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Post by Ian Noble on Dec 20, 2013 21:37:03 GMT
I was just checking out some Rodney Hood highlights and I was really impressed.
It's like watching Brandon Jennings, Dee Brown or Steve Francis but in a 6'8" body. Like watching TMac, but with less instinct and more of a mechanical jumpshot. I'm surprised by the lack of dunks in the highlights because he looks like the kinda guy who could really throw it down.
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Post by Ian Noble on Dec 25, 2013 12:50:08 GMT
I've watched a lot of Wiggins this year and I'm not sold on all the hype either... yet. During Kansas vs Georgetown he was almost non-existent the entire game, very passive. It's clear he has elite athleticism but in many ways he just looks a little goofy and flappy out there sometimes, if he's going to reach the stratosphere of Lebron hype, he's definitely not a player that's cast in the same mold as Lebron, his body is a completely different type, like a shorter Anthony Davis that will hopefully bulk out a bit like Davis is doing. Against Georgetown it was as if he was getting frustrated towards the end of the game so he took a few heroic drives to the basket that were just useless, kinda like what I saw in McLemore when I was "scouting" him last season (I still see McLemore doing it), crazy no-hope drives into air tight defenses are signs of slight desperation or just bad decision making. It would be amazing if these drives actually paid off but they just don't.
Right now Jabari Parker is a much, much better player and clearly in the vein of a Paul Pierce or Carmelo Anthony. I can see him going to Utah for some reason. He has leadership qualities and makes good decisions already.
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Chris Mullin
Golden State Warriors
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Posts: 1,303
Feb 19, 2024 21:58:28 GMT
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Post by Chris Mullin on Dec 30, 2013 18:28:31 GMT
I can see him going to Utah for some reason. He has leadership qualities and makes good decisions already. Interesting side note that Parker is a Mormon and considered going to BYU in Utah before settling on Duke b/c of his strong connection to the Mormon faith. He would be the man in Utah!
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Post by Ian Noble on Feb 11, 2014 18:37:54 GMT
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Feb 12, 2014 2:34:46 GMT
Yeah, but at least he doesn't look 50 years old when he was 18 like that other center. So he has that going for him at least.
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Glenn Robinson
Milwaukee Bucks
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Posts: 1,226
Mar 2, 2024 5:20:47 GMT
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Post by Glenn Robinson on Feb 12, 2014 2:59:43 GMT
Jabari Parker is like Carmelo Anthony, many analysts have him ranked ahead of the over-hyped Wiggins, myself included. Such a polished offensive game should not go unnoticed and Parker is a long way from reaching his ceiling. He could easily be better than Melo and end up being a Durant-Lite at his peak. I don't think Parker has the same quick-twitch explosiveness as Melo. In fact I don't think it's even close. Melo isn't fast, but his first step is explosive and his pull up jumper is incredibly quick. Maybe Parker can get there by trimming a little fat and training really hard, but calling him something like Melo is a bit of a reach. Take out Parker's two best shooting games and he's at a lower three point percentage than Wiggins is at with his two best shooting games taken out. Remove the Kansas and Florida ATL games and Parker is at 31.8% three point percentage. He isn't shooting like Melo. Joel Embiid is intriguing, but if he starts to have knee issues moving forward, I think a lot of teams would be hesitant because of past big men with similar issues. However, I think he has the highest ceiling of any prospect this year. I'm not willing to call the guy Hakeem, but he certainly shows flashes. Wiggins concerns me. You see all the tools. He can defend at an NBA level already. It's a matter of if he wants to be great. He is very passive right now as well. I hope he starts to take it up a notch when the tournament comes around next month. Top 10 1. Joel Embiid 2. Andrew Wiggins 3. Dante Exum 4. Jabari Parker 5. Noah Vonleh 6. Julius Randle 7. Marcus Smart 8. Aaron Gordon 9. Tyler Ennis 10. Doug McDermott
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Feb 12, 2014 4:05:02 GMT
Parker actually is a more efficient player at the college level than Carmelo was, and a better defender. I haven't watched much film of Parker though so I'll take your word for it about the first step. Parker will most likely lose weight with a bit of NBA training and more games played though.
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Glenn Robinson
Milwaukee Bucks
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Posts: 1,226
Mar 2, 2024 5:20:47 GMT
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Post by Glenn Robinson on Feb 12, 2014 14:45:18 GMT
It's not even at this point. When Melo was younger he was a more refined offensive player in my opinion. I'll give you the unselfish nature and awareness, but the shots Melo settles for might be the best Parker can create for himself. I guess we will have to wait and see.
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Feb 12, 2014 15:15:26 GMT
Melo is the better passer than Parker, it's a shame he decides not to. I think that Jabari's shot selection is better personally, fewer long twos.
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Post by Ian Noble on Feb 12, 2014 21:33:44 GMT
I liken him more to Paul Pierce. I don't think he'll have the "allure" of Melo. He's going to be a solid, mature, unselfish franchise centerpiece in my opinion. I think Jabari is the most NBA ready of all the new players. I can't see him going anywhere except the Jazz somehow.
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Post by Ian Noble on Feb 12, 2014 21:34:38 GMT
Actually Marcus Smart is probably the most NBA ready, but whatever
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Feb 13, 2014 15:50:54 GMT
Depends on how close to the chest you want to play it, seriously how often do you get a chance to draft a 7 footer that is good on offense and on defense?
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Post by Mike Krzyzewski on Feb 18, 2014 16:31:03 GMT
I am lucky and get to watch both Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood live a handful of times this year.
