Ross vs. Lamb?

[FlyingRat]

Some quotes from Chad Ford insider articles before the draft:

"May 29 Update: The other player that really wowed me this weekend was Washington's Ross. Like Damian Lillard, Ross is going to be impressive in workouts. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he worked out better than all of his competition at the 2-guard spot.

Why?

Ross, Waiters, Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers are all in a bit of a scrum right now and, in a number of instances, will work out directly against each other for teams in June. Ross has several advantages that should pop in workouts. First, he's the tallest of any of the shooting guards (he's measuring 6-foot-6 in socks, 6-foot-7 in shoes). He's also the most athletic. Ross is an explosive leaper, a blur up and down the court and has great lateral quickness. He's also the best shooter of the group. Not only did Ross shoot the highest percentage from 3 of any of the four players mentioned, he rarely missed anything in his workouts at 360. He's got a quick release and deep range. For a team looking for a pure shooter, he's by far the best choice in the lottery.

Ross also looked terrific in four-on-four play. His team was matched against Daye and Butler, and Ross more than looked like he belonged playing against and, later, with them. He was much more aggressive than what we saw at Washington, he hit a number of impressive 3s and had several highlight reel dunks in the course of the game. Had Ross played with a more conventional point guard last season (one that didn't dominate the ball as much as Wroten did), he could've put up much bigger numbers.

Waiters and Rivers are more aggressive scorers than Ross. Lamb is longer and may be the best defender of the group. It's clear that Ross needs to get stronger and work on his in-between game. But for a team looking for size, athleticism and shooting at the 2-guard position, he could be the guy. I think his range, like Waiters, Lillard and Lamb, is probably 6-13.

May 15 Update: Ross hasn't been mentioned in the same rarified air as some of the other elite 2-guard prospects, but several GMs say that's a big mistake. "That Washington team was pretty dysfunctional this year and I think it hid, at times, what Ross is capable of," said one GM. "He's got the size, athletic ability and he can really, really shoot the ball. I think when he gets into workouts with [Jeremy] Lamb, [Dion] Waiters and [Austin] Rivers, he's going to surprise a lot of people. I'm not sure he's not the best 2 guard on the board. Take him away from Washington and I think he's going to be an elite prospect."

[chyau.00]

Lamb for his length and ability to create shots for himself.

Colangelo LOVES swingmen who can't dribble and penetrate. Derozan. Ross. Landry Fields.

Pretty scary that our best penetration threat from the 2/3 last year was James frigging Johnson.

derozan may have bad handles compared to like iverson and dwade. but he is definitely much better penetrating than james johnson.

[fredericklove]

I don't know if anyone is on the same boat but I see Ross having "Michael Redd" potential "offensively". Redd has a quick deadly 3 point range, not the best yo yo ball handler but good enough to break down the defense to get his shots off, knows how to find a way to score off-ball and good at using ball screens.

Obviously Ross isn't polished right now and it's silly to say he'll end up in Redd's all star caliber. However if he ends up exceeding expectation and turns out to be someone we're least expected, I say it'd be a Redd type of game due to similar shooting range skillset. Realistically, I still see him being a poor man's Eddie Jones.

[cram]

Lamb for his length and ability to create shots for himself.

Colangelo LOVES swingmen who can't dribble and penetrate. Derozan. Ross. Landry Fields.

Pretty scary that our best penetration threat from the 2/3 last year was James frigging Johnson.

derozan may have bad handles compared to like iverson and dwade. but he is definitely much better penetrating than james johnson.

Derozan has bad handles compared to almost every starting SG in the league. He's can't create his own shot at all.

Johnson was far better, at least against his position.

[Mr Dynasty]

I think a lot of people are overrating Ross' defense. He played in a very weak PAC12 conference with no real NBA talent.

Yeah, except much of the "solid defender" stuff comes from his predraft workouts against other top guard prospects. Casey mentioned that on a few occasions.

Actually his coach said he was an excellent defender as well.

