I don't think teams are approaching it that way, though. I'm guessing it's Best Player Available between Ivey and Banchero. And that's debatable who will have the greater career? I was extremely high on Banchero as he was coming out of highschool; but found his performance at a stacked Duke team underwhelming. As @D-rock brilliantly noted David Roddy had some better numbers than Banchero, and Roddy is 6'5" ------------------------- People are trying to push Banchero as a SF to make him appear as some phenom. But is he? Being big or bigger didn't get me eye popping big man stats. A team can call anyone a SF if they can pass a little and shoot for distance a little..... but on defense can the 6'10" guy stand out? Can I get by with the 6'5" guy at SF? Regular season (21/22) Player..........pts....TOV...3P%...rebs...Ast...Blks...stl....FT%....minutes Banchero:....17.2....2.4....33.8%....7.8....3.2.....0.9.....1.1...72.9.......33 Roddy:..........19.2....2.3....43.8%....7.5....2.9....1.1.....1.2....69.1......33 Ivey:..............17.3....2.6....35.8%....4.9....3.1.....0.6....0.9....74.4......32 ..........................................................................( 0.7 blks previous yr) per 40-minutes Banchero:......20.9....2.9..................9.5....3.9.....1.1....1.3 Roddy:............23.3....2.8..................9.2....3.5.....1.3....1.4 Ivey:................22.0....3.4................*6.2....3.9.....0.7...1.2 Advanced stats Banchero: 2.7 Blk%.......17.5 Ast%......13.2 Reb% Roddy:......4.1 Blk%.......19.8 Ast%......14.5 Reb% Ivey:.....***2.0 Blk%.......19.2 Ast%.......9.3 Reb% (***3.8 BLk% previous yr) ----------------- As I've said Ivey will be very good in the NBA.....Ja Morant good. To pair up Ja Morant (Ivey) and Michael Jordan (Green) would be out of this world. Porter is good and can have the same role as the end of last season as SF (which is basically what he did last season as primary ball handler and guarding SF's). Porter shooting 48% on catch and Shoot 3's allows him to play off ball and a 3-guard lineup to work.....that and his and Ivey good amount of rebounding body frames. Will be a restricted free agent next summer......what if someone offers him stupid money? People are looking at the Banchero body and thinking God-ly like things. But I'm not sure that is what we are getting? When looking at the careers of Ivey and Banchero after 5 years, I'm saying Ivey is a flat out star.....I'm not sure I'm saying that about Banchero. Pretty sure we will still need defensive-rebounding "Bigs" to go with Banchero. This is where someone says, "with Ivey we are going to need a point guard." Look at the contenders......they are going with combo guards getting around 4 or 5 assists and 3 to 5 rebounds. As long as Ivey is attacking and drawing fouls. He is what I had hoped for. ** side note: But if Banchero is the pick, then I will stand by him as well. -------- *Not bad for a guard
the David Roddy thing is weird. Lots of players on college have solid stats. Luka Garza put up dominant stats. As a 3rd a 4th year college player. meanwhile Scottie Barnes had meh basic stats coming off the bench as a freshman. moreover I can’t see how you can make the comment about Roddy and then go on to compare Ivey with Ja? Did you compare their stats? Lol. Ja was so much more dominant a college player. And just watching (eye test) a much better creator/passer. If I’m looking for a crazy upside comp for Ivey it’s DWade way more than Ja.
Are you ok with a professional scout saying Ja and Ivey are similar? Mike Schmitz? Here what Ivey himself says about watching Morant highlights before every game. I was saying Ivey looked like Ja Morant before I saw any of these scouts or podcasts. Celtics didn't really take off until they traded PG Schroder and moved Marcus Smart to PG (combo guard) and brought in Derrick White.... another combo guard. It's the future of the NBA.
no I’m still not down with the comparison. Ja is a PG. Ivey is a combo guard. As you note. also as someone new to the mike Schmitz analysis train the last 2+ years… he thinks … publicly at least … that every player is amazing and the next [insert random amazing comp]. It makes sense for him to do that publicly.
what is Luka? Ok, what is Steph? in positionless NBA what is what, exactly??? I would probably be happier with 5 & 7 than 3 & 17.
