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Big East Tournament Semifinals

March 14, 2014 | Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Providence, Seton Hall, Creighton, Xavier

Game 1:Providence 80, Seton Hall 74
Game 2: Creighton 86, Xavier 78

Semaj Christon — G, 6-3, 190
Sophomore, 21 years old

Season (35.2 mpg): 17 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.2 APG
48% FG, 38% three-point (1.4 attempts)

Game (40 min): 18 PTS, 6 AST, 1 REB, 8-21 FG
8-21 FG, 0-3 three-point

Outlook: Christon is a 6-3 combo guard whose best attribute is attacking off the bounce. Equipped with very long arms, a quick first step to get in the lane, and a terrific “burst” to the basket. He’s a crafty finisher inside the arc, showcasing the ability to pull-up on a dime, finish a tear drop, or lay it up with grace. NBA size, a lethal handle, great finishing ability, and occasional playmaking for his teammates makes Christon intriguing as a lead guard in the NBA.

That being said, right now he has no perimeter jump shot. Only 47 of 409 attempts this season are 3-pointers. Additionally, Christon is a better scorer than playmaker right now. He won’t survive as a 6-3 SG, but if he can improve his point guard skills—commanding an offense from the perimeter, as opposed to solely driving and dishing—he has a chance.

Long arms, quick first step, can finish at the basket and a blur in transition. If the jump shot comes along, he should draw a lot of interest at the next level.

Video

18 points vs. Creighton

Misses vs. Creighton (8-21)

6 assists vs. Creighton

Video Breakdown: Semaj Christon

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Strengths

• Size and Length. 6-3 PG/SG with 6-6 wingspan and NBA athleticism. Quick, long and athletic.Gets to the rim at will—in transition, cutting, or using the high ball screen. 60% of half court offense occurred in the lane.

• Aggressive Scorer. Tight handle and an “attack mentality” to penetrate the defense. Always trying to get to the basket. Draws a lot of contact, 7 free throws per game. 52% FG/1.09 PPP finishing at the basket.

• Capable In-Between Game. Not a good shooter, and struggles from mid-range (5-24), but Christon can shoot over the defense from close range. He can stop-and-rise for a runner (39% FG) or short-range jumper (39% FG, .78 PPP). No extended range though.

• Very Good Defender. Uses length to accumulate steals (1.3 SPG) and contest jumpers. Smart, versatile, covers a lot of ground. Can pressure the ball and keep his man in front of him. Christon held opponents to 23% shooting in spot-up situations, 30% chasing them around screens, and allowed only 0.69 points per pick-and-roll attempt.

He can be effective guarding PGs, and possibly SGs.

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Weaknesses / Areas of Improvement

• Poor Jump Shot. Simply put, Christon’s career could hinge on the development his jumper.

Right now, he’s a terrible distance shooter. In two years at Xavier, he shot 7-28 (25%) and 19-49 (39) from 3-point range. While his percentages increased as a sophomore, in the grand scheme of things he attempted only 1.4 3-pointers per game.

This season:

19-49 3-pointers
5-24 mid-range
0.87 points per jump shot attempt (46th percentile nationally)

If he was a poor shooter in college, what evidence suggests he will improve in the NBA? Christon appears flat-footed on his jump shot, lacking strength and usually hitting the front rim.

Improving his jump shot—more so than refining his point guard skills—should be Christon’s main priority.

• Forcing the Issue. He’s an aggressive driver, but far too often Christon has tunnel vision, forcing drives at the expense of his team. His 0.93 overall points per possession was an improvement from last year’s 0.81 PPP, but it’s still a fairly inefficient mark. He also committed 2.6 turnovers per game.

He’s talented and physically imposing, but he frequently displays poor shot selection and decision making with the ball in his hands.

• Weak Left Hand. He often forces drives back to his right, or tries to finish with his right hand even on the left side. Not too concerning in my opinion, but nonetheless noteworthy.

• Too much finesse (should use athleticism more). Christon opts for acrobatic reverse layups instead of dunking above the rim. He basically self-neutralizes his own height advantage. Perhaps this will change once he adds muscle/strength in the NBA. Perhaps not.

