Rodney Hood: Won't be missed

[Randolphkeys]

The roster has the flexibility to start or have guys come off the bench for basically the whole roster except for Kevin Love who is the one lock to start. My concern with Sexton coming in with the second unit is Clarkson is a horrible pairing for a young PG. Clarkson might be the one player who shouldn't even have a shot at starting. Could we get away with benching Clarkson to start the season till Hill is moved?

Lue has been quoted saying he views Clarkson as a sixth man, and he wants Clarkson to study Lou Williams as a goal. That makes sense, especially since Clarkson can't help but play a higher usage type game with scoring as his first priority. Like Lou, he isn't going to be a franchise player but he can be a first option with the bench squad.

Interestingly to me, that was Hood's role with Utah to start the season. Exum was supposed to be the backup point guard but he got hurt, so Hood and Burks had a higher usage than planned. Once Hood arrived with the Cavaliers, he did a better job adjusting his role off the ball than Clarkson, who pretty much played exactly how he played for the Lakers. Hood was a little less effective than Clarkson, but he tried to fit in.

 

[TitleTown]

Lue has been quoted saying he views Clarkson as a sixth man, and he wants Clarkson to study Lou Williams as a goal. That makes sense, especially since Clarkson can't help but play a higher usage type game with scoring as his first priority. Like Lou, he isn't going to be a franchise player but he can be a first option with the bench squad.

Interestingly to me, that was Hood's role with Utah to start the season. Exum was supposed to be the backup point guard but he got hurt, so Hood and Burks had a higher usage than planned. Once Hood arrived with the Cavaliers, he did a better job adjusting his role off the ball than Clarkson, who pretty much played exactly how he played for the Lakers. Hood was a little less effective than Clarkson, but he tried to fit in.

The problem is that Hood and Clarkson looked awful when they played together. I think they both bring out the worst in each others games. Having two high usage, low-IQ players in the same lineup will kill that lineup. If Hood isn't going to be our starting SG, then I hope we trade him. Because Hood and Clarkson together will destroy our bench.

 

[CleveRocks]

Clarkson's defense was significantly better than Hoods. Rodney has a prettier shot and physically has better tools, but he never risks contact to leverage his height or Athleticism. Clarkson on the other hand is all in all the time. Not saying his offense is good, just saying you get way better effort from him.

 

[Jordan]

Clarkson's defense was significantly better than Hoods. Rodney has a prettier shot and physically has better tools, but he never risks contact to leverage his height or Athleticism. Clarkson on the other hand is all in all the time. Not saying his offense is good, just saying you get way better effort from him.

Yeah, I mean, saying Clarkson is "good" on defense is a stretch (I know you are not saying this), but he tries on that end. He just gets lost in movement.

If the Cavs bring Hood back then I hope it is a two-year deal that is team friendly. I.E., being able to get out of it easily next summer. Whether that means higher salary each year and a team option for the second year, or mostly unguaranteed money for the second year, or low salary with maybe an extra year.

 

[priceFTW]

The problem is that Hood and Clarkson looked awful when they played together. I think they both bring out the worst in each others games. Having two high usage, low-IQ players in the same lineup will kill that lineup. If Hood isn't going to be our starting SG, then I hope we trade him. Because Hood and Clarkson together will destroy our bench.

Yeah, this. The playoffs really showed that when this duo was together on court.

116 minutes played, team 124.8 DRtg, -22.8 NET Rating. Opponents shot 55.1% from 2, and they shot 43.3% from 3. The Cavs shot 25% from three with the duo on court.

Gross.

 

[CleveRocks]

Yeah, I mean, saying Clarkson is "good" on defense is a stretch (I know you are not saying this), but he tries on that end. He just gets lost in movement.

If the Cavs bring Hood back then I hope it is a two-year deal that is team friendly. I.E., being able to get out of it easily next summer. Whether that means higher salary each year and a team option for the second year, or mostly unguaranteed money for the second year, or low salary with maybe an extra year.

82 games opponent per post trade

Korver was best followed by
Hill
James/Clarkson (tied)
Osman
Green..

Pre trade wade and Shump we tops..

In LA Clarkson was top five also.

In general our defense sucked balls. Our opposing per average starting five was 18 ish..

 

[Jordan]

82 games opponent per post trade

Korver was best followed by
Hill
James/Clarkson (tied)
Osman
Green..

Pre trade wade and Shump we tops..

In LA Clarkson was top five also.

In general our defense sucked balls. Our opposing per average starting five was 18 ish..

I mean, statistically this is not exactly true... The team was three points worse per 100 possessions with Clarkson on the court. His advanced stats (RPM, DBPM, etc.) all suggest that he is a net negative defensively.

He tries hard. He may have been our third best defender post-trade, but that's not saying anything of substance.

 

[Nathan S]

I mean, statistically this is not exactly true... The team was three points worse per 100 possessions with Clarkson on the court. His advanced stats (RPM, DBPM, etc.) all suggest that he is a net negative defensively.

He tries hard. He may have been our third best defender post-trade, but that's not saying anything of substance.

Clarkson at his worst was failing in an energetic, klutzy kind of way that would've been vaguely heartwarming if it wasn't happening in the middle of crucial playoff games. Hood at his worst just made me want to puke with how soft and apathetic he was.

 

[CleveRocks]

I mean, statistically this is not exactly true... The team was three points worse per 100 possessions with Clarkson on the court. His advanced stats (RPM, DBPM, etc.) all suggest that he is a net negative defensively.

He tries hard. He may have been our third best defender post-trade, but that's not saying anything of substance.

