Reddick is no better shooter Salim last yr. Very good bench in the pros. Actuall, Salim was the best shooter in college last yr and this season he's shooting 45 fg and 41 3ptfg which is good. You can find out of position guys anywhere.
Not really. He led the ACC in scoring last year- Deng and Duhon were both in the NBA (and Duhon never averaged more than 10 ppg for Duke). Shavlik Randolph? Uh, he was putting up less than 5 ppg. This will be Redick's 3rd year to lead Duke in scoring and FGA. His freshman year, he was 2nd on the team in scoring to Dahntay Jones. He does it off movement, though. Think something of the difference between Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. Both are excellent shooters. Billups is a spot up shooter- if they swing it to him, it's money. He can also shoot off the dribble and make adjustments. Hamilton likes to do his shooting off screens and curls, like Reggie Miller. This is how Redick likes to get his shots. I think Redick would be great for a team with an inside presence but no major perimeter scorer (perhaps in Toronto with Bosh?). I just don't see him as an ideal fit next to TMac, moreso than Yao. Then again, we don't exactly have chemistry as it is.
I agree!!! Gibson is a baby still. Lamarcus is also still a baby. They have some learnin to do ahead of them. The only players worth any value that would make an impact on their rookie year would be Morrison and Reddick!!
The question with Redick is does his amazing shooting ability overshadow the fact that he does little else well. He's not quick, doesn't have a good handle, he's a poor defender that isn't capable of guarding PG's and would be outmatched against any competant SG. Sure he's probably the best player in college basketball right now but he's a system player. This is the kind of player I couldn't draft with a high lottery pick. I don't mean to undervalue good shooting because that's obviously an extremely important element to have but if a bench calibur shooter is what i'm seeking there are plenty of Richie Frahms in the world.
Rodney Carney, from Memphis, is a strong player. He can contribute as well in his first NBA season. He will play the 3 and T-Mac the 2 because he is more a SF than a SG, even if he shoots good. Ronnie Brewer, from Arkansas, is as well a very good player. A true SG. That could make him at the 2 and T-Mac at the 3. T-Mac is so talented that he can play the 2 or the 3, that's not a problem. With T-Mac running the game so often, i'm not convinced of our need to have a true PG. Then Gibson or Rondo, for example, could not be the best pick. We also have to think about a second centrer because Deke is at the end of his career. Via free agency, we can fiond this. Shelden Williams is very strong as well. We have already Howard and Swift but Williams is a strong defensive player and great rebounder. He reminds me Elton Brand. Not easy this draft pick but unless we can get Williams and make a trade, Carney ou Brewer are my favorites.
I would like to continue to echo the above sentiment. Gibson was highly touted coming ot of high school and especially entering this sophomore season with the Longhorns being projected as a possibloe lottery pick entering the season. If he remains a 1st round pick by the end of this year, then I've got to believe it will only be based on potential because I would give him a grade of "D" for his performance so far. If Gisbon has that leadership ability and ability to run an offense, he certainly hasn't shown it up until now. My early conclusion on Gibson is that he is NOT a point guard and when you get right down to it, there is not a lot he does very well. He is very athletic and thus the potential to improve, but as of right now I see a guy that dribbles into double teams, can't pass effectively, fails to use his dribble to get by his defender and into the lane, shoots quite a low percentage from long-range (which is supposed to be one of his strengths). Maybe he'll flourish one day, but right now heis nothing more than unfulfilled potential, not worth the risk in my opinion. Lamarcus Aldridge on the other hand I feel could contribute at the next level right now. He is the anti-Gibson improving leaps and bounds over where he was in his freshman season. A good rebounder who runs the floor well and a good shot blocker, I feel he establishes himself in the post well for his physique (the Longhorn guards just can't get him the ball).
Gibson isn't having the sophomore season everyone thought he would, not sure why, but hopefully it'll give him a good reason to stay and improve his game. This kid can flat out ball and could be a good player in the NBA someday, he needs to improve his passing and decision making badly though. As for Aldridge, this guy can come out right now and contribute pretty quickly. Good NBA frame that rebounds and blocks shots with the best of them. He's got a nice soft touch around the basket as well. I think Barnes should utilize Aldridge's inside game more often, he could easily be a 20 & 10 guy. Reddick is a great shooter, but that's about it. It'll be interesting to see how his game translate into the NBA (if it can). I think he is a good enough shooter to actually make it in the league, but then again, so were Langdon and Hurley.
Aldridge is the kind of guy you buy now, because you won't be able to afford him ever again. Quality big men are hard to come by, and he's worth waiting a few years to fill out. Put him on an nba training regimen. That's the guy. It's also what the team needs, long term. We need a young, solid, energy rebounder next to Yao with fundamental post skills. That's Aldridge. He could be a perfect role player. He also plays light years smarter than a Stromile Swift. We need to pad Swift's stats and ship him out of here. Use him to get another solid role player. Stupid players will kill us if we ever advance deep.
That would be the most unfortunate thing about this season if we don't make the playoffs.... we won't get to see what Swift, Anderson, and Alston do in a 7 game series. Nothing like a night after night matchup to expose a player's real game.
If we are already looking to next year, then we probably need to look at a legit replacement for Deke. Our back court might stink, but we need someone behind Yao more than we need a stud guard. Thought it would be nice to have a stud guard too. Looking forward to next year: DWes - probably gone. Deke - reduce playing time/retirement Sura - retirement Mooch - gone / or comes back with ultra reduction in pay JHo - can he make it another season and a half? JB - retirement those are some serious holes to fill. I am sure that I am missing some too (as I am not too familiar with contracts etc). This off season is going to be a serious soul searching for the Rockets. One or two players in the draft are not going to do it. CD needs to pull a otis t out of his hat. I just don't feel like Stro can back up the C position long term. He might grow into a decent starter (needs to on this team), and might be able to play a few min at C . . . but 10 min a game . . . 15 min a game . . . Stro does not spell Deke. I don't think the draft is going to be able to lift this team up next year. Unless we can draft 5 legit players that are ready for the NBA. We are an old team that is ready to fall apart. We need some young free agents and a few from the draft. Hopefully CD and JVG will avoid more bandaids of players in their mid thirties. Anyway, just my two cents . . .
I look at Reddick mor elike a Kirk Hinrich. Kirk definitely handled the ball more, but he was so much less of a scorer than Reddick, he had to be more of a playmaker. Obviously, you'd have to test his ballhandling skills a lot more in scrimmages, etc., but I see Reddick as more of a PG in the NBA. In all, there are a lot of players in the draft that could help us. The team needs a SF/SG who can start beside McGrady, another big man, another backup PG/SG/SF type, depth overall and increased speed and athleticism.
Possibly 4 lottery picks are playing on ESPN right now. Texas vs. Memphis. I think 3 of them have been mentioned in this thread. Aldridge is in early foul trouble. Gibson is scoring pretty well today. (jjfjj, here's your chance to watch them on TV). Williams and Carney have both made some spectacular athletic plays.
