[valentine]

 I don’t know enough about these guys. In general I try not to get too into the draft scouting process until spring, because you can get emotionally committed to viewing a bust like DRussell as a top pick, and then become unable to mentally adjust to the concept of a Rozier type actually being better.

We see this every year. The concept of a Rudy Gobert being better than a Cody Zeller just becomes unfathomable, and Trey Burke is becomes "obviously" better than a Dennis Schroeder because Burke was locked in as a top pick in people’s minds, while Schroeder didn’t even get invited to the combine or whatever.

So before people get completely rigid in their thinking about next year’s top picks, are there any glaring intangible flaws with any of these guys?

Jahlil Okafor is looking a little too laid back already. Embiid is way too immature and cost himself a second missed season by not taking care of his foot. Jabari is eating himself into sumo shape. Wiggins is the laid back wonder, just happy to be in the NBA. Exum at the very least seems to have a condition that makes him get winded after 10 minutes on the court.

Sometimes being a top prospect is the worst thing that can happen to a young player, and bring out the worst in them. Like major entitlement and total lack of incentive to get better. Look at Anthony Bennett, or Jared Sullinger.

Not every top prospect has the Marcus Smart level motivation to keep working obsessively after the draft process is over.

So what are the intangible red flags of some of these top prospects, even if they are just minor concerns at this point. You know there are some.

 

 

 

 

 

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Right, because guys taken in the top five over the years like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, James Harden, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Russell Westbrook, etc. have all been such headaches with zero motivation to get better. I guess everyone can’t be Marcus Smart and average 8ppg while shooting 37% from the floor….

[T Rex]

 Nice straw man argument, scarecrow. Now go back to singing your theme song.

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 prospects this time last year so I don’t get your point about getting emotionally attached to what you described as "Over Rated" high propects… Once the season began, Russell’s play began to generate a buzz & he slowly climbed the Scouts ladder…

I agree w/ all the scouts that Okafor & Townes were the two best prospects, but that doesn;t mean that D. Russell or any of the other Lottery picks will be busts.. you sound like the person emotionally attached to Rozier… Did you mention him at all before the Celtics drafted him?

Th eother posters are correct.. Historically, ALL future champions, MVP’s & Hall of Famers are Drafted in the Lottery… That doesn;t mean it’s a can’t miss – there are plenty of layers who don’t live up to expectations…

 But if a team wants to win a Ring – the Vast majority who did so acquired a player in the Draft Lottery that was recommended by their scouting personel & that player turned into an MVP candidate then a World Champion & the a Hall of Famer…

 The NBA is Very unique in this regard… Look it up – Only 3 MVP’s in NBA history were NOT drafted in the Top 10 of the Lottery & Kobe should not count & the other two _Karl Malone & Steve Nash were Both picked in the Top 15…. & Only One NBA Championship team was led by a Non Lottery player – 1979 Seattle Super Sonics – Dennis Johnson (2nd round draft & Hall of Famer) – but player 1A on the Super Sonics team was Jack Sikma – (who many believ Should be in the Hall of Fame) & he was drafted #8 overall 1977 Draft…

Look at the Voting for MVP each year – go back 5 years, 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 & so on… almost Every player in the 10 of the MVP voting was a Lottery pick…. I’m not trying to bust your groove, I know you luv the Celtics & I respect that… We all get emotional about the young players on the teams we love but you have to have some perspective…

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 prospects this time last year so I don’t get your point about getting emotionally attached to what you described as "Over Rated" high propects… Once the season began, Russell’s play began to generate a buzz & he slowly climbed the Scouts ladder…

I agree w/ all the scouts that Okafor & Townes were the two best prospects, but that doesn;t mean that D. Russell or any of the other Lottery picks will be busts.. you sound like the person emotionally attached to Rozier… Did you mention him at all before the Celtics drafted him?

Th eother posters are correct.. Historically, ALL future champions, MVP’s & Hall of Famers are Drafted in the Lottery… That doesn;t mean it’s a can’t miss – there are plenty of layers who don’t live up to expectations…

 But if a team wants to win a Ring – the Vast majority who did so acquired a player in the Draft Lottery that was recommended by their scouting personel & that player turned into an MVP candidate then a World Champion & the a Hall of Famer…

 The NBA is Very unique in this regard… Look it up – Only 3 MVP’s in NBA history were NOT drafted in the Top 10 of the Lottery & Kobe should not count & the other two _Karl Malone & Steve Nash were Both picked in the Top 15…. & Only One NBA Championship team was led by a Non Lottery player – 1979 Seattle Super Sonics – Dennis Johnson (2nd round draft & Hall of Famer) – but player 1A on the Super Sonics team was Jack Sikma – (who many believ Should be in the Hall of Fame) & he was drafted #8 overall 1977 Draft…

Look at the Voting for MVP each year – go back 5 years, 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 & so on… almost Every player in the 10 of the MVP voting was a Lottery pick…. I’m not trying to bust your groove, I know you luv the Celtics & I respect that… We all get emotional about the young players on the teams we love but you have to have some perspective…

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 That’s why I don’t really focus on college basketball until the SPRING. Russell had a fast start, made a big first impression against crappy non-conference teams, and everybody said good-bye to their brains.

