2016-17 Rookie Watch thread

[robbie84]

Jaylen Brown looks pretty good so far.

19 years old. Things that are surprising Celtics fans about him so far:
-his handle is way better than anyone expected.
-his ability to break people down off the dribble with crossovers and in and outs/etc and get to the rim. We were worried he'd be more of a transitional threat or straight line driver like Jeff Green, but he's got very good handles, spins and protects the ball very well in traffic. Like college, he's also finishing well through contact.
-shooting looks much better compared to college.
- is doing okay on defense. Sometimes slightly lost but constantly looks for his man and doesn't bite on penetration unless necessary.

This kid is an athletic freak. Like Westbrook Athletic but in a SF's body.
But yeah, at 19 years old, we couldn't be happier (at least I think I speak for most Celtics fans).

Thoughts on JB?

Watch on YouTube

[blazeyo]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

[yitur]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

His best trait is his shooting, which most rookies have a hard time adjusting. He will succeed in this league for sure.

[robbie84]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

How much of him have you watched? He had some very, very good games in preseason and looked like an absolute stud.
I wasn't sure he'd be able to compete athletically with NBA players but he looks fine to me.

[username_taken]

Has made a few rookie mistakes on defense and keeps getting beat back door, but Jaylen Brown has really impressed me thus far. His finishing ability and his capability to get to the rim are looking good for a 20 year old.

[Boof]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

[keithmad42]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

I'm thinking Ainge screwed the pooch, good chance the Celtics & Bulls would have gotten a deal done eventually to send Butler for Dunn plus assets.

[Boof]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

I'm thinking Ainge screwed the pooch, good chance the Celtics & Bulls would have gotten a deal done eventually to send Butler for Dunn plus assets.

Well we pretty much already have seen Butler's ceiling, why trade a huge glutton of assets when Brown is 7 years younger and might be the better player? They wanted the pick and Jae Crowder. That would have been a huge mistake.

[keithmad42]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

I'm thinking Ainge screwed the pooch, good chance the Celtics & Bulls would have gotten a deal done eventually to send Butler for Dunn plus assets.

Well we pretty much already have seen Butler's ceiling, why trade a huge glutton of assets when Brown is 7 years younger and might be the better player? They wanted the pick and Jae Crowder. That would have been a huge mistake.

I disagree, a core of I.Thomas, Bradley, Butler, and Horford is easily a 2 seed and one Irving injury away from a ticket to the dance.

[keithmad42]

Adding in Smart and the other young Celtics, the core Iisted above would have a multi year window. How old is Horford going to be when Jaylen Brown gets to an all-star level?

If Ainge's plan is to hoard assets until Lebron retires, he's following it to a T.

[Kabookalu]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

Very few people said he was a bust. The backlash was that the Celtics reached for him.

[Quentin]

Rubio got hurt last night. Not sure what the extent of it is now but heard he could be out a while. Gives Dunn a big shot here at putting up some numbers.

[Jon1798]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

He's played like 45 minutes of basketball. Definitely jumping the gun there.

Part of his issues thus far are having to play with our fourth string PG in Langston Galloway. He's having to create for himself and looks to be pressing early here.

[blazeyo]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

He's played like 45 minutes of basketball. Definitely jumping the gun there.

Part of his issues thus far are having to play with our fourth string PG in Langston Galloway. He's having to create for himself and looks to be pressing early here.

Maybe for sure, but I like jumping the gun.. :/
Langston Galloway can not and I repeat can not run the second unit, he is more of an off guard and cna't create for others.

[Jon1798]

Buddy Hield looks like the biggest draft bust so far. Kinda hard to watch but he can change it.

He's played like 45 minutes of basketball. Definitely jumping the gun there.

Part of his issues thus far are having to play with our fourth string PG in Langston Galloway. He's having to create for himself and looks to be pressing early here.

Maybe for sure, but I like jumping the gun.. :/
Langston Galloway can not and I repeat can not run the second unit, he is more of an off guard and cna't create for others.

I never thought Langston would be great at it. But I certainly didn't realize it would be this much of an issue.

[blazeyo]

He's played like 45 minutes of basketball. Definitely jumping the gun there.

