"Ball Hog" Xavier Johnson

[Straight Eye Larry]

Let's just put this to rest. Over the last 7 ACC games here are the "ball hogs" numbers. The overrated, 3rd best player on our team. He stinks.

12.5 Pts
6.15 Assists
4.15 Rebounds
2.15 Turnovers
1.85 Steals

 

[pittchagg]

Xavier has really grown substantially as a point guard as the season has gone on. His early struggles have almost, in a way, been a huge saving grace, as (IMO) it's all but safely guaranteed that he'll be back for his junior year. If he had been playing at this level for the entire season, I think it might be a different story.

 

[CougarClaws]

Let's just put this to rest. Over the last 7 ACC games here are the "ball hogs" numbers. The overrated, 3rd best player on our team. He stinks.

12.5 Pts
6.15 Assists
4.15 Rebounds
2.15 Turnovers
1.85 Steals

Is 3-1 Assists/Turnovers ratio still the gold standard in NCAA basketball?

 

[PittAU]

I don't really remember people saying that Johnson stinks and should be banished. I think people just wanted him to perform more as a PG, distribute the ball, not turn it over and not force horrible shots late in the shot clock.

 

[cease10]

it's all but safely guaranteed that he'll be back for his junior year

Where was he gonna go? NBA? LOL

I still laugh at that NBA narrative.

 

[JS School]

Please forgive me for saying this, but his floor game at times on Saturday reminded me of Isaiah Thomas.

Why do people immediately criticize someone for saying that a current player reminds them of a former star? Of course they are not as good, but who remembers players that are just better than average? X might be the carbon copy of a guy who who played for LaSalle or Drake 20 or 30 years ago, but who would remember? Except SMF, of course.

 

[pittchagg]

Where was he gonna go? NBA? LOL

I still laugh at that NBA narrative.

I think you've safely missed the point. Coming into the season, the kid was - whether you laugh at it or not - on NBA mock draft boards. It is what it is. With his early season struggles, he is no longer on those draft boards, and it almost certainly means he'll be back for his junior year. That's a great thing for Pitt, because he's played really good basketball for almost the entirety of the 2020 calendar year.

 

[Ski11585]

Xavier Johnson was all freshmen ACC alongside ZION! A future in the NBA was hardly a silly topic of discussion given his freshmen year.

It's sad to see so many Pitt fans almost gleeful about this.

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

I don't really remember people saying that Johnson stinks and should be banished. I think people just wanted him to perform more as a PG, distribute the ball, not turn it over and not force horrible shots late in the shot clock.

there were people saying the walk on should play over him.

 

[Drew1208]

He's matured big time in this calendar year.
It's great to see.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

He is definitely running the offense better. He now penetrates and passes out much more than earlier in the season. Put another tall & good outside shooter with JC next year and he can very good!

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

Xavier Johnson was all freshmen ACC alongside ZION! A future in the NBA was hardly a silly topic of discussion given his freshmen year.

It's sad to see so many Pitt fans almost gleeful about this.

6'3" with a ton of bounce. Sees the floor really well and has top notch "quick twitch" muscles. Can smoke defenders off the dribble.

Even with his "struggles", I still have no doubt he'll be drafted at some point. Even if he waits until after his senior year.

 

[Ski11585]

6'3" with a ton of bounce. Sees the floor really well and has top notch "quick twitch" muscles. Can smoke defenders off the dribble.

Even with his "struggles", I still have no doubt he'll be drafted at some point. Even if he waits until after his senior year.

Anyone who even has a passing interest in the NBA can see he has the athleticism. The question was always going to be if he'd be a first rounder or a second round/G League guy.

If he wants to be a first rounder he DOES need to improve his shot, because while he's super athletic he's not Rose or Westbrook athletic where he can get away with not being able to shoot. But I wonder if you looked at P5 freshmen who put up the numbers he did how many got drafted. I bet it's more than half.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Maybe coach Capel needs to explain his role to him, tell him this is a team sport, that's why the other guys are out there.

When he makes his unforced errors pull him and sit him for a while.

Some athletes have raw talent, are slow learners or stubborn and respond to the you get a "treat" for for good behavior and you get punished for the opposite.

Imo Pitt would have won at least two or three more games if x was following the game plan

Maybe he's picking up on things now especially the team sport concept.

 

[pittchagg]

Maybe coach Capel needs to explain his role to him, tell him this is a team sport, that's why the other guys are out there.

When he makes his unforced errors pull him and sit him for a while.

Some athletes have raw talent but are slow learners and respond to the you get a "treat" for for good behavior and you get punished for the opposite.

Imo Pitt would have win at least two or three more games if x was following the game plan

Maybe he's picking up in things now especially the team sport concept.