Both are as advertised though Jabari clearly has the potential to eventually be a cornerstone for a NBA franchise. Hood can really light it up but the SF position can be finicky in the NBA. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Hood fan but I think there is a big gap between he and Parker.
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Post by Ian Noble on Feb 18, 2014 17:20:11 GMT
Yeah whenever I'm reviewing players to draft it's always based on their ceiling, in case it's really high. If some guy is playing awful right now but his ceiling is superstar (e.g. Ben McLemore), I'll take him over a guy who's playing better but who has reached his ceiling (e.g. Michael Carter-Williams). There's a good chance McLemore will never be more valuable than MCW, but why not take a chance?
Rodney Hood's ceiling is Tayshaun Prince/Trevor Ariza/Terrence Ross in my opinion. A really useful role player who just might make the all star game once in his career.
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Post by Ian Noble on Feb 24, 2014 21:28:07 GMT
In the same way that Kobe was like Jordan 2.0, Jabari Parker is like Paul Pierce 2.0.
I kinda hope that the Celtics don't get to draft Jabari Parker because it would be like re-living the past.
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Post by Ian Noble on Mar 3, 2014 21:21:46 GMT
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 3, 2014 22:50:50 GMT
Yeah, this Embiid thing is making me nervous for him.
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Post by Ian Noble on Mar 3, 2014 23:56:40 GMT
Is there any reason to think Doug McDermott is not just Kyle Korver/Jason Kapono 2.0 (a white guy who wouldn't have enough talent to feed and clothe himself if it weren't for his height and three point shot)?
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Post by Andrei Kirilenko on Mar 4, 2014 1:23:48 GMT
McDermott reminds me of Jimmer Fredette. He'll go first round, but I wouldn't want him top 15
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Post by James Kay on Mar 4, 2014 2:04:03 GMT
Is there any reason to think Doug McDermott is not just Kyle Korver/Jason Kapono 2.0 (a white guy who wouldn't have enough talent to feed and clothe himself if it weren't for his height and three point shot)? i think you should korver a little more credit than that lol
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 4, 2014 2:30:22 GMT
If I was picking 15th in the draft I would be happy to get a Kyle Korver.
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Post by Alex English on Mar 4, 2014 3:28:34 GMT
McDermott is better than that. He plays PF most of the time and only about a third of his shots are three point attempts. He looks a lot more like Ryan Anderson than Jason Kapono or Kyle Korver from the little bit I've seen of him. His problem in the NBA will be athleticism, not talent.
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Post by Ian Noble on Mar 9, 2014 23:10:16 GMT
I've been struggling to identify which player Andrew Wiggins reminds me of, but I think I figured it out today. He reminds me of a young, rookie-year Tracy McGrady, and that's not a criticism!
Embiid is like Olajuwon, Parker is like a cross between Melo and Paul Pierce, Julius Randle is like the under-basket intensity of Charles Barkley combined with the frame of Chris Webber. Noah Vonleh is like Chris Bosh. There's also a few sleepers that I'm not going to mention, but goddamn this draft class is really exciting. If half of them fulfil half of their potential you've got a strong class.
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Post by Alex English on Mar 9, 2014 23:26:12 GMT
Wiggins ceiling is just so goddamn high it's nuts. His offensive game is still so raw that he would probably really benefit from returning to Kansas. Just his athleticism and defense alone will make him an above average player right away though. I could see his career progressing kind of like Paul George who took a few years to really find his game and realize his potential.
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 10, 2014 2:47:47 GMT
Olajuwon potential is different from IS Olajuwon.
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 10, 2014 3:51:12 GMT
He's pretty good for someone who's only been playing for 2 years, especially considering how long it takes a big to develop in the NBA.
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Post by Alex English on Mar 10, 2014 3:54:00 GMT
Olajuwon potential is being one of the greatest centers of all time. Those are some pretty big words for a kid who just started playing basketball two years ago. Embiid is far from being the greatest at anything. I'd be surprised if he made an all-star team. He has a big frame and is already encountering back problems at such a young age. He won't hold up nor will he be able to compete with guys like Tyson Chandler and Roy Hibbert in the NBA. It's not at all realistic to compare him to Olajuwon but you're making some big assumptions here. He injured his back, that doesn't mean he has 'back problems'. You can't say he'll have a chronic problem from one injury. On the court he might have the most potential of anyone in this class, besides Wiggins. He is actually athletic and moves well unlike the stereotypical seven footer who lumbers down the court like Andrew Bynum or something. His defensive instincts are fantastic and at worst I think he'll be a one dimensional defensive guy like Motumbo or something. That would be if he never really develops his offensive games beyond what it is now, which I think he will.
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 11, 2014 3:39:12 GMT
Personally, just from reading the reports it sounds like he pinched a nerve or something. Dwight Howard had a "back issue" that even needed surgery and he's back to playing at an all-star level so there is something to be said about the differences between the medical care available nowadays compared to where it was back when Larry Bird was playing.
If I'm Joel Embiid I'm not trying to get myself seriously hurt before I'm about to make several million dollars and I'm not playing again until I see NBA level doctors. I'm going in the top 6 no matter what assuming I don't get hurt more. That's what I'd do personally.
The NCAA is such a racket they (to include Bill Self) don't care if Embiid gets hurt again, they know he's there for 1 season and they are going to profit off of him as much as they possibly can. No reason to spend on good doctors if it will cut into the already ridiculous profit margins. And Self knows there is no chance in hell of winning the tournament without him so he might as well get him to play, who cares.
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Post by Ian Noble on Mar 11, 2014 12:52:44 GMT
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Post by Jeremiah Hill on Mar 11, 2014 13:12:10 GMT
Welp that makes me look like an idiot.
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