1. SF Nicolas Batum We need a backup SG/SF who can score. Batum has huge upside and athleticism and is a better outside shooter than CDR. He's higher on the board than the big men because none of them will supplant Yao. We need to search for someone to supplant Shane because he's not a reliable 3rd scorer. 2. SG Chris Douglas-Roberts Doesn't have quite the upside that Batum has, but he's more of a sure thing. I think he'll always be skinny, but Batum has more growth potential. Long range shooting has been questioned, but his midrange game is solid and his ball handling is solid as well. 3. C Robin Lopez We need someone to backup Yao, and Lopez seems like a safe pick. Not much upside, but he's got size, is a pretty good athlete, and he can rebound and block shots. Exactly what we need in a backup. 4. C Javale McGee Somewhat of a project, but he's got some skills. Long and athletic, but he needs work. Not quite as physical as he should be, but posts solid block numbers. Needs to gain 15 pounds. 5. SF Brandon Rush Good athlete and good shooter. To me, he seems like a Shane Battier clone with more athleticism. He can defend and shoot from 3, but his ball handling isn't very strong and he lacks the skills to create offense for himself. I think he's a solid role player, but nothing more. 6. C Jason Thompson Small school player but he seems like he's got quite a bit of upside. Dominated the smaller schools and he's got skills. A good athlete with a soft touch. Posted good rebounding and shot blocking numbers. Could stand to gain 10 pounds and be more physical. 7. PF Serge Ibaka A raw physical speciman. Higher upside than Thompson, but those kids straight from Africa have a high potential to become busts. Great athlete who gives great effort. Has the potential to be a great shotblocker and rebounder. Needs to develop the fundamentals and also gain about 30 pounds. Can he eventually play C? 8. SG Courtney Lee Don't know much about him, but he can shoot lights out and score. Not a great physical speciman or athlete, but he has skills. Similar to Morris Almond with less size and strength. 9. PG Mario Chalmers A good shooter from 3 and he has point guard skills. We don't need to draft another PG, but you never know. We don't really have a viable backup to Rafer, and you saw how our offense fell apart without him. 10. C Nathan Jawai Huge dude who definitely has the size to play C. Physical and has a mean streak. Not a great athlete though and needs some development. More of a space clogger than an actual paint defender/shot blocker.
1. Brandon Rush 2. Chris Douglas-Roberts 3. JaVale McGee 4. Courtney Lee 5. Bill Walker 6. Robin Lopez 7. Roy Hibbert 8. Serge Ibaka 9. Nathan Jawai 10. Ryan Anderson
I read somewhere that CDR has played some at PG. If he could come in at 6'7' and defense some of the bigger point guards for a few minutes a game it could make him the pick out of this list of bench fodder.
He said he played some PG in HIGH SCHOOL. He's a very solid player, but he has the least potential out of all these guys. Just because he played some PG in HIGH SCHOOL, doesn't mean he can defend the PG's in the NBA, he will be raped. He has decent lateral quickness, but its his long arms that has made him a good defender in college. Go with Brandon Rush. PS Stop bandwagoning on some guy you saw in the NC game, especially Mario Chalmers, who everyone is clamoring as clutch just because he hit ONE huge game winning shot. Its sad. Stop it. Its not for your health people.
I'm not sure how much clutch really means, but you clearly don't know a thing about Kansas basketball if you think Chalmers' reputation for making big shots was built on one shot. He's been one of the most amazing players in the country for years at making crucial plays late in games -- and I say that as someone who despises the Jayhawks. When it's on the line, he's money. Ask Rick Barnes. Now, does that translate to the NBA? Not necessarily, and I'm not saying I'd draft him. But his reputation is about far, far more than one shot, and I'm guessing you haven't watched much KU basketball if you think it is.
I feel like I can be sure about nothing concerning Morey's drafting except that he will pick somebody I'm not expecting and that most people will criticize his pick when it's made. But who knows he could even defy me there and pick somebody who is TOO obvious like CDR. My hunch is that because he's stated he will look at the ceiling of a player rather than their ability to contribute immediately, he will pick a big (probably backup C but possibly PF also) that has not gotten much press. Here are my picks in order of likelihood rather than how much I like them: 1. Courtney Lee - Impressive draft workouts, smart player, but he the hype machine is beginning to churn and he might even be moving his way up past our pick. 2. Jason Thompson - NBADraft.net's pick for us so far. I like it. He's already a good athletic defender and decent shooter, plus he has the length and frame to make up for his present weaknesses in strength and post play. 3. Serge Ibaka - Has a season of Euroleague play under his belt and is much more polished than other African prospects. Had a good workout in Treviso as well. 4. Ante Tomic - Speculation had him being drafted by the Rockets or Spurs LAST year before he withdrew his name. Skilled big man from Croatia who may be under the radar this year. 5. Marreese Speights - He's someone who could fall, and although I don't see Morey getting giddy about picking a "faller", I do think he would pick Speights if he were here. Ones I have a feeling are not in Morey's purview: 1. Nicholas Batum - absolutely awful efficiency statistics for Le Mans last year 2. CDR - limited upside, so-so workouts 3. Bill Walker - mediocre efficiency stats, defensive metrics besides OffRb. (Stl/Blk) do not correlate with his supposedly superior athleticism, possibly injury-prone, does not take good care of the ball 4. Roy Hibbert - I don't know how much Morey's evaluation tools are similar to Hollinger's, but Hollinger really lays it on prospects that do not improve every year in college without sustaining some kind of injury. Hibbert's flatlining since his sophomore year essentially has really hurt him, and Morey may not even have this guy on his board anywhere.
