Operation Beast: Prospect Thread II

[Worm Guts]

Go look at the Cousins thread on the Draft board. The name Eddy Curry comes up on the first page.

[horaceworthy]

Is Cousins too fat to succeed?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commenta ... son/100529

I don't remember, but does anyone else recall people calling Cousins fat before the combine numbers came out? It seems like people saw that 16% and started taking every picture out there of Cousins (even ones where he looks skinny) and started comparing them to pictures of Oliver Miller, Eddy Curry, and Zach Randolph.

The funny thing is when people act like he's packed on all these pounds since the season ended, when he had a noticeable gut all year. Like the 270 Kentucky listed him at was gospel. He's obviously put on weight since high school (not an uncommon thing for a college freshman), but I watched most of the combine (waste of time), Cousins looked about the same as he did all year. The only difference seemed to be that his jersey at the combine was much looser than his jersey at Kentucky. He's a huge dude, and he holds the weight fairly well, but the risk he doesn't continue to do so obviously exists.

For me, the weight is the least of my concerns about him. The main worry is that he's got a screw or two loose. If his head's on straight, the weight shouldn't be an issue.

[Esohny]

A big difference between Anderson and Ellington in college is that Anderson gets to the free throw line a ton.

That's a strong point. Do you think that is part of his game that translates? I worry about his handles a little bit.

I think Henry would be a good pick at 16, but I think Henry and Anderson are more natural SGs (although they've both got decent size). How do people feel about them playing (particularly defense) at the SF spot?

[AQuintus]

Go look at the Cousins thread on the Draft board. The name Eddy Curry comes up on the first page.

I wonder how much of that is a playing style comparison and how much is a body style comparison. After all, our very own Esohny replied with this:

Eddy Curry with 30% more rebounds.

and 40% less blubber.

The funny thing is when people act like he's packed on all these pounds since the season ended, when he had a noticeable gut all year. Like the 270 Kentucky listed him at was gospel.

Yep, and a lot of people on the draft board absolutely refused to believe Wall's listed height of 6'4". It's funny how people pick and choose what to believe.

He's obviously put on weight since high school (not an uncommon thing for a college freshman), but I watched most of the combine (waste of time), Cousins looked about the same as he did all year.

It's even funnier, because in the combine interviews Cousins flat out says that he was around 294-295 all year at Kentucky, and the only difference in his weight at the combine is that he got more defined.

Edit:

The whole thing kind of reminds me of DeAndre Jordan a few years ago. Before the combine, people saw his youtube highlights and called him a freak athlete. Then, after he measured a 30" vertical at the combine, people started calling him a bad athlete despite what they saw he was actually able to do on the court.

[Worm Guts]

A big difference between Anderson and Ellington in college is that Anderson gets to the free throw line a ton.

That's a strong point. Do you think that is part of his game that translates? I worry about his handles a little bit.

I think Henry would be a good pick at 16, but I think Henry and Anderson are more natural SGs (although they've both got decent size). How do people feel about them playing (particularly defense) at the SF spot?

Don't we need a 2 just as bad as we need a 3?

[Krapinsky]

I like Henry playing SF, but Anderson's defense is supposed to be terrible regardless of position.

[Esohny]

Don't we need a 2 just as bad as we need a 3?

Yes. I'm saying that I think that either Henry or Anderson would be good for us at the 2 (although I prefer Henry), but if we're taking both of them like the mock suggests, who do we put at the 3?

[horaceworthy]

I think Henry would be a good pick at 16, but I think Henry and Anderson are more natural SGs (although they've both got decent size). How do people feel about them playing (particularly defense) at the SF spot?

Henry could do fine at either spot, at the start of the year a lot of people were talking about SF as the position that suited Henry best.

Don't we need a 2 just as bad as we need a 3?

I think the two main needs are a big wing and someone capable of handling the ball and making good decisions at either position. Brewer and Ellington can both spot up, but neither's a creator. Both are probably better off defending shooting guards than bigger, stronger players.

I'd like to get a couple swingman big enough to cover either position as opposed to a combo guard type. It's time to put together a team with at least appropriate size for their positions.

[dunkonu21]

Brew can guard either 2s or 3s imo

[Devilzsidewalk]

Brew can guard either 2s or 3s imo

me too. There's always going to be bad matchups, like Carmelo is too big and tries to hurt people and a thin guy like Brewer gets bounced around, but a long guy like Durant, I think Brewer can be one of the better matchups in the NBA against a guy like that. The important part is he's always going to try, and just being a pest and making guys work is going to get in their head. Like Kobe, everytime he matches up against Brewer from now on he knows "there's the guy that broke my finger" so now he's got to guard his digits when he goes against Brew

As for Cousins, I always thought Cousins looked weird in his jersey; it was super tight, but then John Wall's looked too tight too, so I figured it was just part of their bizarre style. But nonetheless, he never looked very sculpted. The 16% thing was direct confirmation of a suspicion lot of people probably had that Cousins doesn't take fitness seriously. His comments about it have only made it worse. And everytime you have a player that has these problems - Shaq, Sheed, Coleman - its always the same story, very talented, but underachieved because they didn't want to go the extra mile. Shaq and Sheed got some good miles and didn't really let go until late, but Cousins is starting from behind right from the start. Orlando Shaq and Cousins are night and day from a physical dominance standpoint.

[moss_is_1]

I like DXs mock. I'd be bummed if George went right before us at 15, but Henry would be an okay pick then. He's going to be a good defender, and a great shooter. He needs to work on his handle though, kinda sloppy. James Anderson at 23 would be sweet, he can score like nobodys business.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I don't understand why DX doesn't update their #'s to the predraft measurements - at least on the weight - it seems a significant difference to have Stephenson weigh in at 227, but listed as 200 on the site

[Esohny]

I don't understand why DX doesn't update their #'s to the predraft measurements - at least on the weight - it seems a significant difference to have Stephenson weigh in at 227, but listed as 200 on the site

I believe mnWI had mentioned that they have limited resources and aren't able to keep 100% of the site constantly updated. They'll get around to it eventually.

[Krapinsky]

He used to take volunteers via email.

[Devilzsidewalk]

why don't you volunteer and take one for the team

[Krapinsky]

I would, but I can't because I'm not a giant nerd

[Esohny]

I would, but I can't because I'm not a giant nerd

Well...

[Devilzsidewalk]

I would, but I can't because I'm not a giant nerd

Well...

stop pwning people

[mnWI]

I don't understand why DX doesn't update their #'s to the predraft measurements - at least on the weight - it seems a significant difference to have Stephenson weigh in at 227, but listed as 200 on the site

I believe mnWI had mentioned that they have limited resources and aren't able to keep 100% of the site constantly updated. They'll get around to it eventually.

I haven't worked for DX for a few years so I'm not sure, but I would imagine Jon G's time is much better spent attending workouts than updating numbers. It still shows their official measurements in the player profiles though.

[Devilzsidewalk]

he spends most of his time getting tanked