So I take it Dell Curry is a poor shooter? He had a lower field goal percentage than Griffin. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dell_curry.html ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Grummet, It wasn't the shooting that was the problem it was the making of those shots. Anyone can shoot, but it takes skill to make. DaDakota ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
double post, please disregard ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 16, 2001).]
Last years draft may have been older, but the players taken were also quite useless - surely an indication that age doesn't make a player good? Rudy said (in his press interview after the draft) that he thinks Griffin is very mature - now maybe it's just me, but I interpret that to mean that Rudy likes the kid and wants to start him (all things working out). We all know Rudy likes 4 year seniors and will start them, so the statement about Griffin being very mature seems to reflect that. I'm not convinced that Griffin will start the first game of the season, but I'm sure that as the year progressess he will find himself in a starting spot. As for high expectations, I don't think it's too much of the guy to expect that he tries hard on the rebounds and plays solid D (2 things that come to him naturally). I also expect that he scores 8.1 ppg (Shandon's input last year) - perhaps that is too high an expectation? ------------------
DaDakota, There's always exceptions. Even in last year's horrible draft, Mike Miller, a player who relied on skills, not athleticism, had a good rookie campaign, far exceeding the Magic's expectations. The correlation between the two is simple. As a coach, put them in situations where their strengths will be exploited. In Miller's case, this was camping out around the 3 point line, and in Griffin's case, it will be patrolling the baseline in a weakside rotation for blocks and rebounds. Both had/have clearcut roles that they were/are capable of. He only went to 2 years of college, and though he wasn't the opening day small forward, it didn't take him long to crack the starting lineup. I tend to agree with you that Walt will probably start at small forward the first few games, but knowing Walt, he'll be in a slump rather quickly, and the transition from 6th man to starter will not be that hard for Griffin IMO. Let's also remember that he's not a raw defender like Cato was/is. He has amazing timing on his jumps. In other words, he's not a dumb*ass like Cato who bites on every headfake. Also, he would have had even more bpg if he hadn't been playing alongside Samuel Dalembert, a good shotblocker in his own right, while at Seton Hall. ------------------ Endtroduction.......... [This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited July 16, 2001).]
If Griffin is a rebounder and a shot blocker then he will contribute in a big way his rookie year- Guys that can rebound and block shots like people say Griffin can are needed on this Rocket team. From the little I've seen of his rebounding motor I can't think of a better rebounder on the Rockets I would play ahead of him. If Stevie and Cat are the 1-2 guys we need someone like Griffin to come in and do the dirty work in the paint. He may be a superstar as he matures, but just a good 6'-10" rebounder fills a big hole for our team right now. ------------------
Had to go find a 37 year old SG on his dying legs to make your case, eh? Weak. Very Weak. Dell Curry is a career 45.8% shooter and a career 40.4% shooter from 3-point land. You have to do better than that. ------------------ [This message has been edited by grummett (edited July 16, 2001).]
How many 19 year olds started or ended this season starting for their teams? Can anyone name a 19 year old that made any sort of impact on his team? I don't know the answers so I'm wondering if anyone else does... ------------------ President of the CC.net Realist Club, everyone needs a dose of reality once in a while...
Shooting percentages do not tell you who the better shooter is. Unless you're trying to tell me that Shandon Anderson is a better shooter than either Francis or Mobley. ------------------ It was the time of the preacher, in the year of '01 Now the preachin' is over, and the lessons begun . . .
Not sure if KG was 19 or only 18, but he started the last half of his rookie season. He made an impact. ------------------
I'd say these 5 players are good shooters, wouldn't you?: Michael Dickerson- Season 41.7%, Career 43.4% Keith Van Horn- Season 43.5%, Career 43.4% Mike Miller- Season/Career 43.6% Matt Bullard- Season 42.3%, Career 42.1% Eric Piatkowski- Season 43.3%, Career 43.4% ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Never thought I'd see the day when Matt Bullard wasn't considered a good shooter... ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Cat, All of those are outside players, Griffin is supposed to be an inside player, his shooting percentage should be higher. Not saying he is not a good shooter, just saying he is REAL young. ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
Robert Horry started as a rookie. He is the best analogy to Griffin. He was a shot blocking defensive small forward who wasn't counted on to score. Horry was I believe 21. He was young for his year in school. ------------------
Dakota, I realize that. However, my point with those was not anything to do with Griffin. It was to show that good shooters do not always have high percentages. I realize that was pointless now though, because if Matt Bullard isn't a good shooter according to grummett we must have different qualifications for being a good shooter. On Griffin, no one is trying to say that he is Reggie Miller. However, what you and everyone must consider is this: how much of that low percentage can be accredited to being forced to create shots out of the system? Seton Hall was not an exceptionally talented team last year. I watched them in a few games, and Griffin had to take quite a few tough shots when everyone else struggled, and he had to be the creator, much like Allen Iverson with the Sixers. Imho, his shooting percentage will rise when he doesn't have to consistently bail out an offense who can't create by taking tough shots. Here, he will get his looks in the system, and some putbacks, but he will not be asked to carry the load he did at Seton Hall. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Cat, I concur on the part about carrying the load. I don't even see him starting, more like an 8th man or something. I think he will be used as a defensive stopper, and rebounder his rookie year. My only point is that people are acting like he is some superstar player, he may be one day, but he is not one yet. Remember, this draft was considered deep, but did not have a guarenteed impact player in it. I guess everyone put on their rose colored glasses on draft day, and has not taken them off. ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
Dakota, If Griffin doesn't start I expect him to get at least 25 minutes per game. He may not be a superstar yet, because he does need to get his offensive game more acclamated to the NBA. However, we need his rebounding, defense, and shotblocking badly, and good offense or not Rudy will give him a lot of time. Griffin fills so many of the Rockets needs, and if you watched him last year, you would see that he definitely could contribute immediately on the next level. Whether he's 19, 29, or 39, a player with those kinds of abilities on a team sorely needing those skills will get more than 15 minutes per game. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
I still think that Griffin should be tearing up summer league. I mean he's playing against NBA hopefuls with very few NBA caliber players. Jason Richardson is tearing up summer league, and he, like Griffin, isn't a very polished player either. Gerald Wallace, an extremely raw player, is also turning a lot of heads in summer league. Other more polished college players like Murphy and Battier are also lighting it up. Griffin is more talented than all 4 of those players IMO. I expect more than 10 to 13 points and around 10 rebounds in frikkin summer league. Those would be nice regular season numbers, but in summer league he should be doing a lot more. ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center [This message has been edited by LiLStevie3 (edited July 17, 2001).] [This message has been edited by LiLStevie3 (edited July 17, 2001).]
Just to back up what cat said....some of the best shooters don't get high fg percentages... Thats cuz they take more shots and plus defense is a factor. A good shooter can be shut down or go in a slump that lowers his fg percentage. I may be wrong but if good shooters were based on fg percentage only then well Shaq must be a hell of a lot better shooter than Francis. Wait.....whats that....oh yeah must his shots are dunks....so I geuss you can't always just base shooters on that. Don't get me wrong its is also a factor....but hey whatever.. ------------------ yeah aight whatever
