Killboard wrote:Jedzz wrote:Does anyone here have an open enough mind to see a possibility that Jaylen Nowell could already be, or eventually be, a better NBA player than Culver? Or are we all just so inclined that since one was a top 6 pick and the other a second rounder that this is the only way to see their value forever?
If you see there is that possibility, how does the team make sure to not squander that possibility? How would you want the team to manage him in order to make sure Nowell is given that opportunity to show it? I don't really have that answer, because I'm well aware of how this team has operated in the past and I'm unsure how Rosas operates this team just yet.
Open mind? Sure, why not.
Likely? Not, not at all. Both are young sophmores that played in small schools. One was the offensive hub of his team, that made the 1st final four appearance. Posted better per36 stats in every single category, it bigger and longer, had a higher usage, more impact for his team and better 3pt and FT ratios. The other one is a more efficient shooter and some months younger.
Based on their college careers, both start from different points. One was saw for many draft experts as a top3 talent, the other was passed on by 30 teams, and 12 teams passed on him twice. That alone means that Culver will have a longer leash going into the league. Nowell will have to work for a roster spot, then push his way into the rotation and prove to be playable sooner than later.
I'm not sure which person you were talking about with better 3PT and FT ratios. I'm reading that you are open to it, but still coming at this building off preconceived notions somehow based on draft "experts". I don't give them that much clout. If we could, no one would ever have busts and many more early FRPs would work out better. I think way too many decisions after the draft are ruled by this unverified process, corrupted process. Teams purposely not talking about their second choice players happens all the time as they hope they go unnoticed and hope they drop right out of the draft entirely. The really great FO teams are finding real players back here or undrafted.
You said "every single category" per 36. I'm not seeing that, I believe that is overstating things. According to sports-ref I'm seeing per 40 that Nowell beats Culver in 3pt %, FG%, FT%, and he's just short of Culver in boards, assists, steals, etc. Higher than Culver in TS%, They trade a small difference in Off/Def ratings. Culver being more defensive, Nowell being more offensive, neither have bad defensive numbers. In size, Culver lists at 6-5 and under 200. While Nowell is 6-4 and over 200. So while you are correct that he edges Nowell in a number of categories by a little, that does not include shooting at all and overall it's much closer than the way you put it. Just stating that Nowell is only a more efficient shooter does not, to me, cover this.
I think playing alongside someone like the Philly #20 pick allowed Nowell to focus on offensive side. If Culver had played with Thybulle, do Culvers steals blocks numbers drop just enough to match Nowell's? I think so. The assists are too close and both are low enough that I'm not claiming either of them as playmakers for others, but that hasn't stopped people from claiming Culver is one at 4.6 assists or less per 40 (2.7 as a freshman).
So describing him as an "offensive hub" for his team has more to say about his surrounding teammates than him. He wasn't hitting double digit assists creating for others as offensive hub seems to describe. Do you see where I'm reading preconceived notions into these descriptions? Just trying to say where I'm coming from, not trying to argue. It's why I asked if people can truly be open to the idea of this possibility. I think your posts on this subject have otherwise been quite informative.