Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Austin Rivers (NOH)

HolyMage110 · Post #221 » by **HolyMage110** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:20 pm

rivers can be a guy who can come of the bench and just put numbers up on the board. he's a guy who would accept any role that casey would throw at him. if he can improve his jumpshots, can be a very good sixth man.

quilla_b · Post #222 » by **quilla_b** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:16 am

BC get it done. Austin Rivers 8th.

JunkYardSubs · Post #223 » by **JunkYardSubs** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:17 am

Feel like Austin Rivers will be Kemba Walker 2.0 where those on this board hyping him up will try to sweep it under the rug quickly

RapsVC15 · Post #224 » by **RapsVC15** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:34 am

Rivers is a guy people would pay to watch. No matter what he's always going to put his stamp on a game whether it be good or bad lol

How many guys are out there that just want to fit in and not do anything wrong? Rivers has the confidence to go out there and make things happen.

High risk, high reward.

Dr Positivity · Post #225 » by **Dr Positivity** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:49 am

Landomar wrote:Out of all the players projected to go in the top 15-20 this season, Rivers needs to improve the most to become a good NBA player. He seems smart and is young, but if he doesn't develop A LOT, then he's going to be awful at the next level.

1. His current play is really quite bad. He had a 16.8 PER this last season (his freshman year), and that was pretty much worse than every player currently projected to go in the first round by draft express (Marquis Teague is the only exception). Barnes and Lamb both played better than Rivers did in their respective freshman seasons, and are both better right now, despite being more "raw" and "toolsy" in certain aspects. Waiters was a non-factor as a freshman, but just had a great sophmore season (26.1 PER, which is #1 for top prospect wing players in this draft). This helps inspire confidence that Waiters is developing well, and with Rivers, it's still a "who knows?" type situation.

So, if we look at projection, there are two big concerns I see with Rivers:
2. Rivers is a shooter with bad shooting mechanics; his shot is flat, and he only managed to shoot 65.8% from the free throw line, which is a bad sign.
3. He looks skinny and doesn't seem very strong. It's unclear how well he's going to finish at the rim in traffic at the NBA level. This is important, as a main strength of Rivers is his ability to dribble well enough to weave his way in towards the basket and actually get there. Defensively, strength could also be a concern on switches and with attempting to rebound (Rivers currently has shown PG level rebounding aptitude).

Imagine a slightly bigger Bayless, only one who still finishes poorly at the rim, doesn't shoot well from outside (think of Bayless in one of his cold stretches), and is kind of stuck between PG and SG. Do you want to draft that at #8? There's a significant chance that I've just described who Rivers is going to be at the next level.

On the plus side, he has good length, decent mobility, and plays smart out there. I wouldn't consider drafting him anywhere near #8 though. Waiters, Barnes, and Lamb would all be smarter picks, and I'm not even a huge fan of any of those guys.

I'm surprised you would give you him this after accurately measuring his problems. Rivers doesn't 'play smart out there'. He plays out of control, forces a lot of things and has very poor feel for the court IMO

N1QUE24 · Post #226 » by **N1QUE24** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:05 pm

Just reminding everyone this guy is our pick come Thursday :wink:

Aidin · Post #227 » by **Aidin** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:21 pm

N1QUE24 wrote:Just reminding everyone this guy is our pick come Thursday

I want Rivers!

JWiLL02 · Post #228 » by **JWiLL02** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:49 pm

I've warmed up to the idea of drafting Rivers as well, though it may be a bit of a reach at 8.

He certainly has an elite handle and is one of the best in this draft moving laterally (don't quote combine numbers here, those really don't matter). His right to left cross is deadly and he's a crafty finisher in the lane.

He certainly had some struggles in his freshman year, but how many Duke freshman ever blow people away? It's not an easy system to pick up. His game seems tailor made for the NBA.

One interesting angle to this would be signing Nash and drafting Rivers, then having Nash act as a mentor to him. He seems like the type who would be extremely open to that and would embrace it, I know his dad would absolutely love that scenario.

