JO Scouting report

[anotherhomer]

Hey guys,

I know the JO era is over and I notice a lot of raptor fans giving their take on TJ - good player with his flaws but a good player nevertheless.

I wanted to ask your take on JO. The Raptors have bill him as a guy who provides good tough defence and rebounding that will solve the fact the Raptors alway got ran over on the board and were weak in the paint.. On the offensive side, he's viewed as a legit 2nd option can play in the post. Is this is true or is something missing because it sounds too good to be true that he's the missing big guy who will make the raptors that much better?

[joew8302]

Here are my personal JO feelings:

Positives: JO is a very good defender all things considered. He is usually very good with his help side defensive. My favorite aspect of his game is his willingness to take charges. He usually takes one or two per game which I love. On offense JO is pretty decent at finishing with either hand around the rim. He is also pretty unselfish. His free throw shooting has also been very good for a big throughout his career in Indiana.

Negatives: His field goal % is not very good. I think he is still adjusting to not being as athletic as he once was. A few years ago he was much better on the boards as well. He is still decent, but not the rebounder he once was. Sometimes his shot selection leaves something to be desired as well.

[Scoot McGroot]

He's going to be a great 2nd option, but he might now have the willingness to really work with Bosh in the paint.


He will do a great job of interior defense though, and is a good, but not great rebounder.


He will be interesting to play next to Bosh, and will be MUCH better than Bargnani or Rasho ever was at C for you guys. If you could find some solid wings to put with Calderon, you could be a great team.

[freeman]

i agree with the above posts. JO will be a big upgrade over Rasho and Bargnani. He's a legit PF/C and together with Bosh, can definitely create mismatches and pretty good defensive stops.
I am excited to see JO and Bosh together.. though i don't really think JO will be back to his all-star form even if he's healthy. Don't get me wrong, i mean no insult.
JO may not be an all-star with the Raps but i think his presence alone would let Bosh improve some more, knowing that Bosh will never have to worry much about guarding the paint. He can purely focus on offense.
If JO will understand his role (like David Robinson on Tim Duncan), JO and Bosh can surely bring the Raps into the palyoffs in consecutive seasons. JO comes to the Raps just as another part of the supporting cast, and he will definitely provide good support for Bosh.
I think JO will average 16ppg, 9rpg, 2blks this season for the Raps.

[MillerTime101]

Got to agree with all the posts. Assuming Bargnani's hard work this summer pays off and JO stays healthy is this the best front court in the NBA? I dont see who is even close to a Bosh, JO, Bargnani mix.

Look for Parker and Kapono to go nuts with all the open looks they are going to get, its going to be a fun year in Toronto.

[anotherhomer]

From what I read on other sites and other threads here, I would agree with what's being said from other posters.

It seems like he's no longer at the level he was athletically - back in those days where he had quick feets to run on the floor fluidly or the hops to jump quickly - meaning he's not the monster inside the paint, and can't finish as well anymore, thus a decline in his shooting percentages.

On the defensive side, it seems he's a big body with still enough athletism to be a good rebounder and help defender but no longer that guy that comes out of no where to block and take up space inside the paint.

I guess you guys are right, JO is better suited to have more of a David Robinson role, still has a good offensive game and a not great, but better than good defence, except he never played at the level David Robinson did but probably still has more springs in here.

For that, $22 M is probably too much for that type of player as $12-14 M would had been more fair but he's probably the best man outside of Bosh we had in a while.

When you guys say that he lost his athletism and no longer at the level he used to be, is it something that's he probably won't get back if he works out hard enough or he's on the decline?

[PR07]

When JO's knee is healthy, he's still pretty darn athletic. Maybe not as athletic in his peak, but he's still impressive. Two years ago when he was healthy in the first half of the season, he was probably on his way to becoming Defensive Player of the Year before his knee injury lingered and took away his explosiveness. I think it's just a matter of whether JO's knee can stay pain free for a full season.

Positives: Can use either hand on the low block. Good fadeaway spin jumper. Pretty good midrange jumper for a big. Great shotblocker when healthy. Solid on-ball defender. Will take a lot of charges.

Weaknesses: Different player when knee problems flare up. Loses a lot of elevation, both offensively and defensively. Relies too much on mid-range jumper from time to time. Has improved passing out of double-teams, but he could still improve.

[23artest23]

I did not bother reading all the previous listed positives and negatives considering JO is a has-been Pacer.

Positives
Above average mid range J for a big
Far above average man and help defense
Probably slightly above average passing ability for a big man and was showing more improvement
Very good in the post
Very good rebounder

Negatives
Tends to negate his very good low post skills by settling for jumpers
Chronic injury issues
Shoots a low % even though all the mid range jumpers he settles for has improved his shot
Ungodly salary for what he provides even when healthy

[Scoot McGroot]

For that, $22 M is probably too much for that type of player as $12-14 M would had been more fair but he's probably the best man outside of Bosh we had in a while.

When you guys say that he lost his athletism and no longer at the level he used to be, is it something that's he probably won't get back if he works out hard enough or he's on the decline?

He's probably the best big man you've ever had, other than Chris Bosh, and if healthy, he's pretty darned close to Bosh. Camby is about the only other guy in the conversation, but he's probably only close if JO has a stinker of a season. AD might be 4th, but by a distance.


I think JO will figure out how best to fit on the roster, with or without his athleticism. He's determined enough, and wily enough to learn how to fit in.

[joew8302]

Also, we have heard JO looks great in Las Vegas working out. Granted we hear this every season, so I don't know how much weight you can put in this. But that said I would rather him have good reviews than bad ones.

[Unsuccessful]

Thanks for being fair Pacers Fans, these seem to be informed perspectives.

I am excited to watch some Pacer Games as they should be loose and fun. There is a load of young talent on your team that came overnight and I can't wait to see T.J and Danny outrun the vets. I loved watching T.J play and the only reason I wanted him used as trade bait is Calderon's rise.

When I think of T.J Ford playing other notable players, I always assume he is "too small to play" in my head. However, if you phyiscally watch the game footage he is the only player on fast forward. Watching the other team's point guards (Jason Kidd and other vets in particular) run backward as fast as they can after they score is often hilarious. Once TJ is handed the inbound pass, the opposing point guards seem to dig in and prepare for not being embarrassed by TJ.

He stutter-steps with the best of them, he'll casually touch every part of the offensive court as he decides what to do, but the whole time the other guards can't get the ball from him. His turnovers, in my watching experience, come from wild plays that would have looked fantastic if finished.

Just watch these clips to get a better idea. Look at the body language of the defenders. They seem very uneasy guarding TJ:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhDAjqHRwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWVWFjm8 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPba8uYR ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgp3ElDqm8M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSFbj3PNCK8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jh5q7tS ... re=related