2017 NBA Draft Thread

Post #261 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:09 am

Markkanen looks like a star for the Bulls.

Suddenly, Chicago seems like a squad to watch for the future along with Philly and Boston.

Post #262 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:56 pm

Schlenk left GSW before the draft. But he was undoubtedly a part of the scouting process on this kid during last season and previous years.

What can we take away from this kid's emergence?

The Warriors’ New Bellwether

Every NBA team had a chance at Jordan Bell before the Bulls sold their second-round pick to Golden State. In just three months, the rookie big man has become an integral part of the Warriors’ machine and the perfect big man to help transition the champs into the not-too-distant future.

Jordan Bell was worth more to the Warriors than any other team in the NBA. They paid the Bulls $3.5 million for the rights to the no. 38 pick on draft day last year because they knew exactly how to use him. Bell plays a position the Warriors practically invented when they started playing Draymond Green at center in small-ball lineups. Bell is a budget version of Green: a wing-sized player with the athleticism and basketball IQ to protect the rim. Both players slipped into the second round because they didn’t fit the mold of a traditional big man.

He is ninth on the team in minutes per game (14.8) and 11th in usage rate (14.6), but he has consistently impacted the game when he has been in. Bell has per-36 minute averages of 12.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.6 blocks on 66.4 percent shooting.

Bell is a new kind of defensive anchor. NBA offenses have changed, and defenses are changing with them. Not many teams pound the ball inside anymore, or run much offense through the post. The goal these days is to force big men to defend in space on the perimeter. Centers without the speed to leave the paint have become a liability. Winning wrestling matches inside is no longer their primary responsibility. NBA teams have been downsizing at the position over the past few years, and Bell is taking that trend to its logical conclusion.

At 6-foot-9 and 224 pounds with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Bell is built more like a wing than a center. He is an elite athlete who can get down in a defensive stance, slide his feet, and stay in front of even the fastest guards. Running a pick-and-roll against him plays right into his hands.

The Ringer

jayu70 · Post #263 » by **jayu70** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:17 pm

Life is made easier playing alongside ELITE talent.

kg01 · Post #264 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:34 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Schlenk left GSW before the draft. But he was undoubtedly a part of the scouting process on this kid during last season and previous years.

What can we take away from this kid's emergence?

Absolutely, positively not a gott d*mn thing.

As is the case with Draymond, being in that system and on that team dramatically inflates this guy's value/profile and makes the game eons easier than if they were actually asked to do more.

Post #265 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:36 pm

You do realize Travis Schlenk is attempting to recreate that system and that level of talent through the draft, right?

Post #266 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:38 pm

I will say that KAT, A Davis and D Ayton are the antidote to the small ball center craze. These guys have the foot speed to guard on the perimeter.

And the bulk/size to bully little guys like Bell in the paint.

Hell, John Collins (in a couple of years) should be able to dominate the offensive boards against these smaller guys masquerading as Centers.

kg01 · Post #267 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:41 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:You do realize Travis Schlenk is attempting to recreate that system and that level of talent through the draft, right?

They didn't do it by drafting guys like Jordan Bell before they had a dominant roster in place.

Post #268 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:43 pm

Right...they did it by drafting guys like Draymond while they were still a lottery team.

kg01 wrote:As is the case with Draymond, being in that system and on that team dramatically inflates this guy's value/profile and makes the game eons easier than if they were actually asked to do more.

macd-gm · Post #269 » by **macd-gm** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:49 pm

Not many teams really trying to do what GSW are doing though and I'm not sure why. Even Bud has gone away from that type of ball movement. I realize the Warriors are stacked with talent and shooting but it's still a great system and has proven extremely difficult to beat.

Post #270 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:52 pm

macd-gm wrote:Not many teams really trying to do what GSW are doing though and I'm not sure why. Even Bud has gone away from that type of ball movement.

