[HandDownManDown13Participant]

Beal and Rivers have been compared against each other a great deal as they were the top 2 two guards in this year’s recruiting class. Each player has played very well, and their stats are nearly identical (with rivers getting the edge in 3pt% and assists, while Beal has a huge advantage on the boards).

In projecting their NBA success, I find it interesting that most people say Rivers is too small to play the two, while Beal has outstanding size for his position. I stumbled across their measurements from the Nike Hoop Summit, and again, they’re nearly identical. 

Rivers: 6’4" in shoes; 6’8" Wingspan; 198.6 lbs

Beal: 6’4.5" in shoes; 6’7.5" Wingspan; 195 lbs

So these guys are basically the same size. It seems strange, considering Beal’s style as a power guard (with a nice stroke as well), and River’s style as a finesse isolation guard (with a jumper most call streaky). 

I just found these measurements intriguing as they show a different view of a pretty common sentiment regarding these two prosepcts.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

 Who has called Rivers’ jumper streaky? He has been known as a very good shooter since early on in high school. I remember before he matured physically and his athleticism became more a part of his game, he was known almost exclusively as a shooter.

[kobyzParticipant]

Rivers remind me Jordan Crawford with a litttle Gilbert Arenas

Beal remind me Cuttino Mobley with a little Joe Dumars

[BleedingBlueParticipant]

 According to NBADraft’s own page on Austin Rivers, the newest measurement says he’s 6’5 in shoes and 203 lbs.

He has all the tools to be a special player on the next level: lighting-quick first step, consistent jumper with range, ability to find open teammates while driving, and decent lateral quickness on defense. Now he just needs to put the package together and make the right decisions.

[rileymcshea3Participant]

 Austin Rivers is gonna be a special player in the NBA  just watch 

[lalailaParticipant]

in the newest measurements Beal was 207lbs he is bulky physical spicemen he will be around 220 in three years..but Rivers  i much better..however he still plays much smaller..and after i saw no much playmaking from him and he isn’t all around player like Beal rebounds steals blocks i would take Brad

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Beal looks much bigger than Rivers to me… Just his whole physical physique looks bigger. His frame. Everthing.

I’ll wait to the NBA draft combine for measurements.

[surveParticipant]

 Its more of a perception thing.  there are prototypes, and because Rivers can get his shot off the dribble, he is viewed more as a scorer than a shooter.  Rivers falls under the prototype of scoring guards with one-on-one ability…..like the Kobe’s, the Ellis’, etc.  Beal is not as much of a one on one off the bounce player like Rivers so he falls more under the prototype of the Ray Allen’s, Rip Hamilton’s…..guys who navigate through screens and use different offensive sets to get their shots.

This does not mean that those players cannot get his own shot, its just a different style of ball.  This also does not mean that Beal is a better shooter than Rivers.  One on one players will get that streaky tag because their job is to score without a set.  When a prototype shooter is not hitting, then he is known as cold, not streaky.  Its much easier to catch and shoot than it is to shoot off the dribble.  Rivers could be that Ray Allen prototype because as mentioned above, he was previously known as a shooter but once his one on one game developed now his prototype has changed.

Then size and style of play is perceived.  Due to the lack of playmaking shown by Rivers in addition to his size, he projects as a tweener or combo guard…..while Beal fits right into the prototype (Allen) SG because breaking people down off the dribble is not as big of a part of his game as Rivers.  Also, sometimes a guy has to play a position just because of his size.  Glen Rice could shoot better than most guards, but because of his size had to play forward.  A.I. had to play most of his career at PG.  Derek Fisher has had to play all of his career as a PG, but he is not a great playmaker….etc…etc

This doesnt mean that one is better than the others, just of how they are projected at the next level.  Honestly, I have been really impressed with Rivers college play….and he may be better than Beal but his style of play may see him go lower in the draft because he has to fit with a team.   

[OhCanada-Participant]

Austin Rivers at this stage of his developmentlooks to be used in a similar role as Jamal Crawford. I really think he is an underrated prospect and isnt getting the recognition he deserves because his potential is still through the roof. He definitely has all the tools to be great, and his charisma is outstanding.

[surveParticipant]

 I wouldnt say Rivers is underated as a prospect but underated in terms of impact.  How many teams led by a combo guard have won a championship?  As a prospect there is no doubt he will be successful.   Winning a championship is something different.  Look at the last few years for instance….Rondo, Kidd, Parker, Payton…etc… then you had guys who were not necessarily traditional pure PG’s like Fisher and Ron Harper….but they were tremendous defenders who didnt need to score to be effective plus they were very secure with the ball.   When Harper was a scorer with the Cavs (like Rivers is projected to be) he turned the ball over a lot but less so when he became a PG.

The teams that are in the hunt for the title this year…just look at their lead guards.  Heat, Bulls, Mavs, Thunder, Celts, Clips, Lakers…..only really Rose and Westbrook need to score to be dominant but they are in a different class than Rivers athletically and defensively.

Rivers projects ONLY as a scorer at this point.  Your Crawford comparion is pretty accurate because he likely wont start for a great team because he is not much on the defensive end.

[estebansfParticipant]

 I have a feeling he puts everything together in the coming months. I think his scoring numbers will go up, his assists will, and I also have a feeling he starts to play a complete game on both ends of the floor. He has improved a ton and I see him excelling in ACC play. 

In the NBA, I think he could also be a star. Watching Carmelo today he took a lot of shots but once he heated up, he was unstoppable. He hit losts of difficult shots, which Rivers excels at hitting. He just hasn’t been allowed to take them at Duke. In an offence where he needs to be relied on as a scorer, I see him dominating. His step-back jumpers are amazing and I also see him getting to the free throw line a ton in the NBA.

[river09Participant]

Between these two guys.. I think it’s a matter of preference.. If you want an iso guy you’d like rivers if you like a shooter and off ball guy you’d probably lean toward beal.. If you have a strong pg playing next to them I think the best option is beal just because he’d fit in better.. If you don’t have a strong pg or supporting cast rivers would probably be the better call.. I think it depends on the setting.. 

[uknationParticipant]

Remember these new measurments aren’t based on NBAdraft.net actually measuring these guys, its based on how tall they think the guy’s are now from watching them and or program measurements.

[Author]

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