Our youth

Last Guardian · Post #1 » by **Last Guardian** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:29 pm

Given that so much time is spent talking about Howard, I thought it would be nice to discuss our young players (and practical given the current situation). Granted, some of them don't get much time if any at all, so go by your instincts and whatever you have seen, i.e. garbage time or college play.

Ryan Anderson - PF (23 y/o)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbRHDx8P9k0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvFwzNTH9FI[/youtube]

Earl Clark - SF/PF (24 y/o)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REFaBwXMjGU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUsp3yIh6mQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Justin Harper - SF/PF (22 y/o)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkGyGVQEUHQ[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWrRRRC6Ygs&feature=related[/youtube]

DeAndre Liggins - SG (23 y/o)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G41K8srmds[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeU5vLT0t2c&feature=related[/youtube]

Daniel Orton - C (21 y/o)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA_f8zptGG4[/youtube]

Harper seems like a talented scorer, but can he do it in the NBA? Can Liggins be a great defensive player and hit an open shot like a Bruce Bowen? Can Ryan Anderson expand his offensive game? Can Earl Clark reach his defensive potential and not be a liability on offense?

Discuss.

ADRajX · Post #2 » by **ADRajX** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:33 pm

I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

Post #3 » by **ChosenSavior** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:36 pm

DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

This.

In a compressed season like this, it would be a great test to see what these young guys can do in real NBA action while allowing the veteran players to play a few less minutes to keep them fresh. If anything else, it gives us a new look and allows us to evaluate if these guys are usable assets for our team or not.

ADRajX · Post #4 » by **ADRajX** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:44 pm

ChosenSavior wrote:
DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

This.

In a compressed season like this, it would be a great test to see what these young guys can do in real NBA action while allowing the veteran players to play a few less minutes to keep them fresh. If anything else, it gives us a new look and allows us to evaluate if these guys are usable assets for our team or not.

And who knows... what if Liggins is what all the scouts said he was... a Tony Allen clone?... and what if Harper is a Rashard Lewis clone? ... at least give them minutes to see and assess their skill level and play... help them develop their games by giving them opportunities.

magicman123 · Post #5 » by **magicman123** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:46 pm

damn i loved the 20 second clip or orton :rofl:

anyways good positive thread, i would like to see some of harper but with the rotation that's not possible, i don't have high hopes for liggins, but if he can find a bogans/bowen type of role he might make it

earl is talented, but he might be one of those players that never figures it out

WeAreVenom · Post #6 » by **WeAreVenom** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:52 pm

I, too, would love to see what Liggins and Harper can do.

There has to be a reason these two haven't been waived or sent to the D-League, it's probably because we plan to keep them.

Post #7 » by **ChosenSavior** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:53 pm

DJRajX wrote:
ChosenSavior wrote:
DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

This.

In a compressed season like this, it would be a great test to see what these young guys can do in real NBA action while allowing the veteran players to play a few less minutes to keep them fresh. If anything else, it gives us a new look and allows us to evaluate if these guys are usable assets for our team or not.

And who knows... what if Liggins is what all the scouts said he was... a Tony Allen clone?... and what if Harper is a Rashard Lewis clone? ... at least give them minutes to see and assess their skill level and play... help them develop their games by giving them opportunities.

Exactly! We have nothing to lose and honestly it could provide a spark to the team and put these veterans on their toes to earn minutes. Stan needs to allow these guys to earn their trust. I was beyond disappointed that Earl, who by the way had a major impact with us beating the Pacers just a week ago did not get into the game until the final minutes of garbage time. We had absolutely no energy whatsoever and guys like Earl and Von bring that to the team. They don't have to play heavy minutes. You give them 15-18 minutes and allow them to provide energy because that type of play is infectious.

Last Guardian · Post #8 » by **Last Guardian** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:55 pm

Lol, I didn't really want to put Orton up there, but I thought I'd include him since he is young and on the team.

94_MagicFan · Post #9 » by **94_MagicFan** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:01 pm

new pg
redick
liggins
harper
vazquez

our lineup next season with a new system

NEM · Post #10 » by **NEM** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:39 pm

i really wonder how, over time, a line up of:

NEW PG
Liggins
Harper
Anderson
NEW C

Redick
Clark
Orton

would do, because in that line up we have shooting, and a wing defender in the SL and on the bench. The PG would have to be someone who can penetrate, and make good decisions on whether to kick it out to anderson/harper/jj, dump it off to the center/anderson, or take it himself. The center would need to have good hands, and play good defense in the post

which leads me to my next thought, would the thunder be open to trading westbrook and ibaka for dwight?

