Over the past four seasons, Long Beach State’s Mike Caffey has been able to play against many of the best teams in the country. Though the team is in the Big West conference, which has been improving each year, Coach Dan Monson likes to prepare his team for conference play by playing as tough a non-conference schedule as he can. This season alone, Caffey, who averaged 16 points, 4 rebounds, and almost 4 assists per game, had very good games against NCAA Tournament teams Brigham Young, Xavier, UCLA, San Diego State, Texas, and St. John’s.
With his college career recently coming to an end, let’s take a look at Caffey’s game and how it translates to the professional level:
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Offense
Caffey has been a key part of the Long Beach State offense, showing the ability to score from anywhere on the court, as well as distribute. He is a very good ballhandler, and in combination with very good speed, he often has little problem creating space from defenders. Caffey is able to attack the basket well to his left or right, and his hesitation/change of pace could be tough for his opponents to defend. He likes to use screens when handling the ball, and he has a nice ability to accelerate and turn the corner quickly, leaving his defender a few steps behind him and forcing defenders to rotate. Caffey also likes to try and get switches on screens, hoping to get a big man who can’t handle his speed on the perimeter.
Caffey is a threat to shoot from most spots on the floor, and has little problem getting good looks off the dribble. He has improved his ability to hit a runner or short jumper around the lane, as well as being somewhat more consistent with his mid-range jumper off the dribble. Long-range shooting can be an issue, and though he has a quick release, at 6’0 tall, he needs to find enough space to get it off. When he has time and space, Caffey can be an above-average long-range shooter, though his shot selection can be a bit odd at times. He relies on his jumper because he does have trouble finishing around the basket, especially against long defenders, though he can also be very creative.
Because of Caffey’s ability to get into the lane, he draws help defenders very well, and he is capable of hitting open teammates rolling to the basket or spotting up on the perimeter. He does make some good passes, but he can also be late making reads and trying to force the ball into tight spots. Caffey’s first priority has seemed to be getting his own scoring opportunity first, but the ability could be there for him as more of a distributor.
Caffey uses his speed well in transition, and he likes to push the ball whenever he gets the chances. He does a good job changing direction in the open court to keep defenders off balance, and his speed allows him to get to the rim quickly.
Defense
Caffey has quick feet and hands, and he uses both well to pressure ballhandlers on the perimeter. He moves well laterally, and can pressure the ball full court if necessary. Caffey can have problems with bigger point guards, but he is a lot tougher and more physical than his size. He also needs to work on getting over screens more consistently. Off the ball, Caffey has good instincts, and though he will take a lot of chances looking to create turnovers, when they work, it leads to quick points.
The Next Level
Caffey has been both a scorer and distributor in his college career, and though he likely won’t be a primary scoring option early in his pro career, he can take the time to improve on areas like making quicker reads in the pick-and-roll, and becoming a better post-entry passer. His speed and scoring ability should serve him well however, especially in a situation where he comes off the bench to give a team some energy. Defensively, he will need to work on defending the ballhandler better in pick-and-rolls, but his quick hands and feet should also help him create turnovers. Finding the ideal league and team will take some work, but in the right situation, Caffey can make a big difference for a team early in his career.
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