[CoachWorthyParticipant]

There has been quite a few forum topics exploring why UCONN is so bad even with 2 bonifide NBA starters (next year) and a few more NBA players on the team. The problem is not Drummond I can tell you that. I have missed UCONN during this slide their on but Drummond will be a star and should be the number 1 pick. I love Davis but drummond looks as though he’s lost ten pounds from the seasons beginnings. His feet are quick and he is agile and powerful. Davis’s intangibles are elite but Drummond seeems to play just as unselfishly, not taking bad shots or forcing the action. Everyone projects Drummond as an Amare/Howard hybrid as far a ceilings go. His floor is high, a lot higher than his detractors feel it is. His floor is as a bigger, more athletic, better shot blocking and all around less dumb DeMarcusCousins. He is not the passer Cousins is but Cousins may be one of the best passing big men in the league, outside Gasol, Garnett and Duncan.

[bdiddy5115Participant]

I’m a big fan of Drummond’s, and I’m generally a critic of Cousins’, but one thing Cousins has that Drummond hasn’t displayed yet is a high-level motor. That made Cousins a super-efficient player at UK (though he played with more willing passers than Andre), while Drummond shows flashes but also disappears for long stretches.

That’s honestly what sets apart Davis from Drummond – his motor. Even though Davis has quite a few question marks regarding his body and offensive potential (both of which Drummond has him beat), it’s hard to see Davis not panning out just because his work ethic is fantastic, and like I said, his motor is incredible.

[TheLastWordParticipant]

He is not a star yet or UConn wouldn’t have fallen off the map. They haven’t even been playing good teams and keep losing. I will give you he is a lock for #2.

The way I see it:

1. Davis

—huge gap—

2. Drummond

—huge gap —

3. Barnes

4. Gilchrist

5. Lamb

etc

 

[YurpleHazEParticipant]

I just dont see where these howard/amare comparisons are coming from…..he is just nowhere as nimble and fluid as them especially when it comes to amare…..I’m not big on comparisons, but I think bynum is a more of a accurate one…….

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"That’s honestly what sets apart Davis from Drummond – his motor."

So all those possessions where Anthony Davis sits a foot outside the lane with his hands on his knees are simply him revvying up his motor?

[simonkildayParticipant]

I am still amazed that everyone is so sold that Drummond is going to be the next big thing.  Yes he is remarkably large and athletic, but outside of that, what is all the hype about?  His offensive game is not just raw, it’s downright weak.  His footwork sucks, his jumper has a low release point and will get sent by the Serge Ibakas of the world, his jump hook is awkward, and he lacks any sort of instincts or understanding of position.  Anything outside of a catch and dunk at the basket is non existant in his offensive game.  To top it all off, he shoots 33% from the line.  He makes DeAndre Jordan look like Ray Allen.  That to me is a huge indicator of not only lack of proper mechanics, but also a lack of composure, focus, and mental fortitude.  This would not be as big of a concern if he had anything resembling a motor and played hard on every posession, but he doesn’t; he disappears for long stretches of games, sometimes even entire games.  Check the doughnut hole he hung up on Louisville a couple weeks back.  If he at least improves in this area, then he can carve out a DeAndre Jordan type niche in the league.  But until he can get double doubles consistently in college, its ludicrous to spend a lottery pick on this guy just based on potential.  Michael Jordan drafted Kwame Brown because he was infatuated with his potential even though he’d proven nothing against high level competition; as a Wizards fan, it still haunts me to this day.  So keep drinking the Drummond kool-aid, nbadraft.net.  I’ll pass.

Meanwhile, as Drummond continues to flounder for a tanking UConn team, Anthony Davis continues to dominate night in and night out for the #1 team in the country.  His offensive game is masked because Kentucky is loaded and doesn’t need him to use a ton of possessions, but he has all the tools to be a solid offensive player at the next level.  He has solid though not great mechanics on his jumper, some semblance of a jump hook, and great instincts.  Once he puts on a little bit of weight he will be able to hold his position better in the post, but this should come as he gets older.  Being the leading scorer on the #1 team in the country without having a single play run for you isn’t too shabby.  Defensively, he is a nightmare.  He is on pace to break the single season records for blocks, and while he is extremely long, he is not freakishly tall or explosive, which means his defensive prowess is a testament to his anticipation, instincts and motor.  I can’t believe this is even a debate.  Which is sad to say because if the Wizards get the #1 pick, they’ll probably take Drummond.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"Yes he is remarkably large and athletic, but outside of that, what is all the hype about?"

