[fliptonnParticipant]

Attending Duke was Austin Rivers big mistake. At Duke, Austin was required to be the primary ball handler (Seth Curry was a major dissapointment) in a system that relies heavily on teamwork and discourages individual success. Because of this, Rivers is now the odd man out in almost all mock lotteries.

Had he gone to UNC, things would be very different. He would have likely starting in that weak link SG spot that plagued Carolina all season. He could have played off the ball putting the burden of PG on the shoulders of the very able Kendall Marshall. He would have been in a system that highlights his strengths being put in isolation and pick and roll situations with the likes of Tyler Zeller. On top of that, he would have been the go to guy in late game situations. This would help both Barnes and Rivers. Barnes is best served as a guy who will get you steady points throughout the game and a reliable scorer, but has consistantly underperformed when the game is on the line. Whereas Austin Rivers does the latter, seemingly not getting his game going at all untill the end of the game. We all know the self proclaimed "sub-zero" can hit the big shot, evidence in the game against UNC when he hit the buzzer beater. The addition of Rivers may have been the push they needed to carry UNC to the National Championship.

Coming out of Winter Park High School, Rivers was projected as a top 5 pick by most, ahead of fellow guard Brad Beal. Rivers has shown us that he has elite athleticism and many of the tools needed to be a successful NBA player. He’s one of the hardest workers in the draft class and he wants more than anything in the world to be great. He’s also shown that he’s not a PG in his stint at college. The point is, he started out as the top rated shooting guard in the draft class. He’s now ranked behind not just Beal, but Waiters, Lamb, Lillard, and even in some cases Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten.

This is a shame because he could really kill it in the right system. If you put him in Phoenix at the 2 with strong finishers, stretch forwards, and a pass first PG, Rivers could really thrive. Even in Portland or New Orleans (if they lose Gordon) Austin could turn out to be a lot better than people are expecting. It seems likely that he’ll drop to Denver or Minnisota and look out for those teams if he does. Next to Lawson or Rubio in a very up and down offense, again with stretch forwards and strong finishers Rivers will reach his full potential.

The main idea I’m trying to portray is that Rivers is being over-looked as old news at this point and I think he has all-star potential in the right system. 

Just as a reminder of what Rivers did in High School…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulBZgyspCdl 

[joecheck88Participant]

I am a really big Rivers fan. He was a freshman guard at a big time school. He had some struggles but I think he did a great job. Some say he reminds them of OJ Mayo but I just don’t see it. He attacks the rim a lot better and is much quicker. His problem is finishing at the rim. I think he could be a Monte Ellis type player or atleast Ellis like scorer.

[joecheck88Participant]

I am a really big Rivers fan. He was a freshman guard at a big time school. He had some struggles but I think he did a great job. Some say he reminds them of OJ Mayo but I just don’t see it. He attacks the rim a lot better and is much quicker. His problem is finishing at the rim. I think he could be a Monte Ellis type player or atleast Ellis like scorer.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

I think he should go higher than people expect… he’s gone from being overrated to being underrated.

I can really see Toronto making a shot at him at 8, NO at 10 (even if gordon is there, I think they would take the risk), portland at 11, and phoenix at 13.

If he falls in the right team (playing time) with the right coach (freedom and confidence) he should be a steal…

[HaleParticipant]

Only thing I disagreed with is Barnes not getting it done at the end of games. He’s done that plenty of times, he just didn’t against Kansas.

[BrxaParticipant]

I think Minnesota would be a perfect fit for him.  They needed a guy who can take the ball and create something when things broke down, a scorer, and they have a hole at SG.  With him and Rubio back I think they’re a play-off team.

