Nerlens stats from yesterday...
really underrated by this site's people..
the talks this week about Cauley-Stein was just unfair, i love WCS and i have him in the top10 but Nerlens defense is comparable to Davis last year, his abilities are crazy..
while after AD famous three-point shot blocks he become the most versitile defender in college i won't be shy to say Nerlens is even more versitile..
i mean he is not that far away as a rebounder and even shot-blocker and his 2.7stls per game looks silly, i mean how about chance to be SEC leading rebounder-shotblocker-and in steals?
call me crazy i haven't seen that type of versatility at center position since Olajuwon-Robinson era, if i'm not mistaken besides them only one more(G.Wallace) has ever averaged full 2blocks and 2steals per game, and Nerlens has the chance to be the fourth one..
offensivelly there's the other story, he might never be jump-shooter, and a guy with a lot of moves that to can give the ball and trust him..BUT he isn't that bad peopled acted he was..he can handle a little his running hook let alone because of his speed and length looks good, and most importatly 6assists tonight, he still looks like an elite playmaker at his position, kinda Noah, people negged me back in november when i said i see him as a great playmaker, and he still keeps that 2 per game average, that's the range of the same Noah or Griffin back in their college days and just under 2.5avg of Monroe..
he will be good..most likely a very good one
Yea, he is good enough to be the second best player on good team or a 3rd option on a championship team. Ibaka has developed a ton and we don't even see half of his improvement because durant and westbrook dominate the game so much offensively.
It was another Kentucky loss, at home no less. When Texas A&M shoots 53 percent from the field, and then also gets 43 percent of their missed shots, I think it is wrong to be praising Noel or anyone on Kentucky for their play and hustle, much less think this speaks to this making him a special prospect or valuing it over some of the great games put forth by other big men in recent years (Monroe, Cousins, Udoh, Zeller, Samhan, Davis, White, Morris, Aldrich, Sullinger, etc).
I mean, the stat line was solid and he may have been a bright spot, but they lost the game 83-71. As much as Nerlens put up an efficient game from a numbers standpoint, Texas A&M SG Elston Turner finished with 40 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Think that in terms of his team also coming away with the W, he may not have been the prospect of the game, but was certainly the player of the game.
If a team shoots 53 percent from the field and scores 81 points in a 40-minute game, I think that trumps any block shot numbers. Beyond that, if a team pulls in better than 40 percent of its misses, I think it should prevent people from praising the defense, rebounding, and hustle of the other team. I don't think it is really a complex issue.
Noel may not be the best player in this draft but his shot blocking ability and potential at the center position could be used by any teams in the NBA. In a league full of versatile ,skilled power forward that can usaually score and rebound but not much of defensive studs are all complimented perfectly for a guy like Noel.So whatever team takes the first pick of the draft may not be looking for that star to turn that team around right away but someone that can start the process for the future and set that team up for another draft pick.Because think about it ,this draft doesn't have that guy like Blake Griffin,John Wall ,Derrick Rose ,or Anthony Davis.So you might as well pick a player that compliment the stars coming into next years draft (Wiggins,Randle,Parker,Harrison)
Noel is having a good year so far. 10.8, 9.3 and 1.9 with 3.7 blocks and 2.7 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. Pretty stinkin' good stat line for a freshman. Combine those facts with his size, length, and athleticism and you have a top 5-7 pick in just about any draft, probably top 3 in this one.
Another thing I like about Nerlens is his ability to be patient and take his points when they come. It would be easy for him to try and act like big man on campus and jack up a bunch of shots to get his, but he plays within the offense and only takes 7.4 per game.
ESPNSTATS said it was the first game with that many different stats in a game since '96-97. You gotta problem, take it up with them.
And this board is supposed to be about discussing draft candidates, not teams. Who cares UK got beat, NN was solid the entire game.
The events that take place in a game do matter in the discussion of a draft prospect. You posted about how hustling, tenacious, and quick he was in a game where he and his highly acclaimed teammates didn't get stops or keep Texas A&M from getting second and third chances. Don't you think "his hustle, quickness and tenacity are what is going to put him over the top" also should have put Kentucky over the top in the game?
Noel played a phenomenal game yesterday. Aside from Harrow he was the only player on the floor to give consistent effort, and the stats reflect how well he played. We all knew he would put up silly block numbers, but his hands are nothing short of incredible. He knows how to read passes, and surprisingly doesn't gamble to get his steals. People in the NBA should know what they are getting with him though. He will be able to chip in 9-10 ppg, 10 rpg, 2-3 assists, and 1+ steals per game while playing good (not great) post defense. He probably isn't worth a top 3 pick, but he will be worthy of a top ten pick.
In regards to Turner's incredible game, there wasn't a lot Noel could do about that. Turner worked Poythress for about 17 points in the first half alone. He simply couldn't miss. Calipari tried Poythress, Goodwin, WCS, and even a zone and nothing seemed to phase the kid. To put up 40 in that environment is a great feat in and of itself.
They lost another winnable game, and his stats weren't that amazing. He was very well balanced and showed versatility, but its not like he had 23 rebounds or 12 blocks...it was just very solid across the board. As many have posted, there have been way more impressive statistical performances, and most of those resulted in Ws, not losses against mediocre competition.
Since I'm a bit of a numbers guy, here are some top games from just 2012-2013. Hands down, the best game in years, is just not true.
Jeff Withey - 16 points 12 rebounds 12 blocks
Michael Carter Williams - 15 points 16 assists 3 rebounds 5 steals 4 blocks
Doug McDermott - has gone for 29 + points and 8 + rebounds 5 times this season
Otto Porter - 18 points 12 rebounds 5 assists 5 blocks 3 steals
Jordan Bychynski - 13 points 12 rebounds 12 blocks
Isaiah Sykes - 16 points 10 rebounds 11 assists 3 steals
Andre Robertson - 17 points 20 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal
Jack Cooley - 24 points 15 rebounds 3 assists 2 blocks
Mason Plumlee - 21 points 17 rebounds 2 assists 1 block
Mike Muscala - 29 points 19 rebounds 2 assists 1 block/ 26 points 13 rebounds 4 assits 5 blocks 3 steals
Brandon Davies - 26 points 17 rebounds 3 assists 1 block 3 steals
Kelly Olynk - 33/10 and 31/8 back to back games
Brandon Paul - 35 points 4 rebounds 3 assists 2 blocks 3 steals
There are certainly some impressive numbers that you've listed there. It's worth noting, however, and this pertains to Noel's numbers as well that overall rebound total is not a significant indicator of a player's contribution to a win. Lost in the mud is the number of defensive rebounds. For instance against a poor free-throw shooting team a big man can catch the board off the front end of a one and one, EASILY, maybe 4-5 times a game. Any player in that position most likely could have gotten the rebound because it's not very often that the offense gets a board on their own missed free throw. Also look at who offers help side defense in the post. If someone leaves their man down low to help the helper very often a backside rebound can be had just by being there. I've seen the analyses but don't care to look for them at the moment but defensive rebounds look nice, but aren't really all that indicative of contributing to a win. It is, however, a lot harder to impress people with a player's offensive rebounding efficiency because who cares, a triple double sounds much sexier.
/end rant.
Best stat line in for a college player in years:
15pts
11rbs
7blocks
6assist
4steas
0 TO;s
100% hustle. Showing glimpses of Offensive game, 2 nice jump hooks with left and right hand. That part of his game can be taught and developed, his hustle, quickness and tenacity are what is going to put him over the top.