All Things 2017 Draft

[threrf23]

Jordan Bell is worth a look in the second round. Undersized PF who gives a good effort and will find a way to carve out some kind of role in the NBA.

[CeltsfaninDC]

That was a big difference for me tonight. Jackson not playing great, and Kansas playing poorly but unlike Ball last night Jackson took his energy to another level. He played really hard and showed a competitiveness that I love. He has a ways to go. If we draft him I'm hoping he like Kawaii can makeover his shooting.

Kahwi Leonard? You comparing Jackson to him? I don't see that at all. Putting aside the obvious issues with his character I'm not even sold on him being as good as him in any area.

[Edug27]

That was a big difference for me tonight. Jackson not playing great, and Kansas playing poorly but unlike Ball last night Jackson took his energy to another level. He played really hard and showed a competitiveness that I love. He has a ways to go. If we draft him I'm hoping he like Kawaii can makeover his shooting.

Kahwi Leonard? You comparing Jackson to him? I don't see that at all. Putting aside the obvious issues with his character I'm not even sold on him being as good as him in any area.

Definitely not a good comparison.

[London2Boston]

That was a big difference for me tonight. Jackson not playing great, and Kansas playing poorly but unlike Ball last night Jackson took his energy to another level. He played really hard and showed a competitiveness that I love. He has a ways to go. If we draft him I'm hoping he like Kawaii can makeover his shooting.

I mean, it's not like Kentucky are a far better and tougher opponent or anything. Kansas should have won this game as fairly strong favourites and didn't. You can't make excuses for Jackson for showing more fight ins game his team should have won and slam Ball for losing to Kentucky. Like I said last night, it's better to not take the tournament to heart too much.

[Cuban Pete]

Josh Jackson scares the crap out of me. He's a year older than his class, is a poor shooter, and has had 2 recent off field incidents.

[Cuban Pete]

I've been a Malik Monk fan since December. He's a true freshman, a great shooter, and can play D. I think he's a better prospect than Booker or Murray (the guy I wanted the Cs to take over Brown).

[TommyPointGawd]

That was a big difference for me tonight. Jackson not playing great, and Kansas playing poorly but unlike Ball last night Jackson took his energy to another level. He played really hard and showed a competitiveness that I love. He has a ways to go. If we draft him I'm hoping he like Kawaii can makeover his shooting.

I mean, it's not like Kentucky are a far better and tougher opponent or anything. Kansas should have won this game as fairly strong favourites and didn't. You can't make excuses for Jackson for showing more fight ins game his team should have won and slam Ball for losing to Kentucky. Like I said last night, it's better to not take the tournament to heart too much.

You can if you watched the games. Both were disappointing but Jackson had foul trouble and definitely brought it in the second half. I agree that you can take from it whatever you choose. But it was not the same thing. I don't think anybody was criticizing Ball for losing. It was more his attitude/effort with the season on the line.

[m haynes]

Jackson's good, but I don't think he's a guy who can just go and get you a bucket either. If Jackson didn't have a Frank Mason on his team (and Lonzo did), I think we'd all be talking a lot differently right now.

You need to read your last couple of post. You have used every excuse for Ball you could think of for his horrible game. Someone said he faded and I agree 100% He showed no fight. I don't care if he had a good game or bad, however I do care what type of player he is when his game not there. Does he try to help his team with other parts of his game does he turn up his intensity.

What I saw last night was a SOFT player that folded when his game went south. He showed no fight and THAT'S ON HIM. No excuses.

I'm not Lavar Ball, mate, I don't care what happens to Lonzo outside of him coming to the Celtics.

It's just funny/irritating reading the reactions here. A few days back we were all praising Lonzo and people were touting him as the #1 pick. Days before that, we were all talking about Tatum. Today, the talk's all on Ball disappointing and how overrated he is. It's the lack of objectivity or rational thinking that gets me.

Your probably right. I am guilty of using the info from this board on a player more than I should. I should use the eye test more often. I know its one game but it does say a lot, IMO. Ball game was not there and he did nothing to help his team. It almost looked like he didn't want any part of UK. Now, I turn on Kansas and Jackson is having a off game, however he tried to help his team in other areas of the game. He showed much more intensity/involvement trying to help his team to get back into the game. Is Ball a bad player, no, if the Celts get him, I'll be rooting for him, however I will hope when times are tough, he puts more fight in the game.

