Guide to NCAA for Rocket Draft Maniacs

awesome post...thanks..timesavers are always appreciated by wife 2-yr old, wife and dogs!!!!

 

1) I hate to gush

2) I hate to be a copy-cat, But..

great post.

 

What does it mean when "Sticky:" precedes the thread title?

 

it means the thread stays at the top of the list of topics even if it doesn't have the most current reply.

 

Can you do that for the Comets too!

 

Great job.

The most intriguing game to watch IMO is the Stanford vs. W. Kentucky game. It'll be good to see how Borchardt plays against someone with the size of Marcus, and how Marcus deals with a big man with skills. Also, Casey Jacobsen is in the game-he's ultra talented, perhaps even a 3, but probably more of a 2. If he was 2 inches taller, he'd be a dream fit.

I might as well make some more comments on the two.

Going in, I like Borchardt better. Borchardt's offensive game is excellent-he's got great range on his shot, good quickness excellent hands, and toughness. He's also an excellent rebounder and shotblocker. He is very much like Raef Lafrentz, except he has more of a center mentality and more physical. His only problem has been some foot problems and such, and I've heard those were more flukes than serious long term problems.

Marcus is big. He's got GREAT size, and some skills to boot. He's more of the throwback center, that catches the ball close in with his back to the basket to score most of his points, as opposed to the ultra-lean, ultra-quick new age face-up centers, some with shooting range. Injuries have been a killer, and more serious than Borchardt. I'd worry about the Adonal Foyle small school syndrome with him, but he's got the size.

 

I think Illinois has this kid named Brian Cook that is supposed to be good.

 

That's a little annoying.....isn't there an NBA Draft forum?

Wrong forum! Stick it!

 

WELL AS LONG AS IT STAYS ON TOP. I ONLY HAVE TWO THINGS TO SAY. GO ROCKETS!

 

I have some impressions following the first few games. Granted, I wasnt able to form much of an opinion due to CBS (why they kept switching away from the Standford-W.Kentucky game every time Marcus went back into the game is beyond me).

SoI'll just make a few quick comments.

Dissapointing
Prince, Gizzard and Rice had so-so games. Jeffries looks like a smaller, skinnier, uglier and much less talented Eddie Griffin. Chris Marcus' put in a very blah game - even with the foul trouble when you are that tall and play 18 minutes yet only get 2 rebounds, you got to wonder. I don't know if Dickau is suppossed to be a good prospect or anything, but I think he still needs a lot of work.

Played Well
Everybody on Duke (Williams, Dunleavy, Boozer), as expected, played well. Doesn't it always seem as if they blow out their first round opponent? Despite the close game, you still have to like what you see from Drew Gooden. He put out a very solid outing, while many of his teammates struggled. Borchardt definitely suprised me. I didn't think he would outperform Marcus by such a margin, and scorers like Casey Jacobsen always have a place in the NBA. I can see him having the successes that Mike Miller and Wally have had in the NBA, especially if he really is 6-6, as listed. Sam Clancy played decently, although his team didn't. But if Marcus Fizer can stick in the NBA I don't see why Clancy couldn't - he does need to work on his free throws though. Finally, Jason Gardner continues to be the poster-boy for not leaving school too early. Another very solid performance.


Anybody agree/disagree/have more to add?

 

I did not see the games but let's update the results and anyone that saw a game, drop your thoughts in.

1) Duke Dunleavy, Boozer
(16) Winthrop
Duke wins 84-37
Dunleavy 22 min 18 pts on 8-12 shooting 6 reb 2 ast
Boozer 20 min 19 pts on 8-11 shooting 6 reb 0 ast

(5) Indiana Jeffries
(12) Utah
Indiana wins 75-56.
Jeffries 27 min 12 pts on 4-8 shooting 5 reb 0 ast

(2) Alabama Grizzard
(15) FAU
Alabama wins 86-78.
Grizzard 26 min 6 pts on 2-8 shooting 8 reb 1 ast

(4) Kentucky Prince
(13) Valparaiso
UK wins 83-68.
Prince 37 min 13 pts on 5-14 shooting, 5 rb 2 ast

(1) Kansas Gooden
(16) Holy Cross
Kansas wins 70-59.
Gooden 36 min 19 pts on 7-15 shooting, 13 rb 5 ast

(8) Stanford Borchardt
(9) W Kentucky Marcus
Stanford wins 84-68.
Marcus 18 min 10 pts on 4-11 shooting, 2 rb 0 ast
Borchardt 28 min 19 pts on 7-11 shooting, 12 rb 2 ast

My take based on stats alone. Forget Marcus and Blizzard. Dunleavy, Boozer and Gooden stood up to all the hype. Jeffries and Prince jury is still out based on stats. I've seen both of these guys play before and they are solid, but not superstars IMO. Borchardt impressed assuming he was matched up against Marcus. He is worth some more looks.

