Yes, players drafted earlier tend to be much better than people drafted later. The first 5 picks this year look to be worth more than the average year's top 5 picks. A top 20 pick this year will be worth an average year's 20th pick. A top heavy draft is one that the early picks are worth more than the usual earlier picks from an average year. A deep draft is one that the later picks are worth more than the usual later picks. MKG, and Robinson have all looked like number 1 overall draft picks. Andre Davis looks like an NBA All-Star. Drummond has the size and athleticism that will get him drafted higher than he should...but he is a better bet than guys like Thompson and Biyombo. Someone like Sullinger may get drafted out of top 5. Outside that....the guys look like a regular NBA draft.
I'm pretty sure that draft analysts are making the opposite point. The top 5 is about as strong as a normal year's top 5, but it's in the 10-20 range where high talent might linger for a bit. Sullinger, Barnes, John Henson, Perry Jones, they're all going to be falling a couple spots to the 7-14 range due to the depth. Terrence Jones, Quincy Miller, Austin Rivers, Doron Lamb might all fall even further.
I guarantee you there will be very good talent going late in this draft. Players like John Jenkins, Kevin Jones and Jae Crowder would not go in the 2nd round in a regular draft. The lockout definitely had a positive effect on this years draft.
I commend you on choosing not to renew a Lin debate. Quite frankly, I really don't think there is anything more left to discuss. Before this gets too self indulgent, I just want to clarify something. I was annoyed at those who claimed he was already a star. People were so quick to throw our own Rockets under the bus, claiming that he was already better the Lowry. When I said that I would still prefer Dragic over Lin, the board took it as blasphemy. For some reason, people took what I was saying very personally. As a result, some posters (I won't give names) began to put words in my mouth, or assume that I was just hating on Jeremy Lin. I was then compared to Glenn Rice, among other things. I left the thread for good after that. I didn't come back once to debate a good game or gloat after he had a bad game. There was no need to do that, it was never about that. I never, ever said Jeremy Lin was terrible. I said he was overhyped, he wasn't a star(I still can't believe I had to debate this point, and in hindsight I'm not sure why I spent so much energy doing so) and that I would prefer both Lowry and Dragic over him. I still stand by everything I said. Either way it was just my opinion and doesn't mean I don't like Jeremy or think he is a bad basketball player. I will say this however, Jeremy played a couple of very good games toward the end of his season this year. He looked to be much more under control and put up better numbers on less shots. I will be on the Lin bandwagon next year, so long as it doesn't affect the Rockets. Lin playing for the Knicks certainly had a lot to do with my reaction. I realize that people are Rockets fans to varying degrees, and I had no right to judge anyone who wished to go crazy over Lin(for whatever reason) at the expense of the Rockets. Perhaps I was too forward about that. I'm a very passionate Rockets fan. We may have had some differences over Lin, but I respect you and share many ideas that you have in this forum. I hope now that we can all root for the best possible draft pick for the Rockets, and then cheer Jeremy on together next year.
Never said I wanted to keep all the picks.. I said this is one of the deepest draft's i've ever seen. Aka one of the most valuable. This team isn't trying to rebuild (unfortunately) so these will be better assets than having a future pick, in order to make a trade and compete now.
When a kid like Austin Rivers is out of the lottery, you know your going to have a deep draft. And thats just me stating one of the "obvious" picks, there are a bunch of guys in the 2nd round that would be mid-first in a regular draft. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some "shocking" choices made in the 10-20 range, workouts are going to scramble the mock drafts.
And JJ went in the lotto. Rivers, and other players that would normally go in the lotto, may fall out of the lotto.
Starting to get nervous about the Sixers... they've lost 8 of their last 12 and are only two ahead of the Knicks now in the loss column. Wake up, Philly.
What I meant was fan hype being stronger than who teams actually want. I remember a live post draft night interview where Morey scoffed at the idea of drafting Redick with their pick. http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/39555/ford-in-maui-austin-rivers-overrated
Yeah and they only have 3 more home games, NY owns the tiebreaker and only 5 easy teams on their schedule. Still if they win those 5 games that puts them at 34-32 and looking at NY's schedule that might be enough. It's all going down to the last game. Dallas will probably have to win their last game to be a top 10 team.
Yeah, was thinking the same thing. Checked out their schedule Orlando Boston (back to back in Boston after playing Orlando at home) NJ Toronto (back to back on the road after playing NJ at home) NJ Orlando Indiana (back to back at home after playing Orlando on the road) Cleveland (3rd game in 3 nights on the road after playing ORL and Indy) Indiana NJ Milwaukee Detroit (back to back on the road after playing MIL on the road) Yikes! Hopefully they can eke out another 6 wins or so.
The Knicks have a one game lead on the 9 seed Milwaukee, we also are one game ahead of the 9 seed. Let's go Bucks!
