The Boy who Cried Bust

 Only person in Rivers way is Eric Gordon. Once the Pelicans cut ties with Gordon, it will help fully restore Rivers’ confidence to become the guy we presumed him to be.

 Only person in Rivers way is Eric Gordon. Once the Pelicans cut ties with Gordon, it will help fully restore Rivers’ confidence to become the guy we presumed him to be.

i would say that rivers still has a chance.  the way the pelicans used him his 1st year was just not right.  he was never going to be a nba pg.  i think he’ll be fine.  he’s shown flashes of being a jamal crawford type scorer off the bench and is only 21.

t-rob may be a different story.  i think he is an excellent college player, but his game never translated when playing guys with the same size and athleticism.  in the end, i doubt anyone would of guessed sully and terrance jones would of been better players so you can’t blame sacramento.  come to think, sacramento has had a couple bad times drafting ku players now…

i would say that rivers still has a chance.  the way the pelicans used him his 1st year was just not right.  he was never going to be a nba pg.  i think he’ll be fine.  he’s shown flashes of being a jamal crawford type scorer off the bench and is only 21.

t-rob may be a different story.  i think he is an excellent college player, but his game never translated when playing guys with the same size and athleticism.  in the end, i doubt anyone would of guessed sully and terrance jones would of been better players so you can’t blame sacramento.  come to think, sacramento has had a couple bad times drafting ku players now…

 I highly doubt these 2 will become allstars.. but I do feel they could be solid role players on good teams..

 I highly doubt these 2 will become allstars.. but I do feel they could be solid role players on good teams..

Rivers hasn’t been as horrible as he was during his rookie season, however he’s still struggling and if injuries hadn’t taken away half of the players in New Orleans’ roster he would’ve never got any playing time. I think he still has to prove he can be a legit Nba rotation player.

Robinson has been playing better, but I’m still shocked because I expected him to be much better and ready to contribute immediately. Portland’s bigs rotation is quite short behind LMA and Lopez. Not a good sign that during LMA’s injury Stotts has played small ball lineups with Dorell Wright at 4 instead of starting and increasing Robinson’s playing time. He’s an energy guy and will stay in the Nba for many years, but it’s still unclear how he can contribute on offense and if he will be able to be more than a passable option off the bench.

Rivers hasn’t been as horrible as he was during his rookie season, however he’s still struggling and if injuries hadn’t taken away half of the players in New Orleans’ roster he would’ve never got any playing time. I think he still has to prove he can be a legit Nba rotation player.

Robinson has been playing better, but I’m still shocked because I expected him to be much better and ready to contribute immediately. Portland’s bigs rotation is quite short behind LMA and Lopez. Not a good sign that during LMA’s injury Stotts has played small ball lineups with Dorell Wright at 4 instead of starting and increasing Robinson’s playing time. He’s an energy guy and will stay in the Nba for many years, but it’s still unclear how he can contribute on offense and if he will be able to be more than a passable option off the bench.

They are both still career backups, or mediocre starters on a bad team. Rivers plays the worst position in the NBA and I can’t think of a team that would give him a shot at starting off the top of my head. Robinson was supposed to be one of the more pro ready and safe picks in the draft and is still getting well under 20 mpg on a team that has one legit big man.

They are both still career backups, or mediocre starters on a bad team. Rivers plays the worst position in the NBA and I can’t think of a team that would give him a shot at starting off the top of my head. Robinson was supposed to be one of the more pro ready and safe picks in the draft and is still getting well under 20 mpg on a team that has one legit big man.

Minutes plays a factor. TRob should be getting more minutes and play near the basket instead of showing us that he can shoot like Horford. Blazers have 1 (ONE!!!) big man that gets consistent, deserving minutes, and he’s getting overworked. Play T Rob more, screw Freeland and let Leonard iron out some kinks soon.

Minutes plays a factor. TRob should be getting more minutes and play near the basket instead of showing us that he can shoot like Horford. Blazers have 1 (ONE!!!) big man that gets consistent, deserving minutes, and he’s getting overworked. Play T Rob more, screw Freeland and let Leonard iron out some kinks soon.

I felt T Rob was overrated from the start..He isnt very skilled,raw offensiely and has a low basketball iq..In college he had a coch that knew how to place his bigs in positions to be successful And Robinson was much stronger and quicker than his peers…Once he got to the pros he was lost,becuz everyone was more talented and just as faster than him..Becoming a backup allows him to use his quickness against slower 2nd unit players….

