The evolution of Goran Dragic

[LV-Suns]

So.. I was bored and decided to go back and check out some old videos when Dragic came into the league.

Honestly, I never thought Dragic was ever going to amount to anything more than another Euro washout when he was first drafted. He was Kerr's golden boy, who he traded 2 2nd round picks to move up 3 picks in the second round. He was statistically the worst player in the league half way through his rookie season. I remember how angry how I used to be when we invested so much into him, and how little he produced in the midst of that terrible season. He barely spoke any English, I remember Boris Diaw had to call out his plays when he was on the floor.

Looking back, who actually thought Dragic would be anywhere near the player he is today. He has exceeded all kinds of expectations. This season, he has a PER of 21.40(5th among all PGs, slightly trailing Bledsoe) while carrying a 60% TS%. We have a premier point guard in our hand boys, one that should be integral long term plan of this team.

Really proud to see that young, timid Dragic has turned into the leader of this team. I can't imagine the hype he would be receiving if he played any other team.

[Flying Colors]

From Tragic to the Dragon, sometimes you just need to be a little patient

[JMac1]

So.. I was bored and decided to go back and check out some old videos when Dragic came into the league.

Honestly, I never thought Dragic was ever going to amount to anything more than another Euro washout when he was first drafted. He was Kerr's golden boy, who he traded 2 2nd round picks to move up 3 picks in the second round. He was statistically the worst player in the league half way through his rookie season. I remember how angry how I used to be when we invested so much into him, and how little he produced in the midst of that terrible season. He barely spoke any English, I remember Boris Diaw had to call out his plays when he was on the floor.

Looking back, who actually thought Dragic would be anywhere near the player he is today. He has exceeded all kinds of expectations. This season, he has a PER of 21.40(5th among all PGs, slightly trailing Bledsoe) while carrying a 60% TS%. We have a premier point guard in our hand boys, one that should be integral long term plan of this team.

Really proud to see that young, timid Dragic has turned into the leader of this team. I can't imagine the hype he would be receiving if he played any other team.

And he is only 27...Nash didn't reach his peak until 31.

[nevetsov]

And his game isn't build around athleticism, so he will likely be effective for longer than the explosive type of pg.

[bwgood77]

I wasn't pissed about drafting him, but I didn't expect much, and I remember rolling my eyes when some fans here were saying stuff like "I can't believe we were able to trade picks with SA to get the 45th pick and get Dragic...this was a steal!"

I remember watching videos of Kerr and the asst gm (pissing me off I can't remember his name right now) high fiving when they got him. I remember many fans just expecting him to be awesome which is obviously extremely rare for any 2nd rounder.

I remember reading reports of other gms snickering and saying that this guy was nothing special at all...it's funny seeing Phx act like it was a big deal to get him.

So yeah, it's awesome he has turned into what he is today. It's strange that our management gave up on him too and traded a first and him for Brooks. That just seems crazy. But I guess it's even crazier that both guys ended up back with their original teams. Then again, I guess we traded Nash too after drafting him.

I'm not entirely sure he becomes the player he has become if he didn't get traded...sometimes getting that role you wouldn't have gotten (as immediately) had you stayed where you were can really be beneficial.

[Wannabe MEP]

He was clearly good in 09-10, and clearly TERRIBLE in 10-11. So it wasn't just a straight progression. I think it was very much situational: he needs space to operate.

Ya know that Channing Frye fella? Gives Dragic a ton more space. In 10-11, Frye moved to the starting lineup, so Dragic wasn't playing with him any more. He wasn't playing with a stretch big, so spacing was terrible, so he couldn't get to the rim.

And remember when he tore up the Spurs in the '10 playoffs? We actually went FIVE-out that quarter. He had a wide-open paint to attack.

[bwgood77]

Yes, if we keep Dragic and Bledsoe of our backcourt of the future, we clearly need a stretch four, and if we could have a stretch 5 as well, all the better, but we probably won't be nearly as effective if we ended up with two traditional low post guys (who couldn't hit the 3) with this backcourt.

This is kind of my worry with the Univ of AZ basketball team...the team would have been perfect this year had Grant Jerrett stayed because he was a good stretch four. Their guards are good at driving, and their bigs are mostly great from short range...though luckily Ashley practiced his 3 ball this offseason because he has been taking a few. Maybe I shouldn't be too worried about them since they are currently ranked #1, but if they have a downfall, it will be because of lack of spacing.

[Atlas]

Laker fan here. I'm ecstatic to see Dragic is playing well. Either his rookie or second year, I remember him crying on the bench after playing a terrible stretch. Anyone else assume he was too weak mentally to last in the NBA? I always laughed at Nash for trying to mentor him, thinking it'd be pointless. I'm glad I was wrong. It's always nice to see these Euro players succeed.

[carey]

I remember watching videos of Kerr and the asst gm (pissing me off I can't remember his name right now) high fiving when they got him.

You might be thinking of David Griffin? Currently screwing things up with Chris Grant in Cleveland.