• Turns 22 in November. Talented but “rough around the edges.” Can he develop? He must improve: (i) perimeter shooting, and (ii) staying composed as to not force drives and eventually find his niche/role within the offense.

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Strengths

• Size and Length. 6-3 PG/SG with 6-6 wingspan and NBA athleticism. Quick, long and athletic.Gets to the rim at will—in transition, cutting, or using the high ball screen. 60% of half court offense occurred in the lane.

• Aggressive Scorer. Tight handle and an “attack mentality” to penetrate the defense.

Transition Speed

28% of Christon’s offense occurred in transition, and he converted a solid 56%. Not the most explosive player, but long and athletic.

Half Court Speed

Good change of speed and direction in the half court. Mixes in stutter steps, hesitations and NBA-style moves.

Finish Through Contact

Slasher / Cutter

Christon finished 69% of his cutting attempts, and his 1.27 points per attempt ranked in the top 25th percentile nationally. He can play off the ball.

Pick-and-Roll (using screen)

Pick-and-Roll (rejecting screen)

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• Capable In-Between Game. Not a good shooter, and struggles from mid-range (5-24), but Christon can shoot over the defense from close range. He can stop-and-rise for a runner (39% FG) or short-range jumper (39% FG, .78 PPP). No extended range though.

Nice Elevation / Stop-and-Rise

Short-Range Pull-Up

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• Very Good Defender. Uses length to accumulate steals (1.3 SPG) and contest jumpers. He can be effective guarding PGs, and possibly SGs.

On Ball Defense

Length

On-Ball Pressure & Interceptions

Pick-and-Roll Defense

Hounding the Ball

Lateral Quickness

Fighting Through Screens

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Unknown

• What’s his position/role? Can he play Point Guard? Right now, Christon is best served as a “lead guard” who attacks in transition and gets to the rim in the half court. He can make plays for himself and others, but he’s not a pure point guard in terms of running the offense.

He can be a spectacular playmaker occasionally, but overall, he needs to improve his decision making and learn how to play within the constraints of an offense. His first instinct is to attack, notto establish half court offense. He played off the ball at Xavier this past season, and he’s not a point guard right now. But he has point guard potential.

Christon is too small and doesn’t have the perimeter jump shot to exclusively play SG, so he kind of has to play PG. Perhaps he can fit into the George Hill/Devin Harris mold? He’s already 21 years old, and turns 22 in November. Can he continue to develop?

Passing (4.2 APG, but only 25% assist rate – 206th nationally)

Pushing the Ball Ahead

Drive and Dish

Hits Roll Man / Cutter

Drive and Kick

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Weaknesses / Areas of Improvement

• Poor Jump Shot. Simply put, Christon’s career could hinge on the development his jumper.

Right now, he’s a terrible distance shooter. In two years at Xavier, he shot 7-28 (25%) and 19-49 (39) from 3-point range. While his percentages increased as a sophomore, in the grand scheme of things he attempted only 1.4 3-pointers per game.

This season:

19-49 3-pointers
5-24 mid-range
0.87 points per jump shot attempt (46th percentile nationally)

Pick and Roll Pull-Up (3-18)

Mid-Range Struggles

3-Point Struggles

Flat-footed.

3-Point Makes (to show he’s capable)

12-24 on catch-and-shoot this season.

Free Throws

Putrid 67% from the free throw line.

Missed FTs

Made FTs

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• Forcing the Issue. He’s an aggressive driver, but far too often Christon has tunnel vision, forcing drives at the expense of his team. His 0.93 overall points per possession was an improvement from last year’s 0.81 PPP, but it’s still a fairly inefficient mark. He also committed 2.6 turnovers per game.

He’s talented and physically imposing, but he frequently displays poor shot selection and decision making with the ball in his hands.

Tunnel Vision / Drives Into Nowhere / Poor Shot Selection

Misses Teammates

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• Weak Left Hand. He often forces drives back to his right, or tries to finish with his right hand even on the left side. Not too concerning in my opinion, but nonetheless noteworthy.

• Too much finesse (should use athleticism more). Christon opts for acrobatic reverse layups instead of dunking above the rim. He basically self-neutralizes his own height advantage. Perhaps this will change once he adds muscle/strength in the NBA. Perhaps not.

“Finesse” Instead of Athleticism

Driving Left (weak off hand)