Salmons why??

[VF21]

John Salmons preseason assists: 31.6min 2.7ast
Kevin Martin preseason assists: 28.0min 1.3ast

While I have no doubt of the veracity of the stats listed, I certainly question their relevance.

Kevin Martin is a shooter; he's a go-to guy, he's supposed to be on the receiving end of assists to get the points...and he does it quite nicely.

John Salmons, on the other hand, is not the go-to guy. He should take a shot when it's there for him, of course, BUT he is supposed to be looking to see if someone like Kevin is open, and he hasn't done that as often as I would like...especially when Salmons is the first touch on the switch from defense back to offense.

I am happy with his progress in this regard and have noticed he isn't going iso anywhere near as much as before, but to compare his assists with Martin's just doesn't seem to prove anything of any real value to the discussion.

Is Salmons a black hole? Nope. Is one of his weaknesses a tendency to look for his own shot sometimes at the expense of an open teammate? Yep. Is it as bad as Artest? Good grief, no...

I think Salmons can be productive and valuable this season so I do not agree in any way with the OP. Having said that, though, I do not understand the need to rationalize his value by comparing him to Kevin Martin...

 

[Packt]

Brick laying down the hammer as far as the double standards on passing.

Salmons and Garcia both dribble into the lanes, get trapped, bout to lose their dribble and kick it out to someone who's not in a comfort zone so they dribble some more. Udrih, a suppose pass first PG, does similar work, but he however is more successful. These days, that's better than nothing.

No vision amongst these players, they get by on quantity. Martin, no one even expects him to pass. Everyone is expected to pass to him. He isn't a catch and shoot player, so a pass to him usually means he sets up an iso play or you wait and eat up the shot clock to see if he makes a cut before you pass.

This is a team we would've laughed at or belittle for stat padding during our better years.

 

[bajaden]

Nah.. Sometimes, but not like the former SF we had.. But I do not like Salmons either so meh... Salmons is not known as a ball holder.. Never seen him do it more than a couple times a game.

Gary, mi amigo, you haven't been hanging out with FakeInjury, have you? Maybe this is all a dream.

 

[tocan]

Salmons Salmons Salmons

John has a one track mind of going to the rim which is not a bad thing when you are running a fast break or spreading the floor but when he goes up against a set offense I wonder what he's thinking. John could be a leading assist man on any team in the league if he had that mind set, everyone knows he can and will go to the rim against anyone. If he would just learn to pass to the shooter he would find less defense of the rim when he drives.

 

[bajaden]

The most significant comment Bricky made was that Salmons led the team in assists. Salmons is not the problem, that stat is the problem.

 

[bloom]

Since we’re not just talking about John anymore.

The problem with this team is that most of these guys are shot happy…The fact that ball barely makes it to a couple people during each rotation is sad/frustrating. The lack of ball movement is something that needs to be addressed. They’re watching videos, they can see that some people have a better shot or are open, we should be improving our passing. Then there’s the lack of movement. We tend to stay in one spot – something that was done a lot last year.

Another thing, our point guards are supposed to be the team’s anchor. Beno and Bobby Brown have to be the ones that start with passing. Everything starts with them. Nothing against these guys, I like them but they need to get others involved and then look for their own shot.

I don’t ever pick on a player just because there needs to be someone that the problem is associated with. Players actions and words speak to me and ever since John stormed out of the locker, followed by the fact that he had issues with coming off the bench (like he deserved to start), he holds onto the ball forever, drives into traffic when he’s clearly being blocked and doesn’t pass it out or decides to just shoot it when he has no idea where the hoop is. Those things are upsetting and they add on top of each other.

John has some good to his game:

1. He knows how to create his own shot.
2. He’s fast and can get to the basket when others are settling for outside jumpers.
3. Also, when he’s into it (or if he’s possessed) he can actually pass it. Once in a while.

As far as Kevin. I’m a huge fan of his (ever since his rookie year)..But I would also like to see him pass it more. I love when he shoots the ball, but he needs to also be aware of his open man.

 

[VF21]

I do think it's a shame they don't have a record of passes made that could have been assists had the shooting player actually made the shot. Kevin does pass, sometimes even when I'm screaming at him to take the shot, and the problem is with the next person who doesn't get the two (or three) points...

Just my three cents.

 

[Jerryaki]

Salmons had 5 assists the past 2 games at the half. Guess how many he finished with in each game? Yep 5.

It's like the first half mr pass time and the second half is I'm mr dribble.

if we were a winning team, all the media people would be writing "salmons is the facilitator in the first half, and then he takes over the game!" ah well, tis the perspective curse of having a losing team.

 

[Hella916]

Seriously, every game I watch I see salmons get the ball and he ****s it up. He will get double teamed or triple teamed and he will get the ball stolen or he will get the ball blocked while in the air. Why oh why doesnt he ever pass the ball? its like he has to take a shot because one of the other players of the opposing team calls him a *****, which he is, and he drives into 3 people and gets a turn over or a block.
Sorry for this rant, I am just venting my frustration of watching him play.

I really think he is a great player, but he is just selfish and needs to learn to share, at least thats what I think... Is anyone else yelling at the tv when they see him get double teamed?

Awww .. Thank you so much for your view on John Salmons... He is a very selfish player who often cannot get out of double teams very well, shotts wayyyy to many 3's.. I know he made one in preseason but come on man.. John's strongest part of his game is when he goes in head first drive into the hole for a lay up.. If he gets fouled, he will make the free throw 80 percent of the time.. He also needs to pass more...

 

[Kingster]

Salmonella

He doesn't fit. He seems totally incapable of moving without the ball. He's the anti-Petrie player that kills the offense due to his over-dribbling and ball-hogging. I've noticed that even when he only takes two dribbles it seems so long that it's as if he's taken four. I hope he plays well enough to trade him by mid-year. It's obvious he's not a long answer and I'm sure management sees it too. Unlike Artest, he doesn't have major baggage, so we should be able to get a pretty good player or pick for him.