[cuseflynn10Participant]

First, let me say that the Duke vs. Syracuse game was a classic. The Olympic coaches / best coaches in the college game, going head to head. Syracuse needing the win to get off to a 21-0 start, the best in school history, while Duke needed the win to prove their #17 ranking was far too low. It was only fitting that the game went to overtime.

But I have to say, CJ Fair needs to get some love on this site. His worst game this season was seven points and has put up twelve or more in the other twenty games. He just went off for 28 points on 12-20 shooting and chipped in 5 boards and 2 blocks. He’s pretty much automatic from mid range and he is athletic and flexible enough to finish in a variety of ways at the rim. His only weaknesses are his three point shot and ball handling. He did shoot 47% from three last year but has fallen off to 28% this year. His ball handling is decent, but if he got it a little tighter, he could really take his game to the next level. I know he’s a senior, but there has to be a point where you say, I’ll take the proven product over the potential. He may not be the next star at the next level, but he’s a guy who can definitely stick around in the league for a long time. No way should he fall all the way to 40. He needs to be in the 25-30 range, if not higher.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 I’ll give cj fair his due.  Nobody on duke could check him.  When Marshall plumlee had cj on the wing, it was one of the biggest mismatches I have ever seen in college basketball.  Cj took advantage of it with an easy drive and dunk.  I figured that all cj heard about all week about how great Jabari Parker was and I hope it ticked him off.  Parker will be drafted higher than him, but cj was the better play today.  The rematch at Cameron will be epic.  I think fair has solidified himself as a first round draft pick.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 I’ll give cj fair his due.  Nobody on duke could check him.  When Marshall plumlee had cj on the wing, it was one of the biggest mismatches I have ever seen in college basketball.  Cj took advantage of it with an easy drive and dunk.  I figured that all cj heard about all week about how great Jabari Parker was and I hope it ticked him off.  Parker will be drafted higher than him, but cj was the better play today.  The rematch at Cameron will be epic.  I think fair has solidified himself as a first round draft pick.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

I think what keeps Fair from being a first rounder is that he has a game much better suited for the NCAA than the NBA.  A lot of his value in college comes from his ability to create his own shot off the dribble, but he isn’t good enough for an NBA team to let him handle the ball as much as he does in college, as he needs to many dribbles to beat his man and is very predictable, almost always going left.  He is likely to struggle to defend NBA PFs, so his value has to come on offense.  And I don’t think he is going to be a dynamic finisher at the rim, just a mid-range specialist who occasionally gets to the rim when defended by a slower player.  

If Fair had three point range, it would be a different story, but, considering he hasn’t developed a consistent three-point shot in four years of college, I’m not sure an NBA team can count on him being an overly dangerous floor spacer. 

[drk3351Participant]

 Fair is a better shooter than you think.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 He is 28% from beyond the arc, 72% from the FT line and 44% overall from the field on the season.  He is an outstanding mid-range shooter, but he absolutely has to be because he is a below-average shooter from the NCAA 3-point line and isn’t a particularly good finisher at the rim.  And I don’t think his slashing game will translate well to the NBA since he dribbles way too much in the half court.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 He is 28% from beyond the arc, 72% from the FT line and 44% overall from the field on the season.  He is an outstanding mid-range shooter, but he absolutely has to be because he is a below-average shooter from the NCAA 3-point line and isn’t a particularly good finisher at the rim.  And I don’t think his slashing game will translate well to the NBA since he dribbles way too much in the half court.

[drk3351Participant]

 Fair is a better shooter than you think.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

I think what keeps Fair from being a first rounder is that he has a game much better suited for the NCAA than the NBA.  A lot of his value in college comes from his ability to create his own shot off the dribble, but he isn’t good enough for an NBA team to let him handle the ball as much as he does in college, as he needs to many dribbles to beat his man and is very predictable, almost always going left.  He is likely to struggle to defend NBA PFs, so his value has to come on offense.  And I don’t think he is going to be a dynamic finisher at the rim, just a mid-range specialist who occasionally gets to the rim when defended by a slower player.  

