Advanced Scouting Report on Peja

Hicks

Hicks

G-League
Hello everyone. Now that Peja is in blue & gold, I'd appreciate it if you guys could give me a detailed description of his games. Strenghts, weaknesses, favorite things, least favorite things, tendencies? Thanks a lot for any and all help. I'll relay what you guys say to Pacers Digest.

If you wish, we can start a similar thread over at PD about Ron for you.
 
Strengths: Top 1-2 Shooter in the league, excellent 3pt and free throw shooter. He has unbelieavable range in his shot, and if he is found open he will almost always hit the shot. He is a competent defender, but not a good, great or awesome one such as ron.

Weaknesses: Very soft, lacks hustle and determination to get the loose ball, mentally weak, and almost always chokes in clutch or pressure situations. Will never lead a team, will always play a secondary role as he can't mentally or physically take over a game or team. Can't create his own shot, and often relies on his teammates to find him. Very very pathetic around the rim, can't make a wide open layup if his life depended on it.

That is my non biased opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of Peja, but of course you will always have people who love him, and will overlook his weaknesses, and glorify his strengths which is only shooting.
 
he shoots 3's pretty well. he doesn't have a good in the paint game, i can't tell you how many lay ups i've seen him miss. he does not rebound well for his size.

i'm gonna miss those rainbow 3's of his :(
 
I won't repeat Kings2805 but ill add this

Strengths: Can make nearly any jumpshot going left. Is awesome when you need a comeback started because, while he has been a consistent shooter in the past, is sometimes streaky and once he gets hot will hit about anything within 30 ft. Good in the open court.

Weakness: No driving game, and even if he did he can't make layups anyway so it would be all for naught. Make him go right and he'll brick any shot. Tends to force shots when he is struggling. Also, bad rebounder for his height (6'10"),
 
Soft, 3 point champion, catch and shoot player.

Not great defender, inconsistent, when he is on, HE IS ON. Not clutch, great shooter sometimes.

And now, kind of getting rebounds. HAVE FUN WITH HIM!!
 
He's a shooter and that's about it. Won't hit the floor and is not much of a hustler. Grabs rebounds when they fall to him. Not a bad defender and was actually our best defender against Nowitzki. When the Kings made their run to the WCF he was hurt and really didn't contribute.

Nice guy though and has a hot girlfriend/soon to be wife who is pregnant with their second child.
 
Hicks said:
Hello everyone. Now that Peja is in blue & gold, I'd appreciate it if you guys could give me a detailed description of his games. Strenghts, weaknesses, favorite things, least favorite things, tendencies? Thanks a lot for any and all help. I'll relay what you guys say to Pacers Digest.

If you wish, we can start a similar thread over at PD about Ron for you.
Click to expand...
Actually, I am a little curious about Artest's GAME (I know about his attitude). Looking at his numbers, the amount of hoopla over him seems a bit overdone - I've heard him called "one of the top ten players in the league" but he's only been an allstar once, so I'm not sure how you can justify this. What does everyone think?
 
D-Mass said:
I've followed PD's threads...I think I have a good idea of how you feel about Ron. ;)
Click to expand...

Well, now, to be fair, I was going to stick to talking about his on-court abilities, which are considerable. Here's a tease: He's a better player than Jermaine O'Neal.
 
Peja's an amazing shooter when he's on. If you get him the ball often & get him open he can amaze you. He's not good at creating his own shot, and his numbers tend to go down in the playoffs when you need him most. His production has been down the last year or two, but part of that may be because he doesn't want to be here. If you need offense, and have good passers to get the ball to him, I think you'll be impressed.
 
Hicks...everyone has given a nice capsule review of his Pedja's b'ball talent. Just want to say that you are getting a person of great class, too. oh yeah, and when he's hot it's amazing and a thing of beauty.
 
