Paydro70 wrote:Well I mean, he did never pass, and he pretty much still doesn't.
So you don't understand that there is a difference between not passing and being a black hole?
It's also accurate to say he wasn't an outstanding rebounder... he was 200th in the NCAA in oboard and dboard rate. He certainly was no Love or Thompson or even Dorsey.
You make mention of the competition he played, yet then compare his rebounding to Jason Thompson - and completely gloss over who was playing next to him.
Anybody capable of taking their head out of their behind and looking at the big picture for half a second knew that Lopez was an excellent rebounder.
Also, from DraftExpress:
“Lopez is very formulaic in this range when he has his back to the basket, never trying to further back his man down once he has the ball, never putting the ball on the floor for more than one dribble, and almost always going right up into a right-handed hook shot or a turnaround jumper, often rushing his shot. Watching him in this area of the court, you get the idea that he knows exactly what he's going to do even before he gets the ball, regardless of how the defense is reacting to him. He shows no counter-moves or fakes in this range, and doesn't adjust to what the defense gives him."
And yet DX still had him #3 in their mock for most of the pre-draft process. Even though they completely underestimated his offensive potential. It is easy to look "formulaic" when everybody knows the formula, which is to pound the ball to Brook Lopez and let his ridiculous physical gifts take over.
I'm not saying he shouldn't have gone higher or that the Bobcats don't regret passing (I certainly do), but those were definitely widely-held ideas about him at the time.
Did you read my above post? Where I question the process that led to these views being "widely held"?