Raptors PG Duo Getting No Respect... But Do They Deserve It Anyway?

[Apollo]

24. Jarrett Jack(notes), Toronto Raptors (last year: unranked)

I wasn't ever really a fan, but I can't turn a blind eye to the way Jack blossomed last season. Stardom isn't in the cards, and I wouldn't be comfortable with him starting at either guard slot for my favorite team, but he is ... competent. And in a world gone wrong, it's nice to have something that is nice, and little else, running the show. Jarrett Jack. He's nice.

Source: "Ranking the point guards, 30 through 21", Ball Don't Lie, Yahoo! Sports

20. Jose Calderon(notes), Toronto Raptors (last year: ninth)

Calderon's defense, somehow, keeps getting worse and worse; and while I wouldn't call him the biggest reason behind Toronto's 30th-ranked defense last season, in a point guard-driven league, his lapses tilted the framework a bit. On offense, however, he remains a gem. Makes open shots, refuses to turn the ball over, and hits the open man with the expert (if not especially daring) pass.

Source: "Ranking the point guards, 20 through 11", Ball Don't Lie, Yahoo! Sports

[GameBreaker]

They may not be the most talented duo, but they put it all out there, every night. So, yeah, I respect them. In a league of egos, those dudes barely show it. THAT's why I respect them.

[KakashiPrince]

As an individual they are decent PG that has flaws but I respect them due to their passion, determination and a TEAM player. Everyone has egos but they are a select few that can manage it.

[blaze89]

theyre the tandem thats better together then individually, i dont think theyre as bad as the statistics say they are together, but niether are elite material for sure

[RecklessIndifference]

Maybe we should dub this duo 'Dangerfield'.... drum roll

[Raptor4Ever]

Right on the Money.

Jack and Jose are VERY GOOD backup point guards on a good team who should make about 4.5-6 million a year.

[Arsenalist]

Yeah, no big revelation here. We have two backup guards on the roster. Both excelled as backups previously and were thrust into the starter role only because of injury to someone else.

[CB4]

Right on the Money.

Jack and Jose are VERY GOOD backup point guards on a good team who should make about 4.5-6 million a year.

I completely agree. I do not think Jarrett or José are good starting point guards. When the starters are on the floor (which is most of the game) we will be at a disadvantage to the majority of teams at such a crucial position. Also, while both may be good teammates, I do not believe they are good leaders like a Derek Fisher who isn't the most skilled point guard in the league but is clutch and leads his teams to NBA Championships.

[weemsfan]

compared to many of the point guards in this leauge, i think JJ and jose are respectable starters

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I don't see any disrespect in the analysis of Calderon & Jack. For all the talk of them being no better than backup PG, being ranked #20 and #24 in a 30-team league is actually pretty good. I'd be curious to see how many other teams had 2 PG ranked in the top 30.

Yes, the Raptors don't have a star PG, but there truly aren't that many of them in the NBA. What the Raps do have, which very few teams can claim to have, is two solid PGs that do a decent job running the team. Their individual styles compliment each other quite well, which is a nice change of pace to be able to throw at opposing teams.

Personally, if Jose is finally over his leg injuries and can get back to where he was in 2008 (yes, that is a big IF), I would like to see him starting (30 mpg) and Barbosa backing him up (18 mpg). I feel Jack/Barbosa are too similar in style and would rather have Barbosa's speed and dynamic play running the 2nd unit. Also, I bet that Jack would be the most valuable trade asset of the three PGs, given his all-around game and contract.

[Buddahfan]

Yeah, no big revelation here. We have two backup guards on the roster. Both excelled as backups previously and were thrust into the starter role only because of injury to someone else.

If your prediction for a dismal 10-11 Raptors season comes true the Raptors could have a very good chance of landing an excellent PG in the 2011 draft.