Not very healthy as of late

and it is a different system that he will play in and a different coach. If he can get healthy - he will surprise some people
 
He's not as bad one-on-one defender as his reputation suggests. In fact, Jerry Reynoldds called him the BEST defender on the team. I agree he does a good job straight up.....BUT he is terrible at help defense, as in he provides none. As far as going to the boards, he is very shy and hesitant in the paint. The boards he gets are when his teammates box out.

With his string of injuries, he can't jump very well. He has no post game. He can be effectively sneaky cutting back door for lay-ups, ala #31.

He used to be a brilliant shooter. I think a change of scenery could rejuvenate his game. He needs teammates that will set strong picks to free him up. He can REALLY effective spot-up in transition, and in early offense, when he has his confidence. And when he gets HOT, he is lights out money in the bank. Pure as shooter, as you will see, in the same class as vintage Regie Miller.

He's an average passer at best. If he can reclaim his form from 2 years ago, and get healthy, he is one of the top 3 shooters in the NBA. One last point: he gets abused against Tajun Prince...cannot handle him on either end of the court.
 
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bench_blob said:
He's not as bad one-on-one defender as his reputation suggests. In fact, Jerry Reynoldds called him the BEST defender on the team. I agree he does a good job straight up.....BUT he is terrible at help defense, as in he provides none. As far as going to the boards, he is very shy and hesitant in the paint. The boards he gets are when his teammates box out
Click to expand...

which isn't exactly saying much. we all know how good at defense the kings are.....
 
Kings2805 said:
Strengths: Top 1-2 Shooter in the league, excellent 3pt and free throw shooter. He has unbelieavable range in his shot, and if he is found open he will almost always hit the shot. He is a competent defender, but not a good, great or awesome one such as ron.

Weaknesses: Very soft, lacks hustle and determination to get the loose ball, mentally weak, and almost always chokes in clutch or pressure situations. Will never lead a team, will always play a secondary role as he can't mentally or physically take over a game or team. Can't create his own shot, and often relies on his teammates to find him. Very very pathetic around the rim, can't make a wide open layup if his life depended on it.

That is my non biased opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of Peja, but of course you will always have people who love him, and will overlook his weaknesses, and glorify his strengths which is only shooting.
Click to expand...

That's not a terrible basic report.

Let me add a couple of notes:

1) solid man to man defender, stays in front of his guy.
2) But terrible help defender who refuses to stick his nose in there
3) Actually does far better on offense against larger more immobile guys where he can create space -- best way to have him taken out of the game is to guard him with somebody smaller and quicker than him who gets in his shirt and won't let him go. OGs, even some PGs.
4) Top defenders like Bowen and Prince completely own him
5) Has a lot of Reggie in his game -- plays best off of series of staggered screens. At his peak works very hard without the ball.
6) Likes to step back and to his left to get the jumper off
7) Always played a good two man game with Vlade or Webb. Not sure if there is anyone in Indiana for him to do that with unless Jermaine is comfortable in that role.
 
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.

Positives :
-Awesome shooter
-Decent man to man defender
-Gets in to the zone only great shooters can get into
-Great free throw shooter
-Must be accounted for on the court
- Outstanding coming off screens and cutting to the basket.
Negatives:
- Most frustrating player I've ever had to watch.
- Was the mentally and physically weakest player on a team that was known for its lack of grit.
- Lazy player
- Horrible ball handling
- Below average passer
- Easily shut down with added pressure. When a player really wants to challenge Peja usually Peja loses.
- Horrible rebounder
- Seems to pout ,get depressed and stop trying.
- Cannot create his own shot
- Becomes a liability in big games. ( worthless in the playoffs)
- Fits the mold of the soft euro sterotype .
 
Bricklayer said:
That's not a terrible basic report.

Let me add a couple of notes:


5) Has a lot of Reggie in his game -- plays best off of series of staggered screens. At his peak works very hard without the ball.
Click to expand...

Im surprised it took 20 posts for somebody to mention Peja's 2nd biggest strength - movement without the ball. He has been mentioned as one of the best if not the best person who moves without the ball in the league. His cuts are a thing of beauty, and he uses screens well.

