Suns analyst: Goran Dragic a natural shooting guard
Feb 15, 2013, 4:58 PM | Updated: 6:16 pm
The Phoenix Suns signed Goran Dragic to a four-year, $34 million contract over the summer to replace Steve Nash at point guard.
And in 51 games this season he’s been productive, averaging 14 points and 6.3 assists per game on 44 percent shooting.
However, the last handful of games have seen Dragic play alongside Kendall Marshall, with the Suns rookie taking the reins at point guard and Dragic moving over to the shooting guard position.
Does that mean they’re not exactly sold on Dragic as the point guard of future?
A guest of Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Thursday, Suns analyst Tim Kempton said it’s too soon to answer that question. However, he noted the decision to play Dragic at shooting guard has given a glimpse of what the player can do when he doesn’t have to worry about setting up his teammates.
“He is a very good natural scorer,” Kempton said. “He can shoot the ball, he knows how to get to the basket. He’s very good at attacking off the catch as opposed to the pick-and-roll where the big man and the other guard can be physical with him and slow him down.”
Kempton said some of the issues Dragic may be having stem from a lack of experience, as the 26-year-old is still learning the NBA game. But, he knows how to score, and freeing him up from the role of distributor has shown it.
“I think they’ve definitely opened eyes in moving him over to the two as much as they have,” Kempton noted.
Of course, the question then becomes whether or not Dragic should remain at point guard or move to the shooting guard role. Kempton, at least, thinks Dragic may be better suited at the two.
“Because of his size in Europe,” Kempton said. “He’s a big point guard here but he’s a really big point guard in Europe, so I think in the NBA, because of his size and because of his skill-set, I think he’s capable.”
Kempton said watching Dragic gives the impression he can be a better shooting guard than point guard, and a look around the NBA reveals some of the best point guards are of a smaller variety.
“All those guys are all little guys,” he said. “Goran’s a bigger kid.”
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