[r377Participant]

Good to see Jeff Withey getting some minutes for the Pelicans. I quite liked him as a backup centre prospect.

I think he could be a 15-20 mins a night guy and play quite a few years in the league. What more could you realistically expect from a second rounder….

[DolanCareParticipant]

Withey is better than Jason Smith too. Jason Smith is just a big guy who runs the floor. He takes a lot of 17 footers- but there’s a reason he’s open, which is that Smith is painfully mediocre from that range. 

Meanwhile Withey is a great shot blocker who actually has a surprising face-up game. I’ve actually seen him take the ball up after a turnover. An ideal backup center. 

[DolanCareParticipant]

Withey is better than Jason Smith too. Jason Smith is just a big guy who runs the floor. He takes a lot of 17 footers- but there’s a reason he’s open, which is that Smith is painfully mediocre from that range. 

Meanwhile Withey is a great shot blocker who actually has a surprising face-up game. I’ve actually seen him take the ball up after a turnover. An ideal backup center. 

[Jester87Participant]

Jason Smith shoots 47.4% from 16-24 feet, more than 48% if you consider 15-19 as a distance. Overall 45% on shots considered mid-range. Had 48% last year. 47% two years ago. He constantly shoots over 45% for his career. I don’t know how many bigs do better. He can also run really well and he moves his feet on D and can block some shots. The biggest problem with him it’s he is really vulnerable as a low post defender. There aren’t really many great back to the basket scorers among centers these days, but when he’s opposed to one he really struggles and can be sort of a liability for the Pelicans. 

I like Withey a lot and I thought he should’ve been a first round pick because of his shot blocking ability. Also he’s a decent finisher and not that terrible running the floor. Still, he has no range on offense, his lack of foot speed might be exposed in pick and roll situations, and he’s just a rookie, having to deal with sophisticated defensive schemes after playing pretty basic ones in college. I’m happy he had a good game last night and I hope he manages to find some playing time and success. But coaches are not so retarded as every fan sitting in his couch seems to think. There are many reasons why Smith is starting.

By the way, I think they should be tanking for the rest of the season just to avoid losing their lottery pick, now that the playoffs are out of reach, so Withey is probably going to have some chances.

[Jester87Participant]

Jason Smith shoots 47.4% from 16-24 feet, more than 48% if you consider 15-19 as a distance. Overall 45% on shots considered mid-range. Had 48% last year. 47% two years ago. He constantly shoots over 45% for his career. I don’t know how many bigs do better. He can also run really well and he moves his feet on D and can block some shots. The biggest problem with him it’s he is really vulnerable as a low post defender. There aren’t really many great back to the basket scorers among centers these days, but when he’s opposed to one he really struggles and can be sort of a liability for the Pelicans. 

I like Withey a lot and I thought he should’ve been a first round pick because of his shot blocking ability. Also he’s a decent finisher and not that terrible running the floor. Still, he has no range on offense, his lack of foot speed might be exposed in pick and roll situations, and he’s just a rookie, having to deal with sophisticated defensive schemes after playing pretty basic ones in college. I’m happy he had a good game last night and I hope he manages to find some playing time and success. But coaches are not so retarded as every fan sitting in his couch seems to think. There are many reasons why Smith is starting.

By the way, I think they should be tanking for the rest of the season just to avoid losing their lottery pick, now that the playoffs are out of reach, so Withey is probably going to have some chances.

[DolanCareParticipant]

 @Jester87, Withey should be shooting more like 55% from that range seeing how he is left wide open everytime. Monty Williams lets him do that pick-and-pop bullshit and it kills the team. It’s hardly the most effective shot out there, yet Monty gives Smith the green light with 15 seconds still on the shot clock.

I enjoyed reading your response, and Jason Smith is by no means a horrible player. Most teams would love to have someone like him as a backup center…. But the Pelicans have a good problem, they have a 3rd string who has more upside.

[DolanCareParticipant]

 @Jester87, Withey should be shooting more like 55% from that range seeing how he is left wide open everytime. Monty Williams lets him do that pick-and-pop bullshit and it kills the team. It’s hardly the most effective shot out there, yet Monty gives Smith the green light with 15 seconds still on the shot clock.

I enjoyed reading your response, and Jason Smith is by no means a horrible player. Most teams would love to have someone like him as a backup center…. But the Pelicans have a good problem, they have a 3rd string who has more upside.

[Jester87Participant]

Not many bigs would shot better than Smith under any condition, please. Whitey also was a 58% FT shooter last year, if you make only 58% of your FTs, with all the time you want to take the shot, I hardly doubt you can make 17-18 footers in pick and pop situations with the same accuracy. Smith is a very good mid range shooter, without that skill he would be out of the league. I agree with you that the Pelicans play too many pick and pops for Smith 17-18 footers and while that’s ok once in a while, especially if they mix it up with some counters, it’s definitely not the most efficient play for them if they abuse of that. Still, that doesn’t imply Smith is a mediocre mid range shooter, it’s just that long 2s are the game worst shots even if you’re good at it and you shouldn’t build your game to take many of them (of course if that’s the only shot the defense allows you it’s ok, but that’s not the case). And I also agree that Smith is probably at his best as a back up, I just don’t think Withey is going to be an upgrade right now.

[Jester87Participant]

Not many bigs would shot better than Smith under any condition, please. Whitey also was a 58% FT shooter last year, if you make only 58% of your FTs, with all the time you want to take the shot, I hardly doubt you can make 17-18 footers in pick and pop situations with the same accuracy. Smith is a very good mid range shooter, without that skill he would be out of the league. I agree with you that the Pelicans play too many pick and pops for Smith 17-18 footers and while that’s ok once in a while, especially if they mix it up with some counters, it’s definitely not the most efficient play for them if they abuse of that. Still, that doesn’t imply Smith is a mediocre mid range shooter, it’s just that long 2s are the game worst shots even if you’re good at it and you shouldn’t build your game to take many of them (of course if that’s the only shot the defense allows you it’s ok, but that’s not the case). And I also agree that Smith is probably at his best as a back up, I just don’t think Withey is going to be an upgrade right now.

[JoeWolf1]

 I think he’s certainly better than The Steamroller, so I’m glad to see him make the most of his first extended minute game this season. I was a bit baffled too when they brought on Ajinga and put him right ahead of Withey too. Withey’s timing on the defensive end is elite, he knows his role and isn’t going to jack bad shots, and he’s a good FT shooter for a center.

I thought he was late 1st round talent in this weak draft, so I think NO got a steal. I think he can be a high level backup with the ceiling of a 18-20 mpg center by committee approach for a team that may not have a great starter.

[JoeWolf1]

 I think he’s certainly better than The Steamroller, so I’m glad to see him make the most of his first extended minute game this season. I was a bit baffled too when they brought on Ajinga and put him right ahead of Withey too. Withey’s timing on the defensive end is elite, he knows his role and isn’t going to jack bad shots, and he’s a good FT shooter for a center.

I thought he was late 1st round talent in this weak draft, so I think NO got a steal. I think he can be a high level backup with the ceiling of a 18-20 mpg center by committee approach for a team that may not have a great starter.

[Author]

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