I felt T Rob was overrated from the start..He isnt very skilled,raw offensiely and has a low basketball iq..In college he had a coch that knew how to place his bigs in positions to be successful And Robinson was much stronger and quicker than his peers…Once he got to the pros he was lost,becuz everyone was more talented and just as faster than him..Becoming a backup allows him to use his quickness against slower 2nd unit players….

 if Monta never makes ASG then I doubt Austin will.  I still believe he can be a really good player though….yes…kinda in the vein of Crawford…but not as good.

when I think of T-Rob, Kurt Thomas comes to mind.  probably will play for a dozen teams but will always have a job in the league especially after All Star breaks.  a career backup but still very servicable.

 if Monta never makes ASG then I doubt Austin will.  I still believe he can be a really good player though….yes…kinda in the vein of Crawford…but not as good.

when I think of T-Rob, Kurt Thomas comes to mind.  probably will play for a dozen teams but will always have a job in the league especially after All Star breaks.  a career backup but still very servicable.

Austin Rivers- If you’re a scoring guard you need to do at least one of these things great or you aren’t going to be very efficient…  Finishing or Shooting…  The issue with Austin is that he isn’t a good finisher and isn’t a good shooter…  Not every scoring guard is a great finisher from jump and if they are, they’re immediately considered the next great player… Westbrook, D. Rose, Irving, Tyreke…  After a jumpshot isn’t develop, they’re left to being just a ball hogging scorer… ala Tyreke…   Or you could be a great shooter and get your finishing moves later (see Steph Curry)…  Austin’s floater is now falling (reason for the spike in production), I heard he’s a hard worker so hopefully he’ll get better..  He does understand angles, just need to get consistent at finishing…  His jumper will never be great because of his form…

T-Rob- No other PF in NBA 2K14 give me more fits than T-Rob and Blake Griffin…  Can’t leave them because they will always get an offensive rebound or an oop…  The bad thing about this is its only a game and in real life T-Rob isn’t aggressive like that…  His issues is all head, not that he talented…. (See B-Easy)

Austin Rivers- If you’re a scoring guard you need to do at least one of these things great or you aren’t going to be very efficient…  Finishing or Shooting…  The issue with Austin is that he isn’t a good finisher and isn’t a good shooter…  Not every scoring guard is a great finisher from jump and if they are, they’re immediately considered the next great player… Westbrook, D. Rose, Irving, Tyreke…  After a jumpshot isn’t develop, they’re left to being just a ball hogging scorer… ala Tyreke…   Or you could be a great shooter and get your finishing moves later (see Steph Curry)…  Austin’s floater is now falling (reason for the spike in production), I heard he’s a hard worker so hopefully he’ll get better..  He does understand angles, just need to get consistent at finishing…  His jumper will never be great because of his form…

T-Rob- No other PF in NBA 2K14 give me more fits than T-Rob and Blake Griffin…  Can’t leave them because they will always get an offensive rebound or an oop…  The bad thing about this is its only a game and in real life T-Rob isn’t aggressive like that…  His issues is all head, not that he talented…. (See B-Easy)

 Rivers is nice.. He just needs time and confidence

 Rivers is nice.. He just needs time and confidence

 Rivers is probably a future solid back-up point, but not much more.  He is solid, but he isn’t even the best 2nd-year point guard on his team.  He was just overhyped before the draft.  He has met my pre-draft expectations perfectly.  He is fortunate all the injuries in NO have allowed him to get minutes.

Robinson is in the same boat.  He just hasn’t translated his game to the NBA well.  He looks like a solid career back-up, which isn’t terrible.  He will have a long career due to his rebounding and athleticism.

 Rivers is probably a future solid back-up point, but not much more.  He is solid, but he isn’t even the best 2nd-year point guard on his team.  He was just overhyped before the draft.  He has met my pre-draft expectations perfectly.  He is fortunate all the injuries in NO have allowed him to get minutes.

Robinson is in the same boat.  He just hasn’t translated his game to the NBA well.  He looks like a solid career back-up, which isn’t terrible.  He will have a long career due to his rebounding and athleticism.

Trob was a top 5 pick. at best now, he’s a good energy big off the bench.

i still label him a bust. 

