Blesdoe is the better player. It's not close. There's not a gm in basketball who would take Lin over Bledsoe based on talent
I'm sold. Do you have clips of him pushing Randolph and Faried around? Then again, Lin has been manhandling Kobe and Artest (can't call him World Peace) 1 on 1.
As raw talent goes, I would take Bledsoe...but the problem that I see that he had his first two years is this: He can't RUN a team effectively. He is a good individual talent, but he doesn't seem to have that sense to control a game. When he was playing with blake, deandre, etc, it didn't seem apparent that he could convert his stats into wins. I'd say as of right now, I might be inclined to take Bledsoe at this point in his career as a 3 year player...but I'll have to wait and see until Lin gets at least 1 more year under his belt until I make a decision. I still feel that I prefer Lin's playmaking ability vs Bledsoe's...it's just really hard to say. To me its similar to comparing the skill sets of Jason Kidd to Allen Iverson...
So much this. And to be fair Jrue Holliday didn't know how to run a team well enough last year, he improved this season significantly. Darren Collison still needs to learn how to run a team. Some players learn others don't.
yes i'd take brandon jennings over Lin based on talent...but if you need a PG to be a PG first and a scorer 2nd, there's no way you take either guy over Lin at this point.
good points, but our system doesn't really call for a text-book PG who can "run a team" in the traditional sense. First and foremost, i want my pg to play defense. Secondly, i want him to be able to shoot from the perimeter. And baring that, he has to be able to find other ways to score. Bledsoe has a chance to be one of the best defensive PGs in the league (might already be), and he does find ways to score. All he's missing is an improved jump shot. He could also stand to cut down on his turnovers. But again, for a guy who's 23, still raw, and hasn't had much time to show what he can do, i think there's a good chance he can reach his potential ...which is actually higher than Lin's. This is all moot because i don't think the clips move him for anything less than a star.
The system actually does. Chris Webber explained it pretty well on NBA TV. Webber said that when Lin & harden are on the court you don't know which is the PG or which is the SG. They both take turns making plays for others & creating for themselves. Both players direct the offense. I also don't understand why people think Bledsoe has a higher ceiling. I think both could eventually become Kyle Lowry type players (assuming Eric has a strong work ethic). Bledsoe needs to work on his passing, directing an offense & jumper. Lin just needs the jumper although Lin's passing & playmaking still needs work.
I wouldn't give up on someone who didn't even have a full season yet but has shown signs of all stars to superstar plays from time to time. If in 2 years, he's still inconsistent, then I wouldn't hesitate. But right now, I can only imagine what Lin could become when he takes more mid jumper and makes the 3s more consistent. He's shown that via Spurs game that when he has a streaky shooting, he's unstoppable. But hey, to each his own. If teams gave up Nash or Kobe based on their first half season production, they'd be crying right now (Not that I'm comparing, but it's the truth).
I think Lin's youth is sometimes over blown. He is 24 years old, not that young by NBA standards. James Harden is 23, Jrue Holiday is 22, Russell Westbrook is 24, Damian Lillard is 22, Brandon Jennings is 23, Stephen Curry is 24, Kevin Durant is 24, Paul George is 22, Kyrie Irving is 20, Blake Griffin is 23. Lin hasn't had a ton of starting experience yet, but he isn't a straight out of high school rookie like Kobe in his first year was either, like some people seem to infer about his lack of experience and youth. He is in his 3rd year in the league. He can certainly still improve, but we shouldn't treat him as if he is in his rookie season.
The Clippers commentator said that Bledsoe was the best shot blocker under 6'10. BTW, the dude also said that the first 3 minutes of 2nd Q last night was the ugliest basketball in NBA history. And he made it a point that he was choosing h is words carefully. LOL.
Like you said he is young in terms of experience not age. He has had less starts than Parsons I believe. Friendly reminder, Nash didn't realize his potential until age 27. Parker just had the best season of his career last year. Lin is still very young in terms of experience & raw in terms of skill set he maybe 24 in terms of age but he is still a rookie in terms of legitimate NBA experience.
I mean manhandle as in bang them around and get rebounds over them as well as scoring contested And 1's over them. I think the Zbo one was opening night he scored an And 1 despite Zach shoving him to the ground and flexed his muscles at the crowd. It was pretty badass.
bledsoe is awesome. i see the clips keeping him and making a run this year. barnes, bledsoe, and crawford are tearing it up for them.
Basketball IQ will trump athleticism. John Wall + Tyreke Evans. Freak athletes but pretty low in the IQ department. On the flipside guys like Stockton, Nash, have limited athleticism but very high BBIQ. Which guys would you rather have as your PG? I'm waiting for the day a player comes along that has BOTH. Like a Russell Westbrook with Steve Nash's brain.
