Could Sir'Dom Pointer see time as point guard?

When you think of Sir'Dominic Pointer's game, a few things immediately come to mind.

Length. His insatiable desire to defend. Soul-crumbling slam dunks.

We know that Pointer is a Badman. But he's a point guard, as well?

That's right.

"Dom Pointer is going to play some minutes for us as a point guard," Steve Lavin said. "He's playing over the top and he has what I call a 'mainstream push' right down the center of the floor."

Not known as a ball handler, the St. John's sophomore is expanding his skill set with the guidance of the staff.

There were many instances during his freshman season when Pointer would advance the rock up the floor off a defensive rebound. Lavin's teams always flourish in transition.

But there's one caveat: it was rarely pretty. Pointer's best play was as a slasher cutting to the basket, waiting for distribution from someone else. He really never conveyed a sufficient ability to maintain steady control through traffic, let alone looking to pass to others in the process. But, even so, he actually averaged less than two turnovers per game.

It doesn't seem like anything ever bothers Sir'Dom Pointer. When he's not torching defenders off the dribble or soaring over their heads for highlight reel dunks, he's doing something...goofy off the court.

So, when Steve Lavin approached him about developing some offensive facilitating skills, Pointer probably didn't think twice about it.

Taking into account D'Angelo Harrison's transition into becoming a point guard, Phil Greene's own development, and Jamal Branch's eventual eligibility, Pointer will struggle to see much time calling out half court sets. But maybe that's not the... "point".

Lavin's notes Pointer's propensity to excel in transition. With the staff's training, he could lead the break, finding opportunities for his teammates. He doesn't need to be the probing playmaker in the half court, just the athletic lynchpin on the fast break.

"He has the ability, similar to DJ Kennedy but with more speed, to take the ball off the backboard and accelerate the ball up the floor," coach Lavin said.

"He sees things well," Lavin continued. "Similar to a periscope coming out of a submarine looking over the water, he can play over the top because of his size."

(We at the Rumble really missed those Lavin Lines.)

In Lavin's system, it really isn't abnormal for all five players on the floor to be capable of handling the ball in transition. With some improved handle, there is no reason to believe that Pointer can't lead a push off an opponent's missed shot.

Pointer has been working diligently since last season's conclusion to become a better overall player. The team's depth issues of a year ago are gone, which may allow the returnees to play more comfortably, more freely, and in their natural positions.

Playing point guard requires speed. Check. It requires a certain level of ambidexterity. Again, check. But still, there is a whole lot more that goes into making a point guard effective, like an ability to see the game develop offensively, a good handle, crisp passing ability.

Does it sound a little off the beaten path? It does. But, then again, Lavin's players have flourished in new positions many times before. The coach love multi-position athletes, and Sir`Dominic Pointer proved last year that he can play anywhere on the floor and make a difference.

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