But in the kind words of NBA 06 commercial, he's BIG... STRONG... SMALL...
 
King2805 and Brick pretty much covered positives/negatives, so I will try to cover intangibles:

1. He's probably most comfortable playing off of dominant big man. We never had Shaq on our team, but Chris and Vlade together is probably what got us the best out of Pedja 2,3 and even 4 years ago.

2. I suspect that he will do very well under strong-hand coach such as Carlisle. He's not a self-starter and he is no good in one on one game so he needs structure around him and role defined for him.

3. His wife is due with their second child and he is Serbian. Up to this point he didn't "do basketball at home", and it was suspected that Pedja settling into domestic life took out whatever fire/determination was left to play basketball. He won't do basketball at home in Indy either, but I suspect that soon, he will be doing much more basketball _away_ from home. ;)

4. If you as fans want anything out of him, you really have to embrace him and give him benefit of the doubt, 'cause if he turns pouty, you'll gain nothing in return for Ron.

5. He is in awe of Bird. That can be good.
 
Sharp shooter until the fourth quarter, when he disappears into oblivion. BIG difficulty creating his own shot. Not a good rebounder for being 6'10". Thrived with his friend, Vlade Divac, who was a great passing big man. I don't follow the Pacers much; not sure if anyone would fill that role for you. I still say it is a great change of scenery and a fresh start for both players.
 
Oh, by the way, there is no way Peja would do something like going into the stands and punching opposing teams' fans. He is a good person off the court who does some good charity work (I'm going by what I read on the papers and see on TV, as I have not personally met the guy). He has been in a bit of a funk since Vlade left and there were times the last two years where he just looked like he would rather be anywhere else, but this fresh start in Indy should be a great antidote for that.
 
Hicks get to know the word, "Serbian Layup". Its a thing of beauty. A 25-30 3 piont shot thats nuttin' but net.

Man, I am going to miss that. :(
 
He can drop bombs... in bunches... just don't expect him to do it in the 4th. If he goes to line it's pretty much free points. Solid man defender, checks Dirk very well. He's a better rebounder than people give him credit for... just lacks effort which pisses people off. Has trouble creating off the dribble but will occasionally hit that baseline fallaway...again not in the 4th. Moves very well off the ball and if teamed with an inside game and good ball movement can be deadly... except in the 4th. Good guy, will listen to everything Larry Bird tells him.
 
Someone called Peja one of the top 1 or 2 shooters in the game....*buzzer* ..WRONG!! Inconsistant is his name, sitting down wi the smallest boo boo is his game. He can get hot from outside at times, although not much lately. He's been a better midrange shooter as of late.

He doesn't move well with the ball, has an extremely hard time creating his own shots, and shooting off the dribble. If you have someone that is capable of setting him up, and will look specifically for him to set him up he can be successful. If not you may find him standing somewhere near the arc not doing much else at times

For some reason he misses a lot of layups for a guy who is 6' 10. He seems to not have that shot down. Every now and then you'll get a good back door cut and lay in from him.

He rebounds only when he has to, or the media knockc him too much for not reboudning. Then he'll pick it up for a few games. He's a pretty good man defender skill wise, but he's soft which kind of makes his skill all for nothing. His feelings get hurt easy to. And, if they do it shows through in his play.
 
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I'd probably jsut be repeating much of what has been said already but I will say Pedja has worked on his game and improved incrimentally each year.. meaning he has a learning curve. since he IS teachable and bird seems to love the guy I suspect that he will be willing to adjust as best he can to the Pacers style of play. Having big me down low will help get him looks IF they can get the ball back out to him and as Brick noted he is atr his best in the 2 man game.

He will NOT get any flagrant fouls, suspensions or be involved in any fights... he will have boo boos.
 
He is pretty much the opposite of Ron Artest in every way. In fact in high school he was voted "Least likely to leave the NBA to pursue a rap career"
 
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