Jordan Clarkson Discussion: Sky's the limit!

From the link ninjahorn posted above.....

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/3/14/8212671/la-lakers-jordan-clarkson-nba-draft

Jordan Clarkson is breaking away from his rookie class
By Harrison Faigen  @hmfaigen on Mar 14, 2015, 10:23a 55


Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The '14 rookie class hasn't been stellar, but Jordan Clarkson has emerged as one of the best first-year players this season.

If you believe in the theory of multiple universes, then in at least one, there is a version of the Lakers' '14-15 season in which the Washington Wizards decided holding on to Jordan Clarkson was more valuable than cash. Julius Randle was still lost in the season opener, Kobe Bryant did not make it to the All-Star break, and Ronnie Price was starting point guard for an extended period of time.

If Clarkson had not been available to be dug out from the bottom of Byron Scott's rotation, the last 30 games of the 2014-15 Lakers campaign would have been a mostly joyless experience. I, for one, am glad we do not have to live through that barren, positivity starved Lakers campaign.

The spark of excitement that is Clarkson's recent play has led to some out-sized expectations (search "Clarkson Westbrook" on Twitter for a laugh), which it may be time to temper. But I decided to look into the numbers behind another 22 year old rookie point guard -- Damian Lillard's first season -- compared them to Clarkson, and came away mostly excited for Clarkson's future prospects. (h/t to Darius Soriano of Forum Blue and Gold for the idea).



RkPlayerSeasonAgeGGSMPFGFGAFG%3P3PA3P%2P2PA2P%FTFTAFT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKTOVPFPTS
1Jordan Clarkson2014-152242218906.114.1.4311.03.2.3085.110.9.4673.03.6.8111.33.04.34.11.10.22.12.616.1
2Damian Lillard2012-1322828231676.314.6.4292.15.7.3684.28.9.4693.13.6.8440.52.42.96.00.80.22.82.017.8
Data courtesy Basketball-Reference.com.

Jordan Clarkson is the not the next Damian Lillard, but the fact you can look at the per-36 minutes numbers from their rookie seasons and come away without Clarkson (the 46th overall pick) being completely blown out of the water by Lillard (the sixth-overall pick and Rookie of the Year award winner) is certainly exciting.

Clarkson has snagged marginally more rebounds, while Lillard dished slightly more assists and scored a bit more. Lillard also shot threes more often and at a much higher percentage, while both players got to the free-throw line and converted at comparable rates. Overall Lillard rates out better, but it isn't a landslide, which is a huge win for the Lakers in exchange for nothing but the spare change they found in Jim Buss' couch.

So have the basketball gods blessed the Lakers with their own version of Damian Lillard as a reward for the real one (accidentally) breaking Nash's leg and destroying any hope of the "Now This is Going to Be Fun" team working out? It is a bit more complicated than that.

RkPlayerSeasonAgeGMPPERTS%3PArFTrORB%DRB%TRB%AST%STL%BLK%TOV%USG%OWSDWSWSWS/48OBPMDBPMBPMVORP
1Jordan Clarkson2014-15224289014.8.512.224.2593.89.46.519.01.60.511.621.90.90.21.0.0560.3-2.3-2.00.0
2Damian Lillard2012-132282316716.4.546.391.2491.58.04.728.81.20.514.524.25.10.75.8.0882.7-2.40.31.9
Data courtesy Basketball-Reference.com.

The above chart shows the advanced metrics for the two point guards in their rookie years. Clarkson's higher rebounding rate mirrors the per-36 minute numbers, but the AST% is a far bigger disparity in favor of Lillard. The cold blooded Blazer's guard assisted on 28.8 percent of all field goals while he was on the floor, almost exactly ten percent more than Clarkson (19 percent). This despite Lillard's usage rate (24.2 percent of his team's plays used while he was on the floor) being only a little over 2 percent higher than Clarkson's (21.9).

In his lower usage, Clarkson has turned over the ball a lower percentage of the time than Lillard did as a rookie. This is especially encouraging when factoring in Lillard had the privilege of playing with Lamarcus Aldridge versus Clarkson playing with big men who's hands are elaborate promotional tie-ins for the Buttery Jack from Jack in the Box.

Clarkson is also fairing pretty well when he decides not to pass the ball, as you can see by taking a peek at his heat map (per Basketball Reference)



That confirms what the majority of pre-draft scouting reports said about Clarkson's game; he has a knack for getting to the rim, finishes well when he gets there, and a sprinkling of green to demonstrate that he has potential to become a consistent three point shooter.. All of this despite the almost non-existent spacing and playmaking the rest of the Lakers offense provides.

