Larry Bird Interview

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #1 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:53 pm

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/bird_draft_080619.html

I found this really interesting. I love the fact that it sounds like we will move back into the 1st round after our initial pick. Usually Bird wouldn't give something like that so I'm assuming/hoping that a deal is in place and the other team just wants to make sure a player doesn't fall or something. Bird sounded pretty confident that we will have a 2nd first round pick though.

I also find it interesting that he is near positive the player he wants will be there by the time we pick. To me this basically means our pick is going to be either Augustin or Aurthur. I originally thought it was Augustin for sure, but then Bird started talking about how good Aurthur was and it sounded like he really liked him.

The thing for me is, I think Aurthur will be a better player for sure, I just see too much that concerns me with Augustin. However Augustin has grown on me this week, the fact that all these NBA guys see something good in him means a lot more than me looking at a few box scores. So if we take Augustin I will try to remain optimistic. I really wish Westbrook would fall to us, but that just doesn't look likely now. So right now it sounds like its definitely going to be Augustin or Aurthur unless someone really good falls. Which is funny because as each day passes it looks like Lopez or Randolph might slip to us, we'll see though.

Post #2 » by **Grang33r** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:54 pm

I think there is way too much trade talks and rumours around about us not to make any moves on draft day. They are hyping up draft day alot, they are hosting a draft party which is bigger then ever. I guess it could be coincidence or if we are pretty confident that we are going to be active. I watched a special on Doc Rivers few months ago, it was like a 15 minute piece on TNT and they were amazed Celtics did their deals, and Rivers laughed and said they were in talks with T-Wolves and Sonics for about 4-6 months. Rivers said that sometimes he'd hear rumours which were true but he had to say he had no clue, and that the deals were 99% finished 1-2 weeks before draft day but needed to be signed off.

I feel we are in that boat this year. Ever since the trade deadline we are rumored to do something. Remember all the Jeff Foster for a mid-late round pick rumors last trade deadline day?

I really think Jermaine O'Neal will go to Chicago on draft night. Bulls need this deal complete to draft hometown kid Derrick Rose who i've been seeing they love more and more, it doesn't appear that Westbrook or Augustin will be available in the 11th pick so it makes sense why Kirk Hinrich would be our new starting PG next season.

granger05 · Post #3 » by **granger05** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:40 pm

I sould post a link here, but I think it might be insider only anyway. Hollinger has an article projecting the success of the big man crop this year. I just wanted to respond to the initial post here. Hollinger projects Arthur as the 3rd best big man in this draft (behind Beasley, and Love, and just about even with Speights). He has Randolph rated as a huge bust.

Take it all with a grain of salt (lies, damn lies, and statistics), but taking Arthur at 11 may turn out to be a savvy move. That's my point. I can't see us taking Randolph due to character knocks on him. I imagine we steer far clear of those players for a few years.

It's a free preview after all and I was inspired so here's the LINK

Post #4 » by **Grang33r** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:51 pm

granger05 wrote:I sould post a link here, but I think it might be insider only anyway. Hollinger has an article projecting the success of the big man crop this year. I just wanted to respond to the initial post here. Hollinger projects Arthur as the 3rd best big man in this draft (behind Beasley, and Love, and just about even with Speights). He has Randolph rated as a huge bust.

Take it all with a grain of salt (lies, damn lies, and statistics), but taking Arthur at 11 may turn out to be a savvy move. That's my point. I can't see us taking Randolph due to character knocks on him. I imagine we steer far clear of those players for a few years.

It's a free preview after all and I was inspired so here's the LINK

I do like Arthur, but not as much as Speights. But i do NOT like Randolph at all.

cdash · Post #5 » by **cdash** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:07 pm

I did read that Hollinger article granger05...found it interesting. Personally, I like Hollinger. I dont always agree with his methods (especially PER), but the numbers themselves dont lie. Randolph's numbers suggest he will be a huge bust, he has been getting abused in workouts, and anytime you are 6'10 and weigh less than 200 pounds, thats a huge concern. I agree with DGrangeRx33, I think its down to Augustin and Arthur. I still like Augustin. I like his leadership ability, he seems to be a high character guy, smart, and a pure point guard. His size does concern me a little, but the NBA is getting smaller and I can only see about 3 or 4 point guards really giving Augustin fits with their size (Williams, Kidd, Rose, Billups).

Post #6 » by **PR07** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:23 am

First of all, what are the character problems with Randolph? That he is laid back and quiet?

Second, he hasn't been getting "abused". His workouts may have been "very average", but personally, I would expect them to. This is a kid who's still a bit of a ways away. The guys he is typically going up against like Hibbert, Speights, and Arthur have more seasoning.

As for the rating, I wouldn't expect him to measure well in that either. His game is a lot more like a SF at this time, but as he gets bigger, he's going to have ball handling and certain perimeter skills that ordinary big men never develop. That's what I'm intrigued about.

notque · Post #7 » by **notque** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:34 pm

Arthur or Augustin for the win. Randolph, I'd puke.

joew8302 · Post #8 » by **joew8302** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:00 am

So you guys are advocating us taking a 5'10 170 lb PG and saying you would puke if we took a guy with a bunch of potential who isn't lighting up the workout circuit? I just don't get that. Anthony Randolph reminds me of a young Chris Bosh. He has a very nice skill set for a guy with his size. And have you ever seen pictures of Garnett coming into the NBA similar to Randolph? There are guys who have been very underweight, but have worked and developed to become studs. I would LOVE to snatch up Randolph at 11. I mean we are not contenders next year anyways, why not let him grow with the team?

