutes.

[Rip2137]

I think some of the struggles could go back to the ankle.

He was shooting 48 percent from the field, missed 10 games and was in the 30's since until recently.

But he has played like a rookie with a leash so short it is almost non existant.

[smabie]

He's gotten what Woodson allows him to get. Which isn't much. Since much of the Hawks' offense is either iso play or fast breaks, PGs don't get nearly so much assists as they could elsewhere. If Bibby can get the team PnRing a bit more often (any being more than the usual never), maybe he can start to pick some more up as well.

Though its funny you ask about the points things right after he gets double digits in 2 of the past 3 games. And he's only gotten 0 assists in 6 games where he's played at least 10 minutes (and 2 more where he's played at least 5), and only 2 since the new year (1 since the trade). So he's improving despite Woodson's inability to coach young players. In games where he's played at least 10 minutes, he's averaging 2.7 Assists, so while it could be better, it could be worse.

Given Woodson's past performance as a coach, I disagree with people who say we'd be so much better with Paul or Williams. Based on how Woodson's handled things (especially with Law), and based on how the other two were basically given free rein on their respective teams, any PG who the Hawks drafted would have gone through what Acie's gone through.

[HoopsGuru25]

Given Woodson's past performance as a coach, I disagree with people who say we'd be so much better with Paul or Williams. Based on how Woodson's handled things (especially with Law), and based on how the other two were basically given free rein on their respective teams, any PG who the Hawks drafted would have gone through what Acie's gone through.

Williams maybe... Paul no. Paul is basically a coach on the floor who was clearly the leader of his team at Wake Forest during his freshman year and clearly the leader of the Hornets during his rookie year. The guy has been a great player on every level he's played on. Part of the problem with Acie is that he has played tentative and nervous and has tried to adjust his game(until recently)to try to become a pass 1st pg when he's not. You are also assuming that Law is even close to Paul in terms of ability/talent which he's clearly not. Now if we had drafted Conley(similar prospect to Paul and draft position) and Woodson refused to play him then I would agree.

[CWell]

Given Woodson's past performance as a coach, I disagree with people who say we'd be so much better with Paul or Williams. Based on how Woodson's handled things (especially with Law), and based on how the other two were basically given free rein on their respective teams, any PG who the Hawks drafted would have gone through what Acie's gone through.

Williams maybe... Paul no. Paul is basically a coach on the floor who was clearly the leader of his team at Wake Forest during his freshman year and clearly the leader of the Hornets during his rookie year. The guy has been a great player on every level he's played on. Part of the problem with Acie is that he has played tentative and nervous and has tried to adjust his game(until recently)to try to become a pass 1st pg when he's not. You are also assuming that Law is even close to Paul in terms of ability/talent which he's clearly not. Now if we had drafted Conley(similar prospect to Paul and draft position) and Woodson refused to play him then I would agree.

and what did his coach Byron Scott do from the get go?When Paul looked at him for the play call he told Paul "don't look at me,this is your team".and Paul went from there to rookie of the year to one of the best in the league.Paul started from the get go.Woody would've started Lue over him or started Paul but give Lue the most minutes.

[Lue_4_MVP]

To me, Law's a mediocre player, ever worse PG...

Seems like Jason Terry in his first couple years here, minus the lights-out shooting; has trouble making decisions, shoots when he should pass, passes when he should shoot, and also commits dumb turnovers that are bad even for a SG or SF.

Rookie PG's are expected to struggle, but they will at least display a flash of brilliance from time to time. Even guys like Telfair I saw flashes in his rookie year, but Acie I have not. I project him to have an Juan Dixon/Eddie House type career more than anything.

[High 5]

Rookie PG's are expected to struggle, but they will at least display a flash of brilliance from time to time. Even guys like Telfair I saw flashes in his rookie year, but Acie I have not.

You obviously haven't seen every game.

[Amen316]

wow...Sorry but this was just a wasted pick again for the Hawks.. Nets the same amount of wins again another season.

