this thread just gets more and more interesting. Can anyone speak to Dunleavy's alleged basketball smarts v. Prince and Jeffries, etc.? To me, this is as important as his shot, because I agree with Swami that we need someone who can make team basketball play better more than we need pure athleticism.
that picture looks like last year. Isn't that Battier spotting up for a 3? If so, they are really going after Dunleavy to leave that 41% NCAA career shooter wide open. Why would they do that unless they fear Dunleavy more?
Battier also got more rebounds and significantly blocked more shots than Dunleavy for a guy supposedly up to 4 inches shorter and less capable at playing the 3 the the NBA. Also if Dunleavy supposedly has such an edge in smarts you would think it would translate into significantly better assist numbers (they are close to wash as they were in RPG) and fouls drawn--where Battier both was much better at drawing charges when he played defense and getting fouled when he was playing on offense. HP, thanks for the stat clarification. To me it looks worse for Dunleavy. 3% shooting 35, 37, 37.8 and FT shooting 74, 69 & 68 and FG% 46, 47 & 48 in his fesh, soph and junior years. The one thing I expect of him as being a late bloomer is steadily improved shooting numbers, it simply isn't there and not one of those years are beyond "good shooting" years for ACC level college players. I hate to beat a dead horse, but I don't see all the fuss in Dunleavy. It isn't an anti-Duke thing either, in fact I am not sure I would have taken EG if Shane Battier was on the board, but he wasn't so I don't have to worry about it. Likewise if we get a 6 or 7 pick this year and our pick is as good as Battier or JW I'll be plenty happy.
Andy Katz claims he was 225-230 to start the season, but was 210 by the time it ended. Is that sort of fluctuation normal? I wonder if he can really increase significantly in size.
With the 4th pick in the Nba Draft the Houston Rockets Select Mike Dunleavy from Duke University. This is our missing piece!
Because the Tigers were clueless??? BTW, Battier shot 37% from the 3 last year (best on team) and 43% from the field (best of their swingmen/guards). Granted he played on a terrible team, but those figures are pretty good for a rookie 2/3. If Dunleavy can match those numbers his rookie year on similar shots I'll eat my words, but I haven't been wrong much lately (about Bruce Bowen shooting, Steve Smith playoff production, the Bibby trade, the Kidd trade, and even about the Patriots over the Rams for Pete's Sake)
Mike Dunleavy can be the missing piece. If we start him as our 3 maybe our defense will improve because then we can be so abused defensively at all five positions that our opponents become too confused to have a focused strategy. OK I'll make a deal. Barring a trade concerning draft places, I promise to be happy about picking Mike Dunleavy with the 4th pick if ya'll promise you will be happy picking another player with our first pick if it falls anywhere else.
Sorry Desert Scar, You had me convinced based on the numbers we unraveled, but that picture is proof. Dunleavy drew more attention as a sophmore than Battier as a senior.
I stand corrected...you don't know how bad that pisses me off. Thats the last time I will print stats from a link from that site. All things considered I think Battier is a great role player and one with great skills which was apperent this past year in Memphis. I also still think that Dunleavy would be a safe pick and a great role player for our team.
That is REALLY FUNNY! I honestly laughed out loud reading that. Whats even better (as I'm sure you knew) you hedged your bet since baring a trade, there is no way we can get the 4th pick in this years draft. That is not only funny, it is very clever!
Maybe the Rockets should have drafted Dunleavy. Dunleavy has been steadily improving all season long. Yao has gone in the opposite direction. Yao has been getting worse with every game. In my opinion, Dunleavy is a Dirk Nowistki, who had sub-par first year numbers as well.
Dunleavy is Pete Chilcutt. Wait, Chilcutt won a ring and blocked Dan Marjerle in a playoff game. ok. he's good.
I checked this thread because I suspected it was about Dunleavy's dad. Since I'm here... How long is Jr's GSW contract? I wouldn't mind getting both Dunleavys on board: the dad as caretaker coach and heir apparent to Rudy; the son as a team player--he's gonna get bigger, stronger, and smarter for the next 10-15 years.
