Smush vs top three drafted PG's (Old, updated with 4/2 stats)

[Dennis_D]

Update: stats through 4/2
Smush Parker
Stats: 11.5 ppg in 34.0 mpg, shooting 45.4%, 36.7% on 3's, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.69 spg, 0.20 bpg, 1.85 TO, 2.01 A-to-TO

Deron Williams
Stats: 10.5 ppg in 28.1 mpg, shooting 41.5%, 40.5% on 3's, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 0.77 spg, 0.21 bpg, 1.90 TO, 2.21 A-to-TO

Chris Paul
Stats: 16.3 ppg in 36.3 mpg, shooting 43.0%, 29.0% on 3's, 5.2 rpg, 7.9 apg, 2.24 spg, 0.07 bpg, 2.37 TO, 3.32 A-to-TO

Raymond Felton
Stats: 11.3 ppg in 28.8 mpg, shooting 39.7%, 37.8% on 3's, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.22 spg, 0.11 bpg, 2.24 TO, 2.25 A-to-TO

Chris Paul is clearly much better than Smush, but Smush is holding his own statistically with the other two. Outstanding for a dirt cheap free agent
End of update

Original 12/8 post
Do you remember how Laker fans were hoping the Lakers could draft a PG? Instead, the 3 best PG's were snatched up #3 (Deron Williams), #4 (Chris Paul) and #5 (Raymond Felton). Here is how Smush is doing relative to the top 3 drafted PG's:
Smush Parker
Smush is 24 years old and plays on the 9-9 Lakers
Stats: 13.0 ppg in 33.2 mpg, shooting 48.1%, 41.8% on 3's, 3.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.06 spg, 1.83 TO, 1.5 A-to-TO

Deron Williams
Williams is 21 years old and plays on the 8-11 Jazz
Stats: 12.3 ppg in 30.0 mpg, shooting 40.3%, 38.5% on 3's, 2.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 0.79 spg, 2.32 TO, 2.0 A-to-TO

Chris Paul
Paul is 20 and plays for the 8-10 Hornets
Stats: 16.0 ppg in 36.4 mpg, shooting 42.5%, 24.5% on 3's, 5.8 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2.06 spg, 2.44 TO, 2.7 A-to-TO

Raymond Felton
Felton is 21 and plays for the 5-14 Bobcats
Stats: 6.6 ppg in 18.6 mpg, shooting 30.3%, 32.7% on 3's, 2.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.05 spg, 1.53 TO, 2.4 A-to-TO

Smush has the best shooting percentage and 3 pt shooting percentage and the worst apg and Assist-turnover ratio. Smush probably can't run a team as a true point guard, but he is a solid fit for the triangle.
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[JimmyPage]

For what we are doing, he's fine. Williams and Paul would both be better in our system though, and Felton would be better in any system other than the Tri.

[loseyourname]

I wonder if the Jazz and Hawks are kicking themselves for passing over Paul right now. Especially the Jazz. Marvin Williams can still turn out to be a great player, but the Jazz badly needed some explosiveness, and Williams and explosive will never be said in the same sentence (unless it's the sentence that I just said).

[sodapoppenski]

Good post Dennis, interesting to see those guys lined up like that.

[they-perch]

big difference, all those players are on mediocre teams. they dont have kobe bryant and lamar odom running the offense and drawing the attention of the defense. reasons for smushes high 3pt%, almost all of his outside shots are WIDE OPEN, high fg%, all of his fg's are mostly dunks from him on the fastbreak or cutting to the basket.

im not saying smush sucks or anything, but he has a much better supporting cast that inflates his numbers.

[dadadada]

We wanted these PGs for the future. And believe me, these three PGs are going to have better careers than Smush.

[Ank]

[Mike@LG]

The difference.

Paul, Felton, Williams create shots for teammates and shoot under duress.

Parker, mostly gets shot created for him by Odom and Bryant and is usually wide open.

Like a SG/Combo guard.
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[tgf5]

[venturalakersfan]

[skumbag]

Smush is getting paid 700k this year, 740k next year????
I'd say e got a "steal" in Smush.

[hitmankb]

Im the Idiot then, I think that smush will get better as he learns the tri! I think that hes all around the best PG that weve had in quite some time, and is the perfect compliment for Kobe and Lamar. He quick/long/young enough to keep up with PG's (for the most part). He plays D, and is crafty in the open court! He's not afraid to take the ball to the basket regardless of a big man being there and hes athleatic. I like what we have and I think we got hell of a bargin. I say sign him, if we dont someone will!!!
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Kenny
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[durden-tyler]

[DancingBarry]

[KA_2]

Biggest difference is that Smush can't create for teammates and doesn't have good court vision, very average for a PG (he's really an undersized shooting guard). This was already said, but I feel it needed reiterating.

But yeah, I agree, Lakers get tremendous band for their buck with Smush's pickup. Additionally, the Lakers will win 50+ games this year if they're healthy. FYI.
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Westside

[Serious NBA Fan]

[WutupLA]

Yea, how about that point guard huh? Thanks alot Mitch. We could have scored Bynum AND Jarret Jack. Jack offers the same things that Felton, Paul, and Deron bring to the table. IF we were able to strike a good enough deal, we may been able to get one of those three as well. I mean having Smush is nice, but woulldnt it be even nicer if we coudl have Smush AND either of Felton/Deron/Paul/JAck or maybe even Watson/Dixon and co.? The whole point about this is that, this was the summer to strike gold with our PG....long term. We didn't do that and that will screw us in the long run. We have no depth at PG, if Smush gets injured who will start at PG? Sasha, Wafer.....Laron Profit?

[Lakers 71-72]

Are we still numb, or has the cold water hit us in the face yet?

Remember: Last season our point guards were Chucky and Tierre!!!!

CHUCK and TIERRE!! I still can't believe it.

With that in mind, I'd say finding Smush was way more than we could've anticipated. I'll take Smush's defense--with his albatross arms--over any of those `05 picks.

Bibby and Parker (Tony) et al., would eat up those rooks (well, at least Williams). Smush has held them in check.

Defense from that position is what we needed. We got it. Finally!!!

[Fourplay]

[Annihilator]

[Dennis_D]

[THE_SHOES]

[iml84myd8s]

No doubt Parker is better than anyone expected. Kudos to Mitch for this move.

However, if the Lakers traded up in the draft to get one of the three top Point Guards (Paul, Williams or Felton), Laker fans need to consider it like this.

Who is going to be better for the Lakers?

Paul, Williams or Felton
or
Andrew Bynum, Smush Parker and ? (the player or draft pick used to move up in the draft)

Based on what the Lakers would have lost to get one of these top three gaurds, it's too early to tell if the Lakers made the right move. However, in my opinion, it appears the Lakers made the right move.

Paul is going to be a stud in this league for a long time. It all depends on how Bynum's career turns out.

[jaydanasira]

any one who plays with a player like kobe,t mac, and shaq will do better because of the double teams. that is as long as they pass the ball thats why I didn't say AI

[NY_LakerFan]