[LL Cool Scott]

In my opinion, he's an athletic scorer who can't shoot or pass and has TERRIBLE point guard instincts. He's been a huge disappointment, and another indictment on Knight. He's essentially an undersized 2 guard (who can't shoot) trying to play point.

As a person, he's a great guy from all indications. As a point guard, he's a disaster. Another busted draft pick by the worst talent evaluator in the league.

[niffoc4]

In my opinion, he's an athletic scorer who can't shoot or pass and has TERRIBLE point guard instincts. He's been a huge disappointment, and another indictment on Knight. He's essentially an undersized 2 guard (who can't shoot) trying to play point.

As a person, he's a great guy from all indications. As a point guard, he's a disaster. Another busted draft pick by the worst talent evaluator in the league.

Eh... it's been how long? Half a season? Give it some time. Point guards (not named Chris Paul) take time to develop and show something. Law has had some decent games, but hasn't gotten consistent PT. So far things haven't looked so good, but being down on a rookie after half a season is what caused the Celtics to trade Joe Johnson AND Chauncey Billups WAY too early. How'd that turn out?

[High 5]

In my opinion, he's an athletic scorer who can't shoot or pass and has TERRIBLE point guard instincts. He's been a huge disappointment, and another indictment on Knight. He's essentially an undersized 2 guard (who can't shoot) trying to play point.

As a person, he's a great guy from all indications. As a point guard, he's a disaster. Another busted draft pick by the worst talent evaluator in the league.

I really question some of you guys who claim to watch the games and have some general understanding of the players. Unless you honestly believe Law just forgot how to shoot in the last several months. He's a rookie playing the toughest position who is still trying to get a feel for the NBA.

[tsherkin]

Given Woodson's past performance as a coach, I disagree with people who say we'd be so much better with Paul or Williams. Based on how Woodson's handled things (especially with Law), and based on how the other two were basically given free rein on their respective teams, any PG who the Hawks drafted would have gone through what Acie's gone through.

I am compelled to disagree because Deron and Paul are both natural point guards and Law was never that, he just happened to pass pretty well. Woodson certainly isn't helping his case but he was never anywhere near the caliber of decision-maker or playmaker as were Paul and Williams in college.

[smabie]

How the heck is Law not a "natural point guard?" Because he shot a lot in college? He played at Texas frigging A&M. He made that team a 20-win team at a school where being a basketball player is lower status than being the third-string waterboy for the freshman scout football team, in a conference with Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas, K State, Oklahoma, OSU, and Missouri. Even after they lost Antoine Wright, they still won because of him. He had to shoot a lot.

Yet despite his "shooting a lot," he also happened to pass the ball...

540 career assists at Texas A&M. That's 4.46 per game, including the freshman year where he only started 12 games. He only made 598 FGs (shooting 46%). That means that despite his shooting a lot, he was also passing a lot. His teammates were also shooting 46% during his 4 years there. He wasn't working with much; hell, Antoine Wright probably owes Acie money just for making him look good.

Coincidentally, his freshman year, when he got inconsistent minutes and inconsistent starts: 38% shooting. Senior year, when he was playing all the time: 50% shooting. Freshman year: 104 assists (3.85 / game). Senior year: 169 assists (4.97 / game). Senior year: no Antoine Wright.

And isn't that contrary to your saying he wasn't a playmaker? Obviously he was a playmaker, had to be a playmaker, since he had nothing else to work with. If anything, his performance at a non-Basketball school speaks more for his ability as a playmaker and as a point guard.

And even if he isn't a "pure point guard," who cares? Chauncy Billups isn't a pure point guard. Tony Parker isn't a pure point guard. Jason Terry isn't a pure point guard. More than half the starting PGs in the past decade's finals teams (both winners and losers) were not pure PGs. So the argument that Acie isn't a pure PG, and therefor he sucks, doesn't hold water. That which sucks is Woodson, and his inability to coach PGs.

