OT: Andrew Wiggins Discussion Thread

[Randle McMurphy]

Kansas got motivated in the 2nd half and took over the game, particularly Embiid (he was especially active defensively) and Wiggins. Ellis was consistent throughout.

[aselvana]

wiggins trying to drop to us

[KingTdot]

parker won't be dominating the nba once he gets in , in his rookie year, look at how wiggins shuts him down and this is only college. (referring to the 2nd half of the duke kansas game) Parker will be used like how rudy was used in memphis, if the coach is gd. Wiggins will be used for defence and fastbreaks, and open shots if he develops a better shot.

[Salted Meat]

What is it with needing Wiggins to dominate every game he's in? He's a freshman, and playing on a team with a very well-respected coach for a program designed to win championships.

Maybe... just maybe... Wiggins is learning by passing the ball and listening to his coach when he decides to run plays through other players. Maybe he's learning about discipline, and respect for coaching. Maybe he's learning to appreciate the skills of his teammates, and understanding where he fits in the puzzle of a championship calibre team. It takes some players years to learn how to be a winner. Some players never learn.

Or maybe he's not as good as everyone thought, and that a killer instinct is a much more valuable tool in improving your abilities as a basketball player. I think having that will to win is inherently more important than having the will to dominate.

[fredericklove]

parker won't be dominating the nba once he gets in , in his rookie year, look at how wiggins shuts him down and this is only college. (referring to the 2nd half of the duke kansas game) Parker will be used like how rudy was used in memphis, if the coach is gd. Wiggins will be used for defence and fastbreaks, and open shots if he develops a better shot.

Parker will arguably be used for point forward type, executing plays for others w/ his dribbles, hitting long range, and posting up down low, the way they used Rudy in memphis is accordingly to what he gives them - midrange scoring, that's all, Parker's skillset is more diverse than Rudy, hence will be used in different way in a team system. Plus, Wiggins may have blocked his fadaway and did well in some sequences, but it didn't mean he absolutely shut him down. Equally, Jabari was playing tight defense on Wiggins down the low block in that game too.

This wasn't the first matchup they had, it's actually the 3rd time they faced each other in all levels of competition, and Wiggins never locked him down, they both went toe to toe and scored baskets on each other.

[KL78192020]

I'll be happy with any of the top 3.

[VinBaker6]

What is it with needing Wiggins to dominate every game he's in?

They do it with all of our players, you think it'd be different for a first year prospect playing at a new level? Come on this is the raptors board! Where if you don't dominate every game you aren't worth talking about.

Raptors draft Wiggins. Everyone hypes Wiggins as the next LeBron. Season starts, Wiggins starts out slow, averaging 10 ppg. Tank again!!! We need elite players!!!

I think only LeBron will satisfy Raptor fans.

[scopy]

I've got it figured out. Masai the mad genius has told Anthony Bennet and Andrew Wiggins to suck.
Cavs will want to waive Bennett or want to get rid of him so bad they accept trade for Austin Daye.
Wiggins is labelled over hyped with no motor and falls out of top ten.
Masai grabs both players and hires Phil Jackson.
Players thrive and its attributed to finally being developed properly and motivated to play for their country.
Raptors rise out of the ashes and have long term sustainable success.
Masai and Tim enjoy some cognac and cohibas in a cigar room congratulating each other on a job well done.

[TheGoodDoctor]

Wiggins really hasn't dominated any game he's been in...

...and that's not to criticize, that's reality. Just because he's a hometown boy doesn't mean he shouldn't be held accountable and his faults be ignored. It isn't a great sign that when looking for a franchise wing that he isn't showing the desire on a consistent basis to dominate which has been a knock on him since highschool. That's a warning flag that many analysts have pointed out. It certainly doesn't cast him in stone as never being able to become consistent but again you can't overlook it just because of bias; if he wasn't from here I'm sure many of you would actually understand the critique.

Again I take it far as some damning statement like he can't change as Drummond is a prime example that college performance is far from a final assesment BUT I will say given that Wiggins' role is much different from AD's as well, as he's being asked to do much more than defend and rebound. It's something to keep an eye on and not be bias about just because he's a hometown hero; BPA boys...BPA

But it would be scary to see how good he would look if he DECIDED to dominate and not coast as he has widely been criticized to do and shown.

