Bucks First Half Grades

[fam3381]

Hey gang, so I posted over at Brew Hoop my first half player "report card" and figured it'd be interesting to hear what people think. Grades are super-subjective, but whatever, subjectivity is fun.

http://www.brewhoop.com/storyonly/2008/1/28/2300/65809

Here are the "good" grades...I won't bother posting everything since it's super-long, but I've got all 15 guys + LK at the link above.

Andrew Bogut - 33.9 mpg, 13.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg, .545 TS%, 17.28 PER
We like: After two years of inconsistency, Bogut's brought effort every night, guarding the opponent's best post scorer and adding a shot-blocking element to his game. After he went "Emo Bogut" on us in December (11/9 on sub-50% shooting from both the field and line), he's rediscovered his confidence and had easily his best month ever in January (17/10). In a fairly forgettable season for the Bucks, Bogut's at least shown promise as a leader on both ends.
We don't like: Here are Bogut's ft% numbers from his Utah days until now: .640 (OK), .692 (Improving!), .629 (Uh, OK), .577 (Dude?), .560 (Seriously?). Not surprisingly, he's also shown no ability to hit the midrange shot, another skill that he purportedly had entering the NBA. He's crafty and strong enough to use his ambidextrous hooks to good effect most nights, but if he's going to reach all-star level he has no choice but to become a more respectable shooter.
We'd like to know: The Bogut-led inside/out offense looks promising, but can the Bucks build a winner around it? Will the Bucks lock him up with an extension this summer?
Grade: B. My warm fuzzies tell me to go with a B+, but let's not give Bogut too much credit for realizing the potential he's always had.

Mo Williams - 37.5 mpg, 16.7 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.9 to, .555 TS%, 16.78 PER
We like: In November he passed more (7.8 apg) and shot less (15.0 ppg, 12 fga/g, 53% fg), but picked up his scoring in December (17.1 ppg) when everyone but Redd went MIA. Then with Redd out for parts of January he filled in nicely as a shooting guard (18.6 ppg). Overall he's shooting at a more efficient clip from the field, distance, and free throw line. While he gets flak for not being a pass-first point guard, it's certainly nice having a PG who can score when needed (which has been often this year). And does any Buck have a better nickname than "Teen Wolf"?
We don't like: He still can't contain opposing point guards, with Krystkowiak noting the team's weakness at the "point of attack" a number of times this year. While no one would accuse Mo of not being a good guy, there's been talk of a recent locker room clash with Tony Brown over his defense (update: confirmed by the JS). Offensively he's prone to pounding the ball into the floor and not being decisive when doubled. Doesn't throw alley-oops, which makes Desmond Mason sad. Lastly, the second season of "The Mo Williams Show" has been derivative and fallen short of its epic first season.
We'd like to know: Can he and Redd ever form a winning backcourt? Of the various hats he's worn this year, which one is the long-term answer?
Grade: B-. Could go lower on account of his defense but he's also had to change his game over the course of the season to make up for the Bucks' injuries and lack of scoring punch.

Michael Redd - 37.9 mpg, 23.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, .569 TS%, 20.37 PER
We like: The only all-star caliber player on the team, he leads the Bucks in scoring and shoots more efficiently than anyone else on the team (Jake Voskuhl's sharpshooting excluded). The talk in the preseason was that he would bring a more all-around game this year, and he's responded with career-highs in assists and his best rebounding numbers in five years, all while shooting less than he ever has since becoming a starter (17.2 fga/g).
We don't like: It doesn't seem like anyone enjoys playing with him. Ideally, Redd plays within the flow of the offense and then only starts freelancing late in the shotclock or whenever Bogut/Mo are on the bench. But he's yet to figure out the best way to get his shots without everyone else standing around scratching their heads. Early on he seemed to embrace the role of facilitating the offense more--after all, that's how other stars had earned some cred--but he seems a bit disenchanted at being more of a spot-up shooter in a Bogut-centric offense. When doubled he has a bad habit of holding the ball too long, and his defense has been mediocre.
We'd like to know: Will another lottery trip trigger an offseason trade? Will we ever see him pass in a 2-on-1 situation?
Grade: B-. He's somewhat out of his depth as the Bucks' franchise player, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that he's also the only proven scorer on the team.

Yi Jianlian - 27.3 mpg, 9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.0 bpg, .500 TS%, 13.12 PER
We like: He's been like any rookie with plenty of ups and downs, but no one would have been disappointed with 10/6 before the season, so in the big picture it's difficult to complain. He's seven feet tall, can run all day and has a perfect shooting stroke, while his strong work ethic and focus have helped him adjust much more quickly on the defensive end than anyone expected. Nothing seems to faze him and he hasn't been afraid to take (and make) big shots.
We don't like: Inch for inch the worst finisher on the team, Yi gets blocked down low at an almost incomprehensible rate and hasn't seemed to improve much in this regard over the course of the season. Though he was primarily a post player in China, he hasn't shown an ability to get his own shot or post up smaller players, something he absolutely must begin to do if he's going to take the next step in the NBA.
We'd like to know: Even the best 23-year old Chinese guy deserves a year in order to adjust to the NBA, but will he be able to make the necessary strides next year to back up the hype? Will playing non-stop for a full year give him enough time to prepare for 08/09?
Grade: B-. He deserves a bit of a pass given the massive adjustment he faced, but in spite of his recent struggles he's also given plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Jake Voskuhl - 9.3 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .610 TS%, 10.90 PER
We like: Jake sets the hardest screens on the team and has raised the pulling-the-chair method of post defense to an artform. Unlike Gadzuric, he knows his limitations and plays within himself (team-leading TS%), which is exactly why he's been getting Gadz's minutes. He's by far the best towel-waver on the team and easily the dude we'd most like to go bar-hopping with.
We don't like: That Gadzuric ever plays ahead of him.
We'd like to know: Would he go bar-hopping with us?
Grade: B-. How transparent is the bias in this grade?