Are you new to the NBA? Remarkably large and athletic is why giant children from India, China, Senegal, and the Sudan end up globetrotting their teenage years learning what a zipper cut is. Centers are the rarest and therefore most important commodities in the NBA. Andre Drummond made a mistake by being so dismissive of the jump from AAU basketball to the Big East. He didn’t have the summer sessions of practice and class to get acclimated. He got thrown in raw, and graded on the curve of Big East freshmen on non-doormats he is doing quite alright. He isn’t NBA-ready, but if there is anyone worth waiting on and anyone worth missing on it is a 6′ 11" 270 lbs center. Portland has waited 5 years on Greg Oden, and the moment he becomes a free agent this summer there will be 20 teams hoping to take their place. This isn’t some bum who a college coach is treating like the Chief in Cuckoo’s Nest, it is a real player.

[So raspyParticipant]

Maybe you get Kwame Brown. Maybe you get Dwight Howard. thats why they’re high risk/high reward players with.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

He is kicking knowledge. His definition of "motor" is dead on. It is funny that these "low motor" players seem to suddenly get a kick start when they get a favorable match-up. When they get a mismatch, they suddenly are "not putting in enough effort". It is a combination of awareness and skillset.

Somethings can’t be taught, some players are in better condition and have more energy than others. But, the fact is, you are choosing a 5 in Drummond against a 4 in Davis. If you think Davis is more skilled, that is fine, but Drummond will have much fewer problems matching up with more physical opponents due to his brute strength from being flat out bigger. 

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

I cant believe nobody is talkin about sullinger lately just drummond and davis.. i feel like he’s been outplaying both of them lately and having him fall so far in the mock is ridiculous..

[JNixonParticipant]

 BTPH, you are a funny guy. I agree with everything you said as well. Drummond’s situation (him being thrown in the fire at arguably the toughest position in basketball to play on the fly) is overlooked. He didn’t get the luxury to practice with his team alot as most Fr. did before the year, and I think how he’s played has been fine considering that. UConn has underachieved badly, but Drummond has made about the impact you can expect considering his skill set and the fact he didn’t have the preparation most did.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Off Topic.

Good game going on Napier hit a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep 3 to go up 3 in ot with .6 left.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Jeremy Lamb was huge as well, think 32 was a career high. Big win for UConn’s NCAA hopes. I still think they will make the tournament, they apparently have had the toughest schedule in the nation, or close to it. Still of course expected more from them, but they are a team that could cause issues. I feel like they have offensive issues with getting their bigs involved and defensive issues with their guards. Not that I am taking all of the blame away from Drummond and Oriakhi, they have to do something to get more involved, but it is something I have noticed.

Jared Sullinger, to me, is the most dominant player in college basketball, at least as an offensive post option. He is incredibly skilled, but his issue is going to be foot speed and conditioning. Did you see that Michigan State game? They killed him with length and speed. Jared is an excellent player right now and I think he will become a solid starting 4 at the next level. Even so, I see greater ability for NBA development with Davis and Drummond.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n9hSMquADI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=togQKkA_Zws

In case you missed the first four months of the 2012 NCAA basketball season, here is a recap.
 

[Ghost01Participant]

 I agree with Drummond’s potential, and agree that Davis is highly overrated. But lets not crown Drummond yet. He still needs to improve ALOT before I deem him an "NBA starter".

[Pro-21Participant]

 Hes doing as well i thought he would, solid but not 1st pick material. I’ve seen him ever since high school and I can tell you that he is the fastest center Ive ever seen and with his strong sturdy frame i dont imagine he’ll be injury prone, and eventually his athletic ability alone will make him a star. Give him his second year and he goes first, but honestly He should easily be a top 3 pick this year , his floor is too high to pass up on.

[apb540Participant]

After tonight I have now been able to watch Uconn a few times this year and it looks like Drummond simply does not understand how to play at the pace of a Big East game. Yet. Like said above me, he is raw and was thrown in because he is a gifted person, and I think he has shown enough potential to warrant a high pick.

As far as Davis vs Drummond it might come down to what each team thinks of their current PF or C. 

Random but Imagine if the Wizards get the top pick again.  Would they go Drummond and look to trade McGee or take Davis.  Imagine trying to drive on Anthony Davis, best shot blocker in college basketball, and McGee, second in the NBA in blocks.  Has any team ever had the two top shot blockers on the same team?  Plus, if you think the Lakers throw a lot of alley oops, wait till you see John Wall with those two.  Even if they don’t win a lot of games they will still be a fun team to watch.  

This brings up another point, if the Wizards make McGee available what would he be worth?

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

NBA is a different game. Westbrook scores 40 in the NBA and showed none of that in college. Jimmer is struggling even more than I thought with his O and his D. Guys who play well in space or play well in a faster pace game will be more usefull.

[simonkildayParticipant]

Just because something is rare doesn’t make it more valuable.  How many oversized centers with no real basketball skills have we seen come through the draft will a lot of hype only to fizzle out in the league?  Too many.  Drummond has bust written all over him.  You heard it here first.  Get out of 1975; teams aren’t built around centers anymore.  I’m not saying he can’t have a long career in the league, but anyone who drafts him thinking he will be a franchise center is dreaming.

[Author]

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