Can Jared Dudley Replace Boris Diaw?
Jared DudleyI think that perhaps the biggest question in calling the Jason Richardson trade a 100% success right away for Phoenix is not just by gauging J-Rich’s impact, but also measuring whether Jared Dudley will be able to do what Boris Diaw did in this system.
If you’ve ever heard Hubie Brown call a Suns game, you know that at least some people think Diaw is the best passing forward in the League today. Back in ’05-06 that court vision translated into over 6 assists per night to go with more than 13 points and 6 boards. But since Terry Porter took over, Diaw hasn’t been called upon nearly as much to perform that function in the offense. He’s averaging a career-low 2.1 assists, and a career second-worst 3.8 rpg.
For Dudley to do what Diaw did in ’05-06 seems to be asking an awful lot. He’s been a 6-point, 1-rebound guy for roughly the first 100 games of his career, deviating away from that norm for a career-best 4 assists only a handful of times. Even so, Steve Kerr likes what he sees with Dudley, calling him a “jack-of-all-trades” and believes that he can fill the role that Diaw is leaving.
But as Diaw would say, the new-look Suns don’t ask much from their power forwards anymore. On his way out of town, he had some less-than-savory comments for his former team.
“It was the perfect place for me a couple years ago and it changed. It didn’t fit my game any more.
I could do what I was asked to do but I wasn’t used on the court to use all of my skills and my versatility. I was used to be a basic 4. From a coaching standpoint, we weren’t fitting into the system.
It definitely was not as fun. I wasn’t as exciting for the fans. It’s not as fun for everybody. I’ll always remember Phoenix with Mike (D’Antoni). We went from a winning team that was the most exciting team in the league to a half-winning team that wasn’t exciting at all.”
The other person visibly unhappy about the trade was Steve Nash, who lost his best friend in Raja Bell in the deal.
“It’s tough,” Nash said after a big exhale. “While I’ll welcome my new teammates with open arms, it’s tough when you lose your best friend. It’s tough when you lose two of your best buddies. It’s tough and it hurts. It’s tough.”
Source: AZ Central
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December 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
GEE...What up Home Skillet! says:
Yea I think he can but in his own manner. If you followed dude from the Big East you know he can light it up.
He is one funny lookin dude though, no homo.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Benoit Benjamin says:
I think he’ll fit better than diaw in the suns system with porter as a coach. And yes, diaw is one of the best passing forward in the league and he actually might benefit from the trade and playing the 4 in charlotte.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Kobeef says:
Diaw wasn’t doing much this year in PHX (8pts, 3reb) so yeah, I think with PT Dudley can do that.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:55 am
YOUNGFED..."I'm at the call of duty but my metal gears solid" says:
2 words……Ummmmmmm NO. lol
December 11th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Detroit Dave says:
Diaw sucks….matter of fact the Suns suck….. They will get in the playoffs and lose (early) cuz they play no Defense….. just like always…They are equivalant to Dallas Mavericks, the old Colts Teams, Atlanta Braves…. Great regular season team, below avg playoff team.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Max says:
They’re both versatile players, with skills a casual viewer wouldn’t necessarily catch the first time watching them. Dudley seems more like Porter’s kind of player — which might be a curse, depending on what you think about Porter’s system.
Porter is experimenting with some crazy lineups, and the team is really hard to watch sometimes. But they still have enough talent to make a playoff run, though Nash looks older and older every time I watch him. His shot isn’t even close to automatic any more.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
hadoken says:
diaw only passes well bc he couldn’t shoot the ball into the ocean. atleast dudley can shoot.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:58 am
BxBaller says:
Diaw is grossly overrated, he had 1 good year and everybody loves the dude. He’ll fade into obscurity, and no will talk about him again.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:03 am
dipset says:
is it just me or does dudley look like a thinner jim jones?
December 11th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Yoooo says:
a THINNER Jim Jones???
December 11th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Derik says:
lol, someone from Detriot is talking trash….look at the pistons first, than talk
December 11th, 2008 at 11:53 am
dapro says:
He’s more physical and fits in Terry Porter’s style of play rather than becoming the next Diaw
December 11th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Dudley looks like Jar-Jar Binks with that face and them braids.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
wiseman says:
i think he looks like the old carmelo style when he had cornrose
December 11th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
AY says:
if the question is “can jared dudley, if handed 24 minutes a game because he had to play based on his 9 million dollar per year contract, average 8 points 4 rebounds?”, the answer is yes, he should be able to get a few offensive putbacks.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
JCARR says:
Dudley will take time to develop and fill the stat sheet, but he can bring points every night