Since the calendar turned to 2020, Xavier has played 35+ minutes in 8 of 11 games.

 

[Ski11585]

Maybe coach Capel needs to explain his role to him, tell him this is a team sport, that's why the other guys are out there.

When he makes his unforced errors pull him and sit him for a while.

Some athletes have raw talent, are slow learners or stubborn and respond to the you get a "treat" for for good behavior and you get punished for the opposite.

Imo Pitt would have won at least two or three more games if x was following the game plan

Maybe he's picking up on things now especially the team sport concept.

It's weird to make this post now at a time when he's demonstrably better at being a "traditional" PG.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

It's weird to make this post now at a time when he's demonstrably better at being a "traditional" PG.

The season is a full season, and all games count.
A player should be judged on a full season .

As announcers watching x have said you can't win games by yourself.

 

[cease10]

New Xavier Johnson was all freshmen ACC alongside ZION!

You do realize that they had to fill the other spots alongside Zion?

That doesn't make a point.

I don't want to disparage the kid or anything. He's a good player, but I just don't see NBA. I hope he proves me wrong, but I just don't see it.

Maybe he'll make it in a few yrs down the road like Wannamaker if he polishes his skills overseas or something.

 

[cease10]

I think you've safely missed the point. Coming into the season, the kid was - whether you laugh at it or not - on NBA mock draft boards. It is what it is. With his early season struggles, he is no longer on those draft boards, and it almost certainly means he'll be back for his junior year. That's a great thing for Pitt, because he's played really good basketball for almost the entirety of the 2020 calendar year.

I'm pretty sure that those so called mock draft boards were not done by any NBA execs or scouts.

 

[Ski11585]

You do realize that they had to fill the other spots alongside Zion?

That doesn't make a point.

I don't want to disparage the kid or anything. He's a good player, but I just don't see NBA. I hope he proves me wrong, but I just don't see it.

Maybe he'll make it in a few yrs down the road like Wannamaker if he polishes his skills overseas or something.

Sure. But that reflects the relative strength of the freshmen class in the ACC last year.

 

[mo cheeks]

He's matured big time in this calendar year.
It's great to see.

I am not sure I have seen a quicker player in NCAA hoops this year than X. I am sure they are out there, but not many. anybody have some names ?

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

The season is a full season, and all games count.
A player should be judged on a full season .

As announcers watching x have said you can't win games by yourself.

.
Of course - however he's still being judged by his first couple of months, rather than his recent play. That's the issue. He's been very consistent with his assists + turnovers since the calendar flipped.

 

[FireballZ]

Let's just put this to rest. Over the last 7 ACC games here are the "ball hogs" numbers. The overrated, 3rd best player on our team. He stinks.

12.5 Pts
6.15 Assists
4.15 Rebounds
2.15 Turnovers
1.85 Steals

I'm an X fan because I'm a Pitt fan. And it's certainly nice that he's been distributing the ball more effectively and playing more conservatively, but you also failed to mention that he's shooting 32% from the field during this same time frame.

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

I'm an X fan because I'm a Pitt fan. And it's certainly nice that he's been distributing the ball more effectively and playing more conservatively, but you also failed to mention that he's shooting 32% from the field during this same time frame.

correct. he hasn't been shooting the ball very well, however the main point of the post was to those who said he isn't a true point guard and is a ball hog. he can definitely improve on the shooting %, and if he does you'll see 16pts per game with those ancillary stats, rather than 12.5. Making him a top player in the ACC and that's not even a question.

 

[lilspainishflea]

The people who say they don't see NBA potential in him are: 1) lacking knowledge about what constitutes NBA talent; or 2) lying.

We've been over this. XJ has good athleticism (even in the NBA, he's at least a plus athlete as a backup guard). Good size. He's a good defender. Good dribble-penetrate. Adequate FT shooter. Average shooter.

He doesn't shoot for volume and isn't a great distributor. But he's also limited by the fact that he's not surrounded by shooters and teams just pack the paint against us, taking away his best skill. You wouldn't be able to do that in the NBA because Xavier could dish to 1 of literally anyone else (including an average NBA big these days) who can shoot the 3 and make you pay. Most critically, Xavier is barely 20 years old and the door to the league doesn't automatically close when you're 22 and out of NCAA eligibility.

TJ McConnell makes $3.5 million per year, scoring about 7 points in 21 minutes per night. He's not particularly good at anything but he tries hard. And he's almost 28 years old. You really watch Xavier Johnson and think he can't be at least that good in 2 years?

 

[Ski11585]

The people who say they don't see NBA potential in him are: 1) lacking knowledge about what constitutes NBA talent; or 2) lying.

