Exactly. Jalek shouldn't be discounted because he can also play the 2 very well. Marshall, Lawson, Felton, etc. we're great "true" PGs, but would any of them have been less effective at PG if they also happened to play the 2 very well? No.
Yeah, and I was about to post something about this subject.
There is only one talent that is absolutely required for a Carolina PG ---
floor command --- the sbility to control balance and spacing, move the defense, knowing when to take and when not, and getting the ball in the right places, whether via direct passes or passes that lead to passes.
While there is a learning curve for newbies coming into the system, this is ultimately dependent on
instinct --- some of it just cannot be taught. If you have that you have a chance to succeed here. If you want an example of an otherwise modestly talented PG who excelled at floor command look no further than Jimmy Black.
Bottom line is it doesn't require any specific "type" of PG. You can be a pass-first guy like Cota, Phelps or Butter, or you can be an alpha scorer "Lead Guard" like Phil, The Jet or JB, or somethng in between like Ray or Ty. All these guys were still "pure" Carolina PGs because they had floor command.
As far as a learning curve, yeah our system is different than many in PG responsibilities and it can be an adjustment coming in for guys who are used to pounding the ball and triggering everything in HS --- it took both Ray and Ty a season to fully embrace that cultiure change, but both were highly successful because they had the proper
instincts. Larry Drew (who was a pure PG), on the other hand, never did or should I say, never
would.
Finally, as for this "pure" label, coming in everyone labeled Nate as a "pure PG", but unfortunately he didn't have the command instinct. He only knew pound and penetrate, and once teams figured out they could just let him do it our offense went south fast. Bless his heart, Nate worked hard and learned to get somewhat better, at the 1, but that key instinct was just not there. Thus, he ultimately became more of an asset for us at the 2.
As for Jalek? Like the Lead Guards mentioned above, sure he can score and could easily play the 2, but he absolutely has the PG comand instinct. 2-Guards are a dime-a-dozen. Carolina PGs are a much rarer commodity, and Jalek has what it takes. BTW: I'll tell ya who else has floor command --- Platek --- and that's a bonus, because I've seen enough of 7th at PG to be reasonably sure he does not. Some don't like hearing me say it, but the sooner we can move that young man off the ball the better it will be for him and the team, IMO.