Trob was a top 5 pick. at best now, he’s a good energy big off the bench.

i still label him a bust. 

Don’t forget that Rivers has been quite good defensively also.

If he can get that floater and that 3 consistent he can be a great player who scores and defends. Thats a big if though.

Robinson will be an energy guy unless he gets that jumper to a high level.

Don’t forget that Rivers has been quite good defensively also.

If he can get that floater and that 3 consistent he can be a great player who scores and defends. Thats a big if though.

Robinson will be an energy guy unless he gets that jumper to a high level.

If he works hard he could be much like Grant Hill (Detroit days).

If he works hard he could be much like Grant Hill (Detroit days).

 They could still both end up having productive careers off of the bench but I don’t think either will ever be a starter on a contending team.  It is unfortunate because Austin Rivers is looking like maybe a sparkplug off the bench but that is definitely not who you want with the 10th or 11th pick.  And a back up big is definitely not what you want with the 5th pick.

I think Thomas Robinson has the physical attributes and the motor to be successful in the NBA.  He has definitely gotten a raw deal as far as playing time is concerned, and already being traded multiple times probably hasn’t helped his morale, but I still think he could pan out into a decent player.  Unfortunately he probably won’t get a legitimate shot in Portland because Aldridge is playing in front of him, and all of the things he does well such as defense, rebounding, hustle are things that Stotts doesn’t seem to care much about.  

Out of the two I am still putting my money on Robinson to have the better career.  He has simply had to work harder to get where he is than Austin has seeing as his dad is an NBA coach. Robinson knows the work it will take to be successful where as Rivers just probably hasn’t had to work that hard on things his whole life.  A bit presumptious I know but given his circumstances and what I have seen about his personality it’s probably pretty accurate.

 They could still both end up having productive careers off of the bench but I don’t think either will ever be a starter on a contending team.  It is unfortunate because Austin Rivers is looking like maybe a sparkplug off the bench but that is definitely not who you want with the 10th or 11th pick.  And a back up big is definitely not what you want with the 5th pick.

I think Thomas Robinson has the physical attributes and the motor to be successful in the NBA.  He has definitely gotten a raw deal as far as playing time is concerned, and already being traded multiple times probably hasn’t helped his morale, but I still think he could pan out into a decent player.  Unfortunately he probably won’t get a legitimate shot in Portland because Aldridge is playing in front of him, and all of the things he does well such as defense, rebounding, hustle are things that Stotts doesn’t seem to care much about.  

Out of the two I am still putting my money on Robinson to have the better career.  He has simply had to work harder to get where he is than Austin has seeing as his dad is an NBA coach. Robinson knows the work it will take to be successful where as Rivers just probably hasn’t had to work that hard on things his whole life.  A bit presumptious I know but given his circumstances and what I have seen about his personality it’s probably pretty accurate.

 I think TRob is who he is. He’s always gonna be the energy guy off the bench. 15mpg guy. Don’t think it’s a bad thing just think that’s who he is. 

Austin Rivers I haven’t given up hope on yet. Think at best he is a sixth man of the year candidate but he can work his way into that role. I think he has the tools to score 15 a game off the bench he is just still refining his game. FT% needs to be in the 80s tho: and needs to get to about 35% from 3. Then develop a floater. None of that is impossible for Rivers. He can get into the lane. He can create his own shot. Just needs to get a few things down. He’s got the chance to do so. 

 I think TRob is who he is. He’s always gonna be the energy guy off the bench. 15mpg guy. Don’t think it’s a bad thing just think that’s who he is. 

Austin Rivers I haven’t given up hope on yet. Think at best he is a sixth man of the year candidate but he can work his way into that role. I think he has the tools to score 15 a game off the bench he is just still refining his game. FT% needs to be in the 80s tho: and needs to get to about 35% from 3. Then develop a floater. None of that is impossible for Rivers. He can get into the lane. He can create his own shot. Just needs to get a few things down. He’s got the chance to do so. 

 River’s  is starting to pass the ball more, which will at least secure him a bench role on some team. As for TRob, not sure he has a place, I think most teams would just go with a cheap stretch 4 over him (think Daye or Marvin Williams). 

 River’s  is starting to pass the ball more, which will at least secure him a bench role on some team. As for TRob, not sure he has a place, I think most teams would just go with a cheap stretch 4 over him (think Daye or Marvin Williams).