Van Gundy

[hoophabit]

I always kind of liked Stan, but he really put me off during the Raptors-Cavs game last night when he indicated "we have the two best rookies in the league" for that game, naming Mobley and Barnes. I guess we're all entitled to an opinion.

[zeebneeb]

I have absolutely chalked this up to Detroit getting very little attention nationally. Cade is having an amazing rookie season, which I don't think people realize.

His bad start due to injury, and no practice and training camp depressed his stats, otherwise he would be running away with attention.

https://stathead.com/tiny/14KAs


The scoring difference is down to the free throw rate which all of have seen how absurd it is at times, with how often Cade drives the lane. He just doesn't get calls. I believe this is because he doesn't usually complain, and certainly doesn't come close to Doncic's whining.

[Manocad]

He's right; they did have two of the best rookies in that game.

And we have THE BEST rookie right here.

[bstein14]

I think all three are pretty close, but you can obviously make a case for Cade being best or 2nd best as well.

If you look at the more advanced metrics, looking at player efficiency that is where Cade really lacks compared to the other two. Cade is currently a below average defender as well while the other two are better on that end.

Cade and Barnes entered the league in almost completely opposite situations. Barnes has 3 better players than him in the starting lineup with him and Cade is clearly the best player on our team, even though he has a long ways to go still.... all the attention is on him. But he's also had the highest usage rate and most opportunity among rookies.

And it's also true that Cade at an awful start to the season and has turned it on as the season has progressed. He is pretty likely to have the biggest jump out of the three from rookie year to sophomore season. Zero chance I'd trade Cade for Barnes, but if you look at the overall numbers I can understand why some people would think Barnes has done more for Toronto, especially considering the advanced metrics.

[Sort]

First, SVG using hyperbole? He would have said the same thing if the game had been Cleveland and Detroit and he was announcing.

Second, I completely agree that I think Cade is likely to make the biggest jump. He gets some better talent and I don't think he forces as much or feels as much frustration which I think leads to some of his dumb fouling.

I do wonder about the ceiling for both Barnes and Mobley. I feel confident that Mobley's game could truly evolve so that he's a top ten player in this league, but that's a giant supposition. I do think Barnes's ceiling is much lower, though that competitive spirit could really help a team keep going through the grind of the season.

I'm super curious to see them both in the playoffs. As a competitive team in the playoffs, I like the Raptors a lot more than the Cavs. For their roles on their teams, I think Barnes might have more noteworthy moments even if Mobley has better stats. If there's a real upset in the first round (not counting the Nets as an upset if they win), I think it would be the Raptors.

You know at the very least Barnes will not be scared of the moment.

[Invictus88]

50% that SVG said during his time in Detroit had some form of exaggeration thrown in; so this comes as no surprise. Throw him in the pile with Dick Vitale. He says stuff to appease the masses watching that particular game.

As they say in South Park: If you take what he says literally word for word you're going to have a bad time...

[Cowology]

We have Cade. They do not. As long as we are happy with that situation the rest of this stuff doesn't really matter. *shrug*

[Billl]

Not sure why you would be mad about stan having an opinion. Those 2 obviously came out of the gate better and play on better teams. They were 1 and 2 on most people's ROY ballots up until the all star break. IF it was Rookie of the Second half award, Cade would be running away with it, but it's not.

[hoophabit]

Not sure why you would be mad about stan having an opinion. Those 2 obviously came out of the gate better and play on better teams. They were 1 and 2 on most people's ROY ballots up until the all star break. IF it was Rookie of the Second half award, Cade would be running away with it, but it's not.

It's not so much mad as disappointed that a guy with strong Detroit ties makes no mention, good or bad, of the #1 pick when expressing his opinion. I imagine the mentioned audience targeting enters in. I'm not asserting Cade should win, just reporting that this was Van Gundy's statement last night, and thought that might interest some.

[vege]

Watch on YouTube

I think Cade will win the ROY but it's not an absurd to consider Barnes and Mobley #1 and #2 best rookies either, all 3 are great and either of them could win ROY.

So honestly, just grow up and accept the fact that people may have different opinion than you, and respect them.

[GreekAlex]

Who cares what his opinion is regarding anything?

He butchered his tenure with the Pistons and despite his vast basketball knowledge seems like his views are outdated.

This goofball couldn’t even last more than one season in New Orleans with young exciting talent. Plus the culture in NO clearly improved after they dumped him.

He’s a bag of hot air and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

[MotownMadness]

Who cares what he thinks but I've never heard him directly down us or anything. He's always been professional about his time here and we treated him good.

[MrBigShot]

Stan's not the best evaluator of talent, his tenure her def made that clear as he passed up on both Booker and Mitchell.

[Laimbeer]

As for this season, it's not an outrageous statement at all. Potential is a different discussion.