I'm sure former GS executive Travis Schlenk has noticed as well.

kg01 · Post #271 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:57 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Right...they did it by drafting guys like Draymond while they were still a lottery team.

kg01 wrote:As is the case with Draymond, being in that system and on that team dramatically inflates this guy's value/profile and makes the game eons easier than if they were actually asked to do more.

If you think they knew that guy would turn out to be what he is then I have some beachfront property in Kansas to sell. There's a reason why he was a 2nd rounder.

Now on that property, I'll give you a good price since you're a Hawks fan and all.

jayu70 · Post #272 » by **jayu70** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:57 pm

macd-gm wrote:Not many teams really trying to do what GSW are doing though and I'm not sure why. Even Bud has gone away from that type of ball movement. I realize the Warriors are stacked with talent and shooting but it's still a great system and has proven extremely difficult to beat.

It's hard to duplicate when you can't match the talent output and the actual shooting skill coupled with defense. Example, Booker can shoot but he's not Klay on defense. Klay's personality allows him to be a natural fit next to Curry.

Last year we didn't have the ball movement. This year it's trending back up.

Post #273 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:00 pm

kg01 wrote:If you think they knew that guy would turn out to be what he is then I have some beachfront property in Kansas to sell. There's a reason why he was a 2nd rounder.

Now on that property, I'll give you a good price since you're a Hawks fan and all.

I agree they likely didn't predict he'd be an All Star/All-NBA level contributor.

But they clearly had him pegged for a defensive role as an undersized PF the same way they seem to have Jordan Bell pegged for a defensive role as an undersized Center.

MaceCase · Post #274 » by **MaceCase** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:13 pm

Draymond was pegged as a reserve wing for his first two seasons before Kerr transitioned him to a starting bigman position.

kg01 · Post #275 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:23 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
kg01 wrote:If you think they knew that guy would turn out to be what he is then I have some beachfront property in Kansas to sell. There's a reason why he was a 2nd rounder.

Now on that property, I'll give you a good price since you're a Hawks fan and all.

I agree they likely didn't predict he'd be an All Star/All-NBA level contributor.

But they clearly had him pegged for a defensive role as an undersized PF the same way they seem to have Jordan Bell pegged for a defensive role as an undersized Center.

Nobody purposely puts an undersized PF on the floor. Draymond is an anomaly that ended up working out. I'm not going to apply my 20/20 hindsight vision and give them too much credit for that pick.

I'm certainly not going to tout Bell as anything special when he's allowed to exist on the floor only because he's surrounded by the most talented teammates in the league.

Post #276 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:35 pm

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What I was ultimately getting at in asking about what we could take away from the emergence of Jordan Bell is...

could we take a similar stab at a diamond in the rough upperclassman with our draft pick this year?

I've mentioned Alize Johnson and his talents as point forward.
Isaac Bonga seems like a worthy gamble as a 6'9" guard with a high ceiling.
Jevon Carter is a senior PG who's a defensive specialist on the wings.

Post #277 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:37 pm

kg01 wrote:Nobody purposely puts an undersized PF on the floor.

Ummm...

They do pretty often nowadays. In this era of positionless basketball, we've seen a number of small ball fours emerge.

macd-gm · Post #278 » by **macd-gm** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:43 pm

I agree with you Jamaal. Close to the basket bigs are a thing of the past. We need mobile, quick, good passing, good jump shooting, athletic 4s and 5s. That's why we need to develop Collins' perimeter game. And why i'd prefer getting a true scoring wing with our top pick and finding one of these types of guys to play 4/5 and play a more modern style.

kg01 · Post #279 » by **kg01** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:54 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
kg01 wrote:Nobody purposely puts an undersized PF on the floor.

Ummm...

They do pretty often nowadays. In this era of positionless basketball, we've seen a number of small ball fours emerge.

Not ones that aren't shooters (which is what I was referring to although admittedly did not state that).

Post #280 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:04 pm

macd-gm wrote:I agree with you Jamaal. Close to the basket bigs are a thing of the past.

Wait...is that what I was arguing?

LOL. I'm just happy we're back on the same side, mac!!!!

:party: