Zach LaVine

MellowRose · Post #21 » by **MellowRose** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 2:25 pm

Is a comparison to Klay Thompson somewhat accurate?

Talent Chaser · Post #22 » by **Talent Chaser** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 2:40 pm

MellowRose wrote:Is a comparison to Klay Thompson somewhat accurate?

Klay Thompson with elite athleticism. That's a scary thought.

MellowRose · Post #23 » by **MellowRose** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 2:42 pm

Talent Chaser wrote:
MellowRose wrote:Is a comparison to Klay Thompson somewhat accurate?

Klay Thompson with elite athleticism. That's a scary thought.

Yea, with a potential to be a superstar. Dude looks good out there, hope he can keep it up and enter this year's draft.

MellowRose · Post #24 » by **MellowRose** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 2:48 pm

Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

Post #25 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 3:33 pm

MellowRose wrote:Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

Austin Rivers is looking like one of the most over-hyped players of our times. Comparing their stats, Rivers has always been a very inefficient scorer, while Lavine's efficiency numbers so far are phenominal. Physically, you can make a case that they're somewhat similar - but as basketball players - no.

doordoor123 · Post #26 » by **doordoor123** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 3:56 pm

EricAnderson wrote:
miltk wrote:
EricAnderson wrote:Chad Ford ‏@chadfordinsider 6m
UCLA's Zach LaVine jumped into the lottery. Few scouts calling him “Russell Westbrook w/ a jumper.” http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft201 ... -nba-draft … (insider)

wow

chad ford is an idiot. westy makes his living driving to the rim. zach doesn't. in fact, i haven't seen zach take his man to the rim once. even curry or allen drives to the basket. right now, zach is more like an athletic redick. if he doesn't learn to drive he'll be easily guardable.

Would Ben Mclemore be an accurate comparison? great athlete who can shoot

No. McLemore comes of screens and doesn't iso (because he isn't good at dribbling). LaVine will iso and use a step-back jumper or something. McLemore was also more aggressive at getting to the rim and much more athletic. LaVine is longer though. I think an athletic Redick is also not a good comparison because Redick is also a guy that comes off screens. A good comparison is a mix of a smaller Klay Thompson and a (not as aggressive) older (where he takes more jumpers) Kobe Bryant -- that's a little more athletic. He has good shooting footwork (not in the post). I can't think of anyone other than Kobe that has good shooting footwork (but isn't as aggressive).

doordoor123 · Post #27 » by **doordoor123** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 4:03 pm

Ruzious wrote:
MellowRose wrote:Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

Austin Rivers is looking like one of the most over-hyped players of our times. Comparing their stats, Rivers has always been a very inefficient scorer, while Lavine's efficiency numbers so far are phenominal. Physically, you can make a case that they're somewhat similar - but as basketball players - no.

Austin Rivers had a bad first year, but improved by the end of last year and dominated the summer league. I was expecting him to have a great year, but he's just buried in the roster. I actually think he's underrated now. I don't really think any rookie's first year matters statistically because they're getting to know the game at the next level. Most players improve by the next year or two. Jimmy Butler was a player no one was talking about in his first year and so was Isaiah Thomas. Gotta give them time.
Having said that, LaVine could be a good defender with the right guidance because of his length and athleticism. I don't think his floor is even as low as Rivers. He'll get more floor time than Rivers because Rivers is a liability on defense being undersized and he's more athletic. Worst case scenario, he can't shoot at the NBA level, but what are the odds of that happening? Even if he can shoot a little, he can get tons of time on the floor. Look at Kentavius Caldwell-Pope (he's starting!)

Upperclass · Post #28 » by **Upperclass** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 6:15 pm

His bounce is mindboggling. His handle in the highlight videos seem flukey though. Also not very fluid and does not have great foot quickness. I think he will be a smarter JR. Smith. Game looks very similar

Post #29 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 6:18 pm

2doors, if there's one thing I've learned watching about 20 years of Summer League games its - SL games mean nothing in projecting players to the NBA. I've seen players dominate there and not even make NBA rosters. I've also seen a couple players stink there (Amir Johnson comes to mind) and be very solid NBA players. I gotta question Doc Rivers for not convincing his son he needed at least 1 - probably at least 2 - more years at Duke to learn how to play better. He is still a bad NBA player, and while it's not impossible that he becomes good - I'd be surprised.

ManualRam · Post #30 » by **ManualRam** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 6:51 pm

doordoor123 wrote:
EricAnderson wrote:
miltk wrote:

chad ford is an idiot. westy makes his living driving to the rim. zach doesn't. in fact, i haven't seen zach take his man to the rim once. even curry or allen drives to the basket. right now, zach is more like an athletic redick. if he doesn't learn to drive he'll be easily guardable.

