Experts Agree With Me About Ben Gordon’s Value
There are a few truths that anyone who has ever read this site knows I believe in: Milton Bradley was screwed by the Chicago baseball establishment, I would consider going gay for Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose and Jay Cutler are the best things since sliced bread, the NBA is more interesting than the NHL, Cubs fans are racist, and most pertinent to this post, I will defend Ben Gordon’s value to the Bulls 10 times more than he has ever defended anyone on the court.
Well folks, it looks like someone finally agrees with me on that last one. And not just anyone, mind you, but Wayne Winston, the official statistics expert of the Dallas Mavericks (Hollinger and others have echoed this sentiment to some extent as well). Ben Gordon is in fact extremely effective, even with his lack of defense:
On Truehoop.com I was (correctly) quoted as saying the Bulls should not have let Ben Gordon go, especially to a bitter divisional rival (Detroit). Gordon’s performance has been erratic but last year was 18th in the league in our Adjusted +/- and he was 4th in Impact, which measure how you change the chance that your team wins. If you saw the Celtics-Bulls series you saw how his clutch shooting can change a game. In 2007-2008 Gordon had a negative impact, but this could be because the team was poor and many players mail it in when the games have no meaning. His offense held up in 2007-2008 but his defense was very poor, leading me to believe he might have mailed it in near the end of the season, In 2004-2005 Gordon had the the league’s 2nd best impact!. He plays over 30 minutes a game. While below average on defense, he is always an above average offensive player. The Bulls were at their best against the Celtics with Miller, Gordon, Hinrich and Rose on the court. They won by around a point a minute with these guys on the court. This 4 man combo cannot be used anymore. Is Ben a bad influence off the court? I have no idea. But on the court he will be missed.
The Truehoop post can be found here for anyone who is interested. Winston acknowledges, as do I, that Gordon’s defense is poor, but his offensive efficiency more than makes up for it. I do not agree with him that the Bulls will necessarily be a terrible team this year because of the loss of Gordon, however. As I explained in an earlier post, the combination of Kirk, Deng and Salmons taking his minutes on defense, coupled with Rose’s expected improvement, should make up for it to a certain extent. All that being said, can everyone please stop telling me how terrible Gordon was for the Bulls and how much of a retard I am for thinking that? Thanks.
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Comments
Comment from bitternutz
Time October 1, 2009 at 10:23 am
“If you saw the Celtics-Bulls series you saw how his clutch shooting can change a game.” Maybe he was watching a different series. I think Gordon shot 38% for the series. He hit some big shots, but missed more.
I don’t doubt Winston’s numbers, but Gordon’s value to the Bulls is not worth a huge contract.. The bottom line is the Bulls had too many guards and need to get a big man long term or at least need to try something different. I hate to break it to the Kool-Aid drinkers, but we lost in the first round of the playoffs last year. It was exciting, but we are a long way from a championship. Tying up all available funds for now and the future on Ben Gordon was not a sound plan objectively.
I personally think Gordon sucks and will not play as well as last year ever again. He was in a contract year and got his payday. Even at his best and taking a huge amount of shots, he could only take us to a first round exit. Let’s try surrounding Rose with players who fit his strength. It wouldn’t surprise me if in 5 years Ben Gordon becomes the next Larry Hughes.
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Time October 1, 2009 at 11:47 am
[...] Qualified To Comment argues that Ben Gordon is THAT valuable of a player to the Chicago [...]
Comment from Nagino Allz
Time October 1, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I stopped reading when u said the NBA was more interesting than the NHL
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Time October 1, 2009 at 3:58 pm
[...] The experts agree with NQTC about Ben Gordon [...]
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Comment from Zoner
Time October 1, 2009 at 8:58 am
Wow–some incredible statistical analysis that… Ben Gordon could score!! Big deal. Whoever said he was terrible for the Bulls? That’s a load. But he definitely had plenty of faults.
“Winston acknowledges, as do I, that Gordon’s defense is poor, but his offensive efficiency more than makes up for it.” Anyone that believes that and adheres to that would never be a good GM. You can’t win with Gordon as a starter.