Ben McLemore vs PJ Hairston
McLemore's stock should be down. I wouldn't want my top pick to be a nervous ninny. He's been struggling with his confidence for a little while too and it just so happen to coincide with key games down the stretch and tournament games.
Hairston's not as talented but he looks like he never lacks confidence.
I don't even know who to pencil in at #1 now. I think I'll just leave it blank.
I've said from the beginning that I don't like McLemore as the 1st pick because he's a shooter who doesn't have the ability to put the ball on the floor and get a bucket when his shot isn't falling. And when he isn't scoring he doesn't really impact the game too greatly.
Hairston I think could become a Wes Mathews type of player in the league.
McLemore is having a bad game, but its not as if anyone in the tournament has played well enough to over take him as the #1 prospect. Zeller looks average so far, Shabazz has obvious holes in his game, Otto Porter had a mediocre showing in 1st round of the tournament.
As for Hairston, his stock has been going up lately, and now has a chance to be choosen in the lottery.
B-Mac has had a bad couple of weeks starting against Iowa St where he didn't really play bad but only scored 11 points. Then he only scored 5 points against Kansas St. And in 2 Tourny games he's only shot 2-14 and going without a make today on 0-9 is really bad.
Imagine drafting a guy in the top 3 who went 0-9 in a Tourny game and only scored 2 points. That's more of a testament to the fact he's not good at getting to the basket with the ball. And he doesn't really make consistent defensive plays that would allow him to get buckets in transition. With his speed and length I kinda want him to get more steals, or just make more explosive defensive plays with his athleticism.
McLemore wasn't good at creating his own shot in high school which is why he wasn't ranked higher, so i don't know why people think he'll just be able to pull that skill out of a hat when he get's to the league. Last year Brad Beal came alive as the March got under way and McLemore has died.
I still think he's a top 5 player for sure but if he can't turn it back on you can bet that teams are going to be more willing to gamble on a big man then him come draft time.
I think PJ is declaring. He has had a good enough year to get selected in the first round, and I think he will be a solid pro. His 3 ball has some serious range on it. He doesn't hug the college line,he is a good 3 feet behind it when he lets it fly.
Might as well take B Mac out of that top spot now. Only a huge run for the rest of the tournament could get him back to the first pick after these two games. Scouts and GMs tend to overvalue Tournament success because it is the last thing they see, but B Mac had problems before this and these games have just been seriously mediocre.
I've been the same on him all year... He's a good defender, not great. Very Athletic, and Can shoot the lights out. That is his game to me. He's definitely worth a lotto pick, but I just wouldn't take him as number one. If I'm taking a shooting guard as my number 1 pick, he has to have something about his game that screams out Superstar. He lacks a 1 on 1 game. You'll def have a shooter and athlete, but is he worth a number one pick?
As far as the real number 1 pick goes, I'm with Siggy.... I dont know have any clue who to put right there.
I thought Beal's handle is much better. He didn't fumble the ball like Hairston tends to do on a lot of drives and he also handled it a lot more than Hairston did this past season. Besides that, I think he's just a better all around player with more athleticism. I know you think that Hairston having some very fine dunks means he's athletic but I don't see a lot of quickness with him, laterally or straight ahead. I don't see a player who is going to be able to penetrate in the NBA unless he becomes quicker and significantly improves his handle. Beal was quicker and more nimble. Beal's not a great athlete either and he has inferior size but Hairston faces more questions about whether he can stay with wing players on defense.
Hairston has NBA range but besides that, what does he project to do, what is going to keep him on the floor for more than role player minutes?
Overall, I think Beal was a better passer, less of a gunner, better ballhandler and athlete.
I wanted to make this thread before the game started but got caught up so I'm making it at halftime. B-Mac who has been front running the draft for most of the year has had a rough tourney thus far and Hairston who started the year coming off the bench has been on fire lately and is resembling a lotto pick.
Both are having bad games at the half so its gonna be fun to see if either come alive in the 2nd half. I really think Hairston will have a big 2nd half and continue to cement his draft status a lotto talent. Hairston will most likely declare if he can keep up a strong tourny