Wrapping this up with some quick observations on the rest of the roster. Additionally, my team overview mid-season column for this week’s print addition is now online. You can read it here. Honestly, it’s a better read than these blog posts. Had a little bit more time to craft it. These player posts — like most blog stuff — is basically automatic writing. But I digress …
- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Quincy Pondexter
Quincy Pondexter: I didn’t like the Grizzlies trading Greivis Vasquez for Pondexter, especially not with Sam Young and Dante Cunningham already on the roster. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like Pondexter.
While he’s not as physical a defender as Young, Pondexter seems more solid in team concepts and the team seems to be better with him defensively overall. And while his individual statistical profile is not as good as Young’s was a season ago, he similarly seems to fit in a little better as an offensive role player as well.
Pondexter has a better looking jumper, but it remains unclear what kind of shooter he is. This season he’s been very good from mid-range but shaky from three-point range. Last season in New Orleans he shot well from three — especially from the corner — but was mediocre from mid-range.
Pondexter’s role seems to be expanding of late and when he plays with efficiency and energy it’s a big help. There’s potential here for Pondexter to be a very solid role player for the team the rest of this season and beyond. I’d like to see him get more frequent looks at that corner three to get a better gauge of his shooting ability.
