Since the start of March 2015, Suns rookie T.J. Warren has been a standout on offense. Many folks just can’t get enough of his efficient and unorthodox scoring ability.
Well, if you really, really can’t get enough, then try this: http://on.nba.com/1P5qTw7
That link is to the NBA’s stat site, stats.nba.com. It will present you with very brief videos of all of Warren’s field goal attempts (makes and misses) since March 1, including last night’s game with Golden State. There are almost 90 videos (87 videos in all) with perhaps an hour and a half worth of content. You will be sick of Warren by the time you finish, but it will be fun for at least a little while.
> The videos are listed in the sidebar to the right. Users can scroll through the list to view the videos that are of most interest.
Since March 1, Warren’s scoring efficiency has been at an elite level. In 14 games, he is averaging 18.4 minutes and 8.6 points (16.9 ppg per 36 minutes), while shooting a sizzling 64.4% from the field. Do the math: Warren is making almost 2 out of every 3 shots that he puts at the rim. That is awesome! And even more so when you consider Warren’s physical profile.
As I write this, the 5 players who lead the NBA in FG% are all big men, viz:
1. DeAndre Jordan, LAC | .707 |
2. Amir Johnson, TOR | .571 |
3. Jonas Valanciunas, TOR | .570 |
4. Marcin Gortat, WSH | .561 |
5. Timofey Mozgov, CLE/DEN | .556 |
High field goal percentages are commonly associated with big men who operate near the basket, or long athletic types who can skywalk to the rim and finish. Former Sun Amar’e Stoudemire, who averaged 25 ppg while shooting 59% in 2007-08, is the quintessential high percentage NBA scorer.
Yet, Warren is shooting over 64% since March 1 - which would make him second in NBA FG%, if he had enough shots to qualify - despite being just 6’8" in shoes, and having good (but not overpowering) hops and speed.
But while Warren lacks the run/jump athleticism that we associate with high percentage scorers, he does have other gifts which more than compensate:
• He has great hands. If you throw the ball in his direction, he’ll grab it.
• He has great balance and body control. He has the ability to catch balls on the dead run, elevate to the basket, and extend into a successful shooting stroke in one motion, even with a lot of bodies around him.
• Finally, he has quick hands and feet. He is especially good at getting his shot off in tight spaces around the basket while avoiding blocks.
His physical skills are augmented by a combination of great basketball skills, a high offensive basketball IQ, and a scorer’s mentality.
• He has great touch around the basket. He knows how to work all the angles to bank the ball off the backboard. Among other things this means he can score while almost being flat-footed. This is a very useful and underrated skill.
• He has developed a very accurate floater, which is his signature shot. His floater is good out to the foul line. Besides being accurate, his floater enables him to avoid getting his shot blocked by big men near the basket.
• He has a great feel for cutting to the basket at the right time. Warren is a point guard’s dream. When the PG is getting pressured, Warren finds open spaces around the basket where he can get the ball and finish. Basically, Warren creates assists by his own movement.
• Warren is very disciplined. He rarely takes bad shots. He will almost always pass-off to a teammate when he’s not in a good scoring position.
• Also, Warren is not afraid of contact. In fact, he will sometimes initiate contact, to throw his defender off balance, or to draw a foul.
• Finally, Warren has a scorer’s mentality. He has an almost workmanlike demeanor when it comes to getting buckets. His point scoring motor is always on. This can put a lot of pressure on his defender. Warren is a guy you can’t turn your back on, even for a second. Because by then, TJ is off to the basket looking to score.
Warren has the potential to be a 20 ppg scorer, and that is no easy thing to accomplish. Only 14 NBA players are averaging at least 20 ppg, as I write this.
Warren has a lot of work to do to get that elite level. He needs to develop a quality outside shot; teams will be backing into the lane to keep him from the basket. He has to make them pay by getting a Markieff Morris quality mid-range shot. He needs to work on his handle, as I see that teams are staring to attack his dribble to stop his penetration into the foul lane. And he needs to work on his passing and playmaking, to make other teams pay for focusing their defenses on him.
So it could be a couple of years before Warren reaches his peak offensive capability. But the pay-off will be a player who can be counted on to provide both high quality and high quantity scoring. This assumes that his defense and rebounding will be adequate enough to justify his getting lots of minutes. At this point, I’m not ready to assume that. Those parts of his game are still an open book.