It didn’t even matter that his stats dropped when he played better competition, nor did it matter when the few NBA level talents he faced completely shut him down, including TJ McConnell.

First impressions can be very powerful, and DRussell is a perfect example.

People even convinced themselves he had James Harden level athleticism, lol, even though he’s 25 lbs weaker and way way way less athletic.

And what’s happened since Russell got drafted #2 hmmmmmmm? He’s looked exactly like the non-athlete he obviously was before the draft, except I was just about the only one here who could see what is now so obvious to everybody.

Because I don’t form hard, rigid opinions in Nov, Dec, Jan, or Feb.

Just look at your next statement, that it was obvious that Towns and Okafor were the top two prospects.

You probably came to that rigid, narrow minded conclusion last fall at the latest, so much so that Porzingis never crossed your freaking mind as possibly better than one or both.

Because you guys like to make up your minds 6 months-1 year before a draft, and then you spend the rest of your time defending your way too early decisions, rather than keeping an open mind and a sense of humility.

Better to wait until the Combine at the earliest. After all, we’re talking about super young players who are developing rapidly but at different rates, from different starting points.

 

 

 

 

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Great idea, T Rex. You should take a break from posting until the combine rolls around.

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Great idea, T Rex. You should take a break from posting until the combine rolls around.

[T Rex]

 That’s why I don’t really focus on college basketball until the SPRING. Russell had a fast start, made a big first impression against crappy non-conference teams, and everybody said good-bye to their brains.

It didn’t even matter that his stats dropped when he played better competition, nor did it matter when the few NBA level talents he faced completely shut him down, including TJ McConnell.

First impressions can be very powerful, and DRussell is a perfect example.

People even convinced themselves he had James Harden level athleticism, lol, even though he’s 25 lbs weaker and way way way less athletic.

And what’s happened since Russell got drafted #2 hmmmmmmm? He’s looked exactly like the non-athlete he obviously was before the draft, except I was just about the only one here who could see what is now so obvious to everybody.

Because I don’t form hard, rigid opinions in Nov, Dec, Jan, or Feb.

Just look at your next statement, that it was obvious that Towns and Okafor were the top two prospects.

You probably came to that rigid, narrow minded conclusion last fall at the latest, so much so that Porzingis never crossed your freaking mind as possibly better than one or both.

Because you guys like to make up your minds 6 months-1 year before a draft, and then you spend the rest of your time defending your way too early decisions, rather than keeping an open mind and a sense of humility.

Better to wait until the Combine at the earliest. After all, we’re talking about super young players who are developing rapidly but at different rates, from different starting points.

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Nice straw man argument, scarecrow. Now go back to singing your theme song.

 

 

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Right, because guys taken in the top five over the years like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, James Harden, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, Russell Westbrook, etc. have all been such headaches with zero motivation to get better. I guess everyone can’t be Marcus Smart and average 8ppg while shooting 37% from the floor….

[T Rex]

 Come on, which top prospect seems the most entitled and me-first?

 

 

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre and RJ Hunter.

[BlueLacesParticipant]

Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre and RJ Hunter.

[ncballer]

 Beat me to it haha.  

[ncballer]

 Beat me to it haha.  

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I think that’s a good list… Most accurate by far

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I think that’s a good list… Most accurate by far

[T Rex]

 Come on, which top prospect seems the most entitled and me-first?

 

 

[Rip256]

 Okafor is definitely the answer to your question about who is the most priveledged

He was so upset that he had to go to Philly. Dude just got 4m a year, tons of touches and virtually no pressure

That footage of him on draft night was priceless. Dude will actually like it there tho…they’ll lose but hes got 15 years ahead of him. 

[Rip256]

 Okafor is definitely the answer to your question about who is the most priveledged

He was so upset that he had to go to Philly. Dude just got 4m a year, tons of touches and virtually no pressure

That footage of him on draft night was priceless. Dude will actually like it there tho…they’ll lose but hes got 15 years ahead of him. 

[Author]

Posts