And there were many on here who said the motion offense didn't need a true point guard. We're seeing how smart they were as well...
And to be fair, Smith has been able to get his own shot on numerous occasions this year...
I think there are different versions of what a PG is. Many think that person makes everything happen through his ball dominance. Some think Yogi was a pure PG. Braden sees everything and rarely dribbles just to dribble while others are watching waiting for him to do something so the others can score. Purdue does a lot of off ball screening as well as feeding the bigs. Last game Braden got it going with his change of pace working ball screen and getting deep, but for most of the season he just sees things a few frames ahead of them happening. His vision, his passing and his control of the game set him apart from many that play the same position.
Certainly in a motion type offense or "read" offense the success is the versatility of those to counter the D based upon a read. Purdue runs a lot of sets, but not as much so far this year due to more versatility and a couple of freshman with high basketball IQs. What Braden brings realtive to IQ and passing Matt was already sold on Ethan to provide in that area a couple of years before.
In a way I hate saying this, but Braden and Fletcher are not only really good players skill wise, but both pretty mature in their approach and that is not to denigrate any other players. The play between is similar to Braden's dad playing with Austin Parkinson where they knew each others game well and where they would be at all times on the court. Few players considered PGs are a pass first player "today" that sees the floor so well. Many are scorers that create off the dribble which Braden did with Zach last game. If Braden were 5 or 6 inches taller and somehow played a 3 we would be talking about how good of a 3 he was in that he could pass, shoot and put the ball on the floor with good court savvy. Essentially, he is just a really good ball player that is playing the 1. Had he played a 2 with the same skills we would just call him a really good ball player.
Braden can get his shot and most importantly make it,
and although many wanted him to look a bit more to shoot, he isn't wired the same way as Carsen. Thankfully, his maturity understands that when he has the ball, 4 others don't and recognizes there is today and in the future talent around him to help carry the load. FWIW, for a team that had no true PG over Matt's years (by many), a particular person as a talent evaluator thought Braden was a good fit for Purdue...that Braden fit the needs of Purdue and no doubt some of that were those leaving.
Some people would think Willie Deane is the PG they want...others Carsen Cunningham...two scorers that were very different. Lewis Jackson another...all three very different. Two scorers on poorer teams and Lewis another game controller on the better team...but not a scorer although he did well in the Kansas game driving the ball ...until he missed...
Braden has the skill set Purdue and every team needs. It will be interesting to see how his game goes if Zach stays another year (and that is possible) and when he pairs up with others in a couple of years and it won't surprise me either way in that he still defers to others and yet I can see him maturing physically and shooting a bit more behind the arc as well. Years ago a reporter asked Knight and his coaches who would be a PG and Knight laughed and asked what was a PG? He wanted basketball players. Still we know what we generally mean in discussing many PGs, but we understand a bit more in agreement when we discuss really good players. He is still a freshman, but he has been a pleasant addition to Purdue.
edited below
I guess what I'm trying to say it this talented team allows Braden's talent shine. I believe that if lewis Jackson was running the point and Braden was a 2, we would be talking about Braden being a very good 2 for all the same reasons...and if Braden were on a poorer team his skill set would not shine as much and so he makes Purdue better and when Purdue is better so is he...
