Strawberry signs 2 year deal

[azirish]

Last season, a major issue for Banks was his shooting. He was very good when going to the basket, but not when shooting the ball.

2006-07
Layups: 47 of 77 for 60% (40.1% of total shots)
Short: 1 of 8 for 12.5%
Mid: 31 of 82 for 37.9%
3 pointers: 5 of 29 for 17.2% (14.8% of total shots)

2005-06
Layups: 105 of 178 59.0% (38.3% for the total shots)
Short: 7 of 25 for 28%
Mid: 82 of 202 for 40.6%
3 pointers: 22 of 60 for 36.7% (12.9% of total shots)

One odd thing about guys playing relatively small minutes is how much difference just a few shots can make. If Banks had hit his three pointers like he did in 2005-06, he'd have had 6 more made shots and raised his percentages to 45.9% overall.

Only 40% of his shots were layups, but 54.3% of the made shots and 50.9% of shooting points were from layups.

FT - 48
Layups 44 * 2 = 88
Other 35 * 2 = 70
Three 5 * 3 = 15
-----------------------
Total 221

Banks was actually better at getting to the basket than Barbosa on roughly the same percentage of shots. But Leandro was a very good long range shooter including 43.4% for three on 190 of 438; while Banks just wasn't. One odd element is that Leandro was only marginally better than Banks on his mid range shooting, 40.1% versus 37.9% for Banks; but Leandro's three point shooting was exceptional.

This is why Banks' 4 of 5 for three in the Las Vegas game is such a big deal. If he can learn to shoot threes and play within the scheme, he could become very valuable.

 

[elindholm]

This is why Banks' 4 of 5 for three in the Las Vegas game is such a big deal.

I was with you until here. Even I can make 4 out of 5 from three in an isolated game. It's far too small a sample to have any meaning whatsoever.

 

[azirish]

I was with you until here. Even I can make 4 out of 5 from three in an isolated game. It's far too small a sample to have any meaning whatsoever.

Clearly the Suns have been watching him shoot in practice and know if he can shoot or this was just a fluke. It leave us in the dark because a couple of good games shooting (the Cav game and the Piston scrimmage) doesn't tell us much. But it might have told the team something.

My "glass half full" interpretation is that he showed he could shoot well under game conditions. My "glass half empty" interpretation was that he was all "one on one" and his shooting was offset by lack of team play.

If he can shoot the three consistently well, he could become a big deal because he's capable of taking the ball to the hole if guys try to guard him close. If this summer was just not indicative of what he's capable of doing, then he will get lost on the deep bench.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

You must be registered for see images

 

[Sunsman44]

Havn't read the previous threads about Strawberry, so I am sure this question has been asked/answered somewhere in this forum.

However, I'll pose this question if not asked:

Who is going to be Nash's backup? Technically, Barbosa is supposed to be but will play much minutes at SG - therefore - is the "official" backup PG duty going to be Strawberry or Banks?

amare / still waiting
marion / diaw
hill / tucker
bell / barbosa
nash / straw or banks???

 

[Sunsman44]

i hate the question with a passion. and just the "PG of the Future" part just makes me cringe.

we labeled Banks as or PG of the future the second he signed his contract, and have even thrown that label on Barbosa.

any talks of Diener and Blake also seem to encompass "PG of the Future", so i'm not going to get my hopes up on Strawberry (a kid who has played 3 or 4 Summer League games).

we have no "PG of the Future" until some kid comes out and proves it.

Exactly. Couldn't have agreed more.

Completely hate it when people say "future point guard" when Suns sign some little kid all of a sudden.

If Suns want a future point guard, they will invest wisely in one via free agency with big bucks or use the Hawks 2008 pick for that cause.

 

[az jam]

An excellent move.

 

[azirish]

There will never be another Nash. I'm sure the team will experiment with other guys handling the ball, but if nobody makes a big jump then the Atlanta pick may be needed, in a great draft for point guards.

 

[F-Dog]

As of today, the PG of the Suns' future is Barbosa. (For one thing, he's the only small signed past the end of Nash's contract.)

The Suns will play a different style after Nash is gone, obviously.

 

[Austin Zonie]

Tell that to D'Antoni

 

[F-Dog]

Tell that to D'Antoni

If D'Antoni is still here in five years, it will be because he's able to take advantage of the team's new core group of personnel.

 

[Austin Zonie]

Good Point. When does his current contract expire?

 

[cly2tw]

I think if Strawberry could play like Snow, then the pick is already a huge success.

 

[azirish]

I think if Strawberry could play like Snow, then the pick is already a huge success.

Interesting point. There are lots of point guards like Watson who are mostly defenders who can still run the offense. For the Suns though, they still have to be able to shoot.

No team spends more time working on shooting than the Suns (that and running). If there is a shooter hidden within Strawberry's background, the Suns will find it.