June 17, 2014

Jordan Adams trying to divide 232 by 13.

Historically poor in his shot selection and defensive effort, Adams improved on both as a senior to get himself almost certainly in the first round. This past year, Adams took less mid-range jump shots and fewer quick long-range shots, instead getting to the line more often and welcoming contact. He also committed to his perimeter defense, as evidenced by the steals numbers, getting into better positions and working harder to stay in them, while using his good reach and timing to win possessions on that. With both of these things in mind, Adams laid forth the foundation of a strong three-and-D role player with the ability to do a little bit more off of the dribble than his peers in that role.

This is not to say that these concerns are fully alleviated, however. Adams is still prone to defensive lapses in particular, and when he makes them, he hasn't the physical tools to get away with it. His wingspan is good and compensates for his slightly smaller overall frame, but Adams is not especially fast, neither in a straight line nor laterally, and so he has to have a constant motor to keep up. And he doesn't, overly reaching and not always fighting to recover. He also still likes his jump shot that bit too much.

Nevertheless, Adams contributes on both ends and in multiple ways. Defensively, he anticipates well, has good hands, and does his turn on the glass, while offensively, he exhibits a bit of everything. An improved spot-up three point shooter always in motion off the ball, Adams also is an effective straight line driver and occasional post-up option, and although he shied away from the mid-range game so much last season, he has both a pull-up and a floater to go to when getting inside the arc off of curls.

Without being a creator, playmaker, ball-handler, knock-down shooting or lock-down defender, then, Adams contributes in many ways. But he will need to continue the progress he made last year. This means better jump shooting, better jump shot selection, better ball pressure on defense, and keeping the weight off. Being slightly undersized, slightly under-athletic and not an especially effective creator, the margins are not that big.

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