[paul]

A good read fam, kudos. Subjectivity is a lot of fun, most of the grades in this snippit I agree with, although if I was grading Yi would have been in the C- territory, although not based on potential of course. Any word on whether big Jake will be hitting the bars with you any time soon?

[fam3381]

A good read fam, kudos. Subjectivity is a lot of fun, most of the grades in this snippit I agree with, although if I was grading Yi would have been in the C- territory, although not based on potential of course. Any word on whether big Jake will be hitting the bars with you any time soon?

I'm crossing my fingers

Yeah, Yi is definitely a guy I was grading on a steep curve. I think it's important to keep in mind what we were hoping from him and what he's delivered...next year he won't have the benefit of the doubt quite so much.

Same with Simmons, with the injuries and the offcourt stuff I think it's worth cutting him some slack even though his production has been by all accounts poor. I certainly understand if others are more harsh in their ratings.

I also wound up giving CV a C- even though I originally went with a D+...I guess I just looked at his numbers and thought it was somewhat unfair to put him in Bell/Gadz territory, but then again I think it's probably kind to say he's been only slightly below average.

[Balls2TheWalls]

Honestly, I think that the grades are a bit high. If it all came down to how well they helped the Bucks win, then Bogut would be my high grade with a C+ (It shouldn't have taken him this long to reaize that if you show that you want the ball in the post, most players aren't going to ignore you). Redd and Mo would both be a C- because the team is interestingly better when one of them isn't on the court. Yi would have to get a C- because of his intriguing ability to drop 27 some nights and ability to get packed constantly on other nights. No one else would even be in the C range.

[paul]

-= original quote snipped =-



I'm crossing my fingers

Yeah, Yi is definitely a guy I was grading on a steep curve. I think it's important to keep in mind what we were hoping from him and what he's delivered...next year he won't have the benefit of the doubt quite so much.

Same with Simmons, with the injuries and the offcourt stuff I think it's worth cutting him some slack even though his production has been by all accounts poor. I certainly understand if others are more harsh in their ratings.

I also wound up giving CV a C- even though I originally went with a D+...I guess I just looked at his numbers and thought it was somewhat unfair to put him in Bell/Gadz territory, but then again I think it's probably kind to say he's been only slightly below average.

Yep I was happy you cut Bobby some slack and CV a tiny bit, if only because he struggles to get on the floor I suppose. The problem with Yi for me is his first month was in the A territory, his last month has been in the D territory, but your right given what we were hoping for at the start of the season he's right about there. You were also a touch more polite to Lk than I might have been....

OT, is that Messi in you Avatar?

[fam3381]

Honestly, I think that the grades are a bit high.

I can certainly see that.

For me, I just don't think this team is actually all that great as it is, so I think what we're seeing is less a massive case of player-by-player underachievement and more the manifestation of who they are.

[fam3381]

OT, is that Messi in you Avatar?

Yes.

[Epicurus]

I have a hunch that if we used a normal distribution curve on teams' winning percentage, the Bucks would be a C-/D+. Thus it becomes curious that with B players, according to Fam's grading, getting so much time and only one other getting below a C-, the team is but a C-/D+. Therefore, I join in believing grade inflation occured. I think Fam was far to kind to all but Bogut, Williams, and Redd--the rest are probably more D+/D level (and yes I would include Yi who right now is not much of a PF in the NBA).

[Sigra]

let's not give Bogut too much credit for realizing the potential he's always had

It shouldn't have taken him this long to reaize that if you show that you want the ball in the post, most players aren't going to ignore you

[europa]

I have a hunch that if we used a normal distribution curve on teams' winning percentage, the Bucks would be a C-/D+. Thus it becomes curious that with B players, according to Fam's grading, getting so much time and only one other getting below a C-, the team is but a C-/D+. Therefore, I join in believing grade inflation occured. I think Fam was far to kind to all but Bogut, Williams, and Redd--the rest are probably more D+/D level (and yes I would include Yi who right now is not much of a PF in the NBA).

I'd agree. Off the top of my head, I'd probably lean toward giving Bogut and Redd a B and Mo a B-. The rest of the team would be in the D to D+ level for the most part (maybe a C- for Yi). All of that is without giving it any in-depth analysis.

That said, the work is excellent, fam, and great reading.

[fam3381]

I think Fam was far to kind to all but Bogut, Williams, and Redd--the rest are probably more D+/D level (and yes I would include Yi who right now is not much of a PF in the NBA).

Very fair point...I was certainly grading things on a curve (though not even I could bring myself to give out any A's).

To me the Bucks are like a gym class full of fat kids...you could rightly give most of them really low grades, but for the most part that's just who they are. So how you judge them certainly depends on how you weigh relatives vs. absolutes and inputs vs. results.

Ivey to me is the classic example of a below average NBA player who's been forced to play a lot more than he probably should, and while he's responded with only slightly less below average player than previously, I do feel like giving him some credit given the circumstances.

[fam3381]

That said, the work is excellent, fam, and great reading.

Thanks...I was less concerned with coming up with grades than providing a fair written analysis. Unfortunately the conceit of the article kind of required I give a grade at the end, so it's understandable if that becomes the focus.

Btw, I forget who used the term "Emo Bogut" first, but I'd like to acknowledge that I totally stole that from this board.

[Ayt]

Its incredible to me that Bogut shot .692 from the line his last year at Utah.