The #2 Pick

[Frank Dux]

People are criticising Russell's lack of athleticism. Going back to the Bogut over Paul/Deron draft, just how athletic were Deron/Paul? Not very. How did that choice pan out?

Paul and Deron were very athletic. Deron was big, and very explosive. Paul was insanely agile, and fast coming into the league. I've seen Paul play in person, my jaw dropped at his quickness.

Russell is definitely a tier below these guys in terms of athleticism.

[DadoTheRabbet]

Mitch WILL take Okafor over a guard. That said, I'm not a big Okafor fan and I just thought this might be interesting when discussing Russell being the second coming of Curry...

Russell: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/D-A ... sell-7175/
Curry: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/stephen-curry-1170/

[DEEP3CL]

People are criticising Russell's lack of athleticism. Going back to the Bogut over Paul/Deron draft, just how athletic were Deron/Paul? Not very. How did that choice pan out?

Let me ask you a question.....

You do realize that not only does Russell lacks athleticism, he lack explosion. You do realize most lead guards if not athletic are at least explosive. CP3 isn't all that athletic but he has explosion.

So I ask this, when Russell is asked to run the 1-5 or 1-4 screen /roll, how in hell is he going to evade or lose the big on that switch when he lacks real explosion ?

[The Prodigy]

People are criticising Russell's lack of athleticism. Going back to the Bogut over Paul/Deron draft, just how athletic were Deron/Paul? Not very. How did that choice pan out?

Let me ask you a question.....

You do realize that not only does Russell lacks athleticism, he lack explosion. You do realize most lead guards if not athletic are at least explosive. CP3 isn't all that athletic but he has explosion.

So I ask this, when Russell is asked to run the 1-5 or 1-4 screen /roll, how in hell is he going to evade or lose the big on that switch when he lacks real explosion ?

Could you please expand on the difference between explosion and athleticism?

[Luciferswings]

There isn't much difference in reality. Russell is quick, whether you call that speed or explosion or first step or whatever, he's still quick enough. He's also taller and longer than the other guys we're talking about. He's not Westbrook or anything, but he doesn't need to be. Like someone said, how athletic is Curry? How athletic is Tony Parker? Parker was quick of course, but not athletic otherwise.

[Slava]

There isn't much difference in reality. Russell is quick, whether you call that speed or explosion or first step or whatever, he's still quick enough. He's also taller and longer than the other guys we're talking about. He's not Westbrook or anything, but he doesn't need to be. Like someone said, how athletic is Curry? How athletic is Tony Parker? Parker was quick of course, but not athletic otherwise.

Curry, Parker etc are all fantastic finishers at the rim, Russell is not. If you cannot finish over average athletes at college level, the NBA level defenses is going to be an entirely different plateau.

[TyCobb]

Where were all the draft guys at during the season when I was posting in the NCAA thread all year long after watching multiple games a day? Are we going with the less is more approach with all these posts?

[Mirjalovic]

People are criticising Russell's lack of athleticism. Going back to the Bogut over Paul/Deron draft, just how athletic were Deron/Paul? Not very. How did that choice pan out?

Let me ask you a question.....

You do realize that not only does Russell lacks athleticism, he lack explosion. You do realize most lead guards if not athletic are at least explosive. CP3 isn't all that athletic but he has explosion.

So I ask this, when Russell is asked to run the 1-5 or 1-4 screen /roll, how in hell is he going to evade or lose the big on that switch when he lacks real explosion ?

Could you please expand on the difference between explosion and athleticism?

Chris Paul was the fastest guard in the league before the injury.

Russell is not that fast.

[Pointgod]

Was watching some scouting reports on Okafor and Russell. There's no doubt that Okafor is head and shoulders above Russell as the pick at #2.

[Laker_Kid]

If a player is focusing on LAL as the best choice to succeed by winning championships, by all means try to push yourself in LA.

If the player wants to play in LAL to make more money, endorsements, better social scene, by all means go to Minnesota where you wont get distracted and have a Bynum complex.

okafor seems to be the latter... judging by his tv appearances...interviews...i like both of them but just something i noticed about okafor that may be alarming.

[DEEP3CL]

People are criticising Russell's lack of athleticism. Going back to the Bogut over Paul/Deron draft, just how athletic were Deron/Paul? Not very. How did that choice pan out?

Let me ask you a question.....

You do realize that not only does Russell lacks athleticism, he lack explosion. You do realize most lead guards if not athletic are at least explosive. CP3 isn't all that athletic but he has explosion.