Would Ben Mclemore be an accurate comparison? great athlete who can shoot

No. McLemore comes of screens and doesn't iso (because he isn't good at dribbling). LaVine will iso and use a step-back jumper or something. McLemore was also more aggressive at getting to the rim and much more athletic. LaVine is longer though. I think an athletic Redick is also not a good comparison because Redick is also a guy that comes off screens. A good comparison is a mix of a smaller Klay Thompson and a (not as aggressive) older (where he takes more jumpers) Kobe Bryant -- that's a little more athletic. He has good shooting footwork (not in the post). I can't think of anyone other than Kobe that has good shooting footwork (but isn't as aggressive).

lavine has come off of screens for shots as well. that type of action is in alford's system. he looks very comfortable doing so too. mac did that in college, but his %s actually weren't good shooting while on the move.
lavine looks more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and shooting off the dribble. the number of ways that zach has been able to get his shot off with accuracy has been the most impressive thing about him to me.

he really likes that crossover into a pull up though. it surprises defenders but he shouldnt rely on it. took a couple of bad shots off of it last night.

Post #31 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 7:07 pm

Btw, Jordan Adams is also having a phenominal season for UCLA. I'd rate them as the 2 best shooting guard prospects in the country - not sure which I'd rate higher.

miltk · Post #32 » by **miltk** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 9:21 pm

Upperclass wrote:His bounce is mindboggling. His handle in the highlight videos seem flukey though. Also not very fluid and does not have great foot quickness. I think he will be a smarter JR. Smith. Game looks very similar

zach has had 3 or 4 inexplicably missed dunks where he could not elevate over the rim. i don't think he knows what his body can/can't do. i mean he grew 4" in his senior year so he may be going through growing pains. this might explain some things. he was always a great shooter however - that's what he was known for before he sprouted, and he's square on every shot he takes.

how about an "athletic allen"

Upperclass · Post #33 » by **Upperclass** » Wed Dec 4, 2013 9:37 pm

Adams reminds me so much of Harden, but I like Zach better. an elite shooter with above average athleticism is hard to find.

OJMayoMVP32 · Post #34 » by **OJMayoMVP32** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 2:26 am

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibdbx7tGtXQ[/youtube]

Just watch his game highlights . This is clearly a JR Smith/Ben McClemore breed . A lights out 3 point shooter, that can simply jump out the gym. His leaping ability is freakish. and Just because he has the same light skin tone as Klay Thompson doesn't mean he plays like him.

He is closer to JR Smith , then he is to Klay Thompson or Russell Westbrook

He is definitely a top 5-10 lottery pick. JR Smith if he had a better work ethic, better shot selection and IQ would have been an all-star

doordoor123 · Post #35 » by **doordoor123** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 2:43 am

I got it! I know exactly who he reminds me of! Allan Houston.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNqAkOYRM1M

Eoghan · Post #36 » by **Eoghan** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 2:50 am

Jamal Crawford, compare and contrast.

Talent Chaser · Post #37 » by **Talent Chaser** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 5:01 am

BrotherDave wrote:Jamal Crawford, compare and contrast.

I'm sticking with my comparison of a more explosive Klay Thompson. If he improves his handle I have no clue who would be an adequate comparison. This kid is an absolute stud, I would pick him over Marcus Smart.

doordoor123 · Post #38 » by **doordoor123** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 5:29 am

BrotherDave wrote:Jamal Crawford, compare and contrast.

One off-balance shot and you think he's Jamal Crawford? Crawford has no defense and he's an amazing ball-handler that creates his own shots.
LaVine is limited at creating his own shots and if he does so, it isn't with flashy moves. He'll do a step-back jumper or something similar.
Klay Thompson is a little closer, but Thompson is also not really a handler. He's more catch and shoot that can sometimes drive.
LaVine can do catch and shoot, but he can also create his own shot. He just can't iso (like Crawford). LaVine has also proven to be crafty at times on defense, but he doesn't have great speed for his position, but he's still pretty fast. He's also crafty around the basket. He can twist the ball and his body around to make shots with contact and get around blockers.
I'm telling you, Allan Houston. Maybe you guys are too young for that reference.

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #39 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 5:54 am

Did anybody else say to themselves, "damn, he's fast as heck" when watching highlights vs. Nevada? He literally jets up and down the court. Very explosive.

Impressive.

ManualRam · Post #40 » by **ManualRam** » Thu Dec 5, 2013 7:48 am

MellowRose wrote:Lavine reminds me a lot of Austin Rivers as well. I think his ceiling is a more athletic Klay Thompson and his floor is Austin Rivers.

That's a pretty big disparity.

Does he remind anyone else of Austin Rivers?

if you just watch his mixes i could see that. if rivers was more talented, like if he was quicker, longer and more athletic then he'd be lavine. also, if rivers could shoot and could handle the ball without predetermining his moves he'd play like lavine too.

lavine's got some wiggle to his game. i definitely see the seattle influence in his style, but he's playing a more streamlined, complementary, off-the-ball role for ucla and he's looking fantastic while doing it. rivers tried doing that and looked pretty damn mediocre to downright awful.

zach's got a bag of tricks at his disposal that i don't think he'll need to dip into much while in college with his role, but you still see it in flashes (like his crossover pull up). in the nba i think he will use more of it, but hopefully not too much. i'd prefer he build off his athletic, sharpshooter role who can get his shot off in a number of situations. i noticed that when he plays with the ball he tends to take some questionable shots. he gets much easier jump shots off of movement and spotting up, but he does have that ability to create his own shot if he needs it.

oh and i don't see the allan houston comparison. lavine's moves are much quicker and he's more athletic. who knows how his body will respond to more weight, but right now he's plenty quick and explosive, adjectives that i would have never used to describe allan houston.