Cole World: Orlando Magic Select Cole Anthony at #15

[Skybox]

My one worry with Cole and the reason why he wasn't on my short list for pick #15 is his body. He's not 6'3", he's closer to 6'1". He has a very slight frame, not nearly as strong as his dad's. Can his body last for an entire NBA season? We'll see. With that said, he'll fill in fine for Augustin.

His confidence and voice on the floor is great. Much needed addition. He's already got the shot. It's a matter of making sure he shows defensive improvement (not getting blown by, rotating correctly, etc.). Cole's going to have some sick blocks this season where he's pinning guards' shots to the board. His leaping ability is better than what I saw from his UNC film, so hopefully that means his injury is behind him.

We'll see how long it takes Cole to get into closing lineups in crunch time situations. Could be a few weeks, may not be at all this season. That's up to Cole and whether Evan or Ross gets dealt away or not as well. But you can see a potential closing lineup of Vooch-AG-Evan or Ross-Cole-Fultz.

My concern is the same...But he looks pretty solid physically, if not tall...I asked before "What is the OFFICIAL source for player measurements that can be relied on?"...anyone know? Nobody talks about DRose's size, CP3, Lowry...obviously, FVV, Jameer, Kemba, Trae, Kyrie and many others are out there swinging...I'd like to truly be able to compare. Cole doesn't look frail at all to me...first time I saw Isiah Thomas(in warmups), I honestly thought he was a ballboy (admittedly has a baby face). Best in-person performance I ever saw was Iverson lighting up the Magic...it was inconceivable how much smaller he really was-toughest guy in the league!

[tiderulz]

My one worry with Cole and the reason why he wasn't on my short list for pick #15 is his body. He's not 6'3", he's closer to 6'1". He has a very slight frame, not nearly as strong as his dad's. Can his body last for an entire NBA season? We'll see. With that said, he'll fill in fine for Augustin.

His confidence and voice on the floor is great. Much needed addition. He's already got the shot. It's a matter of making sure he shows defensive improvement (not getting blown by, rotating correctly, etc.). Cole's going to have some sick blocks this season where he's pinning guards' shots to the board. His leaping ability is better than what I saw from his UNC film, so hopefully that means his injury is behind him.

We'll see how long it takes Cole to get into closing lineups in crunch time situations. Could be a few weeks, may not be at all this season. That's up to Cole and whether Evan or Ross gets dealt away or not as well. But you can see a potential closing lineup of Vooch-AG-Evan or Ross-Cole-Fultz.

well, he measured 6' 1.5" barefoot. so he is closer to 6'3 with shoes on, and since he doesnt play barefoot, thats closer to his playing height. Cole is 190 as a 20 year old coming out. He has plenty of room to increase weight and strength. Greg Anthony played around 175 lbs, so his frame is already better than his dad's. Damian Lillard came in under 6'2 and 189 lbs. Curry is 185 lbs. No reason to think Anthony cant play at his current height and weight, let alone working with team strength coaches and nutritionists

[ARandomStranger]

That's the worst defensive back court in the NBA? Really? Because its so much worse than Fournier not defending anyone?

Get off the haterade man and smell the roses. They are blooming in the sunshine state and I hear if you actually pay attention, you might actually see Cole ain't that bad of a defender either. He actually puts in effort, but like a lot of rookies still needs to adjust to NBA type defenses.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Cole/Fultz backcourt because I think it works. Cole excels off the ball as a three point shooter, but he can also get his without setup. Fultz' is a sneaky slasher who has a knack for getting behind defenses and can feed off of Cole penetration, and when not doing so he can bring his own passing ability to the table and we have already seen he is above average at that.

Sorry, I'm not going to get into the pessimistic rant that you and Pepe seem to be ready to get into every single time you feel like any light at the end of tunnel is in sight. There is a reason Cole was drafted and it is because he is already a pretty good scorer, I know preseason, and what not, but look I would rather have a flash of light in a dark room than be stuck in a pitch black one. He has shown he can be efficient, will it translate to the regular season lets watch game one and find out. I think it will, I think he will flourish, and probably be starting at the midseason mark after he earns a load of playing time by being what who he is.

