Rookie Retrospective: Wesley Johnson

[Cyborg21]

Pretty good read on how Wes has struggled 33 games in to his rookie season.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Roo ... hnson-3605

[Piecake]

I dont know, I have been fairly happy with Johnson's play so far. I think a lot of his game's limitations are due to his poor handles. I think he has been more aggressive lately, and I do like his pull up jumper. His passing and court vision abilities has impressed me the most.

But then again, all the other draft prospects have been pretty disappointing so I might be more upset if some guy we could have drafted but didnt was killing it.

[Dewey]

I don't think the writer really knows what he wants to say ... probably because he doesn't know yet wants to make it appear that he does know. This way he can be right and wrong at the same time, and we wouldn't really know if he knew.

[revprodeji]

Great find Cyborg..

1.) Ballhandling (see shot ratio. 184/35 So he cannot get in the paint and get to the line.)

2.) Timid ("extremely unselfish"+ 4th option)

"Studying his film, it appears that Johnson's role is essentially to park himself behind the three-point line the vast majority of the time on offense in both half-court and up tempo situations. He mostly serves as just a cog for passing and shooting when the ball comes to him, and when he does make moves towards the basket both on and off the ball, it's from further out and with noticeably less aggressiveness than he showed as a college junior."

-We had a discussion earlier this year how classically in the triangle there are 2 wing players that handle the ball and one that spots up. Typically the spot-up guy has been the pg. This year it appears that the PG is more involved and the SG is the spot up guy. I think we need to work to get Johnson more touches. Hopefully Rubio's experience with Navarro/Rudy will help set up Wes.("Never known as a great shot-creator, there's no doubt that Johnson needs to play with a dynamic point guard who can get him the ball effectively in a position to score.")

"but how little the Timberwolves have utilized him cutting off the ball, something he excelled with at the collegiate level. Off-ball cuts comprised 16.1% of his offensive possession at Syracuse according to Synergy (the highest rate among all small forwards in the draft last year), and that number has dropped to just 4.4% in the pros."

-Get the kid some shots!!!

I do like the props they give him for defense. He has become a very good defensive player, but unless we get him involved on the offense he is Bruce Bowen or an uber Brewer.

"The way Johnson is being utilized is certainly peculiar given his versatile skill set, but it is worth noting that he showed similar problems settling into a one-dimensional role his sophomore year at Iowa State. This makes it difficult to separate whether his current problems are primarily his own or a result of coaching decisions, but it's most likely a good amount of both.

-Burn...

[shangrila]

When you think about it it's not that surprising that he's been struggling. Going from PF to SG would be a huge adjustment for anyone and he's playing with better, more dominant players in Love and Beasley then he ever did in college.

[revprodeji]

I don't think the writer really knows what he wants to say ... probably because he doesn't know yet wants to make it appear that he does know. This way he can be right and wrong at the same time, and we wouldn't really know if he knew.

huh? He is analyzing. Not making an opinion. Good article.

[Swish4]

I think he's gonna be a quality player through and through. He's mature, intelligent and has incredible tools in all aspects of the game sans handle. He's a rookie and seems like he understands it's a team game, and he's working hard and learning the right way. If Beas wasn't here, he might be forced to score more, in so doing learning bad habits. As is he's coming along nicely, learning to guard some of the best players in the world and doing well at it. I think his jumper has a chance to be Ray Allen good in time. Let him learn the ropes and endue the grueling schedule this year and judge him next year.

[prefuse73]

It is mostly the role he is playing. When Beasley was out about a month ago, I don't think it was a coincidence that Wes had one of his best games to date. If he can figure out his handle, he will be good.

[Ice32]

I think Wes has potential to be a 15ppg guy. I cant see him averaging 20 pts or more in a season, unless he starts getting to the FT line more. The dissapointing thing I think is consistency. Hes only scored 10 or more points in 3 straight games once this year. Usually after he has a double digit scoring game, his next 2-3 games are single digits.

