Bullsville wrote:
The one point I would make is that Ben is a jump shooter and nothing more. He's an average passer at best, not a very good ball-handler, and not good at getting to the line. So what makes him think he is worth more than 5 years and $50 million?
I think its this that the most people argue about with Gordon. You see him as a jump-shooter. I see him as a jump-shooting explosive scorer. His primary skill IS shooting, but his ability to shake and drive past his defender, EVEN IF ITS FOR A CLOSER JUMPER, is extremely valuable. Even if its still not as high-percentage as a slasher, its always there. He's an offensive creator, and if he could understand how the pressure he creates affects the opponents defense, and could exploit that, he could be elite. Even as a jump shooter.
Its a shame he's a bit dumb. Its really not his skills that are lacking. His dribbling has gotten far, far better. Its fine. He gets stripped at the end of games not because he's careless, or sloppy with the ball. Its because opposing bigmen can actually afford to double him on the screen, and not just flash, they stay there and trap. EVERY elite guard in this league would make that big pay a dear price for doing so. That's Gordon's primary problem.