Catching up from the last iteration of this thread....
SmartWentCrazy wrote:Yikes, this story keeps getting worse and worse. I couldn't justify taking him over Fultz/Ball/Tatum at this point. He was already trending towards #4 ignoring character issues. This just about seals it.
Property damage that resulted from a dispute with his teammates' ex-girlfriend in a public place, it's not cool it's certainly immature, but come on it's property damage.
Josh Jackson is EXACTLY the type of player that DA covets: intense, 2-way player with a chip on his shoulder. He's got that KG like intensity and plays his biggest during winning time. He's certainly at the top of our list and this incident changes nothing.
***
Ball continues to be the best player in college basketball. What he did in the 2nd half against Cincy was GOAT stuff.
Banks2Pierce wrote:LarryBirdsFingr wrote:**** ball, if we select him ill learn to live with it but i am all **** set with him. Give me Tatum fultz or jackson or gtfo
I can see not liking his dad, but I genuinely don't know how people don't experience pure joy while watching this kid run point for such a great offensive team.
Amen. Funnest player to watch in college basketball since Magic?
CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:My big fear with Ball was his ability to penetrate. However, some of those fears were quelled last night when he made a few nice plays off the dribble. Also saw him hit a nice little pull-up jumper off the dribble. His shot is ugly, but it looks like he only shoots when he has the space to get it off. As unorthodox as it is, he's got a quick release. In terms of things I value about a jumper, it's accuracy, quickness of release, then form. Reggie Miller's jumper was whack, but it worked out well for him. Ball might be able to get by with that heave. Lol.
Re: the bolded--that space isn't just given to him, he's
creating that space. He's got great footwork, balance, and ball handling ability, and uses it not only to create shots for others, but to get his shooting hand free. His whack release point only really is a negative when he's going right--the very few times he's done that this year he takes a hell of a time gathering before he rises up. I think he'll eventually develop a push shot/floater to use when penetrating the lane to his right. But at the top of the key or in transition it's really not an issue.
sully00 wrote:CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:Josh Jackson just hit a stepback 3 pointer off the dribble. All set on him if we don't land Fultz. Him or Tatum. Still not sold on Ball and his inflated stats.
EDIT: and as I was typing this, he just went behind his back off the dribble to hit a 16 footer. Yeah, give me Josh Jackson if we don't get Fultz.
The only player in the conversation with inflated stats is Fultz he put up numbers in non conference play on a loser and bailed on the second half of conference play. No player like him he as ever been taken first overall.
Yeah, the bad team/teammates excuse goes both ways. What gives me pause with Fultz is that if I imagine him switching places with Ball and projecting each team's win totals. Switch the two guys with their respective teams and I think Ball improves Washington's win total while Fultz loses more than 3 games with UCLA. Some of that is about fit/teammates/coaching, but most of it is about the ability of Ball to fit his game to his teammates and then use his extraordinary sense of timing to take over games when needed. Fultz is just out there playing, irrespective of time or situation, while Ball is just on a higher level. It's the checkers versus chess analogy. He makes guys better *and* knows when he has to just take over the game to get the W. This is what Magic and Bird did too.
sully00 wrote:chrisab123 wrote:sully00 wrote:That is what makes Ball special if your watching. Grabs the rebound and penetrates the lane and then kicks out in rhythm to the shooter inside out. The play is about Alford not Ball but created by Ball.
I like Ball but I don't think he signs with Boston. Especially if they have the 2nd and the Lakers have the 3rd. I believe his dad will do everything in his power to force a deal to LA.
Who says the Lakers even want him or will have their pick? It doesn't matter the player has no leverage in that situation especially when the team drafting him is a playoff team. Dad is a concern but not that big of a deal.
D'Angelo Russell is in the way in LA and projects as a kind of hybrid between Ball and Fultz but who knows what the new leadership is thinking. I'm sure Magic recognizes how special Ball can be, and unlike himself Ball is a very capable off-ball shooter, so could conceivably play with Russell and Clarkson.
Let's just hope the Lakers have to convey their pick to the Sixers because they fell out of the top 3.
Shamrock wrote:With the 4th pick in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics select... De'Aaron Fox from the University of Kentucky. Tatum is still on the board, whats everyone's reaction?
I'd be surprised, but happy. Nobody can guard Fox and his shot is getting better. This is a PG league and Fox is the best defender in the lottery, and a great athlete. He's impossible to guard, can get his own shot and create shots for others. I was worried about his shot initially, but I've warmed to it as of late. I like him better than Fultz and DSJ now, would take him after Ball and Jackson are off the board.
cl2117 wrote:What's gone on with Harry Giles? Was regarded as a top 5 pick and is slipping further and further down draft boards. DX has him at 25.
Is he still going to declare after all his surgeries and missing most of the college season and hope people just take a shot on him for his upside despite the baggage? Or is he going to go back and risk yet another injury that might lead to him not getting drafted at all?
I gotta think some team in the first round will take a shot in the hopes that he can eventually be healthy.
He was my #1 guy in this class at this point last year. If he stays another year and avoids injury he'll emerge as a top 5 pick in 2018 but if he comes out this summer I'd love to grab him post-lottery. Great character and instincts for the game, and was finally shaking some rust off when Duke got bounced. I still believe in his upside but he needs at least 2+ years of uninterrupted progress to regain that upside so I think the college life would suit him best. Hope he stays another year.
Wes-J wrote:I would take Bridges over Tatum.
Me too. Better body, more positional versatility on defense, and more varied offensive skillset. Tatum is better in the post and in midrange however, and is a safer pick to project and slot into your lineup.
165bows wrote:CsBsSoxPhins wrote:Rexperez wrote:At this rate nobody knows how DA's big board looks like. Probably might be
1)Ball
2)Jackson
3)Fultz
We never know. I just hope we land in the top 3 and i'd be happy with any.
and please no butler/george!
It's possible. Not really an amazing source because we've heard his other "rumors" or just chatter but Scal said on broadcast that he knows Ainge loves Fultz a little while ago. Not exactly a stretch but I'd put a little stock into that. I know Ainge also mentioned he doesn't put much stock into the tourney either so that supports the case. Lastly, he stated a lot can change once he brings them in and gets a feel for their game, personality, IQ, etc.
I think that last piece is especially important here because Danny often drafts guys that weren't on par with "expert" big boards. I think a ton changes here when he brings guys to Boston for workouts.
Right now I think:
1. Fultz
2. Ball
3. Jackson
4. Tatum
But a lot can change fast.
Bulpett also claimed on Larry Russell's podcast that Fultz could be a 'transformative' player, and was the team's top target.
Yeah, I think the whispers have proven to be true before and those whispers are saying Fultz is their #1 target. Danny doesn't put much stock in chemistry, charisma, or intangibles, so the things that make Ball special just aren't going to turn his crank much. I think his board is probably Fultz/Jackson/Ball so obviously let's hope we get the #3 pick and the draft breaks right for us because I think this will be known as the Ball draft when it's all said and done.
The leaks are real...the news is fake.
I'm just here for the memes.
@ thinking Lavar would be allowed to call any shots if Lonzo comes here. Dude would get tuned out until he shuts the **** up (or not, it won't matter either way). And there are two guards spots btw. They would likely start in the backcourt together.
