In defense of Sonny Weems

[Maleko]

Look closer please.

Opp. PER
Weems: 12
Afflao: 16.2
Sefalosha: 13.2

Thanks Jeff, I was reading the PER line. Ha! Sorry bout that.

[knickz]

i don't even understand why some people have a problem with sonny, the guy i just getting a shot to play and i think h has a bright future

[jeff_hostetler]

Uh, I'm confused, but pretty sure that the LOWER the number on OPP PER is better, therefore he is not better than Sefalosha or Afflalo, but worse. Not bad, but worse.

Look closer please.

Opp. PER
Weems: 12
Afflao: 16.2
Sefalosha: 13.2

[Maleko]

I could care less about the PER stats. Anybody watching the games could see that Weems' energy, passion and hustle this season was NOT nearly as high as last season and his defense was significantly worse this season.

OPP PER stats aren't reliable when evaluating the individual defensive prowess on a team that played significant portions of every game playing ZONE-D!
.

I agree watching the games he just wasn't there 75% of the time. He also would chuck up early shot clock shots that killed flow, something not measured in stats.

Just to throw it out there, I'm going to compare Sonny Weems' numbers as a SG this year to those of Aaron Afflalo and Thabo Sefolosha: two young SG's well known for good/excellent defensive play.

PER/Opp. PER/StlsPG
Weems: 14.6/12/0.6
Afflalo: 13.7/16.2/0.5
Sefalosha: 11.6/13.2/1.2

Weems' offensive PER is not only better than both of theirs, but his defensive PER is as well. Sefalosha gets more steals and can defend the 3 very well (Opp. PER of 10.7). But he's basically got zero offense (PER at the 3 = 10.1).
Afflalo is a great 3 point shooter, but his defensive numbers aren't actually that good.

So? Is it heresy to call it a wash?

Weems is not only younger than both of them, but he has less experience. His 3 point shooting percentages - while not very good right now - have increased significantly each year, and are basically on par with Sefalosha. Both Afflalo and Sefalosha are starters for playoff teams in the West. A number of people here don't even want Weems back.

What am I saying? Perception is a funny thing.

Uh, I'm confused, but pretty sure that the LOWER the number on OPP PER is better, therefore he is not better than Sefalosha or Afflalo, but worse. Not bad, but worse.

[jlongs]

I was disappointed in Sonny mainly because I had high expectations for him. While I agree that he was overmatched most nights at the 3, it's his effort and decision making that disappointed me the most. He was often late on rotations, and didn't fight through screens as hard. I had no problems with his man defense. On the offensive side, he would force a lot of things, specially passes that lead to turnovers and momentum stops/shifts. It could have been the injury, or maybe distractions of a contract year, but those are my personal observations.

That said, I wouldn't mind him back for cheap, probably as injury insurance at the wings. I believe his greatest strengths on the offensive end are knocking down the mid-range and finishing on the break. On the other end, I found that he is most effective guarding the opposing PG or an undersized 2 where he can use his height advantage over them. He is quick enough to stay in front of them when he tries. I'm not totally sold on the idea of him backing up DD, as I am hoping for something better. But if luck isn't on our side, and it probably isn't, I would settle for him. I'd still pick LB over him on the rotation though.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

One thing that is important to keep in mind about OPP PER is "Who is ______ guarding?"

Afflalo defends the best wing player on the opposing team night in and night out. OPP PER gives a good idea but I don't think it gives the true picture. In other words while OPP PER gives an apples to apples comparison, it could be bruised, wormy apples to fresh, crunchy, juicy and delicious apples.

I could care less about the PER stats. Anybody watching the games could see that Weems' energy, passion and hustle this season was NOT nearly as high as last season and his defense was significantly worse this season.

OPP PER stats aren't reliable when evaluating the individual defensive prowess on a team that played significant portions of every game playing ZONE-D!

Frankly I would rather see Weems leave instead of re-signing him, even for under $2M per season.

[jeff_hostetler]

One thing that is important to keep in mind about OPP PER is "Who is ______ guarding?"

Afflalo defends the best wing player on the opposing team night in and night out..

Yeah, I suppose that's true. To add to that, you could argue that when Weems was playing at the 2, he could have been guarding the other teams backup 2. Further heightening the:

bruised, wormy apples to fresh, crunchy, juicy and delicious apples.

comparison, which is awesome, by the way.

[mcHAPPY]

Just to throw it out there, I'm going to compare Sonny Weems' numbers as a SG this year to those of Aaron Afflalo and Thabo Sefolosha: two young SG's well known for good/excellent defensive play.