Right now DraftExpress has only 2 PG and an additional two PG/SG combo guys going in the first round.

http://www.draftexpress.com/

However, it could very be that we might see more PGs go in the first round come June '11 based upon the Rivals 150 ranking for the Freshman class

They have four PGs among their top eight in the 2010 class.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketb...ings/rank-1909

[RecklessIndifference]

I just spent 2 hours collecting stats from every team's starting PG's. Points, assists and steals all PER 36 from last season, among a couple other 'advanced' stats. I feel it was pretty balanced. I then collected their rank in each of these and then averaged it all out to give me a total rank. I included Jose in the chart, but not Jack. I did however collect Jack's stats to compare him.

I felt it was going to bring some new info to light, but now I feel like I just wasted a whole lot of time.

The result Jose #20 and Jack #22. Kind of freaky how close it was to these rankings. So we may not have an 'above average' Starting PG, we do have 2 'average' Starting PG's. Not so bad.

If your interest the top 3 went...

1. Paul
2. Rondo
3. Williams

My list also had Billups at 6, Westbrook 7. Other than that they were quite different

[Buddahfan]

I just spent 2 hours collecting stats from every team's starting PG's. Points, assists and steals all PER 36 from last season, among a couple other 'advanced' stats. I feel it was pretty balanced. I then collected their rank in each of these and then averaged it all out to give me a total rank. I included Jose in the chart, but not Jack. I did however collect Jack's stats to compare him.

I felt it was going to bring some new info to light, but now I feel like I just wasted a whole lot of time.

The result Jose #20 and Jack #22. Kind of freaky how close it was to these rankings. So we may not have an 'above average' Starting PG, we do have 2 'average' Starting PG's. Not so bad.

If your interest the top 3 went...

1. Paul
2. Rondo
3. Williams

My list also had Billups at 6, Westbrook 7. Other than that they were quite different

Pretty funny

[RecklessIndifference]

Pretty funny

Slow work day.

[LBF]

Ball Don't Lie: Top 30 PG's, Sg's

PG's

24. Jarrett Jack(notes), Toronto Raptors (last year: unranked)I wasn't ever really a fan, but I can't turn a blind eye to the way Jack blossomed last season. Stardom isn't in the cards, and I wouldn't be comfortable with him starting at either guard slot for my favorite team, but he is ... competent. And in a world gone wrong, it's nice to have something that is nice, and little else, running the show. Jarrett Jack. He's nice.

23. Raymond Felton(notes), New York Knicks (last year: 29th)Perhaps I underrated Felton's defense through the years, because he did look good last season. And he remains a sound finisher toward the end of quarters (don't underestimate that). There are about 97 other point guards, some retired, that I'd prefer running Mike D'Antoni's show in New York, but Felton will do in a pinch. And, yes, Knick fans, you're in a pinch. At least the pinch (and resultant squeeze) doesn't result in Chris Duhon(notes).

22. Ramon Sessions(notes), Cleveland Cavaliers (last year: 16th)
Sessions had an off season, and could you blame him? He was passed over in Milwaukee, signed by a Timberwolves team after being ignored all summer, and that team goes ahead and tries to run the triangle? With a shoot-first rookie point guard leading the way? Traded to Cleveland in the offseason, he'll ... back up another point guard.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba-263026

20. Jose Calderon(notes), Toronto Raptors (last year: ninth)
Calderon's defense, somehow, keeps getting worse and worse. And while I wouldn't call him the biggest reason behind Toronto's 30th-ranked defense last season, in a point guard-driven league, his lapses tilted the framework a bit. On offense, however, he remains a gem. Makes open shots, refuses to turn the ball over and hits the open man with the expert (if not especially daring) pass.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba-263059

10 through 1:http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba-263267

SG's

30. Leandro Barbosa(notes), Toronto Raptors (last year: 11th)Injured and distracted for most of 2009-10, Barbosa fell and fell hard, shooting the worst percentages from the field and from behind the 3-point line for his career, and averaging double-figure points for the first time since his second season. A fresh start in Toronto will help, but Barbosa is a ball dominator who will have to contend with (as Hedo Turkoglu(notes) did last season) Toronto's motion attack, though we're rooting for him to bounce up another 19 slots.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba-263585