Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[Indeed]

I think it is clear what we are going to take with our 1st round pick, so I am looking in the 2nd round pick, and hope we get more size from our big. I am hoping someone like Joshua Smith (UCLA) would be available, and hope to turn out to be Perkin type of defender.

I think this year we should grab a junior or senior that can come in and contribute right away. Definitely a scoring ability to boot. Draymond Green, DJO, Robbie Hummel, those types of guys who can proven they can score. No more Alabi types that are all prospects.

I think our roster is full.
Jonas/Amir
Bargnani/Davis
James Johnson/Kleiza
DeRozan/2012 1st pick
Calderon/Bayless

Our 2nd round pick will most likely be a D-League player, otherwise, he will be in suite.

[baulderdash77]

Tyrus Thomas pre-draft profile from Draftexpress. Feel free to sub Davis in for Thomas every time you see it:

There are few players in the NBA right now who can match Thomas’ combination of length and athletic ability. His leaping ability is something that has to be seen in person to truly comprehend. Beyond the fact that he has a 40+ inch vertical leap, runs the floor like a guard and explodes off the ground like he has a trampoline at all times at his personal disposal, he uses that athleticism to the fullest extent, which separates him even further from the Stromile Swifts and Tyson Chandlers of the world.

....

The majority of Thomas’ strengths right now revolve around his defense and rebounding skills, along with the occasional havoc he can create on the offensive end.

...Thomas can truly change a game with his shot-blocking ability, using not only his outstanding physical attributes, but also his mind and instincts to get the job done.

Offensively, Thomas is absolutely dynamite in the open floor and shows some small important sparks that lead you to believe he has more in him than he’s currently showing.

...Most of his points come off lobs of these sort as well as tip-ins on offensive rebounds, but against weaker opponents he’s shown some signs of raw footwork in the post
.... It’s fair to call him raw offensively, but he’s also a little more difficult to gauge since he is usually his team’s 4th or 5th option on the floor and has probably had a handful of plays called for him all season long.

Weaknesses
Thomas is a late-bloomer in every sense of the word, only having started to play organized basketball in his junior year of high school. Like many players who have late growth spurts (he was still growing as of last summer), he has yet to fully grow into his frame and is probably lacking the strength to play a huge role in the NBA until he can add some weight.Thomas is fairly limited and gets most of his points right now through offensive rebounds and in transition. He doesn’t really have any type of back to the basket game to speak of, and probably lacks the strength to score this way even if he did as he has trouble at times holding his spot on the block. He’ll have to add some go-to moves to become a consistent scorer in the NBA, as well as better footwork in the post.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1mnVU0LOi
http://www.draftexpress.com

They go on to talk about how Thomas was under 6'0" in HS and sprang up to 6"9 late in HS. Hmm. Don't worry Draftexpress was quite confident he would be a star in the NBA & a DPOY type player.

That doesn't sound like anyone else we know.

[Scraptor]

nbadraft.net makes the Camby comparison too, but then they have Arnett Moultrie at 6 over MKG, Sullinger, and Perry Jones. No entiendo.

[Marlo Stanfield]

There's no way anyone could have actually watched both Anthony Davis and Tyrus Thomas play and then compare the two of them. No way.

[Undefeated]

You mean how he's shooting 27% on the season on anything other than alley-oops, offensive rebounds or dunks?

Don't be so indignant. Anthony Davis has shown no consistent or reliable offensive game outside of those types of plays.

He has the same offensive game that Tyrus Thomas had at this stage, and I'd venture to say he's less springy and athletic than Thomas was. Marcus Camby is truly a compliment to what Anthony Davis could be because he could also be a complete bust for all we know. The NBA landscape is full of tall guys who never lived up to their potential.

The reason why Anthony Davis has not shown much in the half-court offense in terms of creating his own shot is because he's playing as a 4th or 5th option most nights behind guys like Terrance Jones, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller, Marquis Teague and MKG. That offense doesn't leave much for Anthony Davis to show case his offensive game either than scoring off cuts, put-backs or alley-oops. Yes, he's shooting 27%, but the attempts are likely so small that it has no barring whatsoever.

I mean, he's shooting 70.6% from the free-throw line which means he's got somewhat of a solid shooting mechanic to develop a face up game. Tyrus Thomas shot 65.7% from the foul line and Camby shot 59.6% in his freshman season. It's clearly evident that Anthony Davis is far ahead of them having that set jumper down when they were freshman's. A guy with a solid set shot will more than likely develop a good spot-up jumper in the NBA. And when you consider the fact that Anthony Davis had played PG prior to his growth spurt, he'll have a foundation to handle the rock and be thinking like a guard facing up towards the basket. Marcus Camby and Tyrus Thomas NEVER had the set shot or ball-handling as a freshman like Anthony Davis has.

[baulderdash77]

There's no way anyone could have actually watched both Anthony Davis and Tyrus Thomas play and then compare the two of them. No way.

A 5% FT% difference on this sample size is largely insignificant The 5th option excuse was given for Thomas too. Maybe it's because neither player had any post moves or the strength to execute them so their teams didn't run the offense through them. That's a far more logical assertion.

Thomas and Davis are nearly identical prospects at this point. They have a 1" difference in height & wingspan and the same weight. Thomas certainly had a higher vertical jump than Davis.

They had eerily similar per 40 min stats (from DX because it's easiest to get) 18.3/13.7/4.6, 63% TS% for Thomas, 17.8/12.6/6.3, 65% TS% for Davis. Davis is the better shotblocker, Thomas was the better scorer and rebounder.