If Fair had three point range, it would be a different story, but, considering he hasn’t developed a consistent three-point shot in four years of college, I’m not sure an NBA team can count on him being an overly dangerous floor spacer. 

[goldie92689Participant]

 CJ Fair over 129 career games is ..471 from the field .358 from 3 and .721 from the line. He is adjusting to his role as primary offensive player. A role that he will not have on the next level. So you are really very wrong and you don’t really know what your talking about.  He is not very good at creating his own offense which is what he is being asked to do this season thus the declined percentages. He is a knock down shooter from stationary positions out to 23 feet. He is NOT a PF!! He isnt really playing PF at all this season. He is completely legit nba 3 man at 6-8 215ish, an excellent defender, good finisher around the rim and as we discussed an elite mid range shooter.

[goldie92689Participant]

 CJ Fair over 129 career games is ..471 from the field .358 from 3 and .721 from the line. He is adjusting to his role as primary offensive player. A role that he will not have on the next level. So you are really very wrong and you don’t really know what your talking about.  He is not very good at creating his own offense which is what he is being asked to do this season thus the declined percentages. He is a knock down shooter from stationary positions out to 23 feet. He is NOT a PF!! He isnt really playing PF at all this season. He is completely legit nba 3 man at 6-8 215ish, an excellent defender, good finisher around the rim and as we discussed an elite mid range shooter.

[DolanCareParticipant]

 I’m a huge CJ fan. He was also the main reason they made the Final Four last year as well. I see him as a potentially better version of Bradon Bass in the League. 

[capecodderParticipant]

 

 Game is closer to Bosh than Bass….not saying he’ll be as good as Bosh….only his game is similar

[capecodderParticipant]

 

 Game is closer to Bosh than Bass….not saying he’ll be as good as Bosh….only his game is similar

[DolanCareParticipant]

 I’m a huge CJ fan. He was also the main reason they made the Final Four last year as well. I see him as a potentially better version of Bradon Bass in the League. 

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 CJ has adjusted well to being the go to guy this year, but he plays better in the complimentary role which is what he’d be doing in the NBA anyway. He’d be a good bench player to start his NBA career, but if he is able to improve his handles so he can create for himself and add a more consistent three point shot, I think he could become a starter down the road.

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 CJ has adjusted well to being the go to guy this year, but he plays better in the complimentary role which is what he’d be doing in the NBA anyway. He’d be a good bench player to start his NBA career, but if he is able to improve his handles so he can create for himself and add a more consistent three point shot, I think he could become a starter down the road.

[machu46Participant]

In terms of CJ and the NBA, you can’t let this one incredible game get in the way of evaluating him.  This was by far the best he’s ever looked handling the ball.  He’s usually a turnover waiting to happen any time he puts the ball on the ground.  Last night, he was simply dominant.

But in terms of an NBA prospect, I think he’ll have a hard time defending on the perimeter, he doesn’t have NBA range from 3, and he simply isn’t a passer.  I think he’s still a 2nd round pick at best unless he suddenly continues to play the way that he did last night.  But I think the 100+ games of his career before last night are enough to know that he isn’t very good at creating off the dribble, and scoring is really his only calling card as a prospect, so if he can’t create off the dribble, what does he really bring to an NBA team?

As a Syracuse fan, I love CJ.  I bought his jersey in his freshman year and have repped it at every game.  He’s one of my favorite players we’ve ever had.  But I don’t think he’ll make an impact in the NBA.  He’ll be an end of the bench kind of guy at best IMO.

 

 

 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Thank you for the genuine objectivity. I really agree with everything you said. No doubt he is a very good college player and was phenomenal last night.

