Official 2017 Draft Thread - Something Positive To Look Forward To

Burnie Riley · Post #481 » by **Burnie Riley** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 2:42 pm

Finally checked out Markkanen for a full game. He can stroke it! I doubt he'll be Dirk, but he'll shoot a high percentage. Defensively he tries to make the right plays but he's going to have problems with PFs like Draymond and Taj Gibson, and small ball 4s like Miles Bridges. I don't think he fits the mold of a Heat player though, and hopefully our pick is high enough that we get a superstar.

Watch on YouTube

Post #482 » by **DayofMourning** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:23 pm

Burnie Riley wrote:Smith is picking it up. Watched 2 more games. Against Creighton he was absolute dog chit defensively. He got burned on the first two possessions and got bailed out on the 3rd by the Center. But Against St. Joe's he made several encouraging plays defensively and I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them end up on the draftexpress Strengths video when they lie to you and tell you Defensive Potential. In both games he showed his outside shot, his ability to create shots for himself and get to the line. Steve Francis is the best player comp I've seen someone mention.

I think I saw the Francis comparisons first on nbadraftrooms website. Very accurate from my perspective.

He doesn't have great length to be a plus defender at his size, so the consistently good defense won't be there. You are right on about the draft preview videos. They'll say the potential is there due to some highlights.

One of the best examples of that was in the NFL draft a few years back. Rey Maualuga had an interception for a TD and it was all they ran for two weeks straight. As if that made Him a stud defensive player.

leoshes · Post #483 » by **leoshes** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:38 am

Hey guys.
From Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, & Josh Jackson, who do you guys see as the best defender?

Post #484 » by **DayofMourning** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 12:56 pm

leoshes wrote:Hey guys.
From Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, & Josh Jackson, who do you guys see as the best defender?

Its no contest. Josh Jackson.

Post #485 » by **DayofMourning** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:28 pm

Watch on YouTube

Post #486 » by **DayofMourning** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:32 pm

Apparently Isaac, Markannen, and Bridges aren't hyped enough to get highlight videos yet, especially from yesterday's games.

Isaac had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in a loss yesterday.

Bridges had 15, 5, and 1 in a loss.

Lauri had 16, 9, and a block in a win.

Post #487 » by **DayofMourning** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:35 pm

Today's prospect games to watch:

Isaac at 1230
Bridges at 100
Kentucky at 700
Josh Jackson at 800
Lauri at 1030
Ball at 1159

heater4life · Post #488 » by **heater4life** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:46 pm

This feels feels a lot like the 2008 draft. I feel there's top level talent and depth to follow.

I'm just hoping we don't end with a Beasley again. (Or a Mayo, I hate Mayo)

Post #489 » by **DayofMourning** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 1:56 pm

heater4life wrote:This feels feels a lot like the 2008 draft. I feel there's too level talent and depth to follow.

I'm just hoping we don't end with a Beasley again. (Or a Mayo, I hate Mayo)

It seems to me that there are two players (Jackson, Fultz) who are superstars, a handful or so (DSJ, Ball, Isaac, Tatum, Fox) who will be multiple all stars, and