He needs to do more than wait at the three point line. If he cut to the basket more when Darko/Love has the ball in the post, he would either score on layups and/or get fouled. 1.2 FTs per game is pretty bad for a Starting NBA shooting guard. He is the 3rd or 4th scoring option, but he needs to find his points in other ways, just be more agressive.

Defensively he seems pretty good and will get better. Passing is good for a rookie. I think if he attacked more, he would score more, he would get more playing time.

[Peezo]

I really like Wes so far and think his production is almost purely situational. Our whole team is so young/new that no one seems to know their roles. I mean no one in the rotation this year got big minutes last year except Brewer and Flynn (K Love's time was so inconsistent). With so many new pieces meshing it is no surprise that the unselfish rookie is the one who ends up looking like he doesn't have a big enough role.

Good find on that article OP

[CoffeeJanitor]

I've been loving Wes. I really think that people are being a bit too critical of him. I think we've seen flashes of what he'll be able to do in the future.

Don't judge too fast.

[[RCG]]

Seems like a great character/high IQ guy. He has a silky shot and I think once he has been in the league a year or two and gains some confidence he'll be a very solid starter.

[mark blunt]

It seems like we're committed to developing Beas/Love/Darko and making sure they play confidently (ie- high usage/fga). Thus, less shots go to Wes. It's too bad that a #4 pick can't come in and command a larger role, but I'm glad that he does have a role.

Funny how we draft Johnson and basically turn him into Blazer-era Martell Webster.

[AQuintus]

I'm not sure we can blame Johnson's lack of offensive opportunities on the coaching staff. Whenever he gets subbed out for Brewer or Webster, they don't have any problem getting shots. In theory they're playing the same position in the offense next to Love, Beasley, and Darko and should therefore have the same role.

The lack of cuts is concerning, but again I'd say that it's more Johnson than the offensive scheme. The only times I can remember him cutting at all is when he cuts baseline after passing in to Darko. In those situations he never cuts with any urgency at all. It's always a fairly lackadaisical 3/4 jog to get to the weakside and spot up.

[big3_8_19_21]

It's a good article, and they are correct in the way that he is used does not necessarily show off his strengths, but there aren't going to be enough rebound to go around when Kevin Love is our PF and Michael Beasley is our SF (let's not forget how gaudy his rebounding numbers were at K State), plus whatever rebounds Darko, Pek and Doufos scoop up. Still, it would be nice to see Wes used more cutting to the basket.

[shangrila]

I'm not sure we can blame Johnson's lack of offensive opportunities on the coaching staff. Whenever he gets subbed out for Brewer or Webster, they don't have any problem getting shots. In theory they're playing the same position in the offense next to Love, Beasley, and Darko and should therefore have the same role.

Yeah, some of the things Webster does look easy enough. Getting hand offs from Love or Darko, for instance.

[teven_1]

I like Johnson's passive minded game play sometimes. It can be frustrating but he really does look for the pass. It's kinda nice. At the same time turning a guy with those athletic gifts into a standstill shooter is a crime

[Peezo]

With this thread fresh in our minds, was anyone watching Wes tonight against Boston with an eye to his offensive role?

[Piecake]

With this thread fresh in our minds, was anyone watching Wes tonight against Boston with an eye to his offensive role?

He was fairly passive, more passive than he was in the last couple of games. He had one play run for him that I liked and shot and made 2 3s, but that was about it. I dont think its his offensive role that is limiting him. I mean, Brewer gets his shots and is aggressive on offense when Beasley or Webster is out there with him. Johnson just needs to do the same. He simply needs to be more aggressive in looking for his shot within the offense. He needs to learn that just because plays arent being run for him, or that he isnt the first or second option, that he cant be aggressive and look to score.

[shangrila]

Here's the best I could find about what I was talking about earlier:

Boeheim says the only issue he has had with Johnson is that he is too unselfish.

“He doesn’t have a scoring mentality,” Boeheim said. “He’s taking like 11 shots a game.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/sports/ncaabasketball/25syracuse.html