[Lotto StudParticipant]

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 I don’t know how I feel about this all the way. Rivers highlighted the fact the organization views him as a PG. I still feel as though he’s a 2. Tyreke Evans may be more ball dominant, but I do see that the Pelicans may value Rivers in a sense to him creating for others more effectively.

Eric Gordon has been on a decline since forever. Will this be the year, the Pelicans really commit to Austin and dump Gordon by the deadline?

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 I don’t know how I feel about this all the way. Rivers highlighted the fact the organization views him as a PG. I still feel as though he’s a 2. Tyreke Evans may be more ball dominant, but I do see that the Pelicans may value Rivers in a sense to him creating for others more effectively.

Eric Gordon has been on a decline since forever. Will this be the year, the Pelicans really commit to Austin and dump Gordon by the deadline?

 

 

[TheLastWordParticipant]

 Rivers is a hard worker, you have to give him props for that. I think its too late for him to ever develop into a PG. The scoring instincts are just too hard wired into him. He does have a great handle, takes care of the ball very well.

[TheLastWordParticipant]

 Rivers is a hard worker, you have to give him props for that. I think its too late for him to ever develop into a PG. The scoring instincts are just too hard wired into him. He does have a great handle, takes care of the ball very well.

[benny15Participant]

 Chauncey Billups had played 6 years in the NBA before he became a true point guard. he was 27 years old at the time. Austin Rivers is 22 and still developing his role and game in the NBA. now im not saying he will be able to make the switch like Chauncey did, he may or may not. but i dont think we can say its too late for him to, especially if he’s willing to open his mind and change his approach to the game

[benny15Participant]

 Chauncey Billups had played 6 years in the NBA before he became a true point guard. he was 27 years old at the time. Austin Rivers is 22 and still developing his role and game in the NBA. now im not saying he will be able to make the switch like Chauncey did, he may or may not. but i dont think we can say its too late for him to, especially if he’s willing to open his mind and change his approach to the game

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Austin has always been a favorite of mine and this is being as real as it gets… Austin has that will and fire instilled in him, like the kid who gets underappreciated at the playground (Smalls from Sandlot). You become the last pick regardless, and even if you are the last man, they’ll rather run 4 on 5 which is the chip he carries.

I love it! The ball handling/decision making has gotten even quicker. He’s openly identified and acknowledged his flaws. If it weren’t for this footage, I would have never known how he was soaking in all of the feedback to him becoming a bust just after his Rookie campaign. He wants it! I most certainly respect it.

When you can realize that you have what it takes as a teen, by scoring against NBA talent that early, it becomes the biggest confidence booster in the entire world. He knew that he was going. Never once mentioned the fact that he was riding Doc’s wave or anyone else were throughout the entirety of the footage. I learned more about Doc as well, after Austin explained how he wakes up 3:00am every morning heading into film sessions getting back into Championship mode right after winning it all. You just cannot coach pedigree, it has to be instilled deep within.

I’m pulling for you Austin!

 

 

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Austin has always been a favorite of mine and this is being as real as it gets… Austin has that will and fire instilled in him, like the kid who gets underappreciated at the playground (Smalls from Sandlot). You become the last pick regardless, and even if you are the last man, they’ll rather run 4 on 5 which is the chip he carries.

I love it! The ball handling/decision making has gotten even quicker. He’s openly identified and acknowledged his flaws. If it weren’t for this footage, I would have never known how he was soaking in all of the feedback to him becoming a bust just after his Rookie campaign. He wants it! I most certainly respect it.

When you can realize that you have what it takes as a teen, by scoring against NBA talent that early, it becomes the biggest confidence booster in the entire world. He knew that he was going. Never once mentioned the fact that he was riding Doc’s wave or anyone else were throughout the entirety of the footage. I learned more about Doc as well, after Austin explained how he wakes up 3:00am every morning heading into film sessions getting back into Championship mode right after winning it all. You just cannot coach pedigree, it has to be instilled deep within.

I’m pulling for you Austin!

