Almost Retired wrote:AshyLarrysDiaper wrote:Bulldog23 wrote:
Eason which just on what he did on the court is top ten. But when you watch the interviews he doesn't answer the question. He struggles in comprehending the question and providing an answer. Is this enough to drop you out of lotto?
I don’t think there’s any way interviews alone could drop him that far. Lots of players present poorly in these settings. It’s an easy thing to forgive.
In Eason’s case there are questions about his feel at age 21 (foul rate, turnover rate, lack of passing, basic handle) that may or may not cause him to slide. Gotta remember that he entered the year as a 2nd round prospect and spent much of the season mocked in the late 1st. Going in the late teens would still be considered a meteoric rise.
It can't be just the interviews. I suspect he hasn't shot all that well in private workouts. The ability to consistently hit a corner "3" is why I favor EJ Liddell. And by all accounts I've read Liddell has interviewed extremely well and his college coach has raved about his BBIQ, work ethic, character, etc. I think the love for Eason is reminiscent of the love shown for Tyrus Thomas....that tantalizing athleticism. Is it a coincidence they are from the same program? I see why people are enamored with Eason. I just think the same scenario could unfold. The athleticism doesn't translate with the step up in competition. I think Liddell has a higher floor, Eason has the higher ceiling. We need help defensively at the 3/4. Liddell provides that. It would seem perhaps he displays on interviews a higher BBIQ. As long as a guy isn't a complete stiff athletically, and Liddell certainly is not, then I give equal weighting to BBIQ and athleticism. A smart player knows how to blend in with the players on the floor, he anticipates situations allowing him to seem quicker to react, and he recognizes his limitations and plans on ways to minimize them or to develop a plan to improve. You look at a guy like Jalen Brunson. Not the most gifted athlete and only 6'1", but a true winner with a very high BBIQ. He got drafted in the 2nd round. He improved every year. He just averaged about 22 points a game and might be heading to the Knicks for about $22 Million Per. His measurables were not special. He came out after his junior year. He is 6'1" in socks. 64" wingspan. Not a speed demon. He made himself into a possible future all-star by high IQ and hard work. Liddell could do the same.
I think the Tyrus Thomas comparisons are not that far off in some ways. Tyrus was much much better in college though than Eason, and of course he was drafted #4, too. So right off the bat, it's fair to say Eason is not anywhere near the prospect Tyrus was.
I think in today's game, Tyrus might actually have been more valuable than he was 15 years ago or whenever it was. The emphasis on being able to switch and guard multiple positions is a lot more important now than it was back then. He was always something of a tweener back then, but in today's small ball/positionless era, that would be less of a problem.
But the real reason Tyrus never panned out, IMO, was because of his BBIQ- he never seemed to accept his limitations, he always wanted to be the star on offense, and he too often just made bone headed plays or took awful shots.
So if Eason has a different mentality, has more of a capacity to learn and adapt, he could be a much better player than Thomas.
I find it a little strange if he's being downgraded due to his handle or his passing. From what I could see watching tape of him (granted these are only highlights), his handle looked very good for a guy his size. And he showed some creativity and vision passing the ball as well. Maybe he has problems with turning it over- I didn't check his stats on that.
He looks like he has the potential to be Pippen-like in his defensive presence though- athletic, long, aggressive, with good instincts. Or maybe Ron Artest is a better comp, although Eason is taller (but not as strong). Of course potential is not the same thing as actually being that good, but he's got all the ingredients to be one of the better wing defenders in the league someday.
And at the very least, he's going to be dangerous in transition and on lobs and backdoor cuts.