[Truthrising]

Honestly it's better if we draft one of Exum or Randle rather than Wiggins and if we're looking at the bigger picture, we should bank on Wiggins wanting to play for the Raptors once his Rookie contract is up, than we can build a contender with either of these options:

PG: Exum
SG: TBA
SF: Wiggins
PF: TBA
C: Valenciunas

Or

PG: TBA
SG: TBA
SF: Wiggins
PF: Randle
C: Valenciunas

[dballislife]

wiggins has never looked to be ultra aggressive and demand things...hes always gone with the flow of game and still dominates it to some extent...its scary that he just flows withing the game and will give u 15-25 in college

with this mentality he will still be a great to star player cus of his talents...but he will never be a legend or be remembered in the game

who knows if he can change it, its all up to him

[cram]

wiggins has never looked to be ultra aggressive and demand things...hes always gone with the flow of game and still dominates it to some extent...its scary that he just flows withing the game and will give u 15-25 in college

with this mentality he will still be a great to star player cus of his talents...but he will never be a legend or be remembered in the game

who knows if he can change it, its all up to him

They would've said the same thing about McGrady back then.

[SharoneWright]

I agree Wiggins hasn't dominated so far.

I am convinced he's not coasting though. Rather, he does not want to be viewed as a ball hog and so he's swinging the ball. Kid's pretty humble and is sticking to the system grilled into them in practice. He's not yet brash enough to "improvise" at the expense of his teammates or against coach Self's system. HCBS is going to have to take him aside eventually and tell him "the rules" that apply to every other Jayhawk don't apply in every circumstance to the #1 recruit in the nation.

[Kabookalu]

I don't know why people want him to dominate outright from the get go. I think it's absolutely great that he's learning how to play within the flow of the offense. For most players it's the reverse and they spend many seasons trying to figure out how to play team ball. This is just another way of him developing towards superstardom.

I mean Paul George wasn't always the superstar he is now. The way he played his first couple of seasons he was sort of like Terrence Ross now, content with just shooting open jumpers.

[Scase]

I don't know why people want him to dominate outright from the get go. I think it's absolutely great that he's learning how to play within the flow of the offense. For most players it's the reverse and they spend many seasons trying to figure out how to play team ball. This is just another way of him developing towards superstardom.

I mean Paul George wasn't always the superstar he is now. The way he played his first couple of seasons he was sort of like Terrence Ross now, content with just shooting open jumpers.

Hype, that's basically the only reason. Everyone expected the 2nd coming of MJ but are disappointed when seeing he's playing as a great teamate instead.

[OakleyDokely]

Wiggins doesn't have to dominate the ball, Kansas is winning.

If Kansas was losing and Wiggins was shooting poor %'s -- this idea that "Wiggins doesn't dominate" might actually have some merit. The fact is, he's shooting a great %, he's playing within the flow of the game, when he needs to score, he scores and Kansas is WINNING.

Not to mention, he's playing great defense, something Parker and Randle don't do.

He's the best prospect in the NCAA.

[akakalakin]

franchise transforming BS

[FluLikeSymptoms]

Wiggins doesn't have to dominate the ball, Kansas is winning.

If Kansas was losing and Wiggins was shooting poor %'s -- this idea that "Wiggins doesn't dominate" might actually have some merit. The fact is, he's shooting a great %, he's playing within the flow of the game, when he needs to score, he scores and Kansas is WINNING.

Not to mention, he's playing great defense, something Parker and Randle don't do.

He's the best prospect in the NCAA.

I don't know what people want- for him to beak plays and beat his chest? He makes the right play every time and they look great offensively. Kansas was killing Iona inside. When they need distance, he gets a bit more selfish and fills it up as he did to start the past couple 2nd halves. Why doesn't he do that all the time? Why would he? He plays smart, winning basketball.

If Kansas is losing and he's passing up good shots for worse ones, people can talk. When he's dumping it into the post with great results (and clearly the plan), shaddup. He looks like a pure winner to me. We talk about LBJ's efficiency all the time and how it may impact the sport. AW has the poise of a 30-y/o.

[delaney8]

Too early to tell I think. He's still adjusting. We'll see what happens when they need him to step up on a more consistent basis later in the year.

The other thing I noted is that Ellis and Embiid are usually in the post when wiggins gets the ball, so he's got nowhere to go; all he can do is swing it, feed the post or launch a 3. If they want him to make more of an impact driving to the bucket, they need to clear some space.