DJ Augustin signs 1-year Deal with Raptors

[LBF]

FYI - the 41 off topic posts from this thread, which were related to GIF wars, an alleged developing sexual tension between particular RR posters and a gender-based brain size comparison, were moved to a new thread. To continue those discussions, go here: http://www.raptorsrepublic.com/forum...-topic-chatter

Please keep the discussion in this thread on topic. Cheers

So it was you!?

Niice!

[CalgaryRapsFan]

FYI - the 41 off topic posts from this thread, which were related to GIF wars, an alleged developing sexual tension between particular RR posters and a gender-based brain size comparison, were moved to a new thread. To continue those discussions, go here: http://www.raptorsrepublic.com/forum...-topic-chatter

Please keep the discussion in this thread on topic. Cheers

[ImNotDrake]

First, the shooting....Career %s aside DJ shot .353% last season, and it was his highest 3pt shooting % in 3 seasons. He shot very well from 3 his first couple of years and seems to have tailed off to a more average level. I don't consider his career %, I consider what the last 3 seasons indicate, which is a 33-35% shooter.

Second, on the defensive units...Here is my issue with Augustin and Buycks....Buycks can maybe guard the 2 spot, but it's surely going to be a problem sometimes. Meanwhile, Augustin could be guarding my grandma (who's dead) at PG and still get burned. So you risk end up getting burned at both spots, say, if they have a 2 that can post up and a 1 that can blow by.

It's very hard to go small in the backcourt and stay successful. Most teams that can either have a PG that can slide over and guard 2s (like Kidd in his Dallas days), and/or a PG that is a pretty good on the ball defender, like Conley or Teague (with Bayless and Williams respectively). So to me, Lowry-Buycks is the only situation that matches something like that. Otherwise, there's too many problems on D and it cancels out any floor-spacing on O.

I think any time the Raps try to go small with Augustin and another guard, they'll end up regretting it.

Part of the % could be explained that he was assigned with the task to generate offense and with his ball handling flaws and diffuclties to do entry passes, was forced to get his own shot more often than not and that lead to poor shot selection. It's not like the indiana bench was aswesome though, i guess he could be more productive if he's the 3rd or 4th scorion option instead of the 1st.

That being said, i agree with your defense points, but regardless who is playing D at the 2, augustin likely will get burned more often than none. Posting shooting guard are now a rarity occurence.

Also, i doubt that Casey would go small vs a first unit as playing a rookie and augustine vs like Wade and Chalemers would be totale suicide. As I see it, it could be an option if the bench trouble to score. Not for the starting unit or to close out games.

[lilmamba_]

dj talks to the fans ......
(for like nine seconds)
sweetie<3

[lilmamba_]

i think DJ would eat up most of the minutes. the same reason why Anderson got more mins than Ross. because coach wants to win, he rather have dj play than develop dwight, but if we go along with our winning ways we might even see an increase in dwight's pt......hopefully...

[Chr1s1anL]

Augustin has been on two great defensive teams in his career. His been a starter in two of his 5 years. Why do people thing his just a spot up shooter?

Holinger

I really like the progress Augustin has made as a distributor in his four seasons, but if he doesn't start making shots and getting some defensive stops, it's not going to matter. First, the good news: Augustin had a career-high assist rate, with nearly nine dimes per 40 minutes despite not having a bewildering array of options around him, and ranked seventh in the NBA in pure point rating. I think we can stop calling him a "shoot-first" guard.

[white men can't jump]

Also, I definitely acknowledge that the likelihood we'll see Augustin in a small backcourt is pretty high....because they're bound to play enough teams that do something similar that Casey will have to play Augustin with Lowry/Buyckes at some point. I still think it's one of the worst options they have for a unit (you know, ignoring crazy lineups that couldn't even happen, like having 5 bigs on teh floor).

[white men can't jump]

Yeah my whole thesis depends on how Buycks can defend the 2 spot. I could see Bucyks playing the 1 on offense and switch to 2 on defense and vice-versa with Augustin.

Augustin is a carrer 37% 3p shooter and i see that % going up in a spot up role.

I think that Novak and Augustin won't be in the game together and, depending on the match ups, we will see either one on the floor, depending if we go "big" or "small".

First, the shooting....Career %s aside DJ shot .353% last season, and it was his highest 3pt shooting % in 3 seasons. He shot very well from 3 his first couple of years and seems to have tailed off to a more average level. I don't consider his career %, I consider what the last 3 seasons indicate, which is a 33-35% shooter.

Second, on the defensive units...Here is my issue with Augustin and Buycks....Buycks can maybe guard the 2 spot, but it's surely going to be a problem sometimes. Meanwhile, Augustin could be guarding my grandma (who's dead) at PG and still get burned. So you risk end up getting burned at both spots, say, if they have a 2 that can post up and a 1 that can blow by.

It's very hard to go small in the backcourt and stay successful. Most teams that can either have a PG that can slide over and guard 2s (like Kidd in his Dallas days), and/or a PG that is a pretty good on the ball defender, like Conley or Teague (with Bayless and Williams respectively). So to me, Lowry-Buycks is the only situation that matches something like that. Otherwise, there's too many problems on D and it cancels out any floor-spacing on O.

I think any time the Raps try to go small with Augustin and another guard, they'll end up regretting it.

[ImNotDrake]

This would surprise me a bit actually. Augustin would be a GIGANTIC liability on D in a small backcourt. If we see 2 PG lineups, I think Lowry and Buycks, with Buycks playing at the off-guard, is more likely.

