Strategy of drafting "twitch" athletes over good basketball players

Amen's age, level of competition, and that cringe worthy broken shot are serious reasons for concern.

 

It’s super funny because both JG and Amen are the definition of BOTH skill AND athleticism. You guys need to go back to the drawing board to better understand what basketball skills really entail.

For rare specimen like Amen athleticism and processing speed / accuracy makes up for a great deal of his lack of shooting. To insinuate that he lacks skill because he lacks shooting shows a lack of appreciation of what basketball skills are.

Ironically the center prospect high on your board is much less skilled from a basketball perspective. Too bad you have failed to see it all along.

 

You have watched him play, right?

 

Amen might be the most skilled big PG I've ever seen coming out. He can't shoot, and that is his concern because there's risk his shot is fully broken. I will accept that if one were to say the Rockets shouldnt draft him. But to say he isn't skilled is total BS.

 

I thought the appeal of Amen was his playmaking

 

Yeah I feel like it’s been a trend to draft big playmakers/ball handlers. We have seen Luka, Lamelo, Cade, Simmons all taken super early. If Amen had a jumpshot he would be taken at No.2. Also if you look back on Josh Giddey, there’s a argument he could have been taken top 3 in hindsight despite not being able to shoot

 

Would you take Walker over Amen Thompson straight up? Even assuming Orlando gives us 6 & 11, which is a huge assumption, Detroit could pick Walker at #5. Why deal in hypotheticals when that person specifically asked you who you'd pick at 4?

 

It has already been said, but I'm not sure I'd label JG or especially Amen as athletic guys without skill (or I'd go with BBIQ). I *might* be willing to accept questions about JG based on what we've seen, but I'm fairly optimistic and willing to see how he'll do with one more year (ideally with more structure). He's also a SG, so it is hard to judge the other aspects of his game...as his main job is efficient scoring (and he's not quite there yet).

Amen has major problems with his shot, but he's basically an ideal prospect beyond that in terms of raw talent/skill/BBIQ IMO. We can nitpick about some poor technique and whatnot along with poor competition in OTE (and the 2 go together IMO), but as many have pointed out...he'd probably be the consensus #2 prospect if he shot decently.

I also think athleticism gets thrown around a lot with guys, but a lot of guys are athletic without having much functional athleticism. Again, I think Amen and JG generally do fairly well here.

 

I think a team of undersized, b+ athletes, who are highly skilled with great feel could definitely win a championship in the euro league.

if you want to win in the nba you need a size and athleticism advantage to go with skill and feel.

the only way to build a team with all 4 is to draft for size and athleticism and teach skill and feel. you can't do it the other way around.

 

Sure

But if he shot 35% from 3 and had done what he did for Marquette, he is in the conversation as number 1 pick, right?

We are picking 4th. We don't get the most flawless player, choice of taking a swing or playing it safe.

Last year the Kings went safe with Murray (over Ivey) and it was good for them (and would have been good either way?)

2 years ago the Raps took a swing with Barnes (over Suggs), and got it right.


Hard to know which is the right way to go.
I love the idea of a 6'7 playmaker with an (alleged) 44inch vertical and court vision to match. Lock him up with a shooting coach after summer league and see what happens


**I think Miller is 4th in the draft - personally I have Scoot and Amen as clear 2/3 picks over Miller and the rest.

 

Yeah, I preach

*long wingspans (for switch everything defensively)

*height 6'6" to 6'9"
(shorter if they play like 6'6" or taller if mobile like 6'9" or similar)

*vertical leap

* speedy, mobile

*high basketball I Q

*Can Shoot 3's or good potential to shoot 3's

*Ability to stay healthy
(having T-Mac & Yao was nice but wasted window years of contention)
_____________________

I don't get too focused on any one attribute......I push for players
having most of these features.


Some players have greater: wingspan, I.Q., speed, height, ability to shoot.....
the cream rises to the top with and I favor [ Height, Speed, Shooting]

 

with evan mobley AND scottie barnes a huge factor thats not being talked about is they both played big minutes and their teams made the playoffs their rookie year ( mobley this year too )

Thats much more stress on their bodies than Green , who has played many fewer meaningful games . Cade has had injuries and has many less reps.

But who knows how conditioned and healthy and skilled all 4 will be in 2 years. Its still an open book who's the best player long term.

I think health is a very underrated skill. And Athleticism and health intersect in opposing ways.

#1 - if your game is reliant on athleticism and you get hurt then your game will be impacted unless you get the same explosiveness back / or get smarter and improve skills

#2- the less athletic you are , the more you need to recover back to full explosion in order to keep up in the league ( or be incredibly skilled and smart.) A guy who's already near the floor may be a complete defensive liability and unplayable.

I think the athleticism overall buys you margin of error. But so do skills damnit lol .

I love anthony black , but i find it hard to convince myself Amen Thompson doesnt have a higher ceiling as a prospect. . in the end I'd be ok with either ... both have a ways to go and its not like Black can't improve his game drastically , just like Amen.

 

You can’t really have rules when it comes to talent evaluation. Everyone is different. For every player with skills who gets undervalued because of lack of athleticism, you have similar guys whose athleticism never allows them to even reach a level requisite for staying in the NBA. Think, JJ Redick (a good value where he was picked) versus Jimmer Fredette (a bust). Or Nick Johnson, a Morey pick who never had enough athleticism to hang around.

Yes, you’ve got a lot of Zion types who never develop the requisite discipline to reach their potential ceilings based on their athletic profiles. But you can fail either way, with inadequate skills or inadequate athleticism both. Every player needs to be judged on their own terms.

 

Evan Mobley is a 1-way player, he has no offensive game whatsoever

defensive specialists with zero offense aren’t taking teams deep into the playoffs…high scoring perimeter players that can playmake often do even if their defense sucks or is suspect

Evan Mobley is the most overrated thing since In-N-Out

 

Easier to teach skills than physical attributes like athleticism. Ideally you want the trifecta of feel, skills, and athleticism.

 

Exactly.
That's why this post makes no sense.

You can argue JG is an IG diva... but not athletic?? Skilled??? Come on... dude is fast as a bunny ****, leaps like a bunny after ****... should I keep going?

 

The direction is worrisome.

At least nail Free agency..........