Matt graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in May of 2007 majoring in TV Production. Matt is currently a writer at StaticMultimedia.com, TheBleacherReport.com, NationalSportsNation.com, SportsMixed.com, FanFever.com, Filmcatcher.com, 2 Much Swag, and TheHoopDoctors.com. Matt will provide you with insightful wit and an eager eye for sports.
Coming into this season the major question mark behind the Philadelphia Sixers success was how their young PG Lou Williams would react to the pressures of running a team. The former 2005 second round pick (45th overall) out of South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, Georgia had a career average of only 2.4 assists per game before this season but he has picked up the pace this season doubling his career average.
His 5 assists per game are second on the Sixers and Williams has also doubled his rebounding average. Lou has become a very exciting PG that can score, create, and most importantly, make plays.
“He’s been good, man,” Head Coach Eddie Jordan said earlier this month in an interview with the Philly Daily News.
“It’s my responsibility that everything works. It’s not on him. It’s equal distribution of the ball, equal responsibility to run the offense by the guards. He’s going out there with a great attitude; I like that. He’s keeping us organized a lot more than I thought he would.”
Although the Sixers are currently under .500, you cannot place blame on the 23-year-old budding star. Besides his remarkable turnaround in his assists per game, he is also second on the team in ppg, averaging 14.5, which puts him only behind Team USA hopeful Andre Iguodala for the Philly lead.
Williams’ A/TO ratio (the most important NBA statistic) ranks 9th in the NBA behind stars like Nash and Rondo but Head Coach Eddie Jordan is still reportedly reluctant to call Williams a true PG.
“I just concentrate on my turnovers, I’m not really worried about anything else,” Williams told the Philly Daily News earlier this month and that is a good idea for the young emerging PG.
If you cut down on your turnovers you will play consistent minutes and the head coach will have to consider you a true PG.
Williams is the Sixers PG by default since Andre Miller left for Portland last off-season and the Sixers really do not have another one besides last year’s first round pick, 19 year old UCLA product Jrue Holiday.
“I like his demeanor,” Jordan said of Williams. “I like the way he stands up for his teammates. He never complains about anything, he has great body language and great facial expressions. He’s so calm and that’s what you need from your point guard.”
Holiday rarely sees the court and Williams signed a lucrative five-year deal last off-season and is the Sixers PG of the present and future.
Former All Star Elton Brand told the Philly Daily News, “I think that the offense bodes well to his style. It helps him get open shots, flash to the rim, help him finish because he is so athletic. I knew for a while that he would flourish in the offense.”
Williams does jack up a few ill-advised shots a game but he is only 23 years old and will not be completely comfortable in his role until he hits his mid 20s. The Sixers and Williams will go through growing pains together but Lou is headed in the right direction.