Buycks should be quick enough to stay in front of SGs, and has better length than Augustin. Also while Augustin can shoot, his man won't really have to pay any attention to him on D. Buycks is more than a shooter though, and his man will have to play him tough to avoid getting burned off the bounce. Also, with him and Lowry, as opposed to Augustin, and again coming back to D, they can at least try to guard both backcourt spots well. Putting in Augustin means you give up something there on D, and he doesn't create enough of a mismatch on O to have him there.

If the team needs to inject extra shooting, that's what Novak is for, since it is the only good skill he brings to the table. Not that Novak is a stopper, but you can put him at SF, PF, maybe even SG if you can hide him on D, and give up less size, while also possibly pulling a big man away from the paint (instead of a guard), creating a difficult matchup on that end. Especially since while Augustin is a capable shooter, he's not by any means a "shooter" or "sniper".

I don't know, I just feel like any 2-PG lineup with Augustin is bound to get destroyed.

Yeah my whole thesis depends on how Buycks can defend the 2 spot. I could see Bucyks playing the 1 on offense and switch to 2 on defense and vice-versa with Augustin.

Augustin is a carrer 37% 3p shooter and i see that % going up in a spot up role.

I think that Novak and Augustin won't be in the game together and, depending on the match ups, we will see either one on the floor, depending if we go "big" or "small".

[white men can't jump]

I agree with this, but i think regardless of Buycks performance and playing time, the main diffrence will be in playing roles. We will see Augustin as a spot up shooter and Buycks as a backup point guard role. It wouldn't suprise me, especially if Ross underperforms, to see both of them together on the floor.

I think both players were brought up to do different things and seeing it at same positions isn't the correct vision. I could be wrong though.

This would surprise me a bit actually. Augustin would be a GIGANTIC liability on D in a small backcourt. If we see 2 PG lineups, I think Lowry and Buycks, with Buycks playing at the off-guard, is more likely.

Buycks should be quick enough to stay in front of SGs, and has better length than Augustin. Also while Augustin can shoot, his man won't really have to pay any attention to him on D. Buycks is more than a shooter though, and his man will have to play him tough to avoid getting burned off the bounce. Also, with him and Lowry, as opposed to Augustin, and again coming back to D, they can at least try to guard both backcourt spots well. Putting in Augustin means you give up something there on D, and he doesn't create enough of a mismatch on O to have him there.

If the team needs to inject extra shooting, that's what Novak is for, since it is the only good skill he brings to the table. Not that Novak is a stopper, but you can put him at SF, PF, maybe even SG if you can hide him on D, and give up less size, while also possibly pulling a big man away from the paint (instead of a guard), creating a difficult matchup on that end. Especially since while Augustin is a capable shooter, he's not by any means a "shooter" or "sniper".

I don't know, I just feel like any 2-PG lineup with Augustin is bound to get destroyed.

[ImNotDrake]

I think at the beginning of the season that will probably be true. But without trying to consider summer league at all, the Buycks signing screams of hoping this guy is more than an undrafted journeyman to fill the end of bench. Just get the impression the job is BUycks to win/lose, and Augustin is insurance while he's learning, or if he never does.

I agree with this, but i think regardless of Buycks performance and playing time, the main diffrence will be in playing roles. We will see Augustin as a spot up shooter and Buycks as a backup point guard role. It wouldn't suprise me, especially if Ross underperforms, to see both of them together on the floor.

I think both players were brought up to do different things and seeing it at same positions isn't the correct vision. I could be wrong though.

[white men can't jump]

I basically agree with all your saying, except i think Augustin might be off the bench before Buycks but only for shooting purpose while leaving the handle duties to Gay or DeRozen.

I think at the beginning of the season that will probably be true. But without trying to consider summer league at all, the Buycks signing screams of hoping this guy is more than an undrafted journeyman to fill the end of bench. Just get the impression the job is BUycks to win/lose, and Augustin is insurance while he's learning, or if he never does.

[isaacthompson]

Disagree. Casey puts a premium on hard work. And a former 1st rounder who is now a drifter compared to a player who worked hard to make it to the league screams practice session battles for back up role.

You obviously didn't see how little Ross and Val played, and how much Casey relied on AA last year. There's no way you can argue that Casey prefers young guys over experience. My guess is that Buycks will be undeservedly locked to the bench, if anything.

[ImNotDrake]

I basically agree with all your saying, except i think Augustin might be off the bench before Buycks but only for shooting purpose while leaving the handle duties to Gay or DeRozen.

[white men can't jump]

Am i the only one who thinks that Augustin was brought up to be a spot up shooter? In the playoffs we saw that he is a under average ball handler and sucks at making entry passes. I'm thinking that Lowry, Gay and Bucks (as he was told he would be the #2 PG) will handle the rock way more often than Augustin. In fact I think he was brought up to spread the floor as they were better playmakers and/or ball handler available. Watch out for Gay/DD and JV or AJ pick and roll/pop plays if we have 2 quality floor spreaders at the time with Novak and Augustin.

I think Augustin was brought in to take Lucas' role, basically. Except that he doesn't need to have the ball as much in his hands. So yeah, like you say, I see a fair amount of spot up shooting in his future. I also see him as the 3rd stringer because of this. Augustin really doesn't bring that much to the table. Ujiri clearly wants someone to be motivated to grab that backup spot, and my guess is he and Casey are hoping that's Bucyks with his speed and hustle. But Augustin is a better option than Lucas for this team....because, fuck, yeah, I hated watching Lucas dominate the ball for 20 seconds and then hoist up a wild jumper.