Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 8

[phailing101]

Ford is not a scout but I do trust his opinion over other analysts.

I also believe he's the most connected analyst as far as GMs/Scout connections are concerned.

I'm getting really worried that Kanter may climb the draft here. The C position is much like QBs in the NFl, they have a tendency to climb up the draft as you get closer to D-Day.

[wanker]

Do we need our yearly reminder that Chad Ford doesn't know much about scouting basketball players. He's just a conduit.

Compared to the joke that is Jonathan Givony (with Val #3, Walker #4, and Donut #9, while Kanter #8 and Tristan Thompson #14, etc.), I'll take Ford's opinion anytime.

[Cool-Hand-Luke]

Sometimes green font just isn't necessary, this is one of those times.

With all the Kanter hate going around, I believe it is.

[Reignman]

Do we need our yearly reminder that Chad Ford doesn't know much about scouting basketball players. He's just a conduit.

Compared to the joke that is Jonathan Givony (with Val #3, Walker #4, and Donut #9, while Kanter #8 and Tristan Thompson #14, etc.), I'll take Ford's opinion anytime.

I don't know about that, Jon G is actually pretty good. Kanter hasn't necessarily fallen, I think other guys have moved up because they actually played. If Jon gets a chance to scout Kanter at Attack or watch some of his workouts I'm sure he'll move him up.

[HSOB SIRHC]

Is there a reason why Kemba is now 3rd on Draftexpress?

[wanker]

Do we need our yearly reminder that Chad Ford doesn't know much about scouting basketball players. He's just a conduit.

Compared to the joke that is Jonathan Givony (with Val #3, Walker #4, and Donut #9, while Kanter #8 and Tristan Thompson #14, etc.), I'll take Ford's opinion anytime.

I don't know about that, Jon G is actually pretty good. Kanter hasn't necessarily fallen, I think other guys have moved up because they actually played. If Jon gets a chance to scout Kanter at Attack or watch some of his workouts I'm sure he'll move him up.

Givony will move Kanter up after he realizes he is embarrassing himself by having him at #8. But this will have nothing to do with watching him play. Givony's own evaluation of players is garbage. He talks to scouts and attempts to predict from there, but doesn't seem to realize that most of the time he is having hot air blown up his ass. He will keep Val around #3 because he has been trying desperately to project Val as the next great European prospect (but this has been laughable since day one). At one point, when Barnes was struggling, he had Val at #2 and Barnes at #14. I don't care what scouts are telling you, having Barnes at #14 at any point is simply embarrassing. Sure, by the time the actual draft rolls around, Givony's mock will likely be pretty accurate, but it is really not difficult for someone who is somewhat connected to figure out (roughly) at that point who is likely to go where (at least in the lottery).

[Reignman]

I agree with that, I had to laugh when Barnes was dropped to 14, talk about an overreaction.

Also, having Irving start the year at #9 was also pretty funny.

Anyway, I he's clearly not right all the time and I'm sure personal biases do kick in but overrall I still think he's one of the better ones.

[phailing101]

Is there a reason why Kemba is now 3rd on Draftexpress?

DX is always out to lunch until right before the draft when enough info finally trickles to the bottom of the pond for them to make a reasonably accurate draft table.

I much prefer NBAdraft.net and Ford.

[Jazzfan12]

NBADraft.net had Hassan Whiteside ahead of DeMarcus Cousins for months in a row last year.

[MrBojangelz71]

what time is the lottery on?

Halftime of the mavs vs memphis/okc game

Is this confirmed? Maybe a link?

The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery will be held on Tuesday at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt on TSN2. The 2011 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 23.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/feature/?id=40373

[ATLTimekeeper]

Do we need our yearly reminder that Chad Ford doesn't know much about scouting basketball players. He's just a conduit.

Compared to the joke that is Jonathan Givony (with Val #3, Walker #4, and Donut #9, while Kanter #8 and Tristan Thompson #14, etc.), I'll take Ford's opinion anytime.

Right, judge a guy by his rankings as they compare to your own instead of his exaustive, detailed analysis. You can argue how wrong Givony is with all kinds of evidence, I'm sure you've never been off the mark in any of your opinions about 18 to 22 year old basketball players.

[Dr Positivity]

Fran Fraschilla wrote a pretty good PGs draft article, insider only. Watched lots of tapes and Synergy to do it. He had it as 1. Irving 2. Kemba 3. Knight, but says he doesn't believe any will be elite players.

His biggest concern with Irving is he was in the bottom 20 for Synergy finishing with his right, but was very good going left. He says in this draft he'd be happy with Steph Curry or Mike Conley out of Irving

Walker he says has an ok shot and will have trouble finishing at the rim. He seems him as somewhere between solid starter and backup PG energizer (I agree with his take)

Knight he says was a very good screen and roll player but heavily dependent on going right. Great finisher. Good passer but played with tunnel vision. Calls him a work in progress

[phailing101]

Just looked at my PVR and it says the NBA lottery has it's own 30min show on TSN2 on Tuesday, May 17 at 8:30EDT I believe (it says 6:30 but i'm in Sask).

It's right before the scheduled NBA game that night which presumably is the West finals.

[DreamTeam09]

You hope for Mike conley outta irving.... ouch

[Reignman]

Fran needs a new job if he thinks Irving will be a Conley type of point.

[Truthrising]

One prime example not to take the bleacher report seriously, do they really think we're gonna take Kawhi Leonard at the 3rd spot?

The Toronto Raptors will surprise many by selecting Kawhi Leaonard with the No. 3 overall pick.

Enes Kanter would be the best available player on the board, according to Chad Ford, but the Raptors already have Andrea Bargnani occupying the center spot. Toronto will instead take a player that may be able to take over the role that Chris Bosh used to occupy.

Leonard is an athlete, plain and simple. The modern game seems to be playing in the favor of athletic players that may not be the most polished players. The six-and-a-half foot tall forward with the ability to jump is the new fashion of the league.

Leonard , like Williams, is an extreme competitor. One can find Leonard skying for rebounds on both sides of the ball, making him that much more valuable to his squad. His long arms will allow him to become a great shot-blocker at the professional level if he works on his timing.

The Raptors would be making a giant step in the right direction if they selected Leonard

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/6986 ... rd-at-no-3

[phailing101]

Gah! Bleacher Report quotes!

[bananaman]

Where's Marvin! and his power of positive thinking thread. We need to win this lottery!!

[ansoncarter]

if Fran thinks kemba will have trouble finishing at the rim his idea of finishing must be dunks because kembas finish is a strength not a weakness. Guy splits doubles like butter and he's great at drawing contact, what more is he looking for? he must think iverson and tony parker have trouble finishing too

[waltthewiz]

You hope for Mike conley outta irving.... ouch

have you been watching the playoffs? come on, son.