[pasfru]

For those that thought he looked more out of it than usual

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

[pasfru]

Mom suffers serious stroke and LaVar doesn't let kids see her so they can focus on basketball, LaMelo and Li'Angelo get eliminated from state playoffs, the Ball family house gets robbed, Lonzo gets beaten by Kentucky in the Elite Eight...

Not a good few weeks for the Ball family.

[Edug27]

Jackson's good, but I don't think he's a guy who can just go and get you a bucket either. If Jackson didn't have a Frank Mason on his team (and Lonzo did), I think we'd all be talking a lot differently right now.

You need to read your last couple of post. You have used every excuse for Ball you could think of for his horrible game. Someone said he faded and I agree 100% He showed no fight. I don't care if he had a good game or bad, however I do care what type of player he is when his game not there. Does he try to help his team with other parts of his game does he turn up his intensity.

What I saw last night was a SOFT player that folded when his game went south. He showed no fight and THAT'S ON HIM. No excuses.

I'm not Lavar Ball, mate, I don't care what happens to Lonzo outside of him coming to the Celtics.

It's just funny/irritating reading the reactions here. A few days back we were all praising Lonzo and people were touting him as the #1 pick. Days before that, we were all talking about Tatum. Today, the talk's all on Ball disappointing and how overrated he is. It's the lack of objectivity or rational thinking that gets me.

It's called being a prisoner of the moment. This is not a deep draft for elite talent, but it is for good solid players. You can find solid players to build with, not necessarily around.

I love me some player comparisons. Ball is not JKidd, but has a similar impact on a game offensively. Kidd was relentelsss. I don't think Ball has that same motor. But as he grows and you put really good scorers around him, he'll be a solid PG in an uptempo system. Tatum is like a cross between the Morris brothers, Otto Porter, and Jeff Green in my eyes. Long players who can score in multiple ways, but aren't dominant nor very quick. I think Fox can be a big time scorer. He's a player to look out for.

[m haynes]

I want the Celts to draft the best shooter in this draft if the ping pong ball don't roll our way and pass on the so call all around player, who is rated higher in the draft. EX Brown and Booker in the same draft. I want (type) Booker this year. Why, Brads offense starts and end at the 3 point line. We need a specific type player this year and not a pick to stock up for future trades. I don't have the knowledge of who is the best shooter in this coming draft , however I want DA to pass on the all around talent for a sharp shooter. Again if we miss with the PPBs. Someone that IT can pass off to Booker/ Ray Allen type. A no question 3 point range shooter.

[pasfru]

You need to read your last couple of post. You have used every excuse for Ball you could think of for his horrible game. Someone said he faded and I agree 100% He showed no fight. I don't care if he had a good game or bad, however I do care what type of player he is when his game not there. Does he try to help his team with other parts of his game does he turn up his intensity.

What I saw last night was a SOFT player that folded when his game went south. He showed no fight and THAT'S ON HIM. No excuses.

I'm not Lavar Ball, mate, I don't care what happens to Lonzo outside of him coming to the Celtics.

It's just funny/irritating reading the reactions here. A few days back we were all praising Lonzo and people were touting him as the #1 pick. Days before that, we were all talking about Tatum. Today, the talk's all on Ball disappointing and how overrated he is. It's the lack of objectivity or rational thinking that gets me.

It's called being a prisoner of the moment. This is not a deep draft for elite talent, but it is for good solid players. You can find solid players to build with, not necessarily around.

I love me some player comparisons. Ball is not JKidd, but has a similar impact on a game offensively. Kidd was relentelsss. I don't think Ball has that same motor. But as he grows and you put really good scorers around him, he'll be a solid PG in an uptempo system. Tatum is like a cross between the Morris brothers, Otto Porter, and Jeff Green in my eyes. Long players who can score in multiple ways, but aren't dominant nor very quick. I think Fox can be a big time scorer. He's a player to look out for.

I actually think Fox and Monk could be better than Tatum. I don't think Tatum's in the same tier as Ball, Fultz or Jackson as others here have been saying here.

[pasfru]

I want the Celts to draft the best shooter in this draft if the ping pong ball don't roll our way and pass on the so call all around player, who is rated higher in the draft. EX Brown and Booker in the same draft. I want (type) Booker this year. Why, Brads offense starts and end at the 3 point line. We need a specific type player this year and not a pick to stock up for future trades. I don't have the knowledge of who is the best shooter in this coming draft , however I want DA to pass on the all around talent for a sharp shooter. Again if we miss with the PPBs. Someone that IT can pass off to Booker/ Ray Allen type. A no question 3 point range shooter.

So you'd rather take Monk over Ball, Fultz or Jackson? I strongly disagree, three-point specialists aren't too hard to come by in free agency or later in the draft.