D.J. Augustine also reminds me of a slower, weaker Jameer Nelson. With his size I just don't see him being a major factor in the NBA. He is the guy I am hoping to stay away from.

n_s_s31 · Post #9 » by **n_s_s31** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:44 pm

I agree that they will take either augistin or arthur at 11 and depending on what other second round pick they go after i think they want either Brandon Rush or Courtney Lee. And about if they are able to keep the second rounder and dont get Augistin at 11 that they are hoping to get Goerge Hill from IUPUI. Just a theory though, could easily be wrong.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #10 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:05 pm

Welcome n_s_s31. I'm not sure I completely understood if you meant you think the Pacers want Rush and Lee at #41 or at #11, if you meant #41 there is no way that Rush will be there, he is looking like a lottery pick, if you meant #11 theres no way we would take Lee at #11, I can't imagine us taking Rush either, but Bird drafts based off talent, not need so who knows.

n_s_s31 · Post #11 » by **n_s_s31** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:38 pm

i meant that at #11 i agree that they will take either Augistine or Arthrur.

Then if they acquire another first rounder other than 11 (depending on what number it is) they will be trying to get Rush or Lee with that pick.

Then i said if they hold onto the second round pick and dont get augistine at 11 i could see them taking George Hill in the second round if he's available at 41

If they take augistine at 11 they might be able to take Arthur as well if they can acquire a pick between 13-16.

cdash · Post #12 » by **cdash** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:27 am

joew8302 wrote:So you guys are advocating us taking a 5'10 170 lb PG and saying you would puke if we took a guy with a bunch of potential who isn't lighting up the workout circuit? I just don't get that. Anthony Randolph reminds me of a young Chris Bosh. He has a very nice skill set for a guy with his size. And have you ever seen pictures of Garnett coming into the NBA similar to Randolph? There are guys who have been very underweight, but have worked and developed to become studs. I would LOVE to snatch up Randolph at 11. I mean we are not contenders next year anyways, why not let him grow with the team?

D.J. Augustine also reminds me of a slower, weaker Jameer Nelson. With his size I just don't see him being a major factor in the NBA. He is the guy I am hoping to stay away from.

I wouldnt puke if we took Randolph. I just think hes a long, long way away from contributing in the NBA, and I am not sure he will ever realize his vast potential. The Chris Bosh thing? I can see why that comparison would be used, but I'd crap my pants in Circle Centre Mall if he ever was as good as Bosh is. The thing with Randolph is, he will need some gametime to progress. Right now, he just doesnt have the power to play the 4 in the NBA. He would get mauled down in the post. We dont exactly have a plethora of minutes available at the 3 either. I think situation matters a lot for young players. Whoever we pick, there has to be a good culture for them to succeed (another reason Tinsley and his posse need to go).

joew8302 · Post #13 » by **joew8302** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:00 am

cdash

I don't disagree with a thing you are saying, and I think we are pretty much on the same page with our analysis of Randolph. The Bosh comparison is all about the style of play, not the effectiveness. If it was a widespread thought that Randolph would be as good as Bosh he wouldn't make it past pick 3 or 4.

My thought process is this: Are we NBA Finals contenders next year? No. The year after that? No. A year after that? Probably not. So with that process I believe we can afford to give Randolph the time he needs to develop. Also, if Randolph is on the board who would we pass him up for? DJ Augustine? Jevelle McGee? DeAndre Jordan? I mean I do like Jordan (which I know many disagree with) but no one in this group overly excites me, so why not take a gamble? Yes the bust factor is much higher with Randolph, but so is the ceiling. And lastly, lets not forget we are Indiana. We never seem to be fortunate enough to get a GM to give us diamonds for crap (see Boston/LA) or luck our way into a top pick (see Chicago/NY). AKA we are not a big market team and we won't get our butts kissed, thus to get a big win we almost have to strike gold with a few gambles along the way. Unless Gordon, Westbrook or Lopez happens to somehow be on the board with Randolph, I think we should roll the dice with him if he is available.

Post #14 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:11 am

The problem i have with Randolph is that i don't think he's a PF in the NBA. I don't see the comparison to Chris Bosh at all. I do like his game as long as he has a clean record (somebody mentioned he'd come with baggage) but he have a high bust chance, as do almost all the other prospects, such as Jordan, Spieghts, Arthur. Besides the very few picks, i don't know if there is any locks in this draft to be good, game changers. Obviously some will develop into stars in this league but i see many becoming busts or just average players.

All i know is, i'd stay away from Jordan.

Randolph has pretty crazy potential. But like i said, i don't think it's at PF. I think he's going to be a solid SF one day if he develops rights. Is it worth the 11th pick to pick not at a position of need right now for us? I don't know....

joew8302 · Post #15 » by **joew8302** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:23 am

I disagree. Yes, his body is not that of a power forward right now, that is plain as day. But after watching him play I think that is where his skill set lies. He is not a particularly good shooter from range nor is he a good ball handler. I think ultimaetly he is much closer to a 4 than a 3.

cdash · Post #16 » by **cdash** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:17 am

I'd just assume stay away from these high risk big guys. Jordan, Randolph, McGee, etc. That group just screams "bust" to me.

Post #17 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:28 am

cdash wrote:I'd just assume stay away from these high risk big guys. Jordan, Randolph, McGee, etc. That group just screams "bust" to me.

Who is a low bust player in this draft and is a realistic possibility at 11?

cdash · Post #18 » by **cdash** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:46 am

Low bust big guy or players in general? As far as big guys, Lopez (outside shot..but I still think he may fall), Speights has such a natural ability to score that I dont think he is a high bust guy, Koufos has lower bust potential...and thats about it. I am not saying I think the rest of the bigs will be busts, but they have a higher bust probability than the guys I listed. Just my opinion at least.