Jerome Jordan adds height to Milwaukee
After the trade that sent Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric to the Golden State Warriors for Corey Maggette, the Milwaukee Bucks have been looking for yet another big man that will bolster their front line. In need of a tall player, the Bucks selected seven-foot centre Jerome Jordan as the 44th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
With the size and length of Jordan, the Milwaukee Bucks’ inside defence will definitely improve compared to last season. During his college basketball career, Jordan has been known more on the defensive end of the floor than on offence. Jordan, who averaged 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his collegiate days, is well versed on shutting down the offensive player. He possesses an outstanding defensive awareness, and with his strength and athleticism, he can match up well with the established centres in the NBA.
Jordan also has a long wingspan which makes him a good shot blocker. He also has the ability to pressure the ball handler with his pesky defence. He is good on positioning himself between the ball and his man on pick and roll plays forcing opponents to abandon the two-man play. Being assertive and active in fighting for the rebounds is also one of the bright spots in Jordan's game.
Johnson is not just a defensive player because he can also do the dirty work on the offensive end of the floor. He averaged 15.4 points per game in his final year with Tulsa. Utilizing his strength and length, he always looks to dunk the ball rather than finishing it with easy layups. He is also a pick and roll type of big man because he is very aggressive in attacking the basket. Johnson can also be used in pick and pop situations because he has a decent touch from the perimeter.
If there is a weak point in Jerome Jordan, that will be his off-the-court work habits. Some scouts noticed his laid back mentality in some of his games. When his mind and focus is not on the game, he's usually contented in just shooting long jumpers instead of taking it strong to the hole. He also needs to bulk up because he will be going up against bigger and stronger players next season. His post game and lateral movement still needs improvement for him to play well under Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles.
With Dan Gadzuric gone and Andrew Bogut still questionable next season, Milwaukee needs someone who can do the work on the boards. This situation is favourable to the young rookie because he will be given ample amount of playing time. The Bucks also has some issues to deal with in the off season. John Salmons, who played a big role in their run to the play-offs, will be a free agent next season. Resigning him will be their priority since Michael Redd has been bothered by a lot of injuries in the past two seasons.
The Bucks also has a promising point guard in Brandon Jennings, who has a decent touch from the outside and is a solid back-court general. He can really help Jordan next season by creating a lot of scoring opportunities for him especially on pick and roll plays. They also have young big men like Ersan Yllasova, who is more comfortable playing outside, and Hakim Warrick, who is a slasher forward. Jordan's possible contribution to the team next season will be on the post. And with that role, he needs a lot of extra time in practice to improve his post plays.
Jerome Jordan is not expected to make a huge impact next season for the Bucks but he is a player who can be a vital part of their team in the future.
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