[truthrising]

Lamb. Lamb has a better shot at being an "attack the basket" guy due to his ball-handling and explosiveness being near elite. His feel for the game is incredible instead of very good and he's better at creating shots off the dribble. His length gives him more potential as a finisher and defender. Lamb is basically a rich man's version of Ross, talent wise it basically isn't a discussion, the only argument for Ross is to transcend talent and talk about how motor and toughness is going to ruin Lamb vs make Ross' career

Ross is way more explosive than lamb will ever be...
I dont get how you say his length gives him more potential to be a better finisher and defender when Ross is already the better defender and finisher at the rim while being 2inches taller than lamb. The only thing lamb has over ross right now is better handles.

Adding to the point that Ross is also the superior rebounder - He was 6th overall in RPG amongst guards in the NCAA.

[sanity]

Lamb has impacted his team much more in summer league games than Ross has. I don't know how people can assert that Ross is a far better rebounder either... considering Lamb had more rebounds than him in the SL. They look close in that aspect.

[beanbag]

Anyone claiming to know what either of these guys will be is talking out of their ass. The problem is that it is entrenched in all of us that we can project what a player will be prior to that player playing one meaningful game, and the reason we think we can do this is because we do it every year. When I say we, I mean everyone, not just the great unwashed of the message forums, but analysts, coaches, and front office people. It's done by them because it needs to be, not because it's actually possible to do. Yes, you can scout a player and guess at what they will be, but to suggest that anyone's projection will be accurrate is complete nonsense. There is so much money involved in these draft picks that the basketball people need to convince their owners (and the fanbase) that there is some formula that works, but there isn't. Some guys are busts and some guys excel and for every expert that says a given player will excel, there is one who thought he would be a bust. Nobody wants to believe this though, because it ruins the fun of the process of doing it. Just look at how much time is wasted on getting upset at one another (and management) over draft picks who haven't set foot on an NBA court yet. What is the harm in just waiting and finding out?

[BBallInSight]

Lamb for his length and ability to create shots for himself.

Colangelo LOVES swingmen who can't dribble and penetrate. Derozan. Ross. Landry Fields.

Pretty scary that our best penetration threat from the 2/3 last year was James frigging Johnson.

I totally agree. For how many years have we been waiting for a wing that can create and get to the hole by his own making? Ross looks remarkably uncomfortable dribbling. He appears to have a knack of making space and getting off long shots....but that'll get tired when he's missing a lot. In fact it appears we lost 3 of our most likely to get to the rim.

[Undefeated]

I think a lot of people are overrating Ross' defense. He played in a very weak PAC12 conference with no real NBA talent.

Yeah, except much of the "solid defender" stuff comes from his predraft workouts against other top guard prospects. Casey mentioned that on a few occasions.

Actually his coach said he was an excellent defender as well.

Of course Lorenzo Romar would boost his own player to his increase his stock lol.

Ross is athletically superior to Lamb, but skill-set wise I don't see anything that gives a him an advantage.

Also I remember Lamb's weakness was that he would shy away from contact and rather go up for the floater, but Ross attacks the basket even less than Lamb, so that can't be good.

[truthrising]

Lamb has impacted his team much more in summer league games than Ross has. I don't know how people can assert that Ross is a far better rebounder either... considering Lamb had more rebounds than him in the SL. They look close in that aspect.

I love how you use 5 games in the summer league as a better way to evaluate players over 35 games in the NCAA. Really makes sense /green

[bigdirty2]

Lamb for his length and ability to create shots for himself.

Colangelo LOVES swingmen who can't dribble and penetrate. Derozan. Ross. Landry Fields.

Pretty scary that our best penetration threat from the 2/3 last year was James frigging Johnson.

derozan may have bad handles compared to like iverson and dwade. but he is definitely much better penetrating than james johnson.

Derozan has bad handles compared to almost every starting SG in the league. He's can't create his own shot at all.

Johnson was far better, at least against his position.

How can you say with a straight face James Johnson had better handles than DD? Raptors RealGM: Where Amazing happens.

[PRESTIGE]

I would be extremely surprised and happy if Ross became anything more than a defensive bench player.. Nothing about him screams starter or star.. Lamb and Austin Rivers were both higher on my board, but what's done is done.. Now that he's a raptor I'm hoping all the best for T Ross...

[raptoradical]

Better viewing if muted lol. And if you think this player doesn't have any sort of high ceiling, all i can say is put down the drugs and save ur money.

[Blazing_royale]

he's a role player, not a star