I wouldnt be against that 5 & 7 as well. As Mike Schmitz is high on Keegan Murray, so am I. He could have some room and look very much like a Rudy Gay with 3-pt shooting abilities. ------------------ As far as Luka and Steph....I've covered that. If you are 6'3" and under you better leap like Ja Morant or shoot like Steph or Trae Young. Their offense is off the chart and allows their team to compete.....because they will be targeted on the defensive end. Even last year you could get away with smaller guards.....but now teams are loading up on above average 3-pt shooters all along the perimeter. Makes it more difficult to provide "as much" help defense as the past few seasons. More spacers or players providing space are coming through the highschool and college ranks. Players better be quick and have length to somewhat help with interior defense while still close out on 6'10" dudes hitting 3's. 6'2" guys running out on these bigs shooting 3's don't even phase them. It's like shoot around. Easy money. And before you say Banchero is one of those 6'10" guys shooting 3's.....yes, but he and Sengun are piss poor at protecting both interior and popping out to the perimeter. Luka is also a lights out shooter.....if you are suggesting Banchero will be that.... Please, just stop, nonsense!! Ja Morant slash Ivey had a better chance of that as Michael Jordan slash Jalen Green and Porter will create so many wide open lanes as they draw the gravity of the defense. Ivey doesn't need much space and his speed is lightning quick. Plus his ability in transition is off the charts. Decent FT shooter. ---------- Fact of the matter is the Rockets are going to have to ask Kevin Porter to dribble less whether he is PG or at SF.......REGARDLESS. You are looking for Green to get more touches, Sengun to get more touches and whether it be Banchero or Ivey.....they would need to get more touches. Rockets starting with 3-guard lineup of Ivey-Green-Porter but then you sub in Christopher will work. Ivey is a combo guard. Let's call him a 2 in this new position-less basketball. Green is the same. A position 2. Porter is a 2 as well. Is that much different from Marcus Smart as a 2 ? Jaylen Brown as a 2 at 6'6"? Derrick White as a 2 at 6'4"? Drafting Banchero doesn't complete the rebuild. Drafting Ivey doesn't complete the rebuild either. If you want to go by position number: 2-2-2-3-5 Ivey-Green-Porter-Wood-Sengun If Wood is not a team player, Ivey-Green-Porter-Eason(drafted at #17)--Garuba.......or Sochan at #17 Next draft there is some good athletic SF's coming out: Cameron Whitmore and Dillion Mitchell....both 6'7" that we could get at #4 to #8 Rockets would be: Ivey Green C Whitmore or D Mitchell (both 6'7" and quick) Eason or Sochan or EJ Liddell Sengun........Garuba improving in yr 2? Free agency Myles Turner will be 27 at this time. The wingspans, athleticism, ability to get out in transition would be off the charts. Above the stratosphere level.
Cont'd from post #68 E j Liddell can play 6'7" with 6'11.25" wingspan......Draymond Green like. Notice the 2.6 Blks vs Banchero 0.9
Rockets (or i / me) could make #5 & #7 work in what I see as the new model NBA of players 6'4"-ish (play above the rim) to 6'9"-ish. *If under 6'3" shoot lights out or play above the rim as Morant does. To front an interior offensive player. *If above 6'9" must be mobile to help not only protect the rim, rebound, keep PACE high octane in transition; but also pop out to alter/contest 3-pt shots well. Gobert is DPOY candidate each year, likes to stay near the rim defensively. No Bueno. Gets his team ousted two years in a row now. Ayton.....internet detectives pin point the time coach Monty Williams had enough of Ayton and called him out for giving up on the team. Appears Ayton was lazy getting out to a three point shooter. That kind of defense is costing teams as 3-point shooters are being set up well as defenses are being asked to rotate everyone. You can have a Doncic (unathletic) or smallish Steph Curry; but you better surround them with athletic players that can hit some 3's. The good teams will work Sengun- Banchero over defensively when they are both on the court; as both prefer drop coverage when on the perimeter as they most try to get an angle back to the rim. Problem is everyone in the NBA is mastering the step back 3. Teams will torch them on that alone. One will have to go. Chet Holmgren and Jabari fit in this new NBA (being over 6'9" but mobile) Players like Mathurin, Keegan Murray, Sochan, Mark Williams, Eason, Jalen Williams (6'5" with 7'2" wingspan). Rockets would have options....moving up....moving down. Trading Wood or not trading Wood? Trading Eric Gordon or not? Trading Nwaba or not? Nix? Rockets are saying they see Nix as lottery pick level....build up for trade? Queen? To trade or not to trade? Options, options, options.
I think Paolo will get quicker and perhaps a bit explosive if he gets leaner. This won't hurt his strength. He has the potential to become a menace on offense in the front court when we go through droughts. His passing differentiates him from Tobias and Randle, since he can even help Jalen, Kevin and Josh get out on the fast break from the backcourt. Paolo is good in the half court which is a very underrated part of his game. I'm starting to thinking moving down to 20 and 25 from 17 isn't a bad idea to cover defensive gaps. Move Dieng 's rights for EJ Liddell and Dalen Terry . The Spurs have contacted Houston for it. You know me Apache, I'm not heavy on stats. I try to look for solutions. Thanks for your invaluable information. I'm big on Ivey simply because he's smarter than Westbrook. He's malleable and is making strides. I think he will have the best NBA career in the entire draft. I will support either Ivey or Paolo in Houston. Go Houston Rockets!
