The Sonics brass believes that Flip Murray can fill the role of the departed Antonio Daniels. After watching Murray last season it is hard to believe that is true. However, the Sonics contest that much of Murray's issue last year was uncertainty. He missed training camp and the first 20 games and by the time he was ready to return the Sonics were rolling and had no place for him. Therefore, for the rest of the year he pressed, never played in rhythm and suffered because of it.
The Sonics will tell you he can take it to the basket and draw fouls in a way no one but Ray Allen can do on this team. They believe that his ability to score off the bench is a game changer.
The detractors, of which I am apart, believe he is sloppy with the ball. He can't play inside an offensive structure and scores at the detriment of his teammates. Their is no way he can replace Daniles remarkable assist to turnover ratio. Murray averages 1.4 assist to 1 turnover. It is not his game to be that player. Moreover, as much as I believe that Daniels is overrated defensively Murray is a less good defender then Daniels.
Who do you side with?
The Sonics back much of their belief in numbers. And the numbers are impressive.
Over the past two seasons when Murray has played over 20 minutes he has produced.
FLIP MURRAY
2003-04
Type ----G Pts Reb Ass --- FG% 3p% FT%
20+ min 58 15.8 3.1 3.0 -- 44.4 30.8 71.8
25+ min 40 18.5 3.5 3.5 -- 46.3 32.9 70.6
30+ min 21 21.6 3.7 4.2 -- 46.4 34.8 67
2004-05
Type ----G Pts Reb Ass --- FG% 3% FT%
20+ min 20 13.6 3.6 2.2 -- 38.0 27.8 72.1
25+ min 16 14.8 4.1 2.5 -- 38.3 27.9 72.7
30+ min 9 18.0 4.0 2.9 -- 40.0 30.8 70.3
Last Two Seasons
Minutes Pts Rebs Ass -- FG% 3p% FT% A/T
20+ min 15.2 3.2 2.8 -- 42.8 30.0 71.9 1.4
25+ min 17.5 3.7 3.2 -- 44.1 31.4 71.1 1.4
30+ min 20.5 3.8 3.8 -- 44.5 37.2 67.8 1.4
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2 comments:
Locke-
Do you have any more stats on Flip. For example, what is the Sonics record when Flip plays more than 20 minutes? What's their record when he takes more than 10 shots. What's the +/- when he's the point guard?
I have a few stats from Flippers best year and career.
As a starter in 18 games at 35.6 minutes he averaged:
- 44.4(FG%) 16.5 shots
- 34.2(3pt%) 4.2 shots
- 64.7(FT%) 4.7 attempts
From the bench in 64 games at 21.6 minutes he averaged:
- 41.6(FG%) 9.7 shots
- 26.8(3pt%) 2.4 shots
- 75.3(FT%) 2.3 attempts
In 145 games at 20.5 minutes he averaged:
- 40.6(FG%) 9 shots
- 27.7(3pt%) 2.3
- 71.8(FT%) 2.2 attempts
He might be okay as your fourth guard, but not as the third guard. As of right now he would back up the 1 and 2. When I think of a decent backup, I think first don't make too many mistakes. Flip turns the ball over too much as a potential backup 1. If he's going to backup my 2 then hopefully he can shoot. Last year he shot 36.1 %! He missed the first part of the season and that supposedly slowed him down. Well, don't you think by April he should have been over it?When most guys are tired from the long season shouldn't Flip be in mid-season form? The month he played his most minutes, April, in 11 games(23.7 m/gm) he shot 33.9%!
One reason why he may have done well, in games he played over 20 minutes, was because he shot the ball well. Like Radmanovic, when they shot the ball well they played extended minutes. There's too much inconsistency from Flip to be an effective third guard. Plus, he doesn't pass well, the offense doesn't flow when he's in the game, and he's a below average defender.
In his best year, Flip shot 41.6 % coming off the bench. He might have a better FG % if he stopped taking 3 pt shots and if the rim would stop blocking his dunk attempts. Otherwise, 41.6 % is going to be the best you can expect from Flip; especially since he's coming off of the bench.
I would rather have Cleaves and Wilkins in the backcourt than Flip. Maybe, Wally will bring back Frahm. At least he can shoot. At this point it seems like anyone would be better than Flip. Is Gus Williams available? Okay, maybe not anyone.
Juan Dixon's national title ranks very high in my book. Dixon over Murray seems like a no-brainer.
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