I'm not sure how effective he can play off the ball, I like him as a prospect though. I also agree that he has the potential to be an above average starter.
I'm not sure how effective he can play off the ball, I like him as a prospect though. I also agree that he has the potential to be an above average starter.
Wait why does he have to? He's all PG
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I'm not sure how effective he can play off the ball
as said above, he's solely a pg so his play off the ball is not as important, but as a way to rest him some this season texas has played him off the ball on occasion with mason bringing the ball up and initiating the offense instead and augustin hasn't struggled to do that.
It's a minor concern, I just don't think he moves too well without the ball. Of course he will handle the rock a lot which takes away most of my argument, but it's still an important part to be in the right position when you don't have the ball as a PG.
You haven't been watching him play much then. He's played very well off the ball. For a stretch before the KU game playing DJ off the ball was Texas' best offense at times during games. Against OSU on Big Monday a few weeks ago Barnes moved him off the ball the last few minutes and he scored the last 11 or 12 Texas points to close out the win.
Barring injuries, I think he's going to prove himself within a few years to be among the best point guards in the NBA, probably not on a star/superstar kind of level, but as the sort of guy who really directs a team, leads a team, plays well and wins games. I just fell in love with his game this year and am excited to see him translate that to the NBA. The only thing about his size that worries me is that guards his size get banged up a lot and can be injury prone. But smaller guys have been able to avoid that--Muggsy Bogues was a LOT smaller--5-3, 136 lbs!--and made it about a decade before he started missing a lot of games.
I hope he succeeds too, it's always good to see small players that truly are point guards (unlike Nate Robinson or Earl Boykins) to find a place in this league. Offensively he should be alright within a few years, but he will most likely always struggle on the defensive end.
I hope he succeeds too, it's always good to see small players that truly are point guards (unlike Nate Robinson or Earl Boykins) to find a place in this league. Offensively he should be alright within a few years, but he will most likely always struggle on the defensive end.
he's never going to be a great defender but i don't see him routinely getting abused on the defensive end either. people make a lot out of the memphis game but the tallest perimeter guy on texas is justin mason at 6'2 and he's shorter than the smallest starter on memphis. it was the combined effect of all the texas perimeter guys being shorter that was really the problem for texas, not the specific rose/augustin match up.
he's never going to be a great defender but i don't see him routinely getting abused on the defensive end either. people make a lot out of the memphis game but the tallest perimeter guy on texas is justin mason at 6'2 and he's shorter than the smallest starter on memphis. it was the combined effect of all the texas perimeter guys being shorter that was really the problem for texas, not the specific rose/augustin match up.
I really didn't like to see Augustin get abused by Rose in that game but I don't see it as a major sign of things to come. DJ had played against bigger guards for two years already, it wasn't his first time playing against a bigger person.
Look at the guards DJ has matched up against in college during his career:
Russel Westbrook
Darren Collison
Raymar Morgan
Drew Neitzle
Richard Roby
Curtis Jerrells
Henry Dugat
Brandon Rush
Mario Chalmers
Russell Robinson
Sheron Collins
Derrick Rose
Chris Lofton
Daniel Hackett
Garrett Temple
Patrick Beverly
Gary Ervin
Scottie Reynolds
Martin Zeno
Now some of those guys will find themselves in the league if they are not already, and some won't average a minute in the NBA, but the quality of player for the college level is pretty high. DJ performed at a really high level against some top college talent and really out shined many of them. I'm not saying that college success will always translate to the pro's but I think it at least shows that he can rise above expectations.
__________________
Shaquille O'Neal * Stromile Swift * Brandon Bass
Tyrus Thomas * Glen "Big Baby" Davis * Anthony Randolph * Marcus Thornton
DJ Augustin
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