The Nix thing caught my attention. I saw the off-season words about him but I also saw him on the court. I didn’t see what was quoted about him. I sincerely hope I am wrong. However, if there is any truth then why would Ivey be under any consideration? KPJ may not be the future yet he is talented while an emotional work in progress, but his value to TheGoodGuys clearly exceeds his value elsewhere. I remain inclined to hope for the Detroit/Portland putative dealin’ and the 5 & 7 swapped for the 3. Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to run out a roster of all under 23s?
PS: I'm more hopeful now about Paolo after seeing him in lean muscular shape just a few days on Twitter. @ApacheWarrior
Yes, I want to make it clear that I don't think Banchero will be a bust. He will be a decent player probably averaging a high of 20 points. I see Ivey having a greater point output that contributes in more ways than one (similar to Marcus Smart slash Ja Morant) type combo guards nowadays. You know how I feel about Sengun lateral quickness and I feel the same about Banchero. While at Duke, Mark Williams covered up a lot of mistakes Banchero made defensively on the perimeter. Unless the Rockets draft Mark Williams, Sengun will be Banchero's "cover my #$$" back door rim protector. Rockets will have to add more mobile bigs to help Banchero as people have Wood gone. I could work a million ways to isolate Sengun-Banchero on the same side of the half court. Put them in PnR situations. I don't see either one fighting to get around the screen and if they go under the screen every NBA player seems to have that step back 3. Regardless as a former PG I feel like I could split the two and get by them all day!! Where I'm finding an open 3-pt shooter as a 3rd defender comes over to cut my path off....NBA quality players like Ja, Fox, SGA, Giddey, WB, Garland, Sexton, Harden, Maxey, Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Davion Mitchell, Haliburton and a multitude of others would make them pay by get to the rack or also finding a wide open 3 on the other side of the court. Or hitting slashing teammate. As I said to Mobley fans, I will support whomever the Rockets draft....just feel Ivey is the better player for today's NBA and gives the team an athletic dynamic that would have the team at a supercharged level. Hard for other teams to match.
I fear fat cat itis......people making a lot of money tend to eat better and start living up the limelight. See Zion Williamson. But not just him
It was said on a recent episode of Rockets Launch. If thru YouTube look for Nix in the title from a couple days back. I would love to see a team of Nix David Roddy (6'5" and 250 pounds) Connor Williams bring back James Harden Kevin Porter is going to be asked to dribble the ball less, whether it's as point guard or SF. Period, end of story. Teams are crossing mid court and instantly passing the ball and initiating a share the ball mentality from the get go. I even see it from players like CP3 and Steph Curry. If players of those caliber are not allowed to dribble the air out of the ball endlessly.....then Porter needs to accept he can't as well. This is why drafting Ivey makes sense to me. Ready to accept the baton as Porter goes into free agency as a restricted free agent. What if a team offers Porter a Poison Pill contract or some outrageous amount of money? The way I saw Kevin Porter play at the end of the season makes me hopeful that Porter can be with the Rockets long term. But the 3-guard lineup of Ivey-Green-Porter works as they all are around 6'5". Ivey and Porter can hold their own by way of muscle in the interior defensively while Green and his leaping ability can front most players near the rim. And I'm only proposing the 3-guard lineup as starters: 2-2-2-PF-C but then it goes: 2-2-SF-SF-C or 2-2-SF-PF-C or 2-2-SF-SF-PF or 2-2-SF-SF-SF or Silas could go: Ivey--Green--Josh Christopher--Porter............Garuba or if we draft Mark Williams or Tari Eason or EJ Liddell ----------------------- We would be rocking and rolling....the pace and space would be off the.charts. Defensively they would be a pack of wolves swarming everything.
I totally understand how someone might think that if they were convinced that the NBA is really moving to a place where there's nothing but SG's on every team....and that would somehow be a successful structure of a team. That said, I'm not on the "team full of small hyper athletic unskilled players" bandwagon. Size and skill have always been important in the NBA and they always will. Getting smaller, less skilled, worse defensively, but more athletic would just lead to yet another top 5 pick in the next draft.....and I'm sure you'd be back advocating for picking yet another hyper athletic SG. It's just a difference of opinion. We'll see how it plays out. That team might not win 10 games.
I think either guy will work and if Paolo is the last of the big 3 available I'm ok with taking him or Ivey, or trading down for 5, 7 if possible. I really want Jabari and I would also support moving up if necessary to get him. It's great that after Harden screwed us we have so quickly amassed so many very valuable assets and at least one alpha dog. My main gripe with both Banchero and Ivey is defense. Jabari steps into the league and becomes a + defender. I'm not sure either of the other two become a + defender their entire careers.
