Post#632 » by vorbis » Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:58 am
i think we need to settle on what being a "PG" means in this context, as far as whether Stauskas can do it.
initiating the offense is really not that big of a deal. you slow down, get a general idea of where 4 other players are and their defenders, and you either communicate with the coach or make your own call, give the ball to somebody and go to a spot. not a big deal and this doesn't necessarily need to be done by a guard. i don't think there's a lot of question whether Stauskas can do this. he's not a total derp with the ball in his hands and i think he's proven to have at least passable court vision.
i think the bigger concern is a term used a few posts ago which i think is more appropriate in this context: primary ball handler. bringing the ball up the court against pressure, keeping a dribble alive, being able to get a decent shot off if the shot clock is winding down, that sort of thing. every team (and especially one coached by Clifford, as he's mentioned this many times) needs to have at least one person who can be trusted with the ball in their hands on the court at all times, with the dribble alive, and pressure on the ball from the D. this is where decision making comes into play, lateral agility, patience, vision, comfort within the offense. and that's just to be adequate enough to fill the role.
this is where i think you can bring up legitimate concerns with Stauskas. i have my doubts whether Stauskas can bring substantial *added* value to this area without simply filling the role of a slightly over-qualified 2 guard. i think he's passable. usable in a pinch, and with some room to develop.
personally, i don't think this is where the hard judgments need to be hammered out on Stauskas' game. my opinion is that you need to evaluate what he can realistically provide on defense. is he going to buy in, expend the effort on that side of the court? are you going to have to adjust your team defense just to cover up his lapses in concentration, effort, and his seeming inability to stay in front of guys for significant stretches? if so, how does that affect his value? how much does it offset his ability to score and facilitate efficiently on offense?