You can of course continue to undersell value and talk game, I'm fine with it. Doubt all you want, it will be even better watching you trying to justify this stuff when you are dead wrong.

[RookieStar]

So not bad for the worst defensive back court in the league eh?

[pepe1991]

That's the worst defensive back court in the NBA? Really? Because its so much worse than Fournier not defending anyone?

Get off the haterade man and smell the roses. They are blooming in the sunshine state and I hear if you actually pay attention, you might actually see Cole ain't that bad of a defender either. He actually puts in effort, but like a lot of rookies still needs to adjust to NBA type defenses.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Cole/Fultz backcourt because I think it works. Cole excels off the ball as a three point shooter, but he can also get his without setup. Fultz' is a sneaky slasher who has a knack for getting behind defenses and can feed off of Cole penetration, and when not doing so he can bring his own passing ability to the table and we have already seen he is above average at that.

Sorry, I'm not going to get into the pessimistic rant that you and Pepe seem to be ready to get into every single time you feel like any light at the end of tunnel is in sight. There is a reason Cole was drafted and it is because he is already a pretty good scorer, I know preseason, and what not, but look I would rather have a flash of light in a dark room than be stuck in a pitch black one. He has shown he can be efficient, will it translate to the regular season lets watch game one and find out. I think it will, I think he will flourish, and probably be starting at the midseason mark after he earns a load of playing time by being what who he is.

You can of course continue to undersell value and talk game, I'm fine with it. Doubt all you want, it will be even better watching you trying to justify this stuff when you are dead wrong.

Love how you call me out based on nothing i wrote. Keep going.

Keep smelling roses. I mean time, on planet Earth, basketball league - average size of shooting guard last 7 years is 6'5.

But who needs facts when you can smell roses.


Why small backcourts like Vleet - Lowry and Lillard- McCullum work?
I don't know, maybe because Lowry is 6 time allstar, Lillard should have been allstar 7 times ( yet only made 5 ) ?

There is also one huge thing about those small lineups- crazy good shooting from both spots.

Now you tell me, if Cole is dribbling the ball what will Fultz do? Poke his nose? Fart in corner? What's the role of career sub 30% 6'3 guard without ball on set defense?

Fultz, for example, last night took 15 shots. Made 6. Among 6 made grand total of ONE was actually- jumpshot.

[VFX]

So not bad for the worst defensive back court in the league eh?

Didn’t see Cole and Fultz on the floor together last night. Did you?

[RookieStar]

So not bad for the worst defensive back court in the league eh?

Didn’t see Cole and Fultz on the floor together last night. Did you?

TOUCHE'

Im far from a Cole fan( probably dont like him due to me being a Duke fan ).. but credit where its due, the kid hustles on D and that play where Jimmy got loose but Cole met him and just straight up jumped with both hands up to make Jimmy miss the shot tells me he won't be one of those players who just give up on D.

[VFX]

So not bad for the worst defensive back court in the league eh?

Didn’t see Cole and Fultz on the floor together last night. Did you?

TOUCHE'

Im far from a Cole fan( probably dont like him due to me being a Duke fan ).. but credit where its due, the kid hustles on D and that play where Jimmy got loose but Cole met him and just straight up jumped with both hands up to make Jimmy miss the shot tells me he won't be one of those players who just give up on D.

I don’t think Cole will be absolutely terrible on D. I like what I’ve seen from him rebounding and playing active off ball.

I just don’t think a Fultz/Cole backcourt is something we will see, or be effective. It seems like another pipe dream Orlando fans like to tell themselves as a quick solution to poor roster management.

Point guard defense is overrated most of the time, but I don’t trust either of them on-ball enough to hide at both guard spots. They would, in turn, need to have a Portland level of output offensively. Not impossible but unlikely.

[MoMM]

Well, if JJ was able to become an average defender, I am pretty sure that Cole can be too.

[RookieStar]

[instagram][/instagram]

Well, if JJ was able to become an average defender, I am pretty sure that Cole can be too.

Well as 2guards JJ was a legit 6'4 witjout shoes in the nba measurements right? So he had that advantage already lol

Buy yeah... I think Cole has or near JJs BBIQ so being an average defender is already reachable.

[MoMM]

[instagram][/instagram]

Well, if JJ was able to become an average defender, I am pretty sure that Cole can be too.