So I ask this, when Russell is asked to run the 1-5 or 1-4 screen /roll, how in hell is he going to evade or lose the big on that switch when he lacks real explosion ?

Could you please expand on the difference between explosion and athleticism?

I really don't have to explain that do I ? I mean you gotta know it's a difference between the two right ?

[DEEP3CL]

Where were all the draft guys at during the season when I was posting in the NCAA thread all year long after watching multiple games a day? Are we going with the less is more approach with all these posts?

Exactly

[MikeYi30430]

Lets just ENJOY the moment BABY... Getting the 2nd PICK is HUGE... My vote is Russell as I think the game has changed & GUARD play is a priority & Russell & Clarkson would compliment each other well as both are combo guards... In terms of Randle, he has dropped 12 pounds & is working on being a stretch 4 with a post up game & shooting 500 3's a day... It is ALL GOOD right now... 24 hours ago we didn't have a pick... We basically have two Top 5 picks next season with Randle & 2nd... Future is bright BABY...

Lakeshow Baby...

I disagree, I still feel like offensive savvy big men are too rare to pass up for PGs that come along every year.

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and had Rus or Mudiays skill set?

[DEEP3CL]

There isn't much difference in reality. Russell is quick, whether you call that speed or explosion or first step or whatever, he's still quick enough. He's also taller and longer than the other guys we're talking about. He's not Westbrook or anything, but he doesn't need to be. Like someone said, how athletic is Curry? How athletic is Tony Parker? Parker was quick of course, but not athletic otherwise.

If you really think there isn't much of a difference, then I take it you didn't play a high level of ball...HS, JC college or whatever. Man it's a difference. When you mix the two you have Westbrook, Dominque Wilkins, James Worthy.

[crazyeights]

We're not going to out gun a team like the Warriors. Just like nobody was going to out SSOL the Nash Suns. Obviously GSW are a two-way team, but basketball is about matchups.

It's why Memphis gave them the toughest series so far, because they were able to exploit the Z-Bo and Gasol matchups once Conley was back to slow down Curry.

Essentially, we're not going to win by doing what everyone else is doing, because you can rarely beat an original. Shaq and Kobe, LeBron's Miami big 3, KG Celtics...the only way these teams are beat is by building their antithesis.

You can't beat Curry in a shoot out in 4 games. And doubtful Russell can. We've already lost this half-generation, it's about beating and matching up with the next elite teams, anyways. It's about building the original, being the antithesis.

Boston created a big 3 behemoth in one summer and 4 months later we created our own. We went big when others went small. Pau/Lamar/Bynum with Kobe in the lead. We became the top and people changed to match us. They became longer, faster, athletic. The OKCs of the world. To beat them the Spurs sped up, created a true team. GSW injected them with steroids, younger with GOAT shooters.

We wouldn't just need Russell to pan out, we'd need another generational shooting talent. It ain't happening, not in our situation. So now we've gotta build something new. Create new matchups. Make teams catchup to us.

As the saying goes: you can't teach height. Let's pair Randle with Okafor/Towns and build something new.

[TyCobb]

Lets just ENJOY the moment BABY... Getting the 2nd PICK is HUGE... My vote is Russell as I think the game has changed & GUARD play is a priority & Russell & Clarkson would compliment each other well as both are combo guards... In terms of Randle, he has dropped 12 pounds & is working on being a stretch 4 with a post up game & shooting 500 3's a day... It is ALL GOOD right now... 24 hours ago we didn't have a pick... We basically have two Top 5 picks next season with Randle & 2nd... Future is bright BABY...

Lakeshow Baby...

I disagree, I still feel like offensive savvy big men are too rare to pass up for PGs that come along every year.

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and had Rus or Mudiays skill set?

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and played for the Lakers?

[Kilroy]

Where were all the draft guys at during the season when I was posting in the NCAA thread all year long after watching multiple games a day? Are we going with the less is more approach with all these posts?

We didn't give a **** then because we thought we were going to lose the pick.

[Kilroy]

I disagree, I still feel like offensive savvy big men are too rare to pass up for PGs that come along every year.

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and had Rus or Mudiays skill set?

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and played for the Lakers?

Filipino Jesus?

[TyCobb]

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and had Rus or Mudiays skill set?

Which PG last year was 6 feet 5 inches and played for the Lakers?

Filipino Jesus?

Yeah, the one that made All-Rookie First Team.

[aaron_gray]

Caramel Jordan