Williams was fortunate enough to go to a team coached by none other than the dean of PG-training coaches, Jerry Sloan, who happened to have another guy he coached named Stockton. Sloan gave Williams the ball, gave him the team, and let him go. Paul went to a sorry situation in New Orleans with a coach who happened to play with one of the best PGs of all time. Byron gave Paul the ball and the team, and let him go.

Woodson? He gave Lue the ball, and AJ the team, and told Law to sit at the end of the bench and learn by osmosis.

[tsherkin]

And isn't that contrary to your saying he wasn't a playmaker? Obviously he was a playmaker, had to be a playmaker, since he had nothing else to work with. If anything, his performance at a non-Basketball school speaks more for his ability as a playmaker and as a point guard.

There's a rather remarkable difference between a pass-first playmaking point guard and someone like Acie Law. Law is a good passer; he can see a lot of passes and has the technical skill to complete them; he's a pretty good pick-and-roll passer. He's not a natural playmaker though, he's more comfortable playing the drive-and-dish than he is running an offense in other capacities and he's clearly more comfortable in a scorer's role.

And even if he isn't a "pure point guard," who cares? Chauncy Billups isn't a pure point guard. Tony Parker isn't a pure point guard. Jason Terry isn't a pure point guard. More than half the starting PGs in the past decade's finals teams (both winners and losers) were not pure PGs.

True but that's mainly because they had playmakers at the 2 and 3 positions. And Billups actually does evidence a lot of the traits of a pure point guard; his scoring average is gaudy mainly on the basis of his efficiency at the line and his three-point shooting but Billups takes like 11 or 12 shots a game and otherwise focuses on passing. It's just that he shoots 38-40% from downtown and 88-91% from the line and he draws 5 or 6 FTAs a game because of his post-ups, so his uber-efficient play makes him more prolific as a scorer. It's kind of like what you see from Nash, only in lesser form.

Billups is a fine point guard.

Parker is a good example but you can't discount the presence of Ginobili, Duncan (who is among the best passing bigs of all time) and of late, Brent Barry and Michael Finley.

Jason Terry is crap; he's one of the main reasons the Mavs LOST the NBA Finals. Let's not forget that he didn't make a shot in the last 8 minutes of game 5 and that he was 7-25 in Game 6, 6/16 in game 2 and shot under 32% from downtown over the series while taking almost 7 a game. Jason Terry is a chucker and a streak shooter. The Mavs made the Finals because he was able to get hot a couple of times and otherwise because Dirk Nowitzki was a beast and the rest of the team functioned really well and played great D.

So the argument that Acie isn't a pure PG, and therefor he sucks, doesn't hold water. That which sucks is Woodson, and his inability to coach PGs.

OK, you're off-base here; I never said Acie Law sucks. At all. Nor did I even imply it. I said that he wasn't as good a decision-maker as MVP candidate Chris Paul and Deron Williams, the two of whom happen to be among the best point guards in the game right now. That's hardly a rip on Law, so try not to read more into what I wrote than what was actually there.

Paul went to a sorry situation in New Orleans with a coach who happened to play with one of the best PGs of all time. Byron gave Paul the ball and the team, and let him go.

Byron Scott isn't a stunning coach; he relied primarily on Eddie Jordan and Lawrence Frank when he was in New Jersey, both of whom have CLEARLY displayed their coaching acumen in their roles as head coaches since then. Scott is of the same mould of coach as Rudy T, more of a motivator than an Xs and Os guy. Chris Paul IS New Orleans' playbook.

Woodson? He gave Lue the ball, and AJ the team, and told Law to sit at the end of the bench and learn by osmosis.

And frankly, Anthony Johnson has been more effective when he's been on the floor... and there's a reason for that.

Acie Law isn't an elite athlete, nor is he an especially good shooter. Nor is he a particularly talented post-up guard. He doesn't have any key traits on which he can focus and which he can exploit on offense right now, so he's got to spend more time learning the NBA game, adjusting to the pace, to the athleticism and size of NBA guards and learning his role. He's not a capable producer at this point and has failed when he has been on the court.

