It's about time somebody gave tmo some props in all this ROY talk! All second-round rookie team: Gilbert Arenas Will Solomon Terence Morris Loren Woods Alvin Jones I think that team would do just fine against the first rounders. This season, anyway.
Just some observations from the rookies that I have seen from the summer games: S. Battier - The guy is a true leader(talks all the time to his teamates), he's a great listener(almost every time down in a half court game he's checking to see what the coach wants), he's an adjuster(if he knows he maked a mistake, he's not going to do it again for some time), he's a teacher(he's constaintly telling other teamates where to be if they are out of position, or where he wants them to be), he's got court vision(great at finding the open teamate in double teams). He looks like his first option is to find the open man or create a shot for someone else, unless he is wide open. He has a post up game and an outside game(But most of the time he post up to pass out). He's got range on this outside shot. The negatives are that he doesn't go high for his shots making them more easier to block, he's not really quick enough to get by a defender(deceptively quick using his fakes to get by), he doesn't look to be the main scorer of the team. Overall he's got a allaround game. He's definitely a player that can play 30+ mins right away without hurting the team. What stood out the most: his leadership and poise. J. Richardson - In one word, scorer. In two words, Offensive machine. In three words, he'll get points. In four words, he'll dunk on you. In five words, the guy has got major game. To sum it up he's going to score alot of points. He can shoot the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.....25fter with ease. Has an endless array of highlight dunks(he can do it all and fearless). He's strong, runs fast, quick, finds a way of getting open(really open, he uses screens very well). The negatives is that he doesn't see a shot he doesn't like and he doesn't look at all like he's 6'5. I would say his game really resembles Is. Rider. What stood out the most: his scoring ability. Tyson Chandler - Chicago is going to need alot of patience. He runs very well and looks good on the court(I mean he looks like he's got game, like he's about to put in a miss dunk by runing in by doing this impressive move to get there then he jumps up and grabs the rim and looks like he's dunking, but the ball has long gone down). When his shot falls it goes in like Rice hiting the three and when it doesn't it looks worse than Shaq shooting fts. The negative is that he's way too lost on the court. Takes way too many 25fters(I think this is what he calls a good open shot), airballs more shots than makes, let's the crowd get to him. Overall he's not going to do anything this year but take notes. What stood out the most: his speed to get down court. the other Eddie (Curry) - He's big, very Big. He's got a nice post game, has an assortment of low post moves, has a little hook shot, he can rebound, is consistent in scoring(Quitely puts up big numbers). Definitely plugs the middle on defense. The negatives, despite his 300lbs he gets push out when trying to bang for the boards often. Overall he's going to be a good pro. If he improves what he's doing now he'll be good, he doesn't have anything that he really doesn't do that he needs to. What stood out the most: his post play. Radmanovic - He's another allaround player. He's got a nice shot and has range. Really can shoot the 3 with ease. He's good a t getting the ball inside(passing). He just needs to adjust a little to the NBA game. What stood out the most: this outside shot. Eddie Griffin - What isn't said yet? What stood out the most: his rebounding and blocking(you will be surprise by how close he is to blocking so many shots[if his fingers were one inch longer he would block every thing, OK almost every thing ]) These are just my opinions. I don't know much about the other players(Brown, White, Gasol,...) but I do know that Battier and Richardson will be two of the top 4-5 players to make an statement for ROY.
I don't think he'll get it, but one of Curry's strengths coming out of high school is his footwork. I like the Golden State guy for ROY. Trenton Hassell will make one of the all-rookie teams too...
The Bulls actually have a glut at center: Brad Miller, Dalibor Bagaric (a #1 pick from last year who is going to be very good in this league) and Curry. Then theres the glut at PF too...Fizer, Oakley, Chandler, Ruffin... Anyone need a big guy? Ruffin is rodman without the wild hair...
Battier Richardson White Eddie Griffin Brown (I watched him on ESPN once, and he can really face his opponent and take him off the dribble. Incredibly fast first step for his size)
He looked lost because he was playing SF the whole time he was in the summer leagues. The perimeter was a whole new game to him. I think thats a bad way to start him off...but the coaching staff doesn't listen to me. But he's got the tools...man if he learns the game... I love this next one: That and how big he could become if he muscles up and keeps the pudge down is why I'm excited about this kid: Shaq his freshman year Eddy just before his freshman season should begin.
