Comments on: Evaluating the ’07-’08 76ers: Louis Williams

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:46:27 +0000

I think Lou is developing into the point guard of our future. He isn’t there yet, but he is getting there. He improved so much this past year, and I am expecting to make another step forward this year. If you remember he had games last year where he would score at will but not set his teammates up very well. Then other games he would set teammates up well (especially his buddy Sammy D) but not score so well. I expect him to start combining the two more this year. So much so that I am predicting Miller gets traded at the deadline.
As far as his shooting % this is the way I see it. First he is a good shooter. He 3pt % is better because that is where he gets open looks. The 3s he takes are usually in the corner off a Miller/Igoudala assist. But his FGs are a whole different issue. He shots a lot of shots at the end of shot clocks, usually contested by a bigger defender. Hence a low %. Plus his shot selection can be a little sketchy at times; something I think will improve as he grows up.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:37:18 +0000

Joe are you proposing Lou be the starting PG of the future for the Sixers? Are you cool with that idea?

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:30:08 +0000

If Lou isn’t going to play PG and miller isn’t staying, I see no reason to keep Lou. We would have to have a PG that can defend SGs like Miller in order to play Lou with him.

I think Lou has plenty of PG abilities. He can penetrate as well as just about anyone. He can shoot fairly well. He doesn’t turn the ball over a ton. He should follow the Tony Parker mold imo.

I see Lou as being a 19 and 6 PG down the road alla Parker shooting 45% from the field, but making up for it by getting to the line more and hitting more 3 pointers.

For next year? Same thing as this year for Lou assuming Miller is here.

By: bski

bski — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:15:53 +0000

DANNIE: I see it the same way, as you know from my previous posts.

For now at least, Lou seems to be better suited for 6th man, high energy, instant offense off the bench role. We can amend a popular Zumoffism: “Sip it. It’s hot. It’s instant Williams.”

I do not see him taking over the point for us. The difference in our offense is very noticeable when Miller sits and Lou takes over. He has a shoot first mentality and doesn’t display the patience necessary to manage the offense.

Since he is so young, I’d love to keep him on the team and see how he progresses. I believe he can improve in the three areas you suggest and be a valuable contributor to the team.

In answer to Sixerzguy, just because I feel Lou is best suited to be our 6th man doesn’t mean he should be locked into that role. Using him correctly, as you say, means to me that he should get starts or play more minutes depending on the matchups each team presents. He certainly should be used as much as possible whenever and wherever his skills give us an advantage.

Although this doesn’t have anything to do with his passing or shot selection, etc…I can’t help wondering if he was suffering lingering aftereffects from his foot injury. It’s probably just me but he didn’t seem to fully recover and play at the same level he was before it happened.

By: sixerzguy

sixerzguy — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:00:30 +0000

Dannie, Lou’s biggest contribution to last season was his scoring in the 4th in that Miller-Iggy-Williams backcourt. Mo went to that because they were our 3 best backcourt guys. I don’t think Lou was as impressive in other quarters.

But I think that with Thad’s emergence, Mo should consider a new approach to the 4th: Iggy is the mainstay of that backcourt, but he moves Miller, Williams and Thad in and out depending on the matchup.

I don’t think he should have this super-sub role. I think he should be considered a unique weapon of ours, that he can give you a huge advantage if used correctly, but will kill you if he’s not used correctly. I’m not saying people shouldn’t have roles, but that in this case, Lou shouldn’t.

Like if the Celtics throw Rondo, Pierce and Posey at you, there’s no way you counter with Miller-Williams-Iggy. Thad or Rodney has to be in the mix somehow, with either Miller or Williams taken out.

By: Evaluating the ‘07-’08 76ers

Evaluating the ‘07-’08 76ers — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:55:12 +0000

[...] Louis Williams [...]