The Hornets’ starting line-up October 29, 2008: Chris, Mo, Peja, David, and Tyson. Then, when Mo was injured early in the season, Rasual Butler took over the starting role for Mo. Though some had called for an upgrade at the two-guard, most of us realized that Morris Peterson was one of the best fifth-starters in the League (i.e., the fifth best starter). Nonetheless, Hornets fans were pleasantly surprised when Rasual performed well in Mo’s absence. Slowly Mo worked his knee back into shape, until he hurt his foot in a late 2008 game, and was out again. By the time he was healthy, it was too late. Rasual, having the best year of his career, had taken hold of the starting two guard slot.
Is it fair that a starter loses his spot due to injury? I don’t know. But considering Mo already played the least amount of minutes among all Hornets starters last year, we knew it wasn’t about starting. It was about getting minutes. To Mo’s credit, he got that, saying all along, he just wanted to contribute, to help the team, and was the consummate professional at all times, never complaining. But here’s the rub: the minutes suddenly weren’t there. Inexplicably, despite having the talent to make him a starter on a 56-win team, Byron Scott refused to give Mo any minutes.
Now, instead, those minutes are going to Devin Brown. Listen, I want the Hornets to do well. If Devin’s in, I want him to play well. But the fact is, Mo has more talent, and history backs that up. Even this year, an off-year by Mo’s standards, stands as testament to the fact that he should be out there. Consider the following:
- Devin, 2008-09: 36% FG%, 29% 3FG%, 1.9 rebounds per game, 0.9 assists per game, 0.5 steals per game, and 0.1 blocks per game, while committing 1.3 fouls per game and 0.9 turnovers per game.
- Morris, 2008-09: 40% FG%, 39% 3FG%, 2.0 rebounds per game, 0.4 assists per game, 0.3 steals per game, and 0.1 blocks per game, while committing 1.2 fouls per game and 0.4 turnovers per game.
So, basically, Mo is getting more boards, the same blocks, committing less turnovers and fouls, though not getting quite as many steals or assists. But, oh yeah, he’s hitting at shots at 4% better overall, and 10% better from 3-point range, which in Byron’s system is crucial, as its built to allow Chris’ penetration to open up shots for his shooters.
But maybe you’re thinking the statistical sample is too low given the limited minutes of each. Better to take their career stats, then:
- Devin, Career: 41% FG%, 33% 3FG%, 2.8 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 0.6 steals per game, and 0.1 blocks per game, while committing 1.6 fouls per game and 1.1 turnovers per game.
- Morris, Career: 42% FG%, 37% 3FG%, 3.6 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 0.9 steals per game, and 0.2 blocks per game, while committing 2.3 fouls per game and 1.0 turnovers per game.
In case you’ve lost track in this melange of numbers, Mo is better at every single stat other than fouls, which considering he’s nowhere near fouling out, is irrelevant. So what the hell is Byron thinking?
MEMO TO BYRON SCOTT: free Mo Pete. The man has skills. He’s a former starter. Maybe Rasual is playing well, maybe they duplicate skills. But what’s wrong with having the same guy come in, when you refuse to change your offensive set for your back-ups? The case isn’t even close. Mo Pete is the most talented, most reliable back-up you have among a bench full of inconsistent bench players, so there’s no excuse not to play him.
The stats all say you should. Isn’t the Hornets’ success in the Playoffs more important than whatever non-basketball issues Byron might have with Mo? It’s a rhetorical question, and the answer is YES. So I hope you’re reading, Byron, because you’ve told us what’s wrong with Hilton’s play, the flaws in Julian’s game, but you’ve yet to justify keeping Mo on the bench in lieu of anyone, let alone Devin. (Sorry Devin.) Enough is enough.
Free Mo Pete.
Scrappy
Fouls actually have a slight positive correlation with winning, for what it’s worth. So there’s literally no reason that Devin should be getting so many minutes at the expense of Mo.
I mean, Devin does have one skill that’s not really captured by statistics, and that’s the ability to create his own shot. He draws a good number of fouls on drives. But Mo is the vastly better shooter (and everything else) and the bench offense is predicated more on drive and kicks than it is on isolation offense. Byron’s trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, when he actually has a round peg in his pocket, and the square peg kind of sucks.