 

 

 

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

The Pelicans are a going to be a real team this year. Davis is a top five player in the league. They have two other good big men in Asik and Ryan Anderson. This team can’t devote a season to a rehabilitation project. Not when they have a franchise guy like the Brow. I’d like Austin at the PG because of his handles and as long as he is passing at least he isn’t shooting. But will have to improve a lot to justify more than 15 minutes per game. It could happen. A team that can alternate between the Brow and Asik protecting the rim is going to be pretty good at defense. It won’t take a good offense to win games with the D shutting down the paint. 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

The Pelicans are a going to be a real team this year. Davis is a top five player in the league. They have two other good big men in Asik and Ryan Anderson. This team can’t devote a season to a rehabilitation project. Not when they have a franchise guy like the Brow. I’d like Austin at the PG because of his handles and as long as he is passing at least he isn’t shooting. But will have to improve a lot to justify more than 15 minutes per game. It could happen. A team that can alternate between the Brow and Asik protecting the rim is going to be pretty good at defense. It won’t take a good offense to win games with the D shutting down the paint. 

[JoeWolf1]

 With Brian Roberts in Charlotte, he’ll have more of an opportunity to play. That being said, Russ Smith has been added to the mix, and could have some appeal as a bench spark combo much like JLIII has done for Toronto and Chicago for the past few years. 

I think Austin just has to be point guard-ish. He’s a big enough combo, that it’s not 100% necessary that he plays the 1 spot. He’s 6’5”, over 200 lbs, and while point skills will help with his versitility in different lineups, and playing with different guys, I feel the strongest point of his game through his first two seasons is his 3 point jumper. He shot a really respectable .364% last year, and he showed real improvement.

I never threw Rivers under the bus too badly, because he was so young, and it was clear he didn’t have the body for the pro game. He was 200 lbs, but he had the muscle tone of a kid, and hopefully a little maturation and confidence will serve him well this year. He looks more mature and explosive in this video, that is more encouraging to me than him schooling guys in pro-am leagues.

[JoeWolf1]

 With Brian Roberts in Charlotte, he’ll have more of an opportunity to play. That being said, Russ Smith has been added to the mix, and could have some appeal as a bench spark combo much like JLIII has done for Toronto and Chicago for the past few years. 

I think Austin just has to be point guard-ish. He’s a big enough combo, that it’s not 100% necessary that he plays the 1 spot. He’s 6’5”, over 200 lbs, and while point skills will help with his versitility in different lineups, and playing with different guys, I feel the strongest point of his game through his first two seasons is his 3 point jumper. He shot a really respectable .364% last year, and he showed real improvement.

I never threw Rivers under the bus too badly, because he was so young, and it was clear he didn’t have the body for the pro game. He was 200 lbs, but he had the muscle tone of a kid, and hopefully a little maturation and confidence will serve him well this year. He looks more mature and explosive in this video, that is more encouraging to me than him schooling guys in pro-am leagues.

[GBeeParticipant]

 so he could be a back up? big deal.

[GBeeParticipant]

 so he could be a back up? big deal.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

This guy is a big name and he has a ways to go to stick in the league. If he can show that he has backup skills, then he can stay in the league. Otherwise it is time to head to China. His dribbling skills will at least entertain out there.  

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

This guy is a big name and he has a ways to go to stick in the league. If he can show that he has backup skills, then he can stay in the league. Otherwise it is time to head to China. His dribbling skills will at least entertain out there.  

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

 I really like Austin Rivers, but I’m just not sold on his game. 

I think if he’s going to do something though, it’s not going to be in NO. With Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon… I just can’t see him getting a lot of minutes. 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Not to sound like too much of a homer, but we could use him in Brooklyn as well as the Pacers with an absent Paul George, Lance Stephenson, and Evan Turner.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Not to sound like too much of a homer, but we could use him in Brooklyn as well as the Pacers with an absent Paul George, Lance Stephenson, and Evan Turner.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

 I really like Austin Rivers, but I’m just not sold on his game. 

I think if he’s going to do something though, it’s not going to be in NO. With Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon… I just can’t see him getting a lot of minutes. 

 

[KDThunder35Participant]

 I really like Austin’s physical attributes and work ethic for the game.  He has a lightning quick first step, but he negates his own quickness by going east and west with his ball handling instead of north and south.  He needs to make one quick crossover and get into the teeth of the defense instead of just dribbling in place.  

I think the kids heart is in the right place, he just needs a little more opportunity and confidence in his NBA game.  He is talented enough, he just needs to do the things that he can do to be successful and not try to over do it.  I hope he has a really good year.