i dont know why people are in to brandon rush, to me hell just be a role player at best who will not score alot 13 at most in his whole career. ROCKETS DO NOT NEED ANYMORE ROLE PLAYERS. MORE LIKE PEOPLE WHO CAN FLAT OUT SCORE
Brandon Rush if Rush doesn't fall this far, then: Javale McGee or Roy Hibbert Hibbert is more likely to be available to no.25. Roy Hibbert was projected to be a lottery pick in last year's really deep/talented draft. He just had one average year in his Senior season, and have kind of plateaued since his Sophomore season. But he is an excellent passer, exactly the kind that we want. He fits really nicely into our half court system. 1: Brandon Rush 2: Roy Hibbert
Oh and for the second round pick, Chris Lofton has "Carl Landry 2009" written all over him. The guy put up some insane shooting numbers his first three years, then last year gets testicular cancer. You don't think all those draft boards are ridiculously dumb for not having him being drafted at all? And Shan Foster will be? Preposterous. I'm bumping this post if we get him, just watch.
At 25: 1. SG/SF Brandon Rush: good ability to get his shot off, size + athleticism - I'd be shocked if he's available at our pick... 2. SF Chris Douglas-Roberts. The guy can put the ball on the floor, get into the lane, and finish with either hand. He can also shoot the 3. Looks awkward? So does Kevin Martin at times... 3. PG Mario Chalmers: This guy is a lock as a long-term NBA point guard. Outstanding defender with more than decent athleticism - he takes care of the rock and is a good distributor. 4. SG Courtney Lee - although he hasn't looked great against top line competition
I don't think there's anything dumb about not drafting a 6'2 SG who returned from cancer to post a 39.9 FG% and is a bad passer. I'm coming round on Shan Foster (despite his poor workouts) - no doubt he's in the second round, a 6'6 guy who can shoot like he can will get picked.
Because they both played in the same conference, this is actually not hard to do. Chris Lofton vs. Shan Foster (year by year, 2005-2008): PER: CL - 23.0, 25.0, 28.5, 20.8 SF - 18.8 20.5 21.2 25.9 FG%: CL - 48.1%, 46.6%, 47.9%, 39.9% SF - 44.1%, 45.1%, 44.9%, 52.3% 3PT%: CL - 46.5%, 43.7%, 41.9%, 38.4% SF - 44.5%, 41.5%, 34.6%, 46.9% TS%: CL - 66%, 64%, 64%, 58% SF - 61%, 60%, 57%, 68% Win Score/40: CL - 9.7, 10.3, 10.1, 7.2 SF - 7.5, 5.8, 7.8, 11.3 Before his senior year Lofton was projected as a mid to late first rounder. He obviously did very poorly his senior year, but he also had cancer. Shan Foster was clearly inferior until last year when his shooting stats went through the roof. Watch both of them play; Foster's shot is all kinds of ugly. It's worked for Dirk though so who can say if his last year was a permanent improvement or just a fluke. He hasn't had very good draft workouts either, so I hope we don't pick him. And 6"2 is a problem for Lofton, so maybe we won't take him either.
i have no right to post topic,but i have a question to ask some friends here. shall i post my question here ,please? thanks a lot execuse me .friends. i am a Chinese. Is the word 'celtics' 's Pronunciation /keltics/ or ltcis/ ?
If you are referring to the basketball team (Boston Celtics), then the correct pronunciation is 'sel-tiks'. If you are referring to the Celts (the ancient people of Europe, pronounced here 'kelts'), then the correct pronunciation is 'kel-tiks'.
It is pronounced both ways. Kel-tic in reference to the Europeans people who have historically spoken the Celtic language but for some reason any reference to sports teams like Rugby or basketball the pronunciation is Sell-tix . As with a great deal of the English language, it is not consistent and makes no sense. Good Luck with that. And you always have the right to ask any question on Clutchfans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic...o_the_ethnic.2C_linguistic_and_cultural_group