[CAROLINA BLUE NICKParticipant]

I agree with Junkyard Dog in terms of where he might get drafted in the lottery. Toronto is the highest he could go, I think Phoenix is the only other team that may take a look at picking him. Unless a team signs Eric Gordon and NO isn’t willing to match it, EG isn’t going anywhere since he is restricted. I don’t think NO would be a good fit for him as a starter. Maybe as a scorer off the bench that could start in the future if Eric Gordon leaves. Portland has Matthews and Crawford unless they are free agents this year. I’m not sure. And plus a lot of peole have Portland taking Beal or Drummond if those two are available at 6. They could maybe take him at 11 but he is not a point guard. Rivers is a straight scorer. If he falls out of the lotto I can see him landing in Boston of course, Minnesota, heck if he is still available I could see him going back home to Florida and the Magic picking him up. I don’t think he will fall that far though. His combine will make or break his lottery statuts.

[bigheavyParticipant]

This kidd can truly score the ball somebody gonna pick him in that 8-14 pick range…

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

Kid is a nightmare if anyone is in this draft one on one. NBA is more one on one. I think he is a top 5 guy.

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

Rivers has flair..

Thats something that soo many players dont have.  He wants to be the go to guy.  He is ready to take the big shot and he wants to be noticed.. That will cause him to have an impact right away..

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Yeah Austin is a beast, he needs the right system tho, i think NO has to think about him and Davis.

Vasquez/Jack

Gordon/Rivers

Ariza

Davis

Smith/Okafor

[akhan786Participant]

I don’t get how you think UNC would’ve been a better place for him when they’re not exactly known for producing NBA SG’s.

Also, Austin Rivers does NOT have elite athleticism other than maybe elite quickness. He’s undersized and skinny. If you look at all of the other succesful undersized shooting guards in the league they all have one thing in common…they have ELITE athleticism. Eric Gordon, Wade, Ellis all of them have the athleticism to finish in the NBA.

The offense at Duke was catered to what Austin does best and I think you maybe only are basing your opinions on the last few games at Duke where the Blue Devils were COMPLETELY out of sync without Ryan Kelly.

He may have been projected as top 5 when his senior season was done, but he actually dropped to around 14 after the all star games where he didn’t exactly impress against the other elite players in his class. So it wasn’t Duke that dropped his stock.

I agree he could excel in the right system, but I still think he’ll need a couple years of learning to really get supplant himself in the league.

[WolfRobParticipant]

 I think it would stunt his growth having to play behind Eric Gordon. Although he is def gonna get some looks in the lottery.

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

This season, he proved to everybody exactly what we thought of him.  

He can score in a variety of ways and is very athletic.  We also learned that he’s an undersized two-guard that chucks up shots and can be very inconsistent.

Still, like O.J. Mayo, he will be a good scorer in the league and may average 18-22 PPG in the right situation (much like O.J. Mayo)

[uknationParticipant]

No matter where he went his flaws wouldn’t have changed, he’s always been below average on defense because of drive, he’always been a streaky shooter, always had trouble being a pg and his height. None of these things would have changed if he went to any other college. No one doubt he could score but he’s a tweeter that isn’t a great athlete and who needs the ball to be effective. Other than score he doesn’t bring much else to the table. Has potential to do more eventually though

[surveParticipant]

 I agree, he went from overated to underated.  While I always liked Beal over him, the gaps on the mocks between them are just too darn wide.  Beal is better, but not that much better.  I really think the problem with Rivers is he has one and done talent but he really couldve benefitted from another year in college.

[c’mon craigParticipant]

Based on their styles of play it would have been interest to see Beal at Duke and Rivers at Florida.

[cabbycabParticipant]

My main issue with him is that he is a gunner, yet not a good shooter.  He is 65% from FT.  Not a big fan of poor FT shooting guards, but that’s just me.  He is a good "tough shot maker" at times though because of his confidence. 

As I’ve said before, I think he will be as good as Jamal Crawford is/was. 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Looks like a shot taker not a shot maker at the College level. This could be worse at the Pro level. Definite potential to fill out that body and get stronger though which will help him finish in traffic. And I don’t think playing at Duke hurt him, though I do agree that Kendle Marshal might have made him look better. But then is that really a fare comparison? Of course any player will look better playing with a savy and skilled pass first PG. 

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

This guy said Austin Rivers has elite athleticism.  Dude, did you watch any Duke games this year?  He cannot finish at the rim.  He’s quick, but he is far from an elite athlete.  Come on now. 

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