Hey, the Nets still have a team.
Stats: 49 G, 5 GS, 9.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0 BPG, .385 FG%, .365 3P%, .789 FT%, 13.0 PER
Preseason expectations: “Should Devin Harris be traded for that Carmelo Anthony guy, Farmar will obviously be a downgrade as he isn’t starter material. And if he is, he’s a low-grade starter. He’s definitely a good fill-in type of player when Harris makes his annual visit to injury-land, but a full-time starter? Nets fans would need to hope that the Lakers’ triangle offense was holding back the next Isiah Thomas.”
The Good: As a backup point guard, Jordan Farmar has filled his role pretty admirably. For a team that dealt with a revolving door of backups last year, Farmar has provided stability in the second string, even stepping in and starting while Devin Harris nursed injuries. Farmar has played a consistent 20-25 minutes a game and exudes ultimate confidence, unafraid of taking any good shot on the floor. He’s shooting 37% from beyond the arc so far this year and has doled out more assists than I expected.
The Bad: Farmar’s biggest strength sometimes is that he thinks he’s Allen Iverson. However, more often than not, it’s his biggest weakness. Farmar tries to create a lot of angles when going towards the basket, but just ends up barreling into bigger & stronger defenders without much leeway. He’s shooting a below-average mark at the rim & within 10 feet, and is also awful shooting from 16-23 (only 26%). Also, while Farmar does rack up a fair share of assists, he has a lot of trouble passing into the post and out of the pick & roll – once he sees a lane, he’s rocketing towards the basket in an attempt to score. Unfortunately, he’s usually failing.
The Extra: Farmar’s name has been interestingly kept out of most trade talks. While every player but Brook Lopez is said to be available, Farmar was never a part of any of the Carmelo Anthony deals. Presumably, this is because the Nets were dealing Devin Harris and realized they’d still need a point guard. That being said, I still agree with Dennis’s original assessment: Farmar is not a starting-caliber point guard in the NBA.
Final Grade: Farmar was asked to fill a sixth man role, and he has in effect done that – the second unit, for the most part, is better off with him. He’s certainly got issues shooting around the basket, but his long-range marksmanship and confidence with the ball keep him from having too low a grade. I’d like to see him play more efficiently in the pick & roll and learn how to set up big men in the post, though. This team needs a pass-first mentality off the bench, and Farmar’s the closest thing they’ve got to getting it. Grade: C+