Well as 2guards JJ was a legit 6'4 witjout shoes in the nba measurements right? So he had that advantage already lol

Buy yeah... I think Cole has or near JJs BBIQ so being an average defender is already reachable.

Combine:
J.J. Redick, 6' 4' without shoes with 6'3.25 wingspan;
Cole, 6'1.5 barefoot with a 6'4.5 wingspan;

To sum up JJ is taller, but Cole has a wider wingspan, so basically the same thing.

[basketballRob]

[instagram][/instagram]

Well, if JJ was able to become an average defender, I am pretty sure that Cole can be too.

Well as 2guards JJ was a legit 6'4 witjout shoes in the nba measurements right? So he had that advantage already lol

Buy yeah... I think Cole has or near JJs BBIQ so being an average defender is already reachable.

His wingspan is 6'3" tho.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[johanliebert]

My one worry with Cole and the reason why he wasn't on my short list for pick #15 is his body. He's not 6'3", he's closer to 6'1". He has a very slight frame, not nearly as strong as his dad's. Can his body last for an entire NBA season? We'll see. With that said, he'll fill in fine for Augustin.

His confidence and voice on the floor is great. Much needed addition. He's already got the shot. It's a matter of making sure he shows defensive improvement (not getting blown by, rotating correctly, etc.). Cole's going to have some sick blocks this season where he's pinning guards' shots to the board. His leaping ability is better than what I saw from his UNC film, so hopefully that means his injury is behind him.

We'll see how long it takes Cole to get into closing lineups in crunch time situations. Could be a few weeks, may not be at all this season. That's up to Cole and whether Evan or Ross gets dealt away or not as well. But you can see a potential closing lineup of Vooch-AG-Evan or Ross-Cole-Fultz.

well, he measured 6' 1.5" barefoot. so he is closer to 6'3 with shoes on, and since he doesnt play barefoot, thats closer to his playing height. Cole is 190 as a 20 year old coming out. He has plenty of room to increase weight and strength. Greg Anthony played around 175 lbs, so his frame is already better than his dad's. Damian Lillard came in under 6'2 and 189 lbs. Curry is 185 lbs. No reason to think Anthony cant play at his current height and weight, let alone working with team strength coaches and nutritionists

Last year the magic measured fultz at 6’3..team site has cole at 6’3.

NBA back to exaggerating height again? cause fultz is clearly taller.

[basketballRob]

My one worry with Cole and the reason why he wasn't on my short list for pick #15 is his body. He's not 6'3", he's closer to 6'1". He has a very slight frame, not nearly as strong as his dad's. Can his body last for an entire NBA season? We'll see. With that said, he'll fill in fine for Augustin.

His confidence and voice on the floor is great. Much needed addition. He's already got the shot. It's a matter of making sure he shows defensive improvement (not getting blown by, rotating correctly, etc.). Cole's going to have some sick blocks this season where he's pinning guards' shots to the board. His leaping ability is better than what I saw from his UNC film, so hopefully that means his injury is behind him.

We'll see how long it takes Cole to get into closing lineups in crunch time situations. Could be a few weeks, may not be at all this season. That's up to Cole and whether Evan or Ross gets dealt away or not as well. But you can see a potential closing lineup of Vooch-AG-Evan or Ross-Cole-Fultz.

well, he measured 6' 1.5" barefoot. so he is closer to 6'3 with shoes on, and since he doesnt play barefoot, thats closer to his playing height. Cole is 190 as a 20 year old coming out. He has plenty of room to increase weight and strength. Greg Anthony played around 175 lbs, so his frame is already better than his dad's. Damian Lillard came in under 6'2 and 189 lbs. Curry is 185 lbs. No reason to think Anthony cant play at his current height and weight, let alone working with team strength coaches and nutritionists

Last year the magic measured fultz at 6’3..team site has cole at 6’3.

NBA back to exaggerating height again? cause fultz is clearly taller.

Yes they are. Boston added two inches on Tatum's height this year.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM mobile app

[Last Guardian]

Why are people trying to fix what isn’t broken. With DJ gone the PG position is stronger, no need to force one to play the other G.

