I see your point. But I always had a feeling Morey picked Morris for his potential not his NBA ready talent (like Patterson). I'm not comparing Morris to Rivers based on their skills. I'm comparing them based on their potential. People say Rivers could be an all-star; that is why he was one of the most hyped player out of high school. But as of now, he is not a clear-cut all-star. With the 14th pick, if we get a role player, than we will have the same problems and ultimately be the same team (team of over-achieving role players). If we can get Rivers or any other player with lots of potential, than we should go for it.
If he does fall to 14, I have a very hard time imagining there will be anyone else there that the Rockets should really be picking. I don't see any of the quality big men getting down there, and Rivers has All Star potential. I really don't see him as the type of guy who gets in the league and just fails, too much back story going on there. I think he is very aware of the idea of needing to develop....at least I hope a coaches son has that recognized.
What's weird the Rockets are hoping for Morris to develop offensive skills that Rivers has already somewhat mastered or is above average at. Most of all, I doubt Rivers will be a project player coming into the league and has very good chance of starting right out of the gates for any decent number of teams. This is what the Rockets organization and even some fervent clutch fans members are hoping that Morris develops as a future small forward. He's a good shooter It's odd to me how some people talk up Morris, but yet downgrade Rivers. It's funny to me, I've never seen all of this great potential posters conjure up for Marcus Morris. Throwing the comparisons to Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, and Glenn Robinson are laughable at best.
Honestly, He is a whiny guy who I watched last season ALOT. He can shoot and drive to the paint. I honestly don't see why people say his game is for the NBA and not college. College is slower and they play zone more. The NBA has more player movement...BUT The Rockets need to shoot for the moon and pick based on potential. I would be ecstatic with a Perry Jones III and Rivers at 14 and 16. The rockets cannot draft based on who can help them next season. It has to be who can be an all-star
His game is suited for the pro game. He will have more space to operate and have more options on where to attack. I would take him because I can see him being at least an all-star.
The reasoning is that, for one, they don't have continuation in college. And i've seen Rivers drive to the hoop, get fouled, make the layup, but end up having his team take the ball out from the sideline rather than (if he was in the NBA) getting the and-one as well as the free throw. He also would perform better, because like you said, in college, they play a lot of zone. In the NBA, the zone isn't all that common, so he'd be going 1-on-1 pretty much and he can just flat out beat people off the dribble with ease. That's just how I look at it, though. We'll see how he does... Hopefully in a Rockets uniform.
agree with this. would be an absolute steal at 14. i have a weird feeling he's going to be one of those guys who rises rapidly leading up to the draft, and he ends up going somewhere 3-8 (where he should go). the guy is going to be a solid pro at minimum.
ppl nned to stop hating on this kid Rivers is the only player we can select that has the potential to be star/superstar just stop it with these also ran 7 footers that will be busts Austin Rivers #14
Yes subzero would be a great fit here with him there would be no more late game collapses because we couldn't generate no offenses and that killed us alot
My personal hope is to move up and get Beal but I think that this guy should be got if he is still available unless we knew for sure we could get him at 16...kind of worry though with as much hype as he had going into college if he will even be available at 14...lot of things I am not too thrilled about with rivers game (lack of passing, defense, and diva attitude) but with his potential scoring ability he would well be worth the gamble...
At 14, this is an EASY pick. Look at our last 2 #14 picks - Patterson & Morris. Both are role player locks coming out of College. Rivers has a chance, even if it is small, to be great. At a 14th pick getting anything but a guaranteed role player is pretty good. I wasn't overly impressed with him in college, so I don't think I'd trade up for him because there are better options if we trade up.
You are exactly right. The NBA makes it's stars. If we pick him and they decide he has the marketability, he will average over 10 free throws a game. He has the name. It is worth the gamble but I would feel better at 16. If Ron Harper, prior to the knee with Cleveland, were given Jordan's 11 plus free throws per game, who knows what might have happened. Their scoring averages were similar but Harper did not have the help keeping his scoring avg up that Jordan had.
