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Damion James’ Return. What does it mean for player and team?

Posted by Trips Right on June 14th, 2009 under Basketball

First of all, I’m pleasantly surprised with James’ return. I had heard some things early in the process that led me to believe Damion would come back to school especially if he didn’t get a first round grade. In recent days, however, it sounded more and more like the junior would settle for a guaranteed contract in the second round. Thankfully for Barnes and the program, James decided to come back and fill a huge need for the squad, and we’ll talk about that later in the post. But for James, I really think this will improve his draft stock, despite what a lot of the experts think about James’ situation. Here’s why.

Look, before I’m flayed for this take, I realize that James will play a hybrid 4 his senior year, when his natural position in the NBA is a small forward and that’s fine. Honestly, Damion played a 4 down the stretch his junior year, too, so I struggle to see the distinction. It wasn’t like James was leaking out to get into transition and make athletic plays as a wing during the second half of last season. Quite the contrary in fact. Hell, if James wasn’t pulling boards on the defensive glass for Texas, it was a 50/50 proposition that Texas would even close out a defensive possession. Given that fact and the fact that James was guarding 4’s to begin with, nothing on the defensive end is really going to change for the 6-7 soon to be senior. Sure, he has to get better guarding on the perimeter, but luckily guarding is a function of want-to and training. DJ has the want-to, and Todd Wright has an Eastern European plyometrics program hidden away in his mad-scientist laboratory to hone explosive lateral movement.

For Damion, the real difference is what happens on the offensive end, and it’s this area of his game that my opinions differ from a lot of folks. You see, I think Damion will absolutely get better, or at least appear to get better, based on the talent he’ll be sharing the floor with. Damion’s game as a one power dribble slash to the goal type will seemingly arrive over night. It’ll seem as if he’s playing on a floor with bigger dimensions now that Texas can deploy 4 perimeter shooters and 5 legit scorers at any given time. In addition, Damion will be the beneficiary of getting the opposing team’s 3rd or 4th best defender, usually a plodding power forward, and he’ll be going against that defender, in many cases, with that defender coming out of defensive help rotation from one of the other 4 Longhorn scorers. How many times during the course of last season did we see help rotating from another player to Damion James? I’d say south of half a dozen. Shoot, Damion attacking a rotating help defender might happen half a dozen times PER GAME next season. We all know Damion can catch and shoot, but watch out for the Damion who’s getting blow by’s for dunks and garbage buckets.

As for the argument that Damion will be hurt with fewer opportunities, I’d say that’ll be made up with better efficiency stemming from James taking better shots. We can all agree that dunks usually help the old shooting percentage. Plus, and this is the good news for Damion’s draft prospects next year, there will be film of James putting the ball on the deck and attacking the rim. Up to this point in his career, that hasn’t been the case. Remember when DJ Augustin single handedly created the Connor Atchley 1st round buzz? Mark my words, James will be a first round pick next year if he stays healthy. It’s not a popular opinion, but neither was James returning to school in the first place.

As for what this means for the Longhorns as a team, hoo boy, where to begin? On a micro level, the Horns go from what would have been a suspect rebounding team to a superior one. With a combo of Wangmene and Pittman on the strongside and Damion’s athletic presence on weakside vs. post-centric teams, the Horns should be able to close out defensive possessions and take advantage of their athletes in transition. Without James coming back, the Horns wouldn’t have the luxury of allowing athletic wings like Bradley and Hamilton to leak out and get on the break. It would instead be a team rebounding, all hands on deck situation, which wastes what should be a team strength this year. Sick athletic depth that needs play up tempo. It’s tough to be up tempo if you can’t pull a board.

Offensively, Damion is a perfect compliment to scorers like Pittman, Bradley, and Hamilton because James doesn’t need to dominate the basketball to be an offensive threat. He can get garbage buckets off of the glass when the defense is thoroughly rotated and broken down. James is also adept at catching and shooting as well as finishing dimes by creators. In a word, the senior forward is unselfish. He’s a team guy that can and will get his without hunting his.