 

[KDThunder35Participant]

 I really like Austin’s physical attributes and work ethic for the game.  He has a lightning quick first step, but he negates his own quickness by going east and west with his ball handling instead of north and south.  He needs to make one quick crossover and get into the teeth of the defense instead of just dribbling in place.  

I think the kids heart is in the right place, he just needs a little more opportunity and confidence in his NBA game.  He is talented enough, he just needs to do the things that he can do to be successful and not try to over do it.  I hope he has a really good year.

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Question for the Austin Rivers fans. If I gave you the chance to practice free throw shooting everyday for five years. You know, kind of like if you were preparing to be a professional basketball player and free throw shooting was going to be a big part of your game, especially if scoring the basketball is your main skill. If you got to practice like that, how many fingers off your shooting hand could you have cut off and you suspect you could still hit free throws better than 55%? I’m pretty sure I could loose two fingers as long as neither of them was the thumb. I think with a thumb and two fingers I could hit better than 55% of my free throws.

Austin Rivers shot 55% from FT line as a Rookie. He improved it to 65% last year. Those are terrible numbers. 

The guy has some fundamental coordination and muscle memory issues to be shooting FTs that badely when he is supposed to be a jump shooting SG.  

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Question for the Austin Rivers fans. If I gave you the chance to practice free throw shooting everyday for five years. You know, kind of like if you were preparing to be a professional basketball player and free throw shooting was going to be a big part of your game, especially if scoring the basketball is your main skill. If you got to practice like that, how many fingers off your shooting hand could you have cut off and you suspect you could still hit free throws better than 55%? I’m pretty sure I could loose two fingers as long as neither of them was the thumb. I think with a thumb and two fingers I could hit better than 55% of my free throws.

Austin Rivers shot 55% from FT line as a Rookie. He improved it to 65% last year. Those are terrible numbers. 

The guy has some fundamental coordination and muscle memory issues to be shooting FTs that badely when he is supposed to be a jump shooting SG.  

[JoeWolf1]

 I care less that he shot 55% two years ago, and more that he improved his clip 10% in one season. A lot of rookie’s FT percentage drops from their last college season, to their first NBA season. I don’t know if it’s more nerve racking at an NBA line, or if guys playing small roles worry that they’ll get pulled, but it’s not that un-common.

Yeah, a guard shooting 65% isnt’ good, but he showed significant improvement. Until he shows stagnation, I don’t see a reason to panic. He had an awful season as a rookie, but he pretty much improved every statistic as a sophomore. No way around he’s been a bit of a let down for a guy picked 10th, but he’s improving and years away from being able to rent a car.

[JoeWolf1]

 I care less that he shot 55% two years ago, and more that he improved his clip 10% in one season. A lot of rookie’s FT percentage drops from their last college season, to their first NBA season. I don’t know if it’s more nerve racking at an NBA line, or if guys playing small roles worry that they’ll get pulled, but it’s not that un-common.

Yeah, a guard shooting 65% isnt’ good, but he showed significant improvement. Until he shows stagnation, I don’t see a reason to panic. He had an awful season as a rookie, but he pretty much improved every statistic as a sophomore. No way around he’s been a bit of a let down for a guy picked 10th, but he’s improving and years away from being able to rent a car.

[slash787Participant]

 It’s good to see he has the self awareness to address what he needs to improve on. It sounds like an easy concept but it’s not. I think he will take another step forward this season and will average at least 10ppg with increased percentages. People are quick to forget he’s only 22 years old so they praise a rookie like Jordan Clarkson (who I like) but is older than Austin Rivers. If Rivers had a Michael Beasley type attitude I would not have the optimism I have because he is the type of guy that continues to improve instead of going stagnant.

[slash787Participant]

 It’s good to see he has the self awareness to address what he needs to improve on. It sounds like an easy concept but it’s not. I think he will take another step forward this season and will average at least 10ppg with increased percentages. People are quick to forget he’s only 22 years old so they praise a rookie like Jordan Clarkson (who I like) but is older than Austin Rivers. If Rivers had a Michael Beasley type attitude I would not have the optimism I have because he is the type of guy that continues to improve instead of going stagnant.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Bump!

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Bump!

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