Nemesis21 · Post #11 » by **Nemesis21** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:47 pm

I would include Von in "Our Youth". He's 26.

MagicGirl · Post #12 » by **MagicGirl** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:58 pm

I think it's particularly important to start seeing what Harper and Liggins can give us. Once we go full-on transition, I'd like to see if they will be meaningful pieces to the team or not. Granted, Stan gets to evaluate those guys during practice, but nothing beats in-game experience.

We already know the Magic intend to go for vets over draft picks and/or young guys so I don't expect we'll have much more that what's already on the roster (and we won't have Orton since we didn't pick up his option). Might as well see what the kids can give us.

Last Guardian · Post #13 » by **Last Guardian** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:16 pm

DJRajX wrote:And who knows... what if Liggins is what all the scouts said he was... a Tony Allen clone?... and what if Harper is a Rashard Lewis clone? ... at least give them minutes to see and assess their skill level and play... help them develop their games by giving them opportunities.

Yea, Liggins seems like he would really bother people. He has that defensive minded attitude and he has Dwayne Wade like wingspan.

Harper does seem to play like a young Rashard Lewis. He is about 6'9, so pretty good for a SF. He has a less than 7'0 wingspan though, which isn't great. Liggins actually has a bigger wingspan yet is 3 inches shorter. So not sure about his potential effectiveness on defense. Although, he is in very good shape and rather strong for his frame (benched 185 19 times).

Driguez · Post #14 » by **Driguez** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:20 pm

I had no idea Ryno was 23

RickB-Orlando · Post #15 » by **RickB-Orlando** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:21 pm

DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

There's a reason they were available down in the draft where we picked. Both are flawed. Chances are they never have much impact.

I suspect the best we can rwalistically hope for is that they end up with careers along the lines of Michael Ansley.

Nemesis21 · Post #16 » by **Nemesis21** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:31 pm

Last Guardian wrote:
DJRajX wrote:And who knows... what if Liggins is what all the scouts said he was... a Tony Allen clone?... and what if Harper is a Rashard Lewis clone? ... at least give them minutes to see and assess their skill level and play... help them develop their games by giving them opportunities.

Yea, Liggins seems like he would really bother people. He has that defensive minded attitude and he has Dwayne Wade like wingspan.

Harper does seem to play like a young Rashard Lewis. He is about 6'9, so pretty good for a SF. He has a less than 7'0 wingspan though, which isn't great. Liggins actually has a bigger wingspan yet is 3 inches shorter. So not sure about his potential effectiveness on defense. Although, he is in very good shape and rather strong for his frame (benched 185 19 times).

Yep, he has a 6'11 wingspan.

Post #17 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:30 pm

one reason i think Anderson is eligible to be moved is that i think Harper is definitely capable to doing what he does, once he learns to move off the ball as well as Anderson, and learns the defensive rotations.

Earl Clark always looks like he's playing to prove something, and he consequently overcompensates on defense and moving on offense. i'd love to see him hit the floor a little more relaxed. he's also got the footspeed to take it to the rim more often than he does - he really should utilize that.

r3demption · Post #18 » by **r3demption** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:40 am

RickB-Orlando wrote:
DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

There's a reason they were available down in the draft where we picked. Both are flawed. Chances are they never have much impact.

I suspect the best we can rwalistically hope for is that they end up with careers along the lines of Michael Ansley.

arenas, lewis, gerald wallace to name a few were second rounders.

RickB-Orlando · Post #19 » by **RickB-Orlando** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:15 am

r3demption wrote:
RickB-Orlando wrote:
DJRajX wrote:I really want to see what Liggins and Harper can do on the floor together.

There's a reason they were available down in the draft where we picked. Both are flawed. Chances are they never have much impact.

I suspect the best we can rwalistically hope for is that they end up with careers along the lines of Michael Ansley.

arenas, lewis, gerald wallace to name a few were second rounders.

Sure, there are always a few, but it's just a few. The vast majority of second rounders have very limited career success, or don't make it at all.

The Effect · Post #20 » by **The Effect** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:26 am

Driguez wrote:I had no idea Ryno was 23

Yup, and yet everyone wants to trade him away. I mean who need 23 year old 6'10 scorers?

The guy is the only legit scoring threat we have outside of dwight, yet people talk about him like hes just some scrub that can be easily replaced and is mentioned in any trade offer