[m haynes]

I want the Celts to draft the best shooter in this draft if the ping pong ball don't roll our way and pass on the so call all around player, who is rated higher in the draft. EX Brown and Booker in the same draft. I want (type) Booker this year. Why, Brads offense starts and end at the 3 point line. We need a specific type player this year and not a pick to stock up for future trades. I don't have the knowledge of who is the best shooter in this coming draft , however I want DA to pass on the all around talent for a sharp shooter. Again if we miss with the PPBs. Someone that IT can pass off to Booker/ Ray Allen type. A no question 3 point range shooter.

So you'd rather take Monk over Ball, Fultz or Jackson? I strongly disagree, three-point specialists aren't too hard to come by in free agency or later in the draft.

draft the best shooter in this draft if the ping pong ball don't roll our way

I'm not talking about a just 3 pt shooter per say. A top of the draft shooter, like Ray Allen and Booker. If you had a choice of FOX or Monk. THIS year, Monk.

[rmal8852]

UPDATE: Sunday 3/26



NCAA Mens Tournament: Elite 8 2nd Day



2:20 CBS S Carolina/FLA;::::::::::::::Sindarius Thornwell(0),PJ Dozier(15)/Devin Robinson(1)


5:05 CBS KY/UNC:::::::::::::::::::::::Fox(0), Monk(5), Bam(3)/Justin Jackson(44), I Hicks (4), Tony Bradley(5)


Not many more of the updates left.

NIT (Tue/Thur) next week and the NCAA Final Four/Championship Game next weekend.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Mom suffers serious stroke and LaVar doesn't let kids see her so they can focus on basketball,

Father of the year!!!

[rmal8852]

Mom suffers serious stroke and LaVar doesn't let kids see her so they can focus on basketball,

Father of the year!!!

AND......HUSBAND of the year.

Imagine being that guys father-in-law?

[m haynes]

Mom suffers serious stroke and LaVar doesn't let kids see her so they can focus on basketball,

Father of the year!!!

AND......HUSBAND of the year.

Imagine being that guys father-in-law?

Todd Marinovich see it happening again and shakes his head!

[sully00]

That was a big difference for me tonight. Jackson not playing great, and Kansas playing poorly but unlike Ball last night Jackson took his energy to another level. He played really hard and showed a competitiveness that I love. He has a ways to go. If we draft him I'm hoping he like Kawaii can makeover his shooting.

Kahwi Leonard? You comparing Jackson to him? I don't see that at all. Putting aside the obvious issues with his character I'm not even sold on him being as good as him in any area.

Definitely not a good comparison.

What are you comparing? Leonard was the 54th player in recruiting class Jackson was #1 in a much more talented class. Leonard was a very good player on a very good San Diego St. team as a sophomore we are talking a middle of the road program in a mid major conference. The player you saw at SDST was nothing like the player that has emerged in San Antonio. Leonard actually fell in the draft he had risen as high as 7 in mock drafts before going 15 to SA. Leonard looked more like an undersized PF than a SF coming out of SDST his jumper was non existent and he was turnover prone.

Josh Jackson does not compare well Kawaii Leonard 25 year old NBA All Star. But he compares very well with the player who was drafted in 2011. Leonard was longer and heavier than Jackson and clearly a better rebounder. Jackson is the better scorer and I don't think he has even tapped into that ability. Jackson has roughly twice as many assists with the same number of turnovers. Shooting is no contest. From the criticism that Jackson and Ball have received for their shooting Leonard would have been undraftable (that is likely what impacted his draft status). Jackson shot 38% from three on the season and 44% in conference play.

The wing position in the NBA is evolving in some ways Paul Pierce is becoming the prototype more than Vince Carter. I use them instead of Lebron or Kobe because their talent was off the charts. While anyone will take the athleticism teams are looking for that swingman to be able to play 2-4 more than the 2/3. There are a lot of 3/4's but there are not alot of guys who can do it all.

As you look back on this season and measure where guys started to where they have ended. Off the court issues aside, Jackson has been the most impressive and he essentially was the top player at the end of last season. I think Jackson may be one of the best NCAA SF prospects in a decade maybe longer, guys with his game didn't go to school until they had to. Wiggins had more hype than Jackson but I think Jackson is the better player, same school and roughly the same situation. I am sure I am missing someone but the kid has been great.

If what you want is a Paul George or Kawaii Leonard type of player then this is your guy, he has performed better as a freshman than they did as sophomores on a much bigger stage.