Part of his issues thus far are having to play with our fourth string PG in Langston Galloway. He's having to create for himself and looks to be pressing early here.

Maybe for sure, but I like jumping the gun.. :/
Langston Galloway can not and I repeat can not run the second unit, he is more of an off guard and cna't create for others.

I never thought Langston would be great at it. But I certainly didn't realize it would be this much of an issue.

Yep, Hield has to have a fast, penetrating pg that can collapse the defense so Hield can have his semi-open 3 point looks and then he could either decide to attack the closeout (which he is fine at) or shoot it.
Right now, he is missing shots and he isn't very good defensively. Is that a fair assesment?
I think Evans can elevate his game.

[Jon1798]

Maybe for sure, but I like jumping the gun.. :/
Langston Galloway can not and I repeat can not run the second unit, he is more of an off guard and cna't create for others.

I never thought Langston would be great at it. But I certainly didn't realize it would be this much of an issue.

Yep, Hield has to have a fast, penetrating pg that can collapse the defense so Hield can have his semi-open 3 point looks and then he could either decide to attack the closeout (which he is fine at) or shoot it.
Right now, he is missing shots and he isn't very good defensively. Is that a fair assesment?
I think Evans can elevate his game.

Surprisingly, the two biggest knocks I had on him have been fine. 1 being his defense (off ball in particular). He's no elite defender, but he is very quick and against second units has been more than fine. 2 being his handling which I would say has been strong actually.

His shot was great at the start of preseason but has fallen off. Biggest thing is he looks very very uncomfortable right now. For a guy that was the best player in college basketball last year, he looks almost nervous playing in front of 5,000 people. It's strange and you have to assume will settle down.

At the end of the day, I think he plays better with better teammates. He is not a PG, he is much more of a true shooting guard. I think with Jrue back and Frazier as the backup 1, even that will make a massive difference. Frazier is a pass first, penetrating PG that will set up Buddy nicely IMO.

[DarkAzcura]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

Very few people said he was a bust. The backlash was that the Celtics reached for him.

Which honestly still never made a lot of sense. I can't believe how quickly the story changed on the draft..seemed like in a matter of days (pre-draft), everyone went from believing 3-8 was a crapshoot with no clear best player to all of a sudden Dunn was the consensus number 3 with a guy like Brown being a 'reach.' Brown was never really a reach at 3 until a couple days before the draft when the narrative changed for whatever reason. I could probably dig up mock drafts that had all of Brown, Murray, Hield, Dunn, Bender, and Chriss number 3 or 4 within weeks to a couple months prior to the draft.

[BullyKing]

I remember reading here during the draft and seeing Jaylen Brown immediately declared a bust and then used as proof Ainge couldn't draft. Kid doesn't look raw at all. Has a very impressive skillset, can get to the rim, can operate in the post, not a shooter yet...but there's faith he can get there. What are you guys thinking now, is he a star in the making?

Very few people said he was a bust. The backlash was that the Celtics reached for him.

Which honestly still never made a lot of sense. I can't believe how quickly the story changed on the draft..

The same can be said of a ton of Boston fans opinion on using the 3rd pick on Brown.

[Wilfried]

Jaylen Brown looks pretty good so far.

19 years old. Things that are surprising Celtics fans about him so far:
-his handle is way better than anyone expected.
-his ability to break people down off the dribble with crossovers and in and outs/etc and get to the rim. We were worried he'd be more of a transitional threat or straight line driver like Jeff Green, but he's got very good handles, spins and protects the ball very well in traffic. Like college, he's also finishing well through contact.
-shooting looks much better compared to college.
- is doing okay on defense. Sometimes slightly lost but constantly looks for his man and doesn't bite on penetration unless necessary.

This kid is an athletic freak. Like Westbrook Athletic but in a SF's body.
But yeah, at 19 years old, we couldn't be happier (at least I think I speak for most Celtics fans).

Thoughts on JB?

Watch on YouTube

He's very interesting and promising.

I just have the feeling Celtics fans are selling him as a superstar in the making, that I don't see.
NBADraft.net made a comparison with Jason Richardson, I believe that's a fair one. Think he can reach that level one day.
Can become an All-star.