2020 Draft Thread, Part 2

[Onus]

Klay Thompson 1.1 steals and .06 blocks per game. That’s in 34 minutes to Okoro’s 31.

Klay is a solid defender. He’s not an elite defender and sure as hell doesn’t cause many turnovers.

Klay is ELITE defensively despite not gambling or fouling for defensive stats. He can truly guard 1-3 and we'll see if any player in the draft can stay on the court long enough to contribute as much defensively as Klay does.

If you want to say klay is an elite on ball defender I’d say sure. He’s able to stay in front of just about anyone and force them to shoot over the time. But off the ball he does nothing. He doesn’t close down driving lanes or passing lanes, he doesn’t meet people at the rim.

I think okoro seems like a better off ball defender than klay and if he isn’t then he has no shot of being an impact player because he sure as hell ain’t shooting like klay. But he can definitely be klay as an on ball defender

[Mylie10]

Yeah, steals and blocks are some new nerdy analytics inventions subject to tons of interpretations.

Klay Thompson 1.1 steals and .06 blocks per game. That’s in 34 minutes to Okoro’s 31.

Okay, but what's your point? Klay is a good on-ball defender but he sure isn't disruptive. I even noted explicitly that I do believe Okoro is a good defender especially on the ball, so you seem to be needlessly shifting goal posts just for the sake of arguing.

Not to mention that it's much, much more difficult to record steals and blocks in the NBA because players and offenses are much better, so comparing NBA stats to college stats doesn't make a lot of sense.

Fun fact: Klay Thompson in his final college year had 4.4 STOCKS per 100 (to Okoro's 3.3). And Klay is not a disruptive defender in the NBA, he was not an elite athlete, and he was not considered a great defensive prospect coming out of college.

My point is Okoro is a good defender. And I don’t care about your dumb stat. Thought I was pretty clear.

[Scoots1994]

To be clear....I love Klay as a defender. Merely pointing out that Okoro is a good defender, like Klay, who doesn’t have great block and steal stats.

And those two stats are not what make up disruptive stats. They are part of it, not all. And the noise I pointed to had to do with deflections and other items that can be a little subjective. You also don’t know if Bruce Pearl hates his guys gambling for steals. He might be a coach that wants his guys staying in front of and with their men. Some coaches hate that ish.

Not arguing with you, just adding on ... Klay is a very good man defender, but a just okay team defender. Klay works hard and does what he's told but doesn't have that intuition that great team defenders have to get in position before the play gets there. Okoro has that. Okoro, like Iguodala, is disruptive on defense far more than his stats show.

My top 3 remain (in no particular order)
Wiseman
Avdija
Okoro

[Scoots1994]

We seem more willing to believe Wiseman,Ball, Edwards will develop a consistent shooting stroke than we are willing to believe it of Avdija or Okoro. The first 3 there are questions about drive, work ethic, and mental approach to the game ... the 2nd 2 we don't have those concerns. Seems strange.

[marthafokker]

What the hell is Bucks interviewing Avdija for? Is this a prep work for GSW trade?

[whatisacenter]

We seem more willing to believe Wiseman,Ball, Edwards will develop a consistent shooting stroke than we are willing to believe it of Avdija or Okoro. The first 3 there are questions about drive, work ethic, and mental approach to the game ... the 2nd 2 we don't have those concerns. Seems strange.

the new theory is to base projected 3pt% based off FT% so I wouldn't include Ball with Edwards and Wiseman who have better looking shot mechanics.

[whatisacenter]

What the hell is Bucks interviewing Avdija for? Is this a prep work for GSW trade?

I thought the same thing...

[ChuckDurn]

We seem more willing to believe Wiseman,Ball, Edwards will develop a consistent shooting stroke than we are willing to believe it of Avdija or Okoro. The first 3 there are questions about drive, work ethic, and mental approach to the game ... the 2nd 2 we don't have those concerns. Seems strange.

I actually believe that 4 of the 5 could develop good, consistent shooting strokes - the exception being Ball.

I think Wiseman, Edwards, and Avdija already have pretty decent strokes with some fine-tuning required. Okoro's needs more work, but I think he'll put it in..... most likely requiring 2-3 seasons to become consistent.

[Scoots1994]

We seem more willing to believe Wiseman,Ball, Edwards will develop a consistent shooting stroke than we are willing to believe it of Avdija or Okoro. The first 3 there are questions about drive, work ethic, and mental approach to the game ... the 2nd 2 we don't have those concerns. Seems strange.

the new theory is to base projected 3pt% based off FT% so I wouldn't include Ball with Edwards and Wiseman who have better looking shot mechanics.

That's not a new theory.

[cdubbz]

Danny Ainge looking to move up in draft. Marcus Smart time??

#2 for Smart & 14 per haps

[vvoland]

Klay is a solid defender. He’s not an elite defender and sure as hell doesn’t cause many turnovers.