Now look at Lillard's from his rookie campaign:



FLAMES! FLAMES EVERYWHERE!

What Lillard setting the court on fire and the rest of these statistics demonstrate is obvious: Clarkson is unlikely to develop into the same caliber player as Lillard or any of the other upper echelon point guards. Jordan is in an offensive system that emphasizes long-twos and doesn't generate many open looks from deep, but that's a steep difference in shooting touch.

Does that mean the former Mizzou Tiger cannot be a contributor for the Lakers for years to come? Of course not, if he continues to work hard and develop, it's easy to envision Clarkson being the latest in a pantheon of memorable Lakers role players. Not every draft pick is a home run, and future picks have been comically overvalued at times in recent years, but what Clarkson's rookie season shows is that it is better to have a draft pick and take a swing than it is to give up your at bat in exchange for some money to use at the concession stand.

Just something to keep in mind as the end of the season rapidly approaches, and the Lakers hover so perilously close to edge between losing and retaining their lottery pick.

 

Resign Tarik Black for 4 years @ 10 million

We have team option on Black for next year. No need to pay him ATM.

 

Well after the Lakers concluded practice on Saturday, Clarkson sat with Lakers development coach Thomas Scott and analyzed film on how he can improve his recent shooting struggles, his playmaking and his defense. Clarkson also reported to Saturday’s practice to squeeze in some early shooting in hopes to turn around his slump.
“This is great for him. He needs to keep learning as he goes along each day as he goes along in this league and what people will do against him,” Scott said. “The best thing about the kid is when he falls, he gets back up. He doesn’t lay down. He gets back up and keeps playing hard.”

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...ing-to-stay-aggressive-amid-recent-struggles/

This is what I love about him; preparation, the willingness to learn from mistakes and get better.

 

No matter, the other Scott will boost his confidence by benching him. That'll show him!

Dimwit after dimwit after dimwit. Dammit.

 

Ben Rosales @brosales12 · 15h15 hours ago
Clarkson finishes with 17/5/3/2 on a 63.2 TS%. Solid game from him.

In 25 minutes. Clarkson has 'it.' You will be a freaking stud in this league for a long, long, time.

 

They missed that call, too.

 

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2015/0...-elfrid-payton-is-rondo-with-training-wheels/

JC getting some love from various sites.

 

Good news.

 

http://www.dailynews.com//sports/20...n-clarkson-becoming-more-vocal-with-teammates

Blurb about Clarkson in the article. Good stuff.

 

Great photo as well in that link. Look how long his arms are and he's got pretty big hands too like Tarik Black. He's gotten thicker and more muscular (I think) over the course of the season. Working his butt off probably with the equipment..... good to see! Seems like he is wanting to become a leader. Who better to learn from, and Randle too, than Kobe and Nash.

Lakers rookie Jordan Clarkson becoming more vocal with teammates

Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Clarkson, center, passes the ball under pressure by Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Los Angeles. The Jazz 80-73. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
By Mark Medina, LA Daily News

POSTED: 03/20/15, 7:02 PM PDT |




Only two months into his starting point guard role, Lakers rookie Jordan Clarkson has experienced significant growth that had nothing to do with scoring or passing.

Clarkson provided a testy exchange with forward Jordan Hill in the waning minutes of the Lakers’ loss on Thursday to Utah. It all happened after Hill’s slow reaction to a defensive rotation gave Trey Burke an open layup for a 74-71 lead with 2:30 remaining. Clarkson believes he must continue holding teammates accountable when the Lakers (17-50) host the Philadelphia 76ers (16-52) on Sunday at Staples Center.





“It’s my job being a point guard to be vocal and put people in their places,” Clarkson said. “I kind of got mad at J-Hill because we weren’t communicating.”

Lakers coach Byron Scott said he liked “the rookie is more assertive.” Scott also added, “Jordan Hill wasn’t up on the pick like he should have been.”

“I take that as a positive,” Scott said. “When one guy messes up, one of the best things they can do is police each other.”

 

Good stuff, he's been the one bright spot in a rather dark season.

 

He seems to have picked up a bit of Nash's one-arm-no-ball shoot-motion warm up drill prior to each free throw. Unless he has always done that. I also see him getting ahead of the defender frequently then keeping the dribble alive while he stops short and the guy is now climbing over his back. That's "Nashlike" isn't it?

 

Yes. I think he needs 1 more year coming off the bench, and by the 3rd year, I think he should be starting, IMO.