The comparisons are extremely good that you can't ignore them especially if you think that Davis is a PF and not a C.

[Marlo Stanfield]

The numbers may say one thing, but I remember TT in college and I remember thinking he would be a star as well. However, I don't see any resemblance in their games other than them both being athletic PF's. Thomas didn't have the same handle, the same work ethic, or the same defensive awareness (he just jumped at everything like Javale McGee). Their brains separate them.

[baulderdash77]

Watch the video and imagine Anthony Davis. Seriously I think Tyrus Thomas was further along than Davis at the same point. He was more coordinated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FPR3Qw-YO4

Before the Raptors won the lotto, Thomas was in the conversation for #1 overall pick.

So Davis in my mind has an upside of Camby & a downside of Tyrus Thomas. I think it's a legit bracket for him. Both Camby and Thomas were top 3 picks and it could seriously go either way.

[Qhawe]

Watch the video and imagine Anthony Davis. Seriously I think Tyrus Thomas was further along than Davis at the same point. He was more coordinated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FPR3Qw-YO4

Before the Raptors won the lotto, Thomas was in the conversation for #1 overall pick.

So Davis in my mind has an upside of Camby & a downside of Tyrus Thomas. I think it's a legit bracket for him. Both Camby and Thomas were top 3 picks and it could seriously go either way.

They dont compare in length

[baulderdash77]

Watch the video and imagine Anthony Davis. Seriously I think Tyrus Thomas was further along than Davis at the same point. He was more coordinated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FPR3Qw-YO4

Before the Raptors won the lotto, Thomas was in the conversation for #1 overall pick.

So Davis in my mind has an upside of Camby & a downside of Tyrus Thomas. I think it's a legit bracket for him. Both Camby and Thomas were top 3 picks and it could seriously go either way.

They dont compare in length

Tyrus Thomas has a 7'3" wingspan. Anthony Davis has a 7'4" wingspan. They're 1" different in height & length. Nearly identical physical dimensions.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Watch the video and imagine Anthony Davis. Seriously I think Tyrus Thomas was further along than Davis at the same point. He was more coordinated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FPR3Qw-YO4

Before the Raptors won the lotto, Thomas was in the conversation for #1 overall pick.

So Davis in my mind has an upside of Camby & a downside of Tyrus Thomas. I think it's a legit bracket for him. Both Camby and Thomas were top 3 picks and it could seriously go either way.

He's a run and jump athlete over anything else. I can post a highlight video of Marcus Camby and he would resemble Tyrus Thomas. As a matter of fact, I can post a highlight video of Kevin Garnett's early years as a Wolf and they'd all look alike.

[baulderdash77]

Garnett came to the NBA with a pretty good handle & a good face up and post game. He resembled PJ3 more in this draft except that he had that incredible intensity and desire to dominate other players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvbPL2NpBmM

[Marlo Stanfield]

Garnett came to the NBA with a pretty good handle & a good face up and post game. He resembled PJ3 more in this draft except that he had that incredible intensity and desire to dominate other players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvbPL2NpBmM

What makes you think Davis doesn't have the desire to dominate? Garnett is just more outward than 99.9% of guys with his. And Davis has a better handle than Garnett. The face up game is to be determined, but Garnett has it hands down judging by what Davis has shown. However, in Kentucky's offense Davis is not asked to score very often.

[Los Manos]

baulderdash, I agree that statistically TT and AD are incredibly close (slight edge to AD) and that their scouting reports are eerily similar. TT was a dominant NCAA talent, even a monster, and should have been far more dominant in the NBA but there was a reason he was drafted 4th behind Aldridge and Bargnani.

From the level of dominance that TT demonstrated in the NCAA, he SHOULD have been so much more in the NBA but there are so many more factors that go into advanced scouting. Thomas could have been so much more, should have been so much more but there was a big reason that he didn't go no.1 in the draft. He scared scouts who turned out to be right that they feared he would never live up to his supreme potential.

To say AD has just as much chance of becoming a Tyrus Thomas as Marcus Camby is to overlook a huge area of scouting that covers pedigree, family background, maturity and desire. These separate raw physical talent from great players. Raw talent is a dime a dozen but if you have that and the right head on your shoulders you have a chance to be great. That is why he is the consensus no.1 pick.

The likelyhood of Anthony Davis suddenly losing his mental edge is slim. Not impossible but very slim if all reports are to be believed. That is why to say he has as much chance to be Tyrus Thomas as Marcus Camby just isn't true. There is a very VERY slim chance he becomes TT in the NBA.

[Rapsfan07]

Love that sig. Where'd u get it?

[Los Manos]

Love that sig. Where'd u get it?

Made them tonight. Insomnia will do that to you!

[Dr Positivity]

Shotblocking alone doesn't tell the story

A Davis plays defense with the same mentality and control that a Duncan does. Doesn't leave his position structurally, doesn't jump out solely to get the block. It'd be very surprising if he had an approach like either T Thomas or Camby in the NBA

Tyrus was also a tier above him in explosiveness and athletic talent, but smaller

If A Davis failed I don't think he'd look like Tyrus doing it.

[Undefeated]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uges2OrlHMs[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OSxB2HZAKE[/youtube]

Seriously, look how fluid Anthony Davis is with those lead dribble running in transition, the sweet looking pull up jumper and the occasional no-look fake behind-the-back dime. I really think he's going to be one hell of a face up player with more freedom.

[Live Free]

Barnes & Rivers on this roster next season or die trying.

[Rapsfan07]

Love that sig. Where'd u get it?

Made them tonight. Insomnia will do that to you!

Awesome! what else you got?