I say it's between Battier, Richardson, Griffin, and maybe White. Battier and Richardson will probably have the best chance at it becuase they'll be the ones getting more playing time. I think the ROY will be Richardson.
gettinbranded - your absolutely right, Chicago had TC playing way too far away from the basket as a SF, alot of times they had him outside the 3pt line just to have him past it inside. He's too valueable to have standing outside. That Curry guy is too hard not to miss, he's huge! I like to see him and shaq on the same court playing against each other (that would be like two sumo wreslers battling it out). I honestly think he will put up decent numbers this year(10+pts, 5+rebs). I can see why your excited about him. Your going to have alot of fun watching him, I know I did!
sheez, I never realized that Shaq was in shape during college. Curry looks like Cartman compared to young Shaq. I think the ROY candidates are: Battier, Brown and Griffin. If Jordan comes back, Brown has a 0% chance of being the ROY. If Griffin gets 23+ mpg, it's absolutely over. Griffin w/ 8+ rbg and 2+ bpg will be the ROY lock.
Please don't compare Curry and O'Neal, Curry is not reminiscent of O'Neal. Oh, and you only have a glut at a position if you have more than one good player. The Bulls don't have a glut anywhere.
Sigh. Where did I compare them? I posted the pics to show what Curry could grow into. I said nothing of their games.
I like the idea LA-RF---but Tyke and Eddy are gonna have problems playing togather at least at the beginning because they both need the post to be comfortable. The only alternative I see is one getting much PT and the other not much at all. And I think it will be Eddie getting the PT. It's Tykes jumper and defense that will get him out on the floor, but he's going to have to be better than Robinson and Artest for that happen and it ain't happenin' this season. It will be much fun watching them grow though.
Hassell might be the Bulls best rookie this year - he should get time at SF/SG and he can play there too!
i think a lot of scouts have compared oneal to curry. except that curry can shoot free throws and jumpers. and he moves better than shaq. apparently he learned gymnastics, and that was supposed to be his first sport. kind of like tim duncan with swimming. and i think i read somewhere that shaq saw baby shaq play, to check up on him and met him after that.
There's almost no way Griffin will be in contention for ROY unless he surprises all of us by playing like an all-star or steller ventren during his scant minutes off the bench. Then again, I don't care if he is ROY or not! I would rather a solid player off the bench and future starter/star, than ROY, then fading ala Cato.. oops Cato was never a bright spark anyway.. so he can't fade... Battier is probably the most solid player fundamentally, and mentally too - he's my pick. I'll try to get some word from his directly when he comes to Melbourne with the Goodwill Games team. I'll prob ask Flip whether KG is going to play PF or SF this year.
Same old song. I am predicting Battier to be a immediate impact and rookie of the year. Should be a top three point shooter this year if he can extend his range. Can play defense and rebound. Will be on horrible team. His big problem will be his "hustle". He hustles on every situation except on fastbreaks. JW might not wait for him.
We have a weakness at SF, Griffin at SF would solidify this position. He would also put up more points at this position, and his defense at this position would be excellent. He has a better chance of winning the ROY at this position. Not against Tim Duncan, Wallace, Malone, Webber and the rest. Look at Dirk at Dallas, he plays SF at 7'0. T mo at 6'9 needs to play SG, and develop into a great one to be competitive. He may not be a good one, but that is our weakness and we need him there. His height, and long arms alone could change the shot of Vince, or Bryant. Mobley at 6'4 needs to be a six man behind Francis at the PG position. We would wipe out the competition at this position. Mobley 6'4 at SG would be up against Tracey 6'8 in Orlando, and Bryant 6'7, and possibly MJ. Taylor stays at PF, along with Glenn Rice. His foot injury slows him down, and he would be more deadly at this position. Like Bird was at Celtics. Cato 6'11 at Center, we need another dominate center, he has to hold and score against 7'1 Shaq, 7'1 David, 7'1 Mutombo, 7'1 Ewing and the all time great Hakeem Olajuwon. Move Cato to PF, before it is too late, and get another Center.
Sorry, when you post those photos juxtaposed to each other, you're making an implicit comparison. You're trying to have your cake and eat it too by giving the impression without being scrutinized for the argument. tolpasch was right to call you on it.
I think Diop looks a lot more like Shaq did back when he was a freshman. He's definitely not as fat as Curry. Do you have a picture of Thomas Hamilton or Stanley Roberts back when they were freshman? PS - I hope you liked the picture, who's face is that being whiped off by Big Man Diop's arm?