But he’s also a wing too small to play 4 who can’t shoot and can’t defend. In today’s NBA, there’s just really no role for that guy. If he were in a different era, that wasn’t so dependent on spacing, I think he would have a better shot to succeed.

I’m a Duke fan and I don’t want to sound like a hater, I just think honestly way too many times guys have the marquee college game and people want to say "hey, isn’t this guy a better pro?". I heard the same things with Deshaun Thomas last year, who was a year younger a bit bigger and a better shooter. 

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 I understand that in the league right now you pretty much have to be dominant at attacking the paint or consistent from three, but as the cliche goes, "the mid range is a lost art." Well CJ Fair is the Picasso of that lost art cause he perfected it. He might not have range out to 20-25 feet, but anything from 10-18 feet he’s usually automatic. 

 

I definitely can see the problem in him creating offense for himself, but what team realisitically is going to be asking CJ Fair to come into the league and play a huge role in their offense? CJ Fair knows what his strengths are and plays to them. I don’t think he should be going as low as 40, but I also realize he isn’t the second coming of Carmelo Anthony. I could understand when you say that people overvalue players after one good game, but he’s consistently put up 12 or more this season, so it hasn’t just been one good game. If we put the standard of a "good game" at 12 points then he has 20 of them in 21 games. He knows his strengths, he knows his role, and he is consistent with his play, and you know what your getting from him when you draft him, while some guys ahead of him are risky (McAdoo, Haiston, Walker, Capela, and a few others.)

[Ghost01Participant]

 Smart teams don’t want to take mid range shots because they know it’s the worst shot in basketball.

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 It’s not the worst shot when it goes in. 

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 It’s not the worst shot when it goes in. 

[dcaseParticipant]

It’s not the worst shot in basketball.  It is a lost art at the NBA level and therefore the %’s are down.  If you are referring to a shot just inside the NBA 3 point line….then yes it is the worst shot.  But mid range shots also include 10-18 footers anywhere outside of the paint. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Here is the problem.

Why would you want a guy who’s strength is taking mid range jump shots?

 NBA Teams don’t build there team around those players any more. It is about attacking the rim, shooting 3s, and getting to the line. 

If you are profficient at any of those things, then you aren’t really a good fit in the NBA. 

 

 

 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Here is the problem.

Why would you want a guy who’s strength is taking mid range jump shots?

 NBA Teams don’t build there team around those players any more. It is about attacking the rim, shooting 3s, and getting to the line. 

If you are profficient at any of those things, then you aren’t really a good fit in the NBA. 

 

 

 

[dcaseParticipant]

It’s not the worst shot in basketball.  It is a lost art at the NBA level and therefore the %’s are down.  If you are referring to a shot just inside the NBA 3 point line….then yes it is the worst shot.  But mid range shots also include 10-18 footers anywhere outside of the paint. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Smart teams don’t want to take mid range shots because they know it’s the worst shot in basketball.

[machu46Participant]

The problem is that if you aren’t asking him to go in and score, what are you asking him to do?  He doesn’t pass the ball.  He can’t handle the ball.  He’s just an average rebounder.  And my guess is that his lateral quickness will be an issue when it comes to defending SFs on the perimeter, so defense won’t be a strength either.  He doesn’t really offer an NBA team much.

[machu46Participant]

The problem is that if you aren’t asking him to go in and score, what are you asking him to do?  He doesn’t pass the ball.  He can’t handle the ball.  He’s just an average rebounder.  And my guess is that his lateral quickness will be an issue when it comes to defending SFs on the perimeter, so defense won’t be a strength either.  He doesn’t really offer an NBA team much.

[cuseflynn10Participant]

 I understand that in the league right now you pretty much have to be dominant at attacking the paint or consistent from three, but as the cliche goes, "the mid range is a lost art." Well CJ Fair is the Picasso of that lost art cause he perfected it. He might not have range out to 20-25 feet, but anything from 10-18 feet he’s usually automatic. 