If Boozer comes out this year, he might be a good option. Anyone think he can play center at the next level or is he more of a power forward?

 

Boozer's got strenght, but at 6-9, and it doenst seem like he has the biggest wingspan, he could be considered undersized for an NBA power-forward, much less center. Still, he may turn into a Antonio Davis type player, who, at 6-9 has played center before.

 

Chris Marcus' stock just went into the toilet. If Toronto makes the playoffs, we could probably get him with that pick if we wanted.

Borchardt impressed again. I definitely would not mind him on the Rockets-I think he has the ability to be Raef Lafrentz with a center mindset. If we were to pick him, we would be instantly settled at the 4/5 with Borchardt/Cato and Griffin/Taylor/KT.

JayZ: The only thing Jared Jeffries has on EG is ball handling. Jeffries is an excellent ball-handler, with great floor vision, other than that

Did anyone else see Sam Clancy's straight up rejection in overtime?

A couple of other stats on the Marcus vs. Borchardt. Borchardt had FIVE blocked shots, Marcus had two. Neither had any turnovers, nor steals. Both had two personal fouls. The only thing Borchardt did poorly was free throw shooting: 5-10, on the season he shoots 66.5%.

 

You seem to know more about him (Borchardt) than me. Is he a legit 7-0? When you say Raef LaFrentz type player do you include range in that category. I notice he did attempt 25 threes on the year (making 11 - 44%, not bad), which is good for a 7 footer. What about defensively? Will his 2.8 bpg hold up in the NBA? Finally, agility. We don't need another Jason Collier - he isn't, is he?

Where do you think he'll fall in the draft? nbadraft.net has him going around ninth. I just would prefer the Rockets pick up more size in the frontcourt before they concentrate on SF. This guy, so far, seems like the perfect fit. And not that everyone from Standford is smart, but he should, if he's hard worker, know his role, understand what it takes to adjust to the NBA, and could turn into a solid player.

From ESPN-

"Scouting Report: A rangy shot-blocker/rebounder deluxe ... Though raw offensively, he is incredible defensively ... Changes the dynamics of the game by patrolling the lane and swatting shots ... Shot-blocking and body type reminiscent of a young Marcus Camby at this same stage in his career ... Outstanding reach and mobility ... Extraordinary rebounder as well ... Very little offensive skills especially in the post ... Gets completely pushed around in traffic due to his frail body ... Solid face up shooter, though he lacks confidence as a scorer, so his shot hasn't been going down ... Could be a terror eventually ... Father, Jon, had a career in the NFL as an offensive lineman ... Like many of the Stanford players, incredibly intelligent and excels not only on the court, but in the classroom. For the record: Had 20 rebounds against Purdue as a junior. Fun fact: To date, Borchardt has received A's in all but one of his academic classes since seventh grade."

 

Good thread & commentary from all around.

I don't have time to watch the games or to look up all the stats, this will give me a good summary of the happenings.

Thanks, guys!!!

 

Two things I've seen a lot of Clancy and the guy is always a force, he would be a great mid-late 1st round pick. As far as Boozer goes although I can see him having a decent career in the league I don't think he should be taken anytime before pick number 20.

That is all.

 

His agility is like Lafrentz's. He is not Kevin Garnett all over the floor, but he's not nearly as sluggish as Collier, and he gets up and down the floor easily. He's got excellent touch from just inside the college 3, so IMO I don't think he'll develop NBA 3 point touch like Lafrentz has, but I didn't think Griffin would either, so I guess it's possible.

On the defensive side, he's a smart man defender, and an EXCELLENT help defender. He could use a little more muscle, but he doesn't shy away from contact at all, and has the right mindset to play center. That is what Lafrentz lacks in comparison. Borchardt has excellent hands, and even a few low post moves to boot.

Where he'll be picked? If Stanford goes deep, and he continues solid play, who knows? I think definitely after Williams and Gooden, and most likely after Woods (hearsay) and Ming, if Dunleavy comes out, him too... After that, Dejuan Wagner might go ahead of him, but not many others. He falls in that 6-10 range. His stock could depend directly on others, like if Wilcox comes out and shows his freaky athletic ability, or Stoudamire impresses. He's definitely in the top 2 centers in the draft, with Yao Ming. I'd be VERY surprised if he dropped out of the top 10, and shocked if he went out of the lottery.

To me, the Rockets have 2 main priorities, and 3 ways to fill those priorities (if Toronto sacks up). We have our pick, the Toronto pick, and a 5 mill MCE. We NEED a center to tandem with Cato. We would LIKE a high caliber young SF. Assuming the lotto balls our unfriendly, we'll have a 6-8 pick with #14. If we can somehow trade our pick for that SF (the first on the market is Odom), the #14 can certainly land that backup, like Chris Marcus or Melvin Ely. You can basically call it an offseason there, and save that MCE for a rainy day, extend Francis, resign Torres, and you're done.