The OFFICIAL Rookie impressions thread

[D12VCMagic]

DeQuan Jones could be an undrafted steal. He is so athletic and has a solid jumper, how did he go undrafted?

[JV4MVP]

DeQuan Jones could be an undrafted steal. He is so athletic and has a solid jumper, how did he go undrafted?

Well he was absolutely garbage in college and played for a mediocre Miami program. He averaged 6 pts and 3.5 rbs in his senior year

He was only known as a dunker and got lucky with the Florida connection.

[rockmanslim]

two dribble pullup 5 foot banker. he got past a premier PF off the dribble

1:16

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSMISh2Pa4A[/youtube]

size, athleticism, quick feet, nice touch around the basket, good looking shooting stroke, flashes of a good handle for a big, shot blocking

[SOUL]

DeQuan Jones could be an undrafted steal. He is so athletic and has a solid jumper, how did he go undrafted?

Well he was absolutely garbage in college and played for a mediocre Miami program. He averaged 6 pts and 3.5 rbs in his senior year

He was only known as a dunker and got lucky with the Florida connection.

That all may be true, but he didn't get lucky. He outplayed everybody. Maybe lucky for the opportunity, but not the spot.

[JV4MVP]

DeQuan Jones could be an undrafted steal. He is so athletic and has a solid jumper, how did he go undrafted?

Well he was absolutely garbage in college and played for a mediocre Miami program. He averaged 6 pts and 3.5 rbs in his senior year

He was only known as a dunker and got lucky with the Florida connection.

That all may be true, but he didn't get lucky. He outplayed everybody. Maybe lucky for the opportunity, but not the spot.

Like Drummond, he's more of an example of how athleticism rules the NBA over pure skill. There were so many skilled NCAA players that never panned out in the NBA. As you're a Magic fan, I toast you for even having Redick become a decent role player.... because he was an absolute monster at Duke.

Btw, sorry to write this but it's not saying much to outplay ppl on the current Magic roster. It's going to be a long year for you guys. Playoffs 2017?

[SCourGe OF GoD]

Valancuinas very well be R.O.Y ...young pau gasol without the offensive polish at the same age

[Ziggy Stardust]

Valancuinas very well be R.O.Y ...young pau gasol without the offensive polish at the same age

So he's basically like young gasol, but not nearly as good?

[Left Side Drive]

Valancuinas very well be R.O.Y ...young pau gasol without the offensive polish at the same age

So he's basically like young gasol, but not nearly as good?

Val is better defensively and also has a better motor. Offensive game is raw but with time will improve drastically. Already has very consistent finishing around the rim and high FT% made for a center.

[LithuanianOne]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IF1PfiEYcng

Rocket's rookies have a dance off.

[JV4MVP]

Valancuinas very well be R.O.Y ...young pau gasol without the offensive polish at the same age

So he's basically like young gasol, but not nearly as good?

Val is better defensively and also has a better motor. Offensive game is raw but with time will improve drastically. Already has very consistent finishing around the rim and high FT% made for a center.

People are overestimating how raw JV's offensive game is. He actually has a jumper but Lietuvos Rytas did not let him shot because they had better options. He has a few post moves and good footwork as well. All that he needs is to bulk up and get more experience.

He won't be better than Lilliard or Davis but I expect him to be a top 5 rookie nonetheless.

[Apollo64]

Drummond and Lillard look like they are the steals of this draft for me.

[EvanZ]

Barnes was named the starting SF for the Warriors.

[FlipTSO]

Valenciunas is a lot better than I thought he was. I remember the Pistons were going to potentially draft him in '11 and I wanted no part of any euro Centers after the Darko debacle. Then when TOR drafted him I assumed he was going to be the soft euro that I thought he would, like Bargnani. But he's proved me wrong so far. He;s a tough physically defender, really good timing on his blocks, and has shown nice skill on offense for a young big man.

[Blkbrd671]

Valenciunas is a lot better than I thought he was. I remember the Pistons were going to potentially draft him in '11 and I wanted no part of any euro Centers after the Darko debacle. Then when TOR drafted him I assumed he was going to be the soft euro that I thought he would, like Bargnani. But he's proved me wrong so far. He;s a tough physically defender, really good timing on his blocks, and has shown nice skill on offense for a young big man.

i agree, but i don't see him being ROY.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Valancuinas very well be R.O.Y ...young pau gasol without the offensive polish at the same age

So he's basically like young gasol, but not nearly as good?

Val is better defensively and also has a better motor. Offensive game is raw but with time will improve drastically. Already has very consistent finishing around the rim and high FT% made for a center.

Well lets forget that Val hasn't played a game in the NBA, and it's very possible he isn't a better defensive player than even young Pau.

Young, prime, current Pau gasol is known for his tremendous skills and feel for the game as a big. So how, again, can someone compare him to Gasol? other than the tall, white, euro thing?

[Kabookalu]

I'm not counting on it but I wouldn't be surprised if Valanciunas does win ROY. However a couple of factors will need to be played in in order for that to happen. ROY is an award that generally goes off by raw statistics since the better rookies usually play for bad teams, and advanced stats are normally never on their side. Though I think Valanciunas could be an advanced stat type of guy whose raw statistics won't blow you away. So if voters can see past that I'd say it ups his chances a lot. And another one is the Raptors would need to do well, and Valanciunas would need to be a major part of the reason why the Raptors would possibly do well.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

How anyone can say that someone besides Davis will be ROY is beyond me. Shows fanatical homerism, nothing else. Does not show critical thinking or thoughtful judgement.


I mean, as a Blazer fan I think Lillard will be in the conversation, simply because he is one of the most NBA ready players. However, I still say Davis is the favorite because of the many ways he can impact the game.


Simply put, anyone thinking critically and being intellectually honest, will admit that the award is still Davis's to lose. Maybe one of these other candidates will surprise, but that requires knowing what will happen before it happens.

[Kabookalu]

How anyone can say that someone besides Davis will be ROY is beyond me. Shows fanatical homerism, nothing else. Does not show critical thinking or thoughtful judgement...Maybe one of these other candidates will surprise, but that requires knowing what will happen before it happens.

[Hero]

It may be Davis' to lose but that does not mean people can't think other players have a really good shot.

[UGA Hayes]

Actually I do think people are underestimating what Davis is going to do this year esp. on offense. WE had a fantasy draft and the site prognostication was for him to avg under 10 pts a game which I think is nuts. I would be shocked if he wasn't a double digit scorer.