It's crazy that Duke has 5 potential first rounders, an elite coach, and isn't ranked higher than they are.
I was thinking about that earlier - how much more team oriented the NCAA game is compared to the NBA .... Most other pro leagues are closer to the NCAA fundamental / team oriented game than the NBA where stars rule the day. Really makes it difficult to evaluate how players will translate from one level to another ..
Agreed, if Memphis goes on a run for instance, Duren could move into discussion for the 5-7 range imo.
It's a projection. I really can't think of any of these top prospects that actually carry their team. I keep seeing that Banchero isn't a top 3 or 4 prospect because of one reason or another but who are you putting ahead of him that meet the criteria that you've set for Banchero? I don't see Julius Randle at all. Other than they project to play the same position I don't even understand that one.
This is what I have to respect anybody that tries to evaluate college basketball for a living must go through. When I started watching Banchero's high school highlights when he was still in high school, he was ridiculous. For a 6'9" 220-230 lbs (at the time) player, he was ridiculous with the ball. But even in a thread in the Draft forum, or maybe in this forum, I recall saying "yeah, but that's against kids that look like elves around him". He was just huge. Then, now that he's in college and surrounded by other great players who were top high school players in the nation, he's having to defer showing some of that talent, I would assume. Then, it's Duke, so you know they're going to be preached team play. So how much of his skillset isn't he displaying? Then I see people talking about how great a 3-point shooter "Billy Bob" is and think that in the NBA, he's going to have to push that back about 1-3 feet to hit an NBA 3-pointer. There are tons of players from college whose 3-ptrs didn't translate. Hell, there are lots of players in the NBA whose shooting percentages fluctuate all over the place yearly. I don't know. I also am not of the opinion this is like back in the 80's where a top-5 pick is considered an all-world player. Even in a top-5 pick, you may only get a really good starting player or hopefully a "franchise" player, if you're lucky or at-worst a bust. But a HOFer? Good luck. Hell, look at the #1 pick for the past 20 years if you want evidence that you ain't finding Michael Jordan that easily. A lot of times this is going to literally be a lottery of talent. If we can get a really good starter out of this draft, I'm content, so I'll be content with one of the universal top-4 or so players and with the worst record, we still only have a 52% chance of getting one of them. lol. But in the meantime, tank like your life depended on it, because it's better than the alternative.
Sucky Detroit suckety sucked and blew something like a 16-point lead. Wth. I hate that team. At least Cade can say "I shot 50% in this one!" It's looking scary heading into the final few games here. Damn broke-down MotorCade.
Teams like Orlando and Detroit don't deserve leads. They just let people down. If you're gonna tank, be like the Rockets, dammit!
Actually I expect the more potential nba talent you have the worse the team will be unless we're talking about a transcendental talentike AD or Melo. Most kids are 1 and done and will barely have any coaching or training done, they barely even know the plays. The best college players tend to be guys like Luka Garza who have limited to no NBA prospects and so finished their entire college tenure.
How is Banchero a sure thing? He is shooting 40% from the field and 30%.from 3. He can totally end up being a poor man's CWood. Him and AJ Griffin are the riskiest picks in the top 5 imo.
If our pick is #5, I'd be tempted to draft Shaedon Sharp, but that's even riskier! He was the #1 prospect in his class, but he hasn't played a college game for Kentucky.
True, I put that in quotes as it was meant in comparison to other players. As a true freshman he’s putting up 17/8/3 on 47% shooting, on a team that’s stacked. I’d say he’s going to be a solid NBA starter at worst. Other guys discussed in the 4-6 range like Griffin, Mathurin, or Sharp might be more risky. Personally I’m intrigued by Duren at 5 or 6, he’s 6’ 11 with athleticism off the charts. Plus he’s got Dwight Howard-esque shoulders at 18. He could turn into the best big man of the draft.
Be like the Rockets? Celebrate wins against Memphis and the Lakers. Near wins against GSW and Phoenix.
