[2014-15] Kostas Papanikolaou as a Rocket

Badass shirt

 

We have no choice but to give him extended minutes, because of all the injuries.

 

I think he is already the passer and needs 1 or 2 seasons to get his shot ready for the NBA.

 

That's fine. But salary is clearly definitely not a defining factor here. One can argue from the Rockets perspective, Papa has the better contract. If your point is just that VC > Papa, I can understand that. I disagree, but it's a very reasonable opinion.

I agree he shouldn't be judged like a rookie. But VC is 38 years old and has no upside. Papa does.

Papanikalaou per-36 at 8.6/6.1/4.4 on 34.5%
Carter per-36 at 12.7/4.8/3.1 on 33.7% shooting

I fail to see how in a vacuum, one can definitely say Carter's better, especially given his age and potential for decline

 

They posted the link earlier.

http://www.trendsettertees.com/products/big-papa

 

Are we comparing Papa to VC in terms of shooting only? How about the defense that Papa brings? His passing ability? I don't think VC can play as a 4, the way we use Papa on our team, so Papa >> 2014 Vince Carter.

 

Those t-shirt designs really burn my eyeballs.

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

It kinda sucks that his first highlight reel throwdown came in an away game. The Toyota center would have gone ape****.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Can K-Pop win ROY? <a href="http://t.co/qLMRHyEUdy">http://t.co/qLMRHyEUdy</a></p>&mdash; Nathan Walker (@bbstats) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbstats/status/539077431085121537">November 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Very doubtful. Even if his performance gets consistent enough to warrant consideration, it wouldn't make much sense. This draft class was hailed as one of the best of all time, could you imagine the ****storm if some random guy from overseas won it? Combine it with the fact that other rookies plays on crap teams so they get to start and be the centerfold, along with the general lack of respect the Rockets get from the NBA and I'd say it's a 0% chance.

 

So Wiggins is the worst rookie according to this? Makes sense.

 

I think the case for Kostas over VC is a homer one. Kostas sucks as a 4 against any real 4 IMO. VC has been one of the best 3&D perimeter players the last couple of years. Below is the support.

3 Point Cred

40.6% & 39.4% on threes the last 2 years

Defense Cred

2.47 DRPM last year- 7th among shooting guards & small forwards. There were only 11 above 2.00 and only 27 above 1.00.

His Defensive Rating appeared favorable compared to his teammates the last two years.

 

It does make sense. Wiggins advanced stats suck. This is due to him being asked to do way too much as a rookie (guard the other teams best player).

 

But does that truly make him the worst rookie? I think I'd trade Black for him today. Would you?

 

Wow, he's been hoisting a lot of midrange jumpers.

He'll be fine though. Just hope he doesn't fall in love with it until he plays on a team with a good offense (ie not coached by Flip Saunders).

 

The list is saying that Wiggins has played the worst so far this year...
No one is suggesting that they would trade Black for Wiggins, or anything of that sort.

 

Papanikolaou is #2 in minutes and, off the top of my head, the only rookie receiving lots of minutes on a top 5 defensive team, with our lineup issues often alongside Dwight, so that's why he is doing so well with that.

 

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