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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Joe Young

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 10: Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 10: Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers is seen during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Joe Young Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: Tomas Satoransky #31 of the Washington Wizards tries to get around defense from Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 5, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Wizards won 111-102. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Bad

The most obvious bad for Joe Young is one entire end of the floor: defense. His 107.4 defensive rating was not good, and even though that is a team stat, Young is the point guard a the helm of all that.

He has trouble shutting down the man across from him. In isolations, he was abysmal. TJ Leaf gave up 1.31 points per possession in isolation, which put him in the 5.5 percentile league-wide. Young didn’t defend enough isos to qualify for the league rankings, but he gave up 1.38 PPP in isolation, .7 points worse than the 5.5 percentile.

That is bad. That is REALLY bad.

Young’s biggest weakness ever since becoming a pro has been his D, and it has hardly gotten better in his time in the league. His team defense isn’t good. His on ball D isn’t any better. This is problematic, and there aren’t many signs that suggest it will get better any time soon.

Also, remember how Young had a pretty nice three-point percentage but a below average true shooting percentage? Well, that is because of another one of Young’s huge weaknesses: finishing at the rim.

Young shot 54.8 percent from 0-3 feet this season, which is somehow above his career average. Simply put: Young has no touch around the basket.

One could quickly dismiss this stat as a consequence of Joe Young’s small size; he is just 6’2 after all. But that excuse won’t fly in Pacers land. Darren Collison, who is two inches shorter, shot 10 percent better from this distance. Young just doesn’t have the finishing ability.

If he can shore up his finishing, his offense will be nearly as good as his defense is bad. Until then, Young will struggle to get consistent playing time.

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