DJ Peterson

[Okayplayer]

I don't mean no harm, but watching Peterson really disturbed me this seaon. Initially, I noticed he was a 6'5'' defender in our guard heavy rotation. So that made sense why he ended up in the starting lineup with majority of the minutes. However, during the tourney, the kid is really suspect to me, lacks confidence, handles the ball like a hot potatoe, never looks at the basket to enforce his triple threat, the list can go on. Basically I find him to be one dimensional and I would like to reduce his minutes next year.

Any thoughts?

[vasalos]

Peterson was one out of three reasons why we had the 3rd best perimeter D in the A10 and 27th best in the nation. Galloway and Mills were reasons two and three.

Along with Mills, Peterson was a solid defensive guard. I think you have to get comfortable with what defensive guards can and can't do.

[phillysports07]

Peterson looks frantic at times but plays solid D. I wish he would take more threes, maybe next year he will gain more confidence in his shot. He deserves the minutes he gets!

[DE-LSU84]

I have been saying this for awhile. Peterson plays solid D, not great in your face, on the ball D but solid. However,
for some unknown reason he has lost his confidence with his shot. I saw him in DC versus GW and he went 5 for 6
from 3, but since then he really never looked to the basket. At 6'5" he is thin and needs to add muscle, because he was beaten
on the boards. I realize he was going up against bigger players but so was Rohan Brown and at 6'6" he did a better job
on the glass than a similar size DJ. Peterson should definetely be in the rotation, however, its my opinion he should
be first or second off the beach next season.

[explorer88]

You can't have 10 Ramon Galloway's on your team. You need to have pieces and players willing to do certain tasks. DJ frustrates me sometimes but I understand he is not expected to do a lot of other things than what he basically does for us now.

People have to remember as you move down your roster the players become more flawed. It is this way on every roster in America. Parts of DJ's game is flawed obviously but he still makes contributions to the success of the team.

He is going to be this way his entire La Salle career. You are wasting energy thinking it is going to change. As long as G surrounds him with the players DJ will make contributions. He is a team player.

[coachd]

DJ is very unselfish and wants what is best for the team. Should he take the open shot more often? Yes. Can he dribble penetrate and take the ball to basket or kick it out to the open man? We haven't seen that but maybe he can develop some of that in the off-season.

I like he is defense but I think he will improve over the summer. Tyreek and Tyrone will most likely practice with some of the NBA guards in the area and improve their overall games as well. Khalif Lewis will pick up a large portion of the offense that Ramon had.

[MisterD]

Defense first (only?) player on a team that desperately needed someone who could cover an opposing 3/4. It sounds flip, but if all of our guards could score, they wouldn't all be our guards because we wouldn't have enough shots.

[broderickpresident]

Give DJ some props. For years we've had role players that turn the ball over, can't defend and don't take good shots. DJ never turns it over, works his butt off on D and never takes bad shots. I wish he was able to get his shot off a little quicker, because he's a deadeye shooter, but he has a slow release and a very flat, line-drive shot which means even though he's 6'5" he has a hard time getting those 3s off unless he's wide open. The better defenses never give you that much time. Still, he's one the better glue guys we've had recently. It would be great if he could add some strength over the summer to pinch in on the boards some more. As great as Ramon was in many aspects of the game, his absence may be felt most acutely on the boards if and when we try to run with 4 guards next year (tho I'm assuming Steve/Jerrell will share the floor much more next season).

[23won]

88 and Broderick are spot on.

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2013 10:06:53 GMT -5 broderickpresident said:

Give DJ some props. For years we've had role players that turn the ball over, can't defend and don't take good shots. DJ never turns it over, works his butt off on D and never takes bad shots. I wish he was able to get his shot off a little quicker, because he's a deadeye shooter, but he has a slow release and a very flat, line-drive shot which means even though he's 6'5" he has a hard time getting those 3s off unless he's wide open. The better defenses never give you that much time. Still, he's one the better glue guys we've had recently. It would be great if he could add some strength over the summer to pinch in on the boards some more. As great as Ramon was in many aspects of the game, his absence may be felt most acutely on the boards if and when we try to run with 4 guards next year (tho I'm assuming Steve/Jerrell will share the floor much more next season).

^^^^^^^^^
What he said. I also believe you will see DJ look to shoot more next year. He scored fairly well in high school and prep school, but he's been willing to defer to the other guys at La Salle. Now that he's moved up a spot in the rotation, I think he'll realize he needs to be more aggressive offensively, and I'm pretty sure the coaches will encourage him to do that.

[luhoopsfan]

Don't forget, DJ also had offseason surgery that Doc G mentioned he thinks slowed him down a little bit not necessarily physiologically but mentally in terms of the belief he was quick enough to get to the basket.

Fact is, DJ was a winner in H.S. and has been a winner his 2 years at La Salle, sometimes you just need guys in your program that are winners.