Klay is ELITE defensively despite not gambling or fouling for defensive stats. He can truly guard 1-3 and we'll see if any player in the draft can stay on the court long enough to contribute as much defensively as Klay does.

If you want to say klay is an elite on ball defender I’d say sure. He’s able to stay in front of just about anyone and force them to shoot over the time. But off the ball he does nothing. He doesn’t close down driving lanes or passing lanes, he doesn’t meet people at the rim.

I think okoro seems like a better off ball defender than klay and if he isn’t then he has no shot of being an impact player because he sure as hell ain’t shooting like klay. But he can definitely be klay as an on ball defender

The reason Klay doesn't help in driving lanes or play free safety on defense is because he is always guarding the other team's best player. his on ball defense is elite and we'll see if anyone in this draft can be that solid defensively

[Onus]

Klay is ELITE defensively despite not gambling or fouling for defensive stats. He can truly guard 1-3 and we'll see if any player in the draft can stay on the court long enough to contribute as much defensively as Klay does.

If you want to say klay is an elite on ball defender I’d say sure. He’s able to stay in front of just about anyone and force them to shoot over the time. But off the ball he does nothing. He doesn’t close down driving lanes or passing lanes, he doesn’t meet people at the rim.

I think okoro seems like a better off ball defender than klay and if he isn’t then he has no shot of being an impact player because he sure as hell ain’t shooting like klay. But he can definitely be klay as an on ball defender

The reason Klay doesn't help in driving lanes or play free safety on defense is because he is always guarding the other team's best player. his on ball defense is elite and we'll see if anyone in this draft can be that solid defensively

So other players can do it but klay can’t because he’s the only player in the nba that is an elite defender that can’t help.

[Mylie10]

Klays defensive rotations are on point. So much nitpicking.

News Flash!!!!! There’s no perfect player or prospect!

[Little Digger]

Klays defensive rotations are on point. So much nitpicking.

News Flash!!!!! There’s no perfect player or prospect!

Anthony Randolph?

[TB]

Klay is a great off ball defender. Dude is smart, locked in, and rotates/closes out with the best of them. Not to mention when he makes those rotations he's able to then guard various positions. Okoro is like that too. It's why he reminds me of Jrue/Klay on defense.

[vvoland]

If you want to say klay is an elite on ball defender I’d say sure. He’s able to stay in front of just about anyone and force them to shoot over the time. But off the ball he does nothing. He doesn’t close down driving lanes or passing lanes, he doesn’t meet people at the rim.

I think okoro seems like a better off ball defender than klay and if he isn’t then he has no shot of being an impact player because he sure as hell ain’t shooting like klay. But he can definitely be klay as an on ball defender

The reason Klay doesn't help in driving lanes or play free safety on defense is because he is always guarding the other team's best player. his on ball defense is elite and we'll see if anyone in this draft can be that solid defensively

So other players can do it but klay can’t because he’s the only player in the nba that is an elite defender that can’t help.

You're saying Klay can't. I'm saying Klay doesn't. The dubs allowed durant, green, iggy and to a lesser extent, curry and livingston to play free in rotations and passing lanes BECAUASE they would have Klay lock up the harden/pg/kawhi/ types. Not shut down but stay on their hip. That allows other players to gamble. It's a balance and that balance is the reason why we had an elite team defense, lead the league in blocks most of those years, and did not get killed by great scorers in the playoffs.

[cdubbz]

I've come right around on Killian Hayes. He's moved into my top 3 players this draft. He's a crafty playmaker with Manu like trickery, plus he plays D.

me too. Already shown NBA skills in a league. Wiseman is still developing those skills.

[marthafokker]

Danny Ainge looking to move up in draft. Marcus Smart time??

#2 for Smart & 14 per haps

Only in Myers' dream. Ainge only fleeces on trades. Never the other way around.

Many analyst shows talked about this to death. And conclusion of discussion, everyone agrees Ainge will never do it. Boston values Smart as much as GSW wants him, that is why it will never happen.

[Onus]

The reason Klay doesn't help in driving lanes or play free safety on defense is because he is always guarding the other team's best player. his on ball defense is elite and we'll see if anyone in this draft can be that solid defensively

So other players can do it but klay can’t because he’s the only player in the nba that is an elite defender that can’t help.

You're saying Klay can't. I'm saying Klay doesn't. The dubs allowed durant, green, iggy and to a lesser extent, curry and livingston to play free in rotations and passing lanes BECAUASE they would have Klay lock up the harden/pg/kawhi/ types. Not shut down but stay on their hip. That allows other players to gamble. It's a balance and that balance is the reason why we had an elite team defense, lead the league in blocks most of those years, and did not get killed by great scorers in the playoffs.

Lmao ok so everyone else on the team was allowed to gamble except klay because klay was the only one assigned to great scorers? Lmao no one else ever guarded the best player it was only klay. Cool story

[Hopper15]

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