I know it's simply a size argument that you're trying to disprove, but come on man. Look at the list. Who on that list is less athletic than Redick? If there is in fact ANYBODY less athletic, they make up for it by having some PG skills (ie. Sarunas J., David Wesley). Wesley's probably still quicker than J.J. anyway. The problem with Redick isn't just his height. It's the combination of being 6'4" with below average athleticism, average wingspan, and none of the skills that he would need to run PG for even a small stint in an NBA game. I'm not a Redick hater. I don't know if you're familiar with the layout of a myspace page, but he was under my "Heroes" section for a while on there. I like the guy a lot as a person and as a college player, but no way do I like how his game translates to the NBA enough to warrant taking him with our first pick. If we pull some kind of deal where we get...say the #12 and #15 from New Orleans, then I'd probably be ok with taking him at 15. Probably...
Yeah there are players slower and less athletic including Wesley who you think is more athletic. Just exactly how could Redick be less athletic than Wesley? People do realize that he gets about 30 inches lift on his jumper? That he has above average quickness and lateral movement at the very LEAST amongst the ACC starting SG's. I mean even if you go as pessimestic as you could possibly go, YES he is quicker and more athletic than players on that list and Wesley definitely one of them.
Thats subjective but if Rosen had said Kwame was faster than Yao, I would have to agree. I probably can find a dozen scouting reports that cite JJs speed and quickness as weaknesses.
Last year he said Kwame was better than Yao, mind you this was right before that laker game when Yao owned him. He had even said Kwame would be picked first if both were in a draft today. This guy's ability to judge talent is one of the all time lowest of the low.
Guys, players picked around number 8 are RARELY franchise players, and almost NEVER contribute right away. JJ is NOT a franchise player, but would contribute right away, and thus is a good pick. It is not like we are talking about the NUMBER 1 pick here, it is number 8..... DD
What is all the fuss about wingspan on a SG? You don't extend your arms when you shoot-- unless you have one of those over/behind the head releases. An extra "reach" might make you a terror in a passing lane drill-- but there is no such thing.
Again, who cares if he is slow if you can make up for it in other areas? Best Team Attribute: Defense Worst Team Attribute: Knocking down open shots. Last two seasons we consistently lost games because we couldn't put up enough points when we needed it most. We RARELY lost games because of our defense. If JJ isn't a great defender, as a team JVG will make adjustments. But if JJ can help space the floor by hitting open shots, I bet our overall point production increases 10-15 ppg cause the entire offense will be more efficient. That increase in points more than overcomes his lack of defense on most nights. Hopefully can get somebody better than JJ but at #8 I'll be perfectly happy with JJ.
DEFENSE ISN'T HIS ONLY WEAKNESS. He's slow and undersized and has absolutely NO PG skills. So thanks for proving my point. So what if Brewer isn't that great of a shooter; he can help out in other ways. More ways than Reddick can on his best day. I have faith that the only way Houston takes Reddick is if they get 2 first round picks.
Its a good thing Orlando didn't follow the "he's the best pick cause he would contribute right away" theory back in '04 when they chose Howard over Okafor. Truthfully, I think Reddick would contribute the least in his rookie season out all the guys in Houston's range. Btw, Tracy McGrady was a #9 pick Dirk Nowitzki was a #9 pick Paul Pierce was a #10 pick Kobe Bryant was a #13 pick Amare Stoudemire was a #9 pick
Well good thing he isn't a PG then. He a SG. I'm not concerned that he is slow and undersized as long as he contributes to W's. Stromile is fast and tall and yet he doesn't contribute in the W column at all. JJ can be slow and undersized all he wants as long as he helps us put W's on the board. That might be true that Brewer can contribute in other ways and we definately need some multi-dimensional players to combat the Shawn Marion's of the world. But our biggest weakness last season was our lack of offense. JJ fits the bill. If Brewer can't hit open shots, then we still need to find somebody that can.
This draft has nowhere the depth those drafts had. You aren't really proving anything with that list of players, 3 of them were straight out of high school, one was from overseas. Now highschool players can't be picked, and this draft doesn't have really any superstar base in it. It really seems that you just joined this conversation without reading any of the previous 24 or so pages of discussion. You are reharping on points that have already been disprove. Redick isn't slow, I really believe him being white is the base of this "not athletic and slow" nonsense. He has been noted to be quite athletic in his predraft workouts. However you continue on admiring your 40 inch verticals and 40 yard dash times. You might want to add Stromile to that favorite player list of yours. I wont be disapointed if the Rockets don't select Redick, but I really sincerely feel he is the best fit for our team.
If he were a PG that would be a weakness. Yao doesn't have PG skills either. Redick is a 2, so PG skills are irrelevent. We have players that can contribute but can't shoot, they ake up the bulk of the roster. Wherever you wanted to plug in Brewer, just use Alston or Bogans. We need shooters. I have faith the Rocks won't waste a top ten pick on a poor man's Terence Morris.
How is Orlando doing these days, they make a run in the playoffs? Did they have 2 superstar players already. Come on, get real, we are talking about who best fits a Yao and Tmac team.....not looking for someone who may develop into a superstar in 5 years. DD
Actually you just made the point that the Redick supporters have been trying to make all along, and you actually think you made your own point, another point the Redick supporters have been trying to make. THINHK ABOUT what you just posted.
How do you know he has no PG skills or that his defense will be too weak. How many times was he asked to bring the ball up at duke. Besides with alston, head, tmac and possibly v-span why woudl he have to bring the ball up. unless he is on the floor with yao, swift, howard, bogans, I think we will be alright. Also Randy Foye said in an interview on draftexpress that of all the players he has worked out against so far which is like 30, Redick suprised him most. He said everyone thinks redick can only shoot, but that redick is actually good at everything. Why would foye say that about him if it wasnt true, when they are likely going to be picked in the same range. As for brewer helping out in more ways, he averaged about 1 assist and three rebounds more then redick in college. Those are not exactly major contributions when redick scores about 9 more a game and spreads the other teams defense out. With Brewer on the court, teams can still crowd down on yao and wait to rebound one of the many rockets bricks.
They almost made the playoffs after trading away Francis...and their future as well as present is in a lot better shape than Charlotte's with Okafor. I dont consider Reddick to be that much of a player on the pro level. This isn't the sterotypically "oh, hes white and plays for duke so I know gonna he's gonna be bust" thinking. If he was 6'6 and had shown that he had a decent handle and could somewhat defend and could contribute in any way other than shooting (cause thats the ONLY reason you want him in Houston) then I wouldn't contest him being picked in the top 10. But, he hadn't shown any of these things. He isn't that skilled. So not only does have a disadvantage physically but he cant make it up with his skill. Shooting isn't this teams only problem and his shooting certainly isn't gonna put this team over the top. Houston's gonna draft a 6'4 Scott Padgett
Ya, but being 6'3" is relevant. I think the point about Redick not having good handles or PG skills is because at 6'3", we could use him as a combo guard. But since he lacks great handles or PG skills, he is strictly a SG, and at 6'3", it can be seen as a problem.
Scott Padgett never averaged over 7 FTA per game in his life. JJ is much more of a playmaker than you suggest. A "winner" can do things on the court that may not necessarily translate into statistics.
