There are 5 options for a rookie's developement: 1. Doesn't play well, but improves in the 2nd & 3rd years 2. doesn't play well in 1st & 2nd & 3rd years 3. plays well, hits sophmore wall & doesn't recover 4. plays well, hits soph wall & recovers 5. plays well and keeps on going. This conversation is best suited for the 3rd season. IMO he will continue to develope into our pg of the future. However I wouldn't make him our only choice.
Brooks is no Calvin Murphy and probably won't be as good. I think its too early to tell if Brooks will be our future or not. He's obviously going to be a regular rotation NBA player though but can he be more? His size is a really disadvantage for him on the defensive side. He picked up lots of fouls trying to guard opposing guards. Some strength training should help in that area.
Brooks can be as good as he wants to be, it is all down to his confidence and belief that he will be succeed. He just needs to play within himself and he will be fine. DD
Minus all the talent. Maybe it's just me, but Aaron looks shorter or at least smaller than Paul. Perhaps I underestimated his height, but there's no question he is a slender player. When New Orleans was playing Boston, Tommy Heinsohn was commenting how Chris Paul has added a lot of bulk from his college or rookie years. That gives him the ability to take the hit around the basket and still finish. It takes a special player to become a great point guard. It's much more than size and speed. You have to have the gift of seeing the game better than anybody and delivering the ball to your teammates in positions where they can be successful.
And he needs to understand that he is quick as hell and he can take to the bestak every time he wants and against every player.
Kid does need to develop. And one point about that. The only way this kid is going to develop all the way is for McGrady to change his game and play off the ball.
I hate to be negative because I like Brooks a lot, but I think his best case scenario is just a 15-20 MPG change-of-pace, spark off the bench role player. That being said, there will be an Aaron Brooks in every draft. I hope i'm wrong but I really don't think we're stashing the next Chris Paul, T.J. Ford or D.J. Augustin on our bench here.
two things is for sure. 1. he's quick as hell - this allows him to get past his defender and stay in front of his man on defense. 2. he can shoot - there will always be minutes for a guy who can knock down a shot. combine that with the ability to drive and the defense is in trouble. what he needs to work on IMO, is TEAM defense as his 1-on-1 defense has been pretty good. after that, i'd like to see him work on PLAY CALLING. this will come with experience at the point. running a team isn't easy for a rookie. i'd bet that he's able to grasp the TEAM DEFENSE by next season, allowing him to be a productive backup PG. if he is able to work on his decision making (comes with time) then he will be starting soon enough.
I dont expect him to be a starter. He was a late first rounder, which many people believed was taken a little too early. At that point in the draft you don't expect to be drafting starters. If he pans out as a rotation player then to me he fulfilled what was expected of him.
the spurs are starting about 4 late first round picks. the lakers, celtics, pistons, rockets, and suns all start late first round picks. so why is it so hard to believe that a player who is a good shooter and quick enough to get into the paint anytime he wants can't manage to turn himself into a starter?... especially when playing for one of the best coaches of all time, and playing with some of the hardest workers in the nba.
I said I don't expect him to be a starter, never said he couldn't become one. Most late first rounders don't become starters, but many do. Unless AB is able to bulk up and keep his quickness like Chris Paul hell always be a major defensive liability, which is the biggest obstacle from him being a starter. Not only is he pretty short, but hes pretty slender too.
I like Kyle Lowry more than I do Brooks. The guy is strong and drives relentlessly to the bucket getting eay shots for everyone.
Augustin hasn't proven anything yet in the NBA. I don't see any reason why he would be better than Brooks.
Don't worry... he was the 2nd coming of Isiah Thomas about 2 or 3 months into the season. I'm sure he'll get crucified, annointed the 2nd Coming of Isiah, and cyber-shot-to-death again within the next season or two. It depends on what kind of game he just had.
