Post by Madrid on Jan 27, 2017 13:54:13 GMT
Name: Lance Stephenson
Position: Shooting Guard/Point Guard
Number: 1
DOB: September 5, 1990
Age when drafted: 19
College: Cincinnati
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 230
STRENGTHS:
Lance Stephenson is a unique character with a unique game. He has all the talent in the world and the ability to win games for you out of nowhere, or completely blow up and lose you a game. You're never sure what you're going to get from Stephenson, but if you can control him, he has a ton of potential. Larry Bird kept him in the Bird Cage for most of his time in Indiana, which led to Stephenson's break-out in his third and fourth seasons. Above all else, Stephenson is a playmaker. He has an outstanding handle on the ball and some killer crossover moves. Even if he isn't the quickest guy, his moves are so refined that he could break Calvin Murphy's ankles. He also has good court vision and can make some tricky passes in the half court or full court. Stephenson also loves to rebound the ball. He was notorious in Indiana for stealing rebounds from Indiana's big men so he could quickly bring the ball up the floor. Lastly, Stephenson's strong as a bull, which is outstanding for a guard. He eventually used this strength to become a solid on-ball defender.
WEAKNESSES:
Stephenson looked like a steal of a draft pick for quite a while, but as things end up, he was picked in the 2nd round for good reason. He was raw and maintained significant character issues for his entire career. While Stephenson has a showy game, he really isn't much of a scorer. At heart, even with his giant ego, he's a playmaker, which is difficult for a team because Stephenson tends to make boneheaded plays. He's a classic case of a guy with good talent who needs the ball as much as a star to be moderately effective. This is partially because Stephenson doesn't have much of a jump shot. In real life, he eventually became a respectable shooter both from mid-range and 3-point land (although not great). Stephenson's also stuck between positions a bit. He plays like a PG, but shouldn't be your primary ball handler or playmaker. He's strong, but short for a swingman, and doesn't have the quickness to keep up with some guards. Aside from his strength, Lance's athletics leave some to be desired. He has some finishing ability, but generally can't get off the ground well. In addition, his stamina could be better. Lastly, Stephenson eventually became a decent on-ball defender, but he was terrible for a while. He was even worse off the ball and never really developed a defensive IQ that could keep him on the floor.
SIGNIFICANT INFO:
Nicknamed Born Ready
Had hype before he even entered high school
Big East Rookie of the Year (2010)
Big East All-Rookie Team (2010)
McDonald's All-American (2009)
Mr. New York Basketball (2009)
Current Attributes:
INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK QCK STR JMP STA
B- C+ C+ C- A- B- C- B C C B- D- B A- C+ B+
Potential Attributes:
INS JPS FTS 3PS HND PAS ORB DRB PSD PRD STL BLK
B B- B- B- B+ B C- B+ C+ B- B- D-