What I said was precisely true. It is not the only measure of defensive performance.. but it is incorrect to say he is a bad defender.. IT was a bad defender...

 

[Jordan]

What I said was precisely true. It is not the only measure of defensive performance.. but it is incorrect to say he is a bad defender.. IT was a bad defender...

No, I mean, that's not true... by pretty much every metric he is a bad defender. As @Nathan S said, Clarkson works hard and has potential, but he is not a good defender. IT is not a bad defender, he is the worst defender in the NBA.

 

[Nathan S]

No, I mean, that's not true... by pretty much every metric he is a bad defender. As @Nathan S said, Clarkson works hard and has potential, but he is not a good defender. IT is not a bad defender, he is the worst defender in the NBA.

I'm no expert, but it seemed like Clarkson was just trying to do too much on defense a lot of the time, and that together with his below-average defensive instincts was a bad combination. He'd be guarding a guy like Marcus Smart, for instance, and he'd be in perfect defensive position for a moment...but instead of simply trying to keep Smart in front of him (which shouldn't be a particularly difficult task for a guy with Clarkson's physical tools) he'd lunge for a steal at the first opportunity and give up a wide open lane.

He actually improved some statistically on the defensive end last year, ranking 20th-worst among point guards by RPM after ranking 4th, 7th, and 3rd worst in his first three years. A similar improvement this year would have him right around league average, at which point he would actually be a quality bench guard.

Hood, meanwhile, has followed a mirror trajectory where he had the 4th-worst DRPM in the entire NBA last year after being around league average in previous seasons.

 

[Jordan]

I'm no expert, but it seemed like Clarkson was just trying to do too much on defense a lot of the time, and that together with his below-average defensive instincts was a bad combination. He'd be guarding a guy like Marcus Smart, for instance, and he'd be in perfect defensive position for a moment...but instead of simply trying to keep Smart in front of him (which shouldn't be a particularly difficult task for a guy with Clarkson's physical tools) he'd lunge for a steal at the first opportunity and give up a wide open lane.

He actually improved some statistically on the defensive end last year, ranking 20th-worst among point guards by RPM after ranking 4th, 7th, and 3rd worst in his first three years. A similar improvement this year would have him right around league average, at which point he would actually be a quality bench guard.

Hood, meanwhile, has followed a mirror trajectory where he had the 4th-worst DRPM in the entire NBA last year after being around league average in previous seasons.

Yep, as I keep saying, I do think Clarkson has potential as a defender. He uses his athleticism well and tries really hard. I think he will end up as a decent player... basically a league average bench guard with some decent scoring capability.

Hood is hopeless.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I'm no expert, but it seemed like Clarkson was just trying to do too much on defense a lot of the time, and that together with his below-average defensive instincts was a bad combination. He'd be guarding a guy like Marcus Smart, for instance, and he'd be in perfect defensive position for a moment...but instead of simply trying to keep Smart in front of him (which shouldn't be a particularly difficult task for a guy with Clarkson's physical tools) he'd lunge for a steal at the first opportunity and give up a wide open lane.

He actually improved some statistically on the defensive end last year, ranking 20th-worst among point guards by RPM after ranking 4th, 7th, and 3rd worst in his first three years. A similar improvement this year would have him right around league average, at which point he would actually be a quality bench guard.

Hood, meanwhile, has followed a mirror trajectory where he had the 4th-worst DRPM in the entire NBA last year after being around league average in previous seasons.

Clarkson is a guy that can fit into a good defensive scheme and find a role. I think that will be easier for him if he does move to a more off the ball role on offense - it'll preserve some energy and help to calm him down a bit. He's been working this offseason to be more of a 2 that plays off the ball from everything I've read. I think that's his best usage. He's not a PG and I think could be very effective at SG as the sixth man - a strong spark plug off the bench that can bring effort.

 

[dark2332]

Hood, meanwhile, has followed a mirror trajectory where he had the 4th-worst DRPM in the entire NBA last year after being around league average in previous seasons.

This is why Rodney is still unsigned. He had a very poor year last year in Cleveland.

I just think, at 25 years old, he’s shown enough in the past to bring back on a reasonable deal.

He’s talented offensively and has shown at various points to be an average defender.

I just don’t think he’s a player that should be given up on. There is still potential to be mined there.

I think everything about our LeBron-centric system was wrong for him and I’d like to see him in an offense that lets him actually touch a basketball. I saw too many games in Utah where he carried them offensively to just watch him walk away for nothing.

 

[Jordan]

This is why Rodney is still unsigned. He had a very poor year last year in Cleveland.

I just think, at 25 years old, he’s shown enough in the past to bring back on a reasonable deal.

He’s talented offensively and has shown at various points to be an average defender.

I just don’t think he’s a player that should be given up on. There is still potential to be mined there.

I think everything about our LeBron-centric system was wrong for him and I’d like to see him in an offense that lets him actually touch a basketball. I saw too many games in Utah where he carried them offensively to just watch him walk away for nothing.

My problem is twofold:

First, I disagree on Hood proving to have been an average defender. He was good when playing with Hayward, Favors, and Gobert in the lineup, but that is about it. Otherwise, he has been a negative defender every year. The short arms do not help the piss-poor effort.

Second, in regards to offense, I do think Hood could eventually learn to excel in a bench spark-plug role. This is what teams need to be hoping for if they sign him. But from everything we have heard, it sounds like that role is going to Clarkson, and Hood will be just another guy in our offense. My guess is you see similar problems as last year.

As I have said a few times, I am fine with signing Hood, as long as the contract is team friendly and very tradeable, or provides no guaranteed money for next year. I doubt Cleveland is the place where he proves himself, but I hope I am wrong.