As for body concerns...what? He’s smaller than Fultz who’s huge...but he’s bigger than a lot of PGs.

[Last Guardian]

Last year the magic measured fultz at 6’3..team site has cole at 6’3.

NBA back to exaggerating height again? cause fultz is clearly taller.

Fultz just looks big on the court. I’m guessing he’s over 6’4 in sneakers. Cole probably a little under 6’3 in sneakers.

[Knightro]

I thought it was an encouraging, but far from perfect debut.

The one thing that immediately stood out for me is that Anthony gives good effort defensively. He gets lost sometimes, as most rookies do, but he doesn't completely die on screens and I'm hopeful he will be able to build off that effort as he gets more experience and learns where to be and when to be there.

It did feel like Anthony was fighting a bit of a battle with himself to not put up shots last night. There were a few instances where I expected him to shoot and he seemed more willing to embrace the fact it was his job as the point guard to get others (specifically Ross) involved.

The six assists are nice, but it's a little bit of fools gold too. The alleyoop to Gordon was obviously a fun play, but there wasn't a single scenario where Anthony beat a defender, drew help from a second defender and made the defense pay for helping with a pass.

It was mostly Anthony standing still passing to a Ross coming off curls and Ross subsequently making the jumper. He also did this once with Birch.

I actually thought two of his three turnovers really highlighted his limitations with court vision and passing and showed where he needs to improve.

The first turnover Anthony beat Nunn with a crossover and drove baseline with the left. Olynyk (Okeke's defender) rotated over and cut off his path. His first read was to kick back to Okeke for a catch and shoot three. Achiuwa (Birch's defender) rotated off Birch and stepped into Anthony's passing lane to Okeke. His second read was to flip it into the lane to Birch. Anthony tried to make this pass, but there was too much traffic and Olynyk got his hand on the ball and got the steal. A good pocket bounce pass probably gets there.

The problem for Anthony is that even if he completed the pass, Iguodala (Ross' defender) had rotated down and was in position to make a play on an unsuspecting Birch.

What I would like to see is Anthony come off his second read and go to his third read, which would have been to whip the ball out to Ross for a three at the top of the arc with Iguodala out of position helping down.

The second turnover was very similar. Anthony drove left out of the right corner on Nunn. Olynyk rotated over off Birch *and* Achiuwa helped down off Gordon. The easy pass would be to kick it back out to Gordon for an open 3 or Gordon could have moved it across court to Ross for an open 3. Instead Anthony panicked a little bit when he got surrounded and tried to force an interior pass in traffic to a cutting MCW that was easily knocked away and stolen.

The fact that Anthony drove into traffic, drew a help defender and actively looked to pass rather than forcing up a shot is encouraging, but he is going to have to improve his decision making and his ability to make reads and passes beyond the one that's closest to him.

All things that will hopefully come in time.

[Ducklett]

I went to the box score of the Magic/Heat game and both of the videos were Cole Anthony highlights. One of the Oop to AG and then ones titled "Cole Anthony doing work in 1st half of NBA debut". Does anyone else see that when they go to that page? Is ESPN trying to push Cole? I find it weird he has a video with "doing work in 1st half".

[RookieStar]

I went to the box score of the Magic/Heat game and both of the videos were Cole Anthony highlights. One of the Oop to AG and then ones titled "Cole Anthony doing work in 1st half of NBA debut". Does anyone else see that when they go to that page? Is ESPN trying to push Cole? I find it weird he has a video with "doing work in 1st half".

Maybe trying to look out for the son of their fellow broadcaster? Greg didn't work for ESPN did he?

[RookieStar]

[instagram][/instagram]

Well, if JJ was able to become an average defender, I am pretty sure that Cole can be too.

Well as 2guards JJ was a legit 6'4 witjout shoes in the nba measurements right? So he had that advantage already lol

Buy yeah... I think Cole has or near JJs BBIQ so being an average defender is already reachable.

Combine:
J.J. Redick, 6' 4' without shoes with 6'3.25 wingspan;
Cole, 6'1.5 barefoot with a 6'4.5 wingspan;

To sum up JJ is taller, but Cole has a wider wingspan, so basically the same thing.

So it's about effort and desire like I said. JJ did the work so we wait and see IF cole does the same.