Llull looks like he could be a backup. Rubio looks to me to be a totally average pg in the nba. I still have doubts about European prospects in the NBA, especially from the guard positions. As much as is made of Europe-NBA success stories, you can count the successful guards on one hand. Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker Average players: Calderon, Rudy Fernandez, Omri Casspi, Batum, Beno, Gallinari, Sefolosha Let me list off the unsuccessful: Marco Belinelli, Roko Ukic, Yaroslav Korolev, Sarunas, Vspan, Sergio Rudy, Batum, Gallo, Sefolosha, Belinelli, Ukic, Sarunas, Vspan, Sergio All came in over-hyped. The way I see it, of all the positions, guard play is probably the stiffest competition in the US. The reason that European big-men can often find greater success is that our bigs are still lagging behind in the skill department. Rubio can compete, but I don't think he is a cut above. I see him falling into the average category quite easily.
In general, I don't think most of the players on your average list were drafted very high, and I think there are plenty of US players who were drafted higher who are also average or worse. I'd like to say that international scouting has improved enough so that we have a pretty good idea about how foreign players skills will translate, although I don't think we are quite there yet. Just a point about Batum- he's not a guard, and I think he will be above average very soon, if he's not their already.
"Also, I have to talk a little bit about Sergio Llull. What I’ve seen this year, he still has the speed, but his shot is so much better. That’s a big sign that he’s been working on his game. He has been so much confident shooting the ball during the series. So I can see those two guys playing in the NBA." Read more: http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/mickeal/2010/04/03/see-you-in-paris/#ixzz0kAo4ynl0
The speed is the one thing I find the most encouraging about your post. I think that is the difference between the successful Euro league guards and those that have failed. If you don't have the speed to get off your shot and compete with the talent level in the NBA, other areas of your game are quick to falter. Whether as trade bait or an eventual piece it's great to hear first hand knowledge about Rocket's player rights. Thanks for the information, look forward to your next post.
It's amazing, you seem to have just joined the board this year, but know a lot about the Rockets, and appear to have particular knowledge of the Spanoulis era which was ages ago in CF.net terms I guess you must have been admiring from afar.....well welcome to the board. Tell me what do you think of Bob Sura?
How are they overhyped? most of the players were late first round, second round picks, if anything they have OVER performed their expectations.
Thanks Sam. In effect I follow the team since Maloney-Brent Price era... as far as has been possible to do it from Spain. I became a fan in the second championship, (I was 10 y.o. and started to watch some games by TV). But in fact I'm not a true follower since it is feasible to watch all the games (or most of them) on-line. I liked Sura. First, I'm a height lover in basketball, and he was a very tall PG, with all that that entails. But he was also a good team player, he understood the game and played hard. Too bad those knees...
Good posts and welcome Anchel. And I am fairly certain that Sam was just fishing to see if you were a previously banned poster. DD
Thanks DD. No, 'anchel' it's my virgin account, but I follow the site for years, since it was named "clutchcity"... Believe it or not, I spend a lot time to baste 3 sentences (as sure you've checked these days) and this is why I didn't sign up before. I write in another Spanish basketball forum and I like to speak properly, and since I could not do it in English, I preferred to not write anything. Now thanks to follow the NBA and to watch some TV series in original version subtitled I felt I could write a lit better and I dared to do so... With the help of google traductor and putting it some time, of course.
He is the most expensive second round player ever to be bought, 2.25 million $ so I really hope he can be in Rockets uni next year. As I myself live in Europe, I have seen him couple of times and he is really intelligent guard with great skills which make him a versatile player. On another hand his personality (if he comes in Houston thats it) will play a big part. VSpan COULD have easily fitted in JVG offense/defense but didn't do so for whatever reasons. Llull on another hand could be another diamond in the rough brought to NBA, similiar to Scola
I really hope we bring this kid over next season. Find a way to trade Ariza, Jeffries, and our first rounder for a major piece and bring this kid over to develop him. His value will go up.
His first assignment should be to collect a rather extensive sample of the hot babes in the signatures of the people over there. I'm expecting a report by this evening, DD. You can just post them in this thread.
Kill Bill Pana, Bexcellent, BBall Scientist, Apollo, IndaZone....what other names did he go by? And, no, I don't assume that at all about this guy. DD
Ok, a couple problems here. 1) A number of the guys you're calling average or busts are SF's, so then you have to count Andrei Kirilenko as a very successful player...even now after his injuries, he's been very solid. You also have to count Peja. Turkoglu has been mediocre, but good enough to convince one of the NBA's supposed best GMs to give him a huge contract. 2) You're selling Jose Calderone way short. He's been better than solid the last 4 years, even with some injuries. There's a reason he got paid big money. 3) Batum is already very good, and he's 22 and in his second year. Rodrigue Beaubois is already very good on a per minute basis, and he's in his 1st year. He's gonna be a stud. 4) In NBA history, there have been only two Euroleague wing players drafted in the lottery and played in the NBA so far, Mickael Pietrus (11) in 2003 and Thabo Sefolosha (13) in 2006 (Gallinari is playing power forward for the Knicks...also we'll get to Brandon Jennings later). Both were drafted as great defenders and never had expectations of being tremendous. So it's not like any euro-guards are way underperforming on their draft status. 5) Technically Brandon Jennings came from the Euroleague and is looking pretty good so far, but we won't count him because he spent 1 year there.
