Just to recap -- the Rockets acquired the first pick of the second round (#31) from the Sonics and used it to draft Carl Landry. I know for a fact that the Rockets debated between Landry and Big Baby Davis and it was "very close" between the two. I think after a great game by Landry, even if it's in garbage time against the Timberwolves, it's fair to make this thread now. Davis is starting to come on for a team that is 30-4. This was Big Baby the other day in a huge game for the Celtics in Detroit. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTxZEozp08Q&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qTxZEozp08Q&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> I'm curious now, with 2+ months of NBA hindsight, who would you pick out of the two?
This is WAY hard, because Big Baby has been playing well all year for a great team. I would go with Landry, because his athleticism is very important to cover up for yao's slowness of foot. So, because of Yao, I would take Landry. DD
Feel like we still need to see more from Landry before I can choose him over Davis. I wanted the Rockets to pick Davis back in the draft and was outraged by the selection of Landry, but I think Landry has good potential.
It kind of depends on health. Will Big Baby keep the weight down? I like him because he can score and has the strength/weight to keep big men out of the post. Is Landry fully recovered from his injury in college? His athleticism looked great tonight. Landry has shown a good jumper in the preseason and in college. I can't decide, it's a tossup. It might come down to how well each player can guard the Duncans, Boozers, etc of the Western Conference.
Glen Davies so far has performed better if not as good as Landry. The concern over picking Glen was whether he could kept his weight down. Long term, skill wise it seemed that Landry can still improve a lot more since he has the range, impressive skills and the athleticism. Only time will tell.
Hell, everyone was calling for Morey's head for drafting Brooks. Then again, everyone was calling for Kubiak's head for drafting Mario. They have made fans look absolutely clueless recently.
I definitely wanted Davis at the time. I was shocked when they picked Landry, and upset about it ever since. The times I've seen Landry both on the court and in interviews, he obviously has great athleticism, but he doesn't seem like he's got a very high IQ. But, my exposure to him is still low. The clip is Davis playing well against Detroit, and he has been playing well over a number of games. If Landry plays that well against some of the better PFs in the West, then maybe I'll change my mind. But, just one game against MIN ... not yet. From what I've seen so far, no question I'd still want Davis ... but, I'm hoping Landry comes on strong and proves me wrong.
If I recall correctly, the Rockets' braintrust decided to go with Landry because of his superior ability to hit the jumper. The fact that he tested out as one of the top athletes in the draft at his position didn't hurt either. I honestly think "Big Baby" is the safer pick. You kinda know what you are going to get from that guy night in and night out. He is just a bull. Landry probably has more "upside" though. He put that jumper on display earlier this year and tonight I saw a lot more rebounding ability and athleticism than I knew he had so I guess I'm going to make the homer pick here.
I wanted Big Baby at first, but upon looking at Landry's college stats I warmed up to him eventually. The thing with Davis is that in the video Clutch posted, he's wearing a knee brace. Davis is going to be a risky player because of his health since he weighs so much and all that wear and tear on his knees might shorten his career like Ralph Sampson. Landry does have a better jumpshot, much more athleticism, much quicker, and Landry's rebounding is very underrated. With this knowledge now I will undoubtedly take Landry.
It's a very tough choice. I don't like playing "what if's" so I'm going with who we have right now. He was very impressive tonight.
Davis playing well all year is also a bit of a stretch. He has played well when given minutes but all that amounts to so far is about 5 or 6 decent to good games. http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/playerGameLog?categoryId=466277
This Landry dude is TOTALLY outta-the-box!!!! Outside of James, who is an enigma to me, i Like the performance of all of the Rockets bench. Landry and Brooks appear to be the Rockets future. I"m really pleased.
If Davis didn't have weight problems he would have been a first rounder.I would have picked him over Landry if he wasn't so obese if both of them were available at the 31th pick.
I don't think the debate is going to be settled for some time yet. Both guys are at the very start of their career. Davis looks good for the Celtics, but he doesn't have to play next to a relatively slow 7'6'' 300+lbs center.
Big Baby is part of the Celtics rotation and getting alot of minutes, if I'm not mistaken Landry is making just his 4th game appearance, if I heard correctly from tonights game I need to see Landry more, but I would want an athletic 4 besides Yao, Davis reminds me of Oliver Miller too much body wise
Tough call. I wanted the Rockets to take Davis because he's a big body that would be able to play both backup center and power forward. However, I think the management found that player in Scola, who may be better suited for this team. And while it's only one game against the Timeberwolves, Landry showed that he is not a Hayes clone. In fact, he may be develop into the type of active, athletic power forward that the fans have been clamoring for. But again, it was just one game against a really really bad team. So although I can see why the Rockets would've passed on Davis, I want to see more of Landry against better competition before I'd say it was the right call.