So, now with the personnel stage 99% set, we can focus on the season at hand which should be a good one. On a macro level, James’ return takes the Longhorns from being a final four hopeful to a National Championship contender if the freshmen show as we think they’ll show. It’s certainly a good time to be hopeful as a Longhorn Basketball fan. Look for the next post to be about the season. A season which is setting up to bring the Title back to the state of Texas after being gone since 1966.

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10 Responses

  1. BEHorn said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 9:13 am

    “For Damion, the real difference is what happens on the offensive end, and it’s this area of his game that my opinions differ from a lot of folks. You see, I think Damion will absolutely get better, or at least appear to get better, based on the talent he’ll be sharing the floor with. Damion’s game as a one power dribble slash to the goal type will seemingly arrive over night. It’ll seem as if he’s playing on a floor with bigger dimensions now that Texas can deploy 4 perimeter shooters and 5 legit scorers at any given time.”

    Exactly right.

  2. RRR said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 9:44 am

    What’s great about UT with DJ is the flexibility of running dual post, high post, and even 4 on the perimeter. He can face up against any traditional college 4, and if you try to guard him with a 3 he can post up. But we knew that already.

    What I’ll be looking for is an improvement in his recognition skills in-game. And a better understanding of how much he frees up Dex.

    The athletic ability and the effort have always been there. Just need the basketball IQ to boot up a little faster.

    1966. If not for Don Haskins, there wouldn’t be a national title from a Texas school. I guess we really like our football and baseball around here.

  3. skymonkeyhorn said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 9:55 am

    Damion will extend his skill set that he has, a combo of #4- #3 skill set that will only get better as the year gets along. Count on movement on the offense half court that will see Damion flying around the court, playing a number of different slots on the weak side and put backs galore. As stated above the defensive boards will have Damion and /or Dex/Alex starting the break and Damion finishing or rebounding the break for a give me bucket.
    That was the description of Damion in high school that we have seen only a little bit of the past 3 years !

  4. scagnetti said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    RRR said it: I’m looking for Damion’s ‘game between the ears’ to improve. Recognition, transitions, resets, improvs in loose ball scrambles. I’m hoping his unforced errors decrease and his movement without the ball on offense and transition improve. He needs to stop making bad passes and develop better hands to control the ball on the deck.

  5. um said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    and less dribbling off his foot/leg and more garbage dunks..im starting to wonder if we’ll have a “set in stone” starting 5. Sounds like it will change alot..

  6. Texoz said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    This is a tangent to the Damion news, but UT needs to make its biggest push ever to promote their basketball program. They don’t need to promise or hint at a NC, just that we’re entering a golden age for basketball and dollar for dollar it’s great entertainment.

    They should fill as many seats as possible in the early games. Do whatever it takes so that you build excitement leading into conference and you create a new branding of this program.

    The next four or five years are setting up to be very special for the basketball program.

  7. Nobis60 said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Expanding on the promotion note, the program should do everything it can to get the word out that NBA studs like Durant and Augustin are coming back to campus for pickup games/workouts with the current squad. Anything that highlights UT as the place to be for elite-level ball and reminds people of the high-caliber talent we’re putting into the League can only bolster recruiting.

  8. Jimmer said:

    June 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Any scholarship implications? J’Covan?

    It is so great ot have Damion coming back. As many have said, this IS the year. We should scare any team in the country. Pittman and two immediate freshman impacts + James returning = serious Championship contention.

  9. Kafka said:

    June 15th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Damion has had his dream delayed for one year so he is probably a bit down. He needs to focus on mechanics, specifically improving the mechanics of his game (i.e. ball handling, playing under control with the ball, spot up 3 shooting, post moves, defending quick players, 1 dribble moves, 2 dribble moves, finishing with his left hand, free throws, moving without the ball, understanding the game). He has the athletic ability and shooting ability, he just needs to practice intensely on these specific weaknesses.

    With all the depth, practice should interesting next season. Who is leaving the program and who is paying their own way (besides Lucas)?

    With all the depth and skill, it makes sense for the horns to substitute freely and run a bunch next season. Is big Dex going to be able to keep up with the pace?

    Is J’covan Brown actually going to be on the team next season or not?

  10. Bob in Houston said:

    June 15th, 2009 at 11:05 am

    I will believe in the fast-paced game when I see it.

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