Zach Lowe on Trevor Booker

[GVC]

AST% isn't everything, but for all this talk of Trevor Booker being a ball mover, Kanter posted a better AST% last year.

That's because Kanter had the ball a lot when he was on the floor.

Kanter shot 11.37 field goals per assist last season. Booker shot 6.30 field goals per assist last season. This despite Kanter having the offense run through him more frequently (one would guess this would make Booker a finisher more frequently when he got the ball).

Of the 190 players who played 1500+ minutes last season, only 5 took more shots per assist than Kanter.

 

[Sexual Favors]

That's because Kanter had the ball a lot when he was on the floor.

Kanter shot 11.37 field goals per assist last season. Booker shot 6.30 field goals per assist last season. This despite Kanter having the offense run through him more frequently (one would guess this would make Booker a finisher more frequently when he got the ball).

Of the 190 players who played 1500+ minutes last season, only 5 took more shots per assist than Kanter.

Good analysis, but to you and Darkwing, I've already conceded that Booker is a better passer. I knew that before I posted what I posted. Just because Booker is a better passer, doesn't make him a great passer, or a significant threat. Booker is 26 (will be 27), and posted career high minutes of 21 per contest last year. Believing that we signed him as our PF of the future is ludicrous and biased.

Booker was signed to light a fire under Enes, not to replace him.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

First glance at Booker vs. Kanter passing is Booker is looking to pass. Booker hasn't done anything amazing in his passes, but generally makes the right decision. As I type that, a nice interior pass by Booker. Don't see any tight passes by Kanter. He'll make them if they're obvious. Booker isn't an offensive threat, obviously. But Booker can definitely pass. He'd be good in Sloan's flex at the high post/elbow.

EDIT:

Basically, he's not afraid of passing like Kanter seems to be.

 

[LogGrad98]

So Kanter is Big Al with a better fan club?

 

[Tarkanian]

apples and oranges unless / until you put them in the same environment.
Kanter is a better player in almost every aspect of the game or so I tend to believe but I like Booker.
I liked him when he was @ college, too.
I'll have to wait and make up my own mind about this new comparison.

 

[homeytennis]

apples and oranges unless / until you put them in the same environment.
Kanter is a better player in almost every aspect of the game or so I tend to believe but I like Booker.
I liked him when he was @ college, too.
I'll have to wait and make up my own mind about this new comparison.

For all the Booker love on this board he reminds me of a rich man's version of Dominic McGuire who was in training camp last fall. They are about the same size and have had similar stats in the league. The difference is Booker is more costly.

 

[GVC]

Believing that we signed him as our PF of the future is ludicrous and biased.

Who believes this? Booker may complement Favors and the starting perimeter players better than Kanter; he may be a better option starting right now.

As green pointed out, Kanter needs to figure out how he can fit in today's NBA. When I had access to the mysynergysports data, I compiled a bunch of the team stats from 2012/13, and took a closer look. If you get rid of transition opportunities and put-backs (and the "all other plays" category), essentially leaving you with primary halfcourt possessions, you see that off-ball offense (spot-ups, pick and roll roll man, cuts, off screens and hand offs) is about 25% (1.0 v. 0.8 points per possession) more effective than on-ball offense (post ups, isos and pick and roll ball handler). Still, the lower bound on percentage of halfcourt possessions that ended with an on-ball shot/turnover was 38.5% (the Spurs)...NBA defenses are good. Teams that don't make good decisions once they've bent the defense, don't score in the halfcourt. Kanter has yet to show that he can make quick or correct reads and make precise passes. He's never going to amount to much if he doesn't figure this out.

 

[Sexual Favors]

So Kanter is Big Al with a better fan club?

It could be said that Kanter's NBA career is Big Al-esque right now, but that has more to do with how he has been used, rather than what he has potential for. Also, Al was a year older and played 600 or something more minutes his first three years.

I think it is more appropriate to look at Kanter as a big ball of talented clay. After all, he is still five months younger than rookies like Doug Mcdermott...

 

[tleikheen]

He'd be good in Sloan's flex at the high post/elbow.

Your 3 or 4 years behind the times here Duck.............#2 Booker is just turning 27 and Kanter just turning 22 and Booker is still nothing special in passing being older .Good players get better and with a new passing offense Kanter gets a WAY better offense to pass in than Corbin's simple offense.
Besides that Kanter will be the beneficiary of the passes,being on the scoring end.That's why Kanter is there and Booker won't.

 

[GVC]

It could be said that Kanter's NBA career is Big Al-esque right now, but that has more to do with how he has been used, rather than what he has potential for. Also, Al was a year older and played 600 or something more minutes his first three years.

Al wasn't a year older. They both entered the NBA at 19 (Al was about 4 months older).

Through 2 seasons, their respective numbers were pretty similar. Jefferson's game (at least as far as the numbers are concerned) took a big jump in year 3; Kanter's stagnated. It's unlikely Kanter ever develops into a player of Al's caliber.

 

[Darkwing Duck]

Your 3 or 4 years behind the times here Duck.............#2 Booker is just turning 27 and Kanter just turning 22 and Booker is still nothing special in passing being older .Good players get better and with a new passing offense Kanter gets a WAY better offense to pass in than Corbin's simple offense.
Besides that Kanter will be the beneficiary of the passes,being on the scoring end.That's why Kanter is there and Booker won't.

You know why it was a simple offense, right? Kanter specifically and Favors as well refused to pass out of the flex high post other than to hand off to the guard when the lack of ball movement broke down the play. Defenses caught on to this and overplayed the few passing lanes Kanter was comfortable with, namely the weak side curl spot up. They then overplayed the screen/hand off and thus caused nothing but havoc. Corbin had no choice but to abandon the motion offense flex because it was 3 on 7. Offense was simple because Kanter and Favors can't play in any other offense.

 

[Jazz4ever]

After reading this article, if I'm Kanter, I get really worried. Kanter can't pass, he hasn't shown he can shoot the three, and he can't defend the rim. So, what exactly is he? Kris Humphries? Yikes. Hump is making, what, 3-4 million this year?

I think Favors is set as our starter. I think the other big will come down to Kanter or Booker, whoever can show they can stretch the defense with their shooting and passing. The problem is, Booker can pass but can't shoot. Kanter may be able to shoot, but can't pass.

And Booker can do none of this either, and is 4 inches shorter and 4 years older. Actually Booker can shoot decent, over 40% on his jumpers. So it would seem your post just went from being bad to awful.