 

I definitely can see the problem in him creating offense for himself, but what team realisitically is going to be asking CJ Fair to come into the league and play a huge role in their offense? CJ Fair knows what his strengths are and plays to them. I don’t think he should be going as low as 40, but I also realize he isn’t the second coming of Carmelo Anthony. I could understand when you say that people overvalue players after one good game, but he’s consistently put up 12 or more this season, so it hasn’t just been one good game. If we put the standard of a "good game" at 12 points then he has 20 of them in 21 games. He knows his strengths, he knows his role, and he is consistent with his play, and you know what your getting from him when you draft him, while some guys ahead of him are risky (McAdoo, Haiston, Walker, Capela, and a few others.)

[dcaseParticipant]

Who says he can’t defend?  Being that the Cuse plays zone d 100% of the time you can’t evaluate how good he is or is going to be on D in the NBA.

[dcaseParticipant]

Who says he can’t defend?  Being that the Cuse plays zone d 100% of the time you can’t evaluate how good he is or is going to be on D in the NBA.

[Ghost01Participant]

 Thank you for the genuine objectivity. I really agree with everything you said. No doubt he is a very good college player and was phenomenal last night.

But he’s also a wing too small to play 4 who can’t shoot and can’t defend. In today’s NBA, there’s just really no role for that guy. If he were in a different era, that wasn’t so dependent on spacing, I think he would have a better shot to succeed.

I’m a Duke fan and I don’t want to sound like a hater, I just think honestly way too many times guys have the marquee college game and people want to say "hey, isn’t this guy a better pro?". I heard the same things with Deshaun Thomas last year, who was a year younger a bit bigger and a better shooter. 

[machu46Participant]

In terms of CJ and the NBA, you can’t let this one incredible game get in the way of evaluating him.  This was by far the best he’s ever looked handling the ball.  He’s usually a turnover waiting to happen any time he puts the ball on the ground.  Last night, he was simply dominant.

But in terms of an NBA prospect, I think he’ll have a hard time defending on the perimeter, he doesn’t have NBA range from 3, and he simply isn’t a passer.  I think he’s still a 2nd round pick at best unless he suddenly continues to play the way that he did last night.  But I think the 100+ games of his career before last night are enough to know that he isn’t very good at creating off the dribble, and scoring is really his only calling card as a prospect, so if he can’t create off the dribble, what does he really bring to an NBA team?

As a Syracuse fan, I love CJ.  I bought his jersey in his freshman year and have repped it at every game.  He’s one of my favorite players we’ve ever had.  But I don’t think he’ll make an impact in the NBA.  He’ll be an end of the bench kind of guy at best IMO.

 

 

 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

I see guys like CJ who have a distinguisable NBA skill and think eventually some team will need said skill at some point in time…

Players like Fair get drafted all the Time, some of them never make it on to an NBA roster, some players develop into very solid players after a coach warms up to him…

All it takes is a few GM’s to see the potential in a guy like CJ Fair, look at Solomon Hill last season, a jack of all trades that didn’t always look like a pro who eventually gets drafted in the 1st round by Indiana, no reason why CJ Fair couldn’t be a guy a coach wants to work with, a mid to late 1st rounder doesn’t seem too out ordinary for a wing a knock down mid range jump shot

 

  

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

I see guys like CJ who have a distinguisable NBA skill and think eventually some team will need said skill at some point in time…

Players like Fair get drafted all the Time, some of them never make it on to an NBA roster, some players develop into very solid players after a coach warms up to him…

All it takes is a few GM’s to see the potential in a guy like CJ Fair, look at Solomon Hill last season, a jack of all trades that didn’t always look like a pro who eventually gets drafted in the 1st round by Indiana, no reason why CJ Fair couldn’t be a guy a coach wants to work with, a mid to late 1st rounder doesn’t seem too out ordinary for a wing a knock down mid range jump shot

 

  

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