Is TJ Ford the Next Allen Iverson?
Posted by Matt McCready on 01.12.2007
Allen Iverson and TJ Ford are undersized but both can do amazing things at breakneck speeds that their colossal NBA brethren could only dream about. TJ Ford's breakout NBA campaign have brought about comparisons between him and the counter-culture NBA legend, 411mania.com's Matt McCready investigates to see if this observation has any merit.
Is T.J. Ford the new Allen Iverson?
Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I'm still fighting a lingering flu bug and Christmas season was a nightmare on my schedule. So to my legion of fans and Barbaro supporters, I'm back.
Every year in the NBA there are a few people whose games really improve over the season before. Last year there were players who broke out after joining a new team with a vastly different system (Boris Diaw), players whose game soared after the addition of a dynamic player (David West aided by Chris Paul in this case) or players who just continued evolving as a player and utilizing his physical gifts more to his advantage (Tony Parker). I want to talk about one player who this season has combined all of those aspects into one; T.J. Ford. Ford, the diminutive point guard, was acquired by Toronto Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo this past off-season for versatile forward Charlie Villanueva. The move was a controversial one at the time as Villanueva was coming off a solid first season that included among other things; leading the rookie game in scoring, a 48 point explosion against the aforementioned Milwaukee Bucks and finally finishing second to Chris Paul in the rookie of the year voting. A multi dimensional forward, Charlie V is 6-11 and can score with the best of them. He possesses legitimate three point range and is also a factor underneath the basket offensively thanks to excellent low post skills. His defense is suspect but it's not that big a detriment because his rebounding is above average and he has significant shot blocking potential.
TJ Ford is an under six feet tall, cant shoot very well, is an injury risk (missed almost a year due to back surgery) and his defense is below average.
TJ Ford, obviously not concerned with what the haters are spouting
Well that was the book on him by Toronto Raptor fans who bemoaned the departure of the popular Villanueva and it's completely valid. There are plenty of point guards in the world who possess the same playing style of Ford, while multi-talented near 7 footers are incredibly rare, even in NBA circles. Did the Raptors get enough value Villa, a player whose career started off so well, was great in the community and had a drool worthy skill set?
Critics of TJ Ford's potential will point out the old saying that you can't teach height, something Villa has in abundance over Ford. However, there's also a saying that you can't teach speed. While there are players who can compare with Ford's skill set on paper, it's doubtful that any could keep up with him in a full court sprint. It's debatable whether Ford, Tony Parker or Devin Harris is currently the quickest player in the league.
From a team chemistry and needs standpoint, this trade made perfect sense. The Raptors acquired another multi-faceted big man when they made 7'1 Andrea Bargnani the first overall selection in the NBA draft. While the prospect of having Bosh, Villanueva and Bargnani is tempting, the team's glaring need for a point guard had to be addressed. The only other pg that was on the roster at the time was Jose Calderon, a capable backup but by no means proven as a starter. The free agent class that year was weak, the best FA point that year might've been lifelong backup Speedy Claxton, so a trade was necessary. Bryan Colangelo built a NBA title contender in Phoenix around Steve Nash and his unselfish play and he was hoping to do the same in Toronto with Ford playing the role of the plucky Canadian. Meanwhile Charlie seemed like the perfect compliment to last year's first overall pick, the Australian Andrew Bogut. Ford was deemed expendable as Milwaukee also had Mo Williams and Charlie Bell to man the point, which was a reasonable call with the breakout season Williams is also enjoying. From a positional standpoint, this trade made sense for both teams.
The very likable Charlie Villanueva was as surprised as anyone over his trade from Toronto
Raptor fans' contempt for the trade did not dissipate within the first ten games of the season. Villanueva was putting up efficient scoring and rebounding well with the Bucks, while Ford had more struggles than successes. His trademark attribute, speed, was almost a detriment as he was playing too fast and out of control. Combine all that with the learning curve that came with handling the ‘new' NBA pleather ball and TJ was bringing sloppy back to the Raptors faster than Timberlake was bringing sexy back to your local middle school dance.
