Sullinger showing his worth tonight. He has an incredibly quick first step, combined with a big butt to create space. Ohio State's guard play has been atrocious. If they would just set up and keep going to him on the post, they'd walk away from Cincy.
If the guy falls to where the Rockets have a shot at getting him, I would be all over it. The last two big butt guys that the Rockets have, Yao and Chuck Hayes, worked out exceptionally well.
I have not been impressed with Jones development at all. I would probably take a chance on him at 15.
You guys who are saying Sullinger is as unathletic as Scola... Sullinger can and does dunk pretty often in game situations. He's closer to Al Jefferson than to Luis. But I think he has a higher motor and work ethic than Jefferson, so he could be a stronger defensive player. He's not as bad of an athlete as scouting reports are leading you to believe... good first step, can jump higher enough to get his hands above the rim and slam it down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OruTMlntzHw
I'd be very surprised if Sullinger plays C in the NBA. Even OSU lists him as a F (3G, 2F lineup): http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/osu-m-baskbl-mtt.html I like the guy a lot, but he's going to need to be a Kevin Love type PF.
I still don't see why he can't play center. He would be a better defender at the 5. He's tall and strong enough that 5s shouldn't be able to back him down or shoot over him too easily... but he will never have the lateral quickness to keep up with lighter PFs.
Jopat, from what you've seen, what do you think of Sully's leadership skills and fire for the game? As "limited" physically and athletically as people viewed Love, Kevin seemed to exude that "it" quality. He had that drive to impact the game somehow someway (passing, rebounding, battling inside, popping outside). Does Sullinger have that similar glow to you? I simply haven't watched him enough to call it. TIA
Sullinger according to scouting reports has a great motor on both ends of the court and a fantastic work ethic off of it. As a practical example, he was criticized for carrying too much body fat: He worked extremely hard and became much slimmer and more toned over the course of two years. He's clearly willing to put the work in, as his well-honed skillset demonstrates.
I am hoping for KU and OSU wins this weekend so we can see a Sullinger-Robinson matchup in the Final Four. If they get that far, that game could decide which guy is drafted higher.
Yes, he does. Did you see him leading them down the stretch in that last win? If I remember right, he's a coach's son. Another reason I instinctively feel he's going to be a big star in the NBA is because of his bball iq, which is very high. Most fans don't realize this about him yet. He did demonstrate this with the bullet pass from the top to his man open under the hoop coming down the stretch. They got the foul and the FTs out of it. Sullinger is a very, very smart baller.
Kevin Love + Chuck Hayes???? Seriously??? So you're sayin he's an all star with first team all NBA defense waiting to happen, all while being undersized for his position? You must be joking
He has the potential to get to that point. You may think I'm joking, but I on the other hand think you are seriously underestimating this kid's motor, basketball IQ, and work ethic. He has a skillset somewhere in the lands between Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, but he has Chuck's motor and work ethic. He's not super-athletic by today's standards so that's why people are underestimating him... but smart money has him as one of the top 5 players to emerge from this draft class when we look again in a few years.
Chandler Parsons should demonstrate how undervalued work ethic basketball IQ and motor are in the NBA draft.
I'm not sold on Jared being a Hayes level defender. Don't see that. Don't think he shuffles well enough. But he does have the big rump and low center of gravity, which means it will be very, very difficult to post him up effectively. However, he's not a shot blocker and he's probably going to get burned some by smaller bigs that work the perimeter. Jared's strength and his calling card in the NBA is going to be his offense. He will be adequate defensively. He'll be a much better defender than Love. He'll be a much better post up presence than Love. Don't know if he'll be as good from deep as Love. Doubt he'll be as good at the FT line as Love. But I do think he'll draw a ton of fouls from his post ups and get to the line a lot and get his team in the bonus a lot.
Yeah Hayes is probably overestimating him. Mainly because of his lack of lateral quickness, like you said. I think he'll be a better defensive player than people think though because of his smarts and effort level.
Sullinger higher floor, Robinson higher ceiling. It's pretty close between the two, in my opinion. I think Robinson edges Sullinger out for me... he isn't as polished and doesn't have the A+++ intangibles, but he has superstar type tools if his offense develops. Sullinger probably tops out as a multi-year all-star if everything breaks right, but not a year-in-year-out all star type player like the perfect world scenario for Robinson.
The thing is that based on your views, he is still not a Superstar level player. He would be a good starter on a playoff team, maybe make a few all star games, but that is about it. If he is at say the Knicks pick, then you jump all over him because he will likely be the BPA there, but nothing super special that the Rockets should trade up for.