If only Byron could see this. I cringe every time Devin come in the game. You never really know what your going to get from him. Some games he’s decent, then he can get downright turrible(thanks Barkley!). I don’t understand why this career journeyman is getting more of a chance than a proven player like Pete.
Especially when Butler/Peja couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean at Houston on Monday. Couldn’t he have TRIED Mo for a few minutes? Seriously? You don’t even have to change anything. Just plug him in.
Mo seems to be one of those players that need to warm up in order to knock down shots. I’d like to see him get more PT too but if his shots aren’t falling, we don’t have the luxury of waiting too long for him to warm up. He does need a little more PT though. Knock those shots down MO! Come on guy, we know you can do it. I don’t know what the hell Devin’s been doing out there lately. Geeezus.
atthehive, I agree with you on Devin being able to draw fouls on drives.
Well, running into the lane like a madman *will* have a tendency to draw fouls… it also creates turnovers and wild no-chance-at-going-in shots.
That said, I have nothing against Devin. He’s given us what he can this year, and there’s been a game or two where he was instrumental in getting the W… and as much as I like to poke fun at it – I *love* the fact that Devin drives the lane. But we all know that Mo Pete is the better player and there’s simply no reason he shouldn’t be getting the minutes. With the offense so predicated on guys who can shoot, putting Devin in over Mo just makes me scratch my head. I think maybe Byron likes Devin for defensive reasons? But I don’t get that either, as Mo is a capable defender and has a slight size/length advantage over Devin anyway.
Yeah but he doesn’t ALWAYS run into the lane like a madman. He seems to not mind at least trying it whereas some others act like they’re scared to do it.
Your chances at getting to the free throw line is much greater if you at least try. There may not be much contact at all if any but even if you drive in, create a little contact and yell (ala Kobe), you just may at least end up on the free throw line. I’ve seen many guys go stumbling in the lane barreling into opponents and end up on the ft line. Devin isn’t afraid to at least try. Some others don’t seem to even try, especially when their shots aren’t falling. With that said, I hope Mo will at least be given the chance to contribute during this postseason.
No. I LOVE Devin driving the lane. Let’s clarify. I think we ought to put him in as sort of a special-teams thing when the other team is or is about to be at 5 fouls. But who doesn’t cringe when the Hornets PATENTED, planned kickout ends up in the corner and then you realize the wide open shooter is not in fact a good shooter?
Check out Dime naming CP3 “their” DPOY.
http://dimemag.com/2009/04/dimes-defensive-player-of-the-year/#more-9789
Mo should be on the opposite end of his rotation from last year, that is, getting 19-24 minutes per game off the bench, primarily at the 2 guard, but at the 3 as needed. Posey comes in at the 3 or 4. No problem. Cycle those two with your starters and Marks and you’re fine. If you need a lift, throw in Julian. Championship team. Boom.
Peterson is inconsistent, but Brown is consistently bad.
My take on the series: http://www.examiner.com/x-3619-New-Orleans-Sports-Examiner~y2009m4d17-Hornets-get-best-possible-NBA-playoff-draw
Mo can play. It’s just that coach doesn’t let him and when he finally does get to play he’s rusty.
Funny, though, a little rust has never stopped Byron from putting, CP, DX, Peja, or Tyson right back into the line-up after their injuries, or even Posey, Marks, or Hilton for that matter. At least NBAtv’s Steve Smith gave Mo a shout out last night in that station’s Western Conference match-up previews, calling his return significant to the Hornets’ success. But then again, it may have been the fact that Smith is an MSU alum.
It’s funny how a team can go from being one of the top teams in the Western Conference one year, then the next year barely make the play-offs. Am I the only one that notices the ” Head Coach” is only making a fool out of himself and the Hornets foundation. I hope he has his bags packed, becaue he needs to go coach for a little league team. Mo Pete is one of the best shooters on the team, but continues to get more time on the bench instead of on the game floor. Every player that starts and then gets injuried, should work their way back into the game. Maybe after 2 or 3 games, they should be back into the starting line-up. If you have a productive player, who can score…rebound and plays great defense, it shouldn’t matter if you have a grip against them, it’s all about winning.