Gerald Henderson Quietly Having A Breakout Year

[SilkyJ]

Its only been 5 games so its very early, but G is quietly having a breakout year for the Bobcats...even if they are only 1-4.

He's started all 5 games for the Bobcats, is playing 36mpg and is averaging better than 14pts, 5rebs, and 2asts to go along with 1.6stls per game. He is shooting 44.6% from the field.

His MPG and steals are most on the team and he is 2nd in PPG. One area where he needs to improve is getting to the line: he's shot 3 FTs all season, all of them coming in the season opener.

There's a long way to go, but I expect G to continue to put up strong numbers all season (particularly on this Charlotte roster) and hopefully by next year he can start moving into the upper tier of SGs around the league.

G could have anywhere from 0-2 years left on his contract after this season as Charlotte can exercise their option for next year at $3.1m (seemingly a no-brainer) and then can issue a qualifying offer the following year at $4.3m. In that second year if Charlotte issues a qualifying offer, I believe G would still have the option to explore free agency, but Charlotte would have the right to match any offer, much as the Magic did last year with JJ.

[Chicken Little]

considering what he had to go through for two of those free throws, I can't blame him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYhl8fTDjR0

[superdave]

I would not argue that Henderson is having a breakout year but that he is getting starter minutes after just being a rotation guy last year. He's earning it and should improve over the season. Next year if his efficiency improves and he learns to defend better, it will be a breakout.

Here's his stats (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/gerald_henderson/career_stats.html) that show his improvement over three years.

Here's some more detailed stats (http://www.82games.com/1112/11CHA4.HTM) that show his performance vs. that of his opponent. Basically his PER is 11.2 but the PER of his opponent is 13.9 so Gerald stands at -2.7. If his D improves and he starts knocking down the 3 pointer and getting to the FT line, he could be a really good 2 although probably not an All-Star in a league with Wade, Kobe and up and comers like Harden, Gordon and Curry.

Charlotte is also -14.5 points per possession with him on the court, and -23.9 without him, so he is a lot better than his backup. A good trend on a team that sucketh.

[Billy Dat]

I have been noting G's rise this year as well, and I also noted Kyrie blocking one of his lay-ups last night...ouch!
http://www.nba.com/video/games/cavaliers/2012/01/03/0021100076_cha_cle_recap.nba/index.html

With so many Dukies in the NBA, the guys are bound to stifle each other once in a while.

[Mike Corey]

considering what he had to go through for two of those free throws, I can't blame him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYhl8fTDjR0

I love how he reacted to the hard foul.

He knows the wrong way to react to a hard foul; glad he led by example there.

[ChillinDuke]

Its only been 5 games so its very early, but G is quietly having a breakout year for the Bobcats...even if they are only 1-4.

He's started all 5 games for the Bobcats, is playing 36mpg and is averaging better than 14pts, 5rebs, and 2asts to go along with 1.6stls per game. He is shooting 44.6% from the field.

His MPG and steals are most on the team and he is 2nd in PPG. One area where he needs to improve is getting to the line: he's shot 3 FTs all season, all of them coming in the season opener.

There's a long way to go, but I expect G to continue to put up strong numbers all season (particularly on this Charlotte roster) and hopefully by next year he can start moving into the upper tier of SGs around the league.

G could have anywhere from 0-2 years left on his contract after this season as Charlotte can exercise their option for next year at $3.1m (seemingly a no-brainer) and then can issue a qualifying offer the following year at $4.3m. In that second year if Charlotte issues a qualifying offer, I believe G would still have the option to explore free agency, but Charlotte would have the right to match any offer, much as the Magic did last year with JJ.

Thanks for this, Silky.

I was upset to see G leave a year early, but he still seems relatively close to the program which is always nice to see. Keep up the good work (and monster dunks), G!!!

- Chillin

[Jderf]

Thanks for this, Silky.

I was upset to see G leave a year early, but he still seems relatively close to the program which is always nice to see. Keep up the good work (and monster dunks), G!!!

- Chillin

Oh man. Let's all hope that G starts showing off the highest steps on his ladder. If he starts dunking around on people, hopefully added in with JJ putting up numbers and Kyrie showing what he can do, it could be a big half-season for Duke in the NBA. Combine these performances with our other solid alums, and those stubborn perceptions might, just maybe, start to change.

[NSDukeFan]

Oh man. Let's all hope that G starts showing off the highest steps on his ladder. If he starts dunking around on people, hopefully added in with JJ putting up numbers and Kyrie showing what he can do, it could be a big half-season for Duke in the NBA. Combine these performances with our other solid alums, and those stubborn perceptions might, just maybe, start to change.

Unless of course the perceptions had no basis in facts to start out with.

It is good to see lots of Dukies in the NBA and playing often and often well.

[Jderf]

Unless of course the perceptions had no basis in facts to start out with.

True, true. But I figured a few earth-shattering dunks here and there might do the trick.

[NSDukeFan]

True, true. But I figured a few earth-shattering dunks here and there might do the trick.

If he can ever replicate the Maryland post-Nolan getting knocked out of the game dunk, that would be a nice highlight.

[Lord Ash]

If he can ever replicate the Maryland post-Nolan getting knocked out of the game dunk, that would be a nice highlight.

One of the Top 3, if not the greatest, Duke dunks I've ever witnessed.

[mr. synellinden]

One of the Top 3, if not the greatest, Duke dunks I've ever witnessed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckLHEUkNOgE

Not the best quality - but still beautiful.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckLHEUkNOgE

Not the best quality - but still beautiful.

And it was over Neal, right? What a tool.

[NSDukeFan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckLHEUkNOgE

Not the best quality - but still beautiful.

I really like Jay Bilas' line:
"That young man has an extra step on his ladder that the rest of us don't have."

[Bluedog]

I really like Jay Bilas' line:


"That young man has an extra step on his ladder that the rest of us don't have."

I liked Mike Patrick's line too as shown in this link (a bit better quality video too):

Bilas: "That was quite an answer."
Patrick: "Oooo, I didn't even hear what the question was."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikv-3KoXW_U&t=03m37s

[flyingdutchdevil]

Henderson is having a good year, but certainly not "breakout". He had a very good second half last year and is getting a lot more opportunities.

His best play so far this year? Denying Lebron this dunk. With his head:

http://mankindunplugged.com/2011/12/29/lebron-james-dunks-off-gerald-henderson-head-video/