Since those first ten games, things couldn't have turned around more for both players. Charlie V suffered a freak elbow injury early in the season and missed several weeks and upon his return only played several games before hurting his shoulder to the point where surgery might be required. If he is to have the surgery he'll be out for the rest of the season.
Ford, on the other hand, has been eclectic since his early season struggles. As a point guard on a new team, his early season turnover struggles were not aided by having to learn the offensive tendencies of his new teammates. Confounding the problem was that the Raptors employed nine new players, offensive cohesiveness would take time.
When All-Star forward Chris Bosh went down with an injury, the Raptors roster looked like the stankest garbage this side of a Starr Jones boobjob. This is when TJ Ford started to play like an All-Star player himself. Using his tremendous court vision and passing skills, he got the marginalized roster the offensive touches that wouldn't have been there if Bosh hadn't have gotten injured. Two other Colangelo acquisitions, Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker, were among the most productive players in Europe before signing with Toronto. As such, they were used to touching the ball on nearly every possession. With Ford clearly the best healthy player on the roster and running the show, he played unselfishly and made sure the two Euro imports got the touches they needed to feel comfortable in the system. Raptor fans were delighted as they got to display their fundamentally solid play and exceptionally high basketball IQs. Garbajosa is currently the leader of the NBA.com rookie rankings while Parker would be up there as well if he wasn't a rookie due to playing a handful of games in the late nineties.
Chris Bosh (foreground) gives TJ Ford the first dominant big man to play alongside in his NBA career. Brian Colangelo (background) is the man who acquired TJ and united these two talented Texans
Even a star player like Bosh could appreciate what Ford was doing. Bosh said that sitting out a couple of weeks with a knee injury was educational for him as a player, he saw how to play with a more team oriented approach after viewing the Raptors' success without him. Concluding that the team could score more points if he held onto the ball less, Bosh has since made decisions quicker and swung the ball more. Ford's unselfishness and leadership qualities have given the Raptors a winning pedigree as they're currently first place in their division (albeit in possibly the worst division in all of pro sports) after starting the season with an abysmal 2-8 record.
Ford's play has been so stunning lately that there are Allen Iverson comparisons being made. There are definite similarities in their games. Ford's hit a lot of big shots down the stretch of close games and generally took over games while Bosh was injured, hitting tough lay-ups in traffic while also stopping on a dime and pulling up for mid-range jump shots that are indefensible to those who also don't possess the same incredible quickness.
To break them both down, both Iverson and Ford are able to break their man off the dribble although Iverson has the edge here due to his legendary crossover. Ford is actually probably quicker although it could be argued that Iverson is faster with the ball in his hands. Ford has more natural point guard tendencies and is probably a better passer than Iverson was at the same point of his career. Iverson's finish around the basket is much better than Ford's and his shooting is probably superior as well. Ford, historically, has not been a good shooter at all but is shooting nearly 45 percent this year, which is a better percentage than Iverson has shot in nine of his eleven seasons in the league. Defensively they're both liabilities but Iverson also gets the edge here as he's led the league in steals multiple times and is a terror in the passing lanes.
TJ Ford has a long way to go before he catches up to this dude
No disrespect to Mr. Ford, but overall you definitely have to give the edge to A.I. The comparisons are there, but Iverson's intense competitive nature cannot be challenged by anyone outside of Bill Russell. It's really doubtful that Ford will develop into an all time great like The Answer, Ford's finish around the basket being the next big step he needs to take, but stranger things have happened.
Unlike Iverson, it doesn't seem like Ford will have to carry his team throughout the prime years of his career. With Bosh continuing his development into one of the NBA's dominant big men and first overall selection Andrea Bargnani looking like he actually could be the next Dirk Nowitzki, the Toronto Raptors are primed for success.
