Ryan Anderson
PF, 6-8, 220
Junior, 21 years old
Hometown: Lakewood, CA
Season (31 mpg): 14.3 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.6 BPG
49% FG, 6.6 FTA
*If the videos do not appear, please “refresh” the webpage once
VCU 69, Boston College 50
Saturday, December 28, 2013 | 7:30 p.m. EST | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Ryan Anderson — PF, 6-8, 220
Junior, 21 years old
Game: 13 points, 7 rebounds
Outlook: Anderson is a versatile forward who can score anywhere inside the 3-point line. He can play either forward position, although most of his offensive production comes from 18-feet and in. Good athlete to finish with dunks and over-the-shoulder moves in the paint, and he has nimble feet to take bigger defenders off the dribble. Anderson can occasionally step out and hit a 3-pointer, but not with consistency.
Despite his wiry 220-pound frame, Anderson is a good rebounder at BC. He establishes position in the paint to battle stronger defenders, and has a nose for the ball when crashing boards from the wing.
Anderson has shown the ability to score consistently—he averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds as a sophomore—and he scored at least 20 points eight times last season. He’s continued that production this season, and despite Boston College’s overall struggles, Anderson has continued to produce.
The question marks for me are his 1) defense, 2) motor, and 3) jump shot. He won’t make the NBA as a skinny 6-8 power forward with a few around-the-basket moves; he’ll need to extend his range as a pick-and-pop threat. Also, I’m skeptical of Anderson’s upside — how much better can he get? When I watch the film, I feel like he should be averaging 22 and 12, not 16 and 7.
Defensively, Anderson stays upright in his stance and \on the perimeter, and his 220-pound frame is too frail in the post. He’s kind of stuck in no man’s land.
Overall, Anderson’s scoring ability and offensive versatility should garner NBA consideration. If he can extend his range to the 3-point line and improve defensively, he has a chance to carve out a role as a versatile stretch-forward.
Scoring Versatility
Shot Attempt Breakdown:
46% in the paint | 30% post-up | 19% jump shots | 5% runner
Video: Scoring around the basket / Post Up
Anderson is shooting 56% in the paint. He can dunk the ball with good lift at the rim, and can finish as a pick-and-roll screener. He’s definitely skilled in the paint, but his skinny frame makes it hard for him to initiate—and finish through—contact.
Video: Around the Basket
Video: Post-Up
Video: Shooting (decent)
Anderson is shooting 33% on jump shots this season.. not great. He needs to polish his jump shot, especially from deep.
Defense (room for improvement)
Video: Perimeter Defense (Closing Out)
Anderson does a good job closing out on shooters, but he stays upright in his stance and gets beat off the dribble. The video below is a decent (at best) portrayal of this.
Video: Interior Defense
Anderson is allowing 1.2 points per possession in post-up situations, ranking in the bottom 80th percentile nationally. He’s too skinny right now to compete with bigger, stronger, more physical players.