PER/Opp. PER/StlsPG
Weems: 14.6/12/0.6
Afflalo: 13.7/16.2/0.5
Sefalosha: 11.6/13.2/1.2

Weems' offensive PER is not only better than both of theirs, but his defensive PER is as well. Sefalosha gets more steals and can defend the 3 very well (Opp. PER of 10.7). But he's basically got zero offense (PER at the 3 = 10.1).
Afflalo is a great 3 point shooter, but his defensive numbers aren't actually that good.

So? Is it heresy to call it a wash?

Weems is not only younger than both of them, but he has less experience. His 3 point shooting percentages - while not very good right now - have increased significantly each year, and are basically on par with Sefalosha. Both Afflalo and Sefalosha are starters for playoff teams in the West. A number of people here don't even want Weems back.

What am I saying? Perception is a funny thing.

One thing that is important to keep in mind about OPP PER is "Who is ______ guarding?"

Afflalo defends the best wing player on the opposing team night in and night out. OPP PER gives a good idea but I don't think it gives the true picture. In other words while OPP PER gives an apples to apples comparison, it could be bruised, wormy apples to fresh, crunchy, juicy and delicious apples.

[lavito]

why is everyone on sonny weems dick. He has a TERRIBLE season, he start off sub par but after that injury to the back he was just not himself. His passion and energy dropped this season by taking bad shots, lazy passes and bad defence. I believe Sonny Weems can redeem himself. I'd say sign him to a 2-3 million 2 year deal and make sure he works hard during this summer. He has really high potential. Hopefully LB gets shipped out for something useful so that Sonny Weems can continue to develop.

[j bean]

I for one didn't realize Sonny is smaller than DD and that there is such a difference in his stats depending on the position played. It makes me think resigning him to back up DeMar and moving Barbosa in a package to bring back something really good is a viable option. How does the tandem at the two of DeMar and Sonny compare to Barbosa and DD.

[jeff_hostetler]

Just to throw it out there, I'm going to compare Sonny Weems' numbers as a SG this year to those of Aaron Afflalo and Thabo Sefolosha: two young SG's well known for good/excellent defensive play.

PER/Opp. PER/StlsPG
Weems: 14.6/12/0.6
Afflalo: 13.7/16.2/0.5
Sefalosha: 11.6/13.2/1.2

Weems' offensive PER is not only better than both of theirs, but his defensive PER is as well. Sefalosha gets more steals and can defend the 3 very well (Opp. PER of 10.7). But he's basically got zero offense (PER at the 3 = 10.1).
Afflalo is a great 3 point shooter, but his defensive numbers aren't actually that good.

So? Is it heresy to call it a wash?

Weems is not only younger than both of them, but he has less experience. His 3 point shooting percentages - while not very good right now - have increased significantly each year, and are basically on par with Sefalosha. Both Afflalo and Sefalosha are starters for playoff teams in the West. A number of people here don't even want Weems back.

What am I saying? Perception is a funny thing.

[jeff_hostetler]

i remember last year he was such a good defender.

But, see, that's exactly the point I raised in the original post. Unless stats and advanced metrics are meaningless, if you look at the numbers, last year he wasn't actually that good of a defender. And this year, he improved his defence to the point that despite playing out of position, he still played better defence than he did last year playing his natural position.

[Maleko]

And you are right he needs a coach who keeps a handle on him. He's still somewhat young, needs to be kept in check when he (and most players will) goes a little off the rails.

[Maleko]

I like and I don't like Weems. As a cheap bench guy, and that would mean $1.5M in my mind, perhaps. He would have to learn to pick his shots, and I like the 'idea' of him as a defensive 2, and I do think he can be that kind of player, but he has to prove it before he can even be a $2-3M guy. His defensive numbers aside, saying he is a better 3pt shooter is not painting the whole picture, since as WJF said, he shot under 28% (for a career average of 24.1%), and that is horrible. Sure he's not Shaq shooting a 3, but not someone you want to be shooting it.

If he can stay within his game (which he did at the end of last year), work on his 3pt shooting...a LOT, and focus on being a defensive 2 (not a chucker 2), then I say a 1+1 contract (second 1 being a team option) in the $1M range first year and $2M in his second say, as an incentive to play within his game and improve the areas he needs to for the TEAM is warranted.

My opinion, is $3M is too much for him right now.

[raptorsking]

i remember last year he was such a good defender.