Jimmermania, on hold
Jimmer Fredette had one of the best games of his sort NBA career last night, scoring 19 points for the Sacramento Kings in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was his second highest point total of the season (he went for 20 back in January). [ESPN] [ESPN]
Jimmer hasn't exactly lit up the NBA this season. The Glens Falls folk hero is averaging a little more than 7 points a game on 39% shooting in 18 minutes a game. That's not necessarily bad for a rookie, but he was the #10 pick -- and, you know, people are accustomed to Jimmer being Jimmer. Many games this year he's played more like a James than a Jimmer. [ESPN]
His struggles have prompted the inevitable "What's wrong with Jimmer?" questions.
A recent AP story highlighted the evaporation of Fredette's minutes as the season has gone on and -- gasp -- the fact that he can now go into a supermarket without turning heads. Over at Grantland, Sebastian Pruiti theorized that Jimmer has struggled adjusting to the play the point guard position (defense, too), and shown a surprising inability to get himself open for shots. The Kings have been better on both offense and defense when he's not on the floor. And it hasn't helped that another rookie guard -- Isaiah Thomas -- has played a lot better, earning the minutes that might have gone to Fredette. [AP/SF Chronicle] [Grantland] [82 Games] [Kings Blog]
It's not surprising that Jimmer's struggled. The NBA is loaded with guys who are athletic freaks. Jimmer's not a freak. But it's also way too early to count him out for a productive career. He went through an adjustment period when he started at BYU. And he's said it feels like he's going through something like that again. [BYU] [Salt Lake Tribune]
Sometimes it just takes a guy some time to figure things out and find right the situation.
Earlier on AOA: 28.5 facts about Jimmer Fredette
photo: NBA.com
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there is nothing wrong with Jimmer. He's just too slow for the NBA. No shame in that. So are you. So am I.
The only shame is for the people who wasted a 10 pick on him. They should be fired.
Adam Morrison, Pt 2. Google it.
And if he wants to be a point guard he might want to try to average better than 1.7 assists a game.
He needs to embrace his inner Steve Kerr and have a long career as a 5 point a game pure shooter. Or he can pull a Ryan Leaf (Google it).
... said Code Monkey on Apr 3, 2012 at 7:01 PM | link