We've been over this. XJ has good athleticism (even in the NBA, he's at least a plus athlete as a backup guard). Good size. He's a good defender. Good dribble-penetrate. Adequate FT shooter. Average shooter.

He doesn't shoot for volume and isn't a great distributor. But he's also limited by the fact that he's not surrounded by shooters and teams just pack the paint against us, taking away his best skill. You wouldn't be able to do that in the NBA because Xavier could dish to 1 of literally anyone else (including an average NBA big these days) who can shoot the 3 and make you pay. Most critically, Xavier is barely 20 years old and the door to the league doesn't automatically close when you're 22 and out of NCAA eligibility.

TJ McConnell makes $3.5 million per year, scoring about 7 points in 21 minutes per night. He's not particularly good at anything but he tries hard. And he's almost 28 years old. You really watch Xavier Johnson and think he can't be at least that good in 2 years?

Yes. Absolutely this.

 

[Ski11585]

Not ever NBA player is Chris Paul or James Harden or Kemba Walker. The world needs Shabazz Napier and Patty Mills and Austin Rivers.

 

[lilspainishflea]

Not ever NBA player is Chris Paul or James Harden or Kemba Walker. The world needs Shabazz Napier and Patty Mills and Austin Rivers.

I've literally never seen Josh Richardson ever make a play. Not one.

 

[Pitt1992]

X reminds me ok OKC bakup pg and who will probably win 6th man of the year Dennis Shroder

 

[Cavalier Panther]

Sure. But that reflects the relative strength of the freshmen class in the ACC last year.

Right, it's not that they filled the team out with stiffs other than Zion. That all freshman team was:

Zion Williamson (#1 draft pick 2019)
Coby White, North Carolina (#7 draft pick 2019)
RJ Barrett, Duke (#3 draft pick 2019)
Xavier Johnson, Pitt
Tre Jones, Duke (projected 2019 first round pick who stayed at Duke)

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

X reminds me ok OKC bakup pg and who will probably win 6th man of the year Dennis Shroder

I like that comparison. I think X has more "ups" but Schroeder wasn't much of a shooter when he came in. Now he's a very solid scorer off the bench and as you alluded, the inevitable 6th man for this season.

 

[Black Panther]

Xavier Johnson was all freshmen ACC alongside ZION! A future in the NBA was hardly a silly topic of discussion given his freshmen year.

It's sad to see so many Pitt fans almost gleeful about this.

True,but nobody had x leaving for the nba as soon as he hit campus like Zion.

 

[PittFamily2]

.
Of course - however he's still being judged by his first couple of months, rather than his recent play. That's the issue. He's been very consistent with his assists + turnovers since the calendar flipped.

This is all great and he is!
He should continue this or the X will be a Y before you get to Z.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

It's weird to make this post now at a time when he's demonstrably better at being a "traditional" PG.

Maybe Chris Peak needs to explain his role to him, tell him this is a team board, that's why the other posters are out there.

When he makes his bad posts pull him and sit him for a while.

Some posters have raw talent, are slow learners or stubborn and respond to the you get a "treat" for for good posts and you get punished for the opposite.

 

[4Mark_Marty]

I'm an X fan because I'm a Pitt fan. And it's certainly nice that he's been distributing the ball more effectively and playing more conservatively, but you also failed to mention that he's shooting 32% from the field during this same time frame.

Better than 22%. Lol

 

[4Mark_Marty]

The people who say they don't see NBA potential in him are: 1) lacking knowledge about what constitutes NBA talent; or 2) lying.

We've been over this. XJ has good athleticism (even in the NBA, he's at least a plus athlete as a backup guard). Good size. He's a good defender. Good dribble-penetrate. Adequate FT shooter. Average shooter.

He doesn't shoot for volume and isn't a great distributor. But he's also limited by the fact that he's not surrounded by shooters and teams just pack the paint against us, taking away his best skill. You wouldn't be able to do that in the NBA because Xavier could dish to 1 of literally anyone else (including an average NBA big these days) who can shoot the 3 and make you pay. Most critically, Xavier is barely 20 years old and the door to the league doesn't automatically close when you're 22 and out of NCAA eligibility.

TJ McConnell makes $3.5 million per year, scoring about 7 points in 21 minutes per night. He's not particularly good at anything but he tries hard. And he's almost 28 years old. You really watch Xavier Johnson and think he can't be at least that good in 2 years?

All a matter of effort and attitude.

 

[PittAU]

there were people saying the walk on should play over him.

Well, those people are idiots.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Well, those people are idiots.

I've always said the in game threads always bring out the stupid in people.

 

[Straight Eye Larry]

I've always said the in game threads always bring out the stupid in people.

the chirping comes out during those threads. it's awful