This is a great article about Dragic from the USA Today if you haven't seen it: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nb ... o/4006105/

Some of my favorite quotes:

Dragic learned to do a hard dribble-drive with a stop and a step-back jumper. He began dabbling with a floater for lane encounters with big men. And he has a signature pivot move.

"That's my thing," Dragic said. "They teach that in Europe. When you penetrate and you feel some guy next to you, you just pump fake and stop and turn. It's an old move I used all my career, so it comes natural. When you get that speed, the big guy cannot stop so quick. All the big guys go one or two steps further and that's how I get that separation. When you pivot back, you get another step for the open space to get your shot off."

Dragic has become more adept about drawing fouls, too, pump-faking on those moves or confidently driving into bigger players in transition. He is averaging a career-high 5.7 free-throw attempts this season, a 36% jump from last year.

[Revived]

What's weird is that Dragic didn't improve all that much here, he improved in Houston.

The Rockets have honestly been the best in the league at developing PGs in the past 5 years. Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, Patrick Beverely have all turned into very solid players from the Rockets coaches.

[BurningHeart]

Dragic improved plenty here. His "cold-blooded killer"-style was evident on quite a few instances during his initial run here, and of course his dominance against the Spurs in Game 3 and in that Game 4 against the Lakers in the 2010 WCF.

He grew even more in Houston, and then he came home. I think he reveres this team and franchise so much, for picking him from Slovenia, developing him, and all that. I think Phoenix means a ton to him, not just because we're paying him a bunch of money but rather how we treated him. He, like Leandro Barbosa was, is "Phoenix's Son."

[bigfoot]

It's gotten to the point that I cringe when Dragic goes to the bench (same thing when Nash played for us) and our offense falls apart. Sometimes Bledsoe can kill offense (still love the guy though). I expect Bledsoe will improve his decision making with time too and hopefully learn some of those euro-moves and Nash-moves from Goran.

In terms of his evolution, you have to look at the situation Goran was in when Nash was here. He was always going to be a backup point guard and what teammates are really going to listen/respond to any leadership from Goran when they have Nash to follow. Goran got his chance in Houston to show he could lead a team.

[Jdiddy701]

Going back to the trade with Houston dealing Dragic for Brooks, I thought at the time was a great trade for both teams. People that say other, clearly are lying. We all liked the trade. Dragic was struggling that whole season. We would alllll complain when he checked in. It made sense.

He got his shine in Houston and I fell in love again. And we all did as well.. Dragic is one my favorite players ever now. I have a feeling we'll let him go again though

Remember he had a good season last year with a bunch of scrubs so he's still getting used it. This is only his 2nd season of being the man on the team.


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[Jdiddy701]

I remember watching a game 2 seasons ago - Houston vs Lakers in LA. Dragic killed them. I will never forget that day and how I was feeling seeing him be a star.


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[King4Day]

If I recall correctly, he was supposed to be the second best PG behind rose in that draft. Westbrook took that spot but not sure anyone else is better.

[JMac1]

Yes, if we keep Dragic and Bledsoe of our backcourt of the future, we clearly need a stretch four, and if we could have a stretch 5 as well, all the better, but we probably won't be nearly as effective if we ended up with two traditional low post guys (who couldn't hit the 3) with this backcourt.

This is kind of my worry with the Univ of AZ basketball team...the team would have been perfect this year had Grant Jerrett stayed because he was a good stretch four. Their guards are good at driving, and their bigs are mostly great from short range...though luckily Ashley practiced his 3 ball this offseason because he has been taking a few. Maybe I shouldn't be too worried about them since they are currently ranked #1, but if they have a downfall, it will be because of lack of spacing.

Post this on the trade thread for the Sanders and Monroe fans.

[carey]

If I recall correctly, he was supposed to be the second best PG behind rose in that draft. Westbrook took that spot but not sure anyone else is better.

That's what Kerr said right after he drafted Goran. Doesn't seem so crazy now, but at the time everyone was like, "Whaaaat??"

[rsavaj]

It's crazy Kerr managed to snag a top 10 player in that draft with a pick in the late 2nd round.

[NapoleonII]

Yes, if we keep Dragic and Bledsoe of our backcourt of the future, we clearly need a stretch four, and if we could have a stretch 5 as well, all the better, but we probably won't be nearly as effective if we ended up with two traditional low post guys (who couldn't hit the 3) with this backcourt.

This is kind of my worry with the Univ of AZ basketball team...the team would have been perfect this year had Grant Jerrett stayed because he was a good stretch four. Their guards are good at driving, and their bigs are mostly great from short range...though luckily Ashley practiced his 3 ball this offseason because he has been taking a few. Maybe I shouldn't be too worried about them since they are currently ranked #1, but if they have a downfall, it will be because of lack of spacing.

Post this on the trade thread for the Sanders and Monroe fans.

I envisioned pairing Sanders with Frye

Dragic
Bledsoe
Tucker
Sanders
Frye

-Morris bros
-Plumlee
-backup PG

[McD for MVP]

Why was he so horrifically terrible for us the year we traded him? Never made sense to me. Every time he went in for Nash our offense absolutely tanked. Never seen anything like it. Nash has the best +/- on the team by a mile and Dragic had the worst by a mile.