WalterCronkite · Post #229 » by **WalterCronkite** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:21 am

I like Rivers, but like Lillard more.

rapsfan26 · Post #230 » by **rapsfan26** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:46 am

Kyle Lowry in a trade > Waiters at #8 > Rivers at #8

HolyMage110 · Post #231 » by **HolyMage110** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:00 am

WalterCronkite wrote:I like Rivers, but like Lillard more.

blazers are high on lillard. i seem him being gone by the time we pick.

JamesNaismith · Post #232 » by **JamesNaismith** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:01 am

He's last on my list of the 4 names we're tied to...don't hate it but definitely not in love with it.

Lamb
Lillard
Waiters
Rivers

JPHolling · Post #233 » by **JPHolling** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:19 am

JamesNaismith wrote:He's last on my list of the 4 names we're tied to...don't hate it but definitely not in love with it.

Lamb
Lillard
Waiters
Rivers

Rivers to me,
is the only person on that list who has elite abilities.
1) elite speed
2) elite blow-by
3) elite handle
and seems to have a good head on his shoulders
I dont think anyone on that list is elite at any part of the game particularly, thus why i feel rivers should be the pick. yes he has holes in his game, but they should be able fixable. Draftexpress ranks Rivers 1st in this draft class for handle, which is pretty amazing considering hes a 2 gaurd

jigga_man · Post #234 » by **jigga_man** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:40 am

N1QUE24 wrote:Just reminding everyone this guy is our pick come Thursday

Me on draft night:

Live Free · Post #235 » by **Live Free** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:58 am

don't understand how people can be enamored with Waiter's but hate the crap out of Rivers, their games are very similar. Lamb has potential but doesn't have the balls to be a top player, he never has and doesn't know what it means to be the best player on a team. 2nd to Kemba the year before and behind the spotlight of Drummond this past year. It's like folks hate Rivers personally.

OAKLEY_2 · Post #236 » by **OAKLEY_2** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:01 am

Lamb
Lillard
Waiters
Rivers

Lamb could be available at 14.
Lillard G-O-N-E
Waiters G-O-N-E
Rivers Hello

8th pick(Drummond)/Ed for Lowry/14th (Lamb) !!!!!!!!

Fenris-77 · Post #237 » by **Fenris-77** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:07 am

NO, they hate the many and important differences in his production versus Waiters. From a production standpoint Rivers just doesn't stack up that well. You have to really like his attitude and potential to rank him anywhere close to the rest of the top 8 or 10 prospects.

deeps6x · Post #238 » by **deeps6x** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:08 am

rapsfan26 wrote:Kyle Lowry in a trade > Waiters at #8 > Rivers at #8

Kyle Lowry in a trade > Waiters at #8 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Rivers at #8

Rivers will go 15th.

MainEvent · Post #239 » by **MainEvent** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:16 am

JPHolling wrote:
JamesNaismith wrote:He's last on my list of the 4 names we're tied to...don't hate it but definitely not in love with it.

Lamb
Lillard
Waiters
Rivers

Rivers to me,
is the only person on that list who has elite abilities.
1) elite speed
2) elite blow-by
3) elite handle
and seems to have a good head on his shoulders
I dont think anyone on that list is elite at any part of the game particularly, thus why i feel rivers should be the pick. yes he has holes in his game, but they should be able fixable. Draftexpress ranks Rivers 1st in this draft class for handle, which is pretty amazing considering hes a 2 gaurd

So basically he has good dribbling skills on offense. I agree with that, but I was very underwhelmed with his college game. He doesn't use his break down ability to get easy shot for teammates, he doesn't finish well at the rim and he shot an unimpressive percentage.

Add to to that the fact he isn't a good defender or rebounder and I find it hard to be enthusiastic about him as a potential Raptor. his PER is only 16.8, are any other top prospects that low?

JPHolling · Post #240 » by **JPHolling** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:31 am

he is a good defender.^^^ try reading his scouting report. ( u did say you watched him play)
His shooting percentage isnt great, but he shot just as well from 3 as lamb... and better than beal.
yes he struggled to finish at the rim ... fine, i think he'll get better.
and no its not basically has good dribbling skills.... all those abilities are completely different, and important. the NBA is an iso game, and he is going to kill it on the pick n rolls

If still on the Board by our pick what are the chanches we draft him?