The truth about Armon Johnson

The problem we have right now is much bigger than any single player. It is a group of things far less tangible than a person, a skill, or an action. Leadership is in question be it either on the floor or from the staff. Self-doubt has spread through the team like a case of Przybilla stomach flu. This team has seemingly lost its heart, and I don’t think any of our former point guards would be doing any better in this situation right now. They’d be doing just as awfully. Are people really putting us losing four in a row on a rookie, second string PG? Really? When there’s a whole roster of guys underachieving and averaging less than 15 points in the 4th quarter of the last 4 games?

Than Bayless’ rookie year because Armon plays real D. Give the kid a break. When the team looks better so will he. He’ll still make rookie mistakes because…… he’s a rookie, but he will look better than he does now.

After a good start, Armon’s definitely been struggling big time. Let’s see where he’s at and the end of the season.

I think he’s learning. He turns it over too much, and maybe a bit too conservative with his passing, but those are both symptoms of the same problem – inexperience.

He stays on his man like glue. A few times during the Philly game he would put pressure on the opposing PG eating up around 6-10 seconds of their shot clock just trying to get setup. Bayless never had those qualities… at least without fouling. Yes, he is a bit turnover prone right now. What exactly do you expect from a 2nd round rookie who was thrust into a backup role with zero NBA experience. He will grow, he will learn.

So what you ought to be asking yourself is, why are the Blazers continuing to play rookies instead of filling out the roster with cheap, steady veteran backup point guards whose production is limited but who are much less likely to have four turnovers in 11 minutes? I can think of a couple of possible reasons. Number one: Those guards won’t sign in Portland because they don’t want to have to try to put up with an overcontrolling coach. Number two: The Blazers are biding their time and don’t have a “win now” mentality, so they figure they can get by on an inexperienced point guard with limited skills.

All the GMs that let Johnson slip into the second round weren’t wrong. It’s just our thin roster and lack of options that’s responsible for him getting so much run.

that is why Armon is getting more burn than bayless did in his rookie year…no log jam for time…

To compare their statistics with any accuracy, especially with regard to earning playing time, you would have to compare Johnson to Bayless’ first 17 games during his rookie year. That would look like this:
                           AST TO STL BLK PF PTS
  Bayless 1.1 1.0 0.4 0.0 1.0 2.8
 Johnson 1.9 1.6 0.2 0.1 1.3 4.2

To me, it looks like Johnson has a very slightly better assist-to-turnover ratio than Bayless did at this point, but more assists and more points. He’s also making more mistakes (see the turnovers column) but they are in proportion to the extra assists and points. And I think a certain amount of learning/mistakes is to be expected from a rookie point guard.

The bottom line, I think, is that McMillan likes the way Johnson plays more than he liked the way Bayless played.

how the “truth” always is negative?

Shortsighted doesn’t even begin to cover this post.

I never expected Armon Johnson to lead this team to the promised land. As a rookie, drafted in the second round, so far even with his struggles he’s exceeded my expectations. I hate to bring out the word, but he has potential.

I thought a problem The Blazers have had in recent seasons were too many PG’s sitting on the bench..with Blake, Bayless, Sergio, not enough time to develop anyone.

You pay a price trying to develop almost any rookie PG. But at least Armon is getting the time needed. To an extent, I’d rather know by seasons end exactly what we have in Armon and Mills…than have both languishing on the bench surrounded by the aura of the unplayed player….

I think when you are talking about a rookie, 2nd round draft choice it is unfair to say he’s not very good….you can say he is struggling. But personally despite some obvious areas he needs to improve, I see more to like than dislike.