Has Woodson done ANYTHING to help him succeed? No, Woodie's useless and everyone knows that but he's not the answer at the 1. Law doesn't control tempo well, isn't a good shooter (which is detrimental to spacing) and telegraphs a lot of his passes.

There are plenty of reasons to talk about him not being a natural point guard... because he's not. He might develop into a guy who can handle minutes at that spot but he's probably going to find most of his best stretches playing alongside Bibby.

[JoshB914]

How the heck is Law not a "natural point guard?" Because he shot a lot in college? He played at Texas frigging A&M. He made that team a 20-win team at a school where being a basketball player is lower status than being the third-string waterboy for the freshman scout football team, in a conference with Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas, K State, Oklahoma, OSU, and Missouri. Even after they lost Antoine Wright, they still won because of him. He had to shoot a lot.

Yet despite his "shooting a lot," he also happened to pass the ball...

540 career assists at Texas A&M. That's 4.46 per game, including the freshman year where he only started 12 games. He only made 598 FGs (shooting 46%). That means that despite his shooting a lot, he was also passing a lot. His teammates were also shooting 46% during his 4 years there. He wasn't working with much; hell, Antoine Wright probably owes Acie money just for making him look good.

Coincidentally, his freshman year, when he got inconsistent minutes and inconsistent starts: 38% shooting. Senior year, when he was playing all the time: 50% shooting. Freshman year: 104 assists (3.85 / game). Senior year: 169 assists (4.97 / game). Senior year: no Antoine Wright.

And isn't that contrary to your saying he wasn't a playmaker? Obviously he was a playmaker, had to be a playmaker, since he had nothing else to work with. If anything, his performance at a non-Basketball school speaks more for his ability as a playmaker and as a point guard.

And even if he isn't a "pure point guard," who cares? Chauncy Billups isn't a pure point guard. Tony Parker isn't a pure point guard. Jason Terry isn't a pure point guard. More than half the starting PGs in the past decade's finals teams (both winners and losers) were not pure PGs. So the argument that Acie isn't a pure PG, and therefor he sucks, doesn't hold water. That which sucks is Woodson, and his inability to coach PGs.

Williams was fortunate enough to go to a team coached by none other than the dean of PG-training coaches, Jerry Sloan, who happened to have another guy he coached named Stockton. Sloan gave Williams the ball, gave him the team, and let him go. Paul went to a sorry situation in New Orleans with a coach who happened to play with one of the best PGs of all time. Byron gave Paul the ball and the team, and let him go.

Woodson? He gave Lue the ball, and AJ the team, and told Law to sit at the end of the bench and learn by osmosis.

Actually the knock on IV in college was that he was not a great distributor. And A&M were also a very talented team. The argument of them not being anything and him making them great on his own is off base. Look at that team this year, they might be even better. I was worried about IV's passing, but I never thought his shot would be off like this.

Also, IV was clearly in front of Lue on the depth chart until Lue's final few games when he was hitting shots.

I'm not sure what showing his stats from freshman year (inconsistent minutes) and senior year (consistent ones) proves. All that proves is that he got better between his freshman and senior seasons like most players. Most freshman don't see the floor consistently, neither do most NBA rookies. So obviously you will see a trend there, I bet IV's numbers are better than right now in his 4th NBA season too.

[crackjack]

Law will plenty of time to develop behind Bibby.

[LL Cool Scott]

I stand behind everything I said about Law and his complete failure as a playmaker (tsherkin said it better than me). In Law's defense, it has only been half a season, and MAYBE he'll magically develop those playmaking instincts. I highly doubt it, but I'll hold out a little hope. He should be a decent enough backup though - maybe a Bobby Jackson type...

[killbuckner]

Here is an interesting article about how Law's assist numbers in college may have been pretty misleading. Not going to sit well with the cult of Acie but I figured that some people would find it interesting.

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/art ... ticleid=14

[HoopsGuru25]

The cult of Acie? I wasn't that Law was worshiped just because people felt he was more talented than AJ who has done such a fine job off the bench for Sac.