[lasallescreamer]

DJ had a nice year.His D is a constant. On O. something happened with his shot. In his first year, he did not shoot much, but when he did, he had a nice stroke and a certain confidence and based on that, I expected to see him take and make more shots, but in the context of the offense which played through others first. This year, he just did not seem as smoothe on the shot. I have not watched films, but did he develop a little hitch right before he released? If he can and will shoot, its another player the opposition has to worry about. I think he is the kind of player who will work hard to improve.

[jellybean]

DJ is a rare player that can defend 4 of the 5 opposition players. Doesn't turn the ball over. Has a knack of making big "little" plays. Some of the best passes this season. Numerous back door passes for layups. Long baseball passes. Clutch rebounds. Will dive on the floor for loose balls.

That said his shot has flatten. He has to have his feet set before he can shoot. Don't take him out of his comfort zone. I would love to see him gain confidence in a 15 footer from the foul line. That shot was open all year for him.
I expect him to get better with time but am I counting on him being a 10pt per game scorer. No. Solid 6th man.

[Deleted]

OKAYplayer, you must not have seen the first GW game. DJ was shredding the nets and hustling on D at the same time. We would have lost by nearly 20 otherwise. In most games, DJ's contribution is as simple as not turning the ball over and putting pressure on the opponent. His point production is what it is because he's always the fourth or fifth option on offense. But I am thinking he is one of the more viable defenders in the league and also not a bad option on offense.

[broderickpresident]

Apr 6, 2013 1:23:04 GMT -5 lasallescreamer said:

DJ had a nice year.His D is a constant. On O. something happened with his shot. In his first year, he did not shoot much, but when he did, he had a nice stroke and a certain confidence and based on that, I expected to see him take and make more shots, but in the context of the offense which played through others first. This year, he just did not seem as smoothe on the shot. I have not watched films, but did he develop a little hitch right before he released? If he can and will shoot, its another player the opposition has to worry about. I think he is the kind of player who will work hard to improve.

I agree, Screamer. I did seem to notice a little hitch on the release that I don't remember seeing in 2011-12 as much. At any rate, he needs lots of room/time to get his shot off. Against really tight D's, it'd be great if he could unload quicker because it's frustrating when you catch a D out of position and then can't make them pay after some great ball movement, but that's a minor quibble. He's been a big part of our success.

[Gnocchi]

Plus DJ does a nice post-victory landshark.

[Okayplayer]

Apr 5, 2013 10:06:53 GMT -5 broderickpresident said:

Give DJ some props. For years we've had role players that turn the ball over, can't defend and don't take good shots. DJ never turns it over, works his butt off on D and never takes bad shots. I wish he was able to get his shot off a little quicker, because he's a deadeye shooter, but he has a slow release and a very flat, line-drive shot which means even though he's 6'5" he has a hard time getting those 3s off unless he's wide open. The better defenses never give you that much time. Still, he's one the better glue guys we've had recently. It would be great if he could add some strength over the summer to pinch in on the boards some more. As great as Ramon was in many aspects of the game, his absence may be felt most acutely on the boards if and when we try to run with 4 guards next year (tho I'm assuming Steve/Jerrell will share the floor much more next season).

Explorerman/Broderick, I totally concur with your statements. But I also agree with CoachD, the kid should at least act like he's gonna shoot instead of defenses not even respecting the fact he won't shoot.

Jelly Bean you stated that "DJ is a rare player that can defend 4 of the 5 opposition players." WRONG! Maybe DJ can guard 4 of the 5 opposition players in AAU, but not at the A-10 level let alone premiere Tourney level teams. Wichita St. went to town on us when it came to boards. I felt bad for DJ out their.

Hykos1045, I did not see the 1st GW game, thanks for bringing me up to speed.

Luhoopsfan, I was unnaware of DJ's offseason surgery, thanks for feeling me in, that definitely changes my perspective and translates his confidence being affected to some degree.

[mookie]

I've been hard on DJ this year and I think for good reason. Don't get me wrong, I think he could be a very good player for us at the 2/3. He's a very good defender and has the ability to shoot the 3. But, he was very timid and hesitant the 2nd half of the season and he was doing more harm than good. With him out there (when Zack) was hurt, it was basically 5 on 3 for offense. We weren't going to get any production from the 5 spot and with DJ scared to shoot and providing nothing offensively, he wouldn't have been missed. He's not a 4 and if he's going to defend a 4, he's going to get abused as he did.

[jellybean]

Jelly Bean you stated that "DJ is a rare player that can defend 4 of the 5 opposition players." WRONG! Maybe DJ can guard 4 of the 5 opposition players in AAU, but not at the A-10 level let alone premiere Tourney level teams. Wichita St. went to town on us when it came to boards. I felt bad for DJ out their.



Sorry Okayplayer but YOU are WRONG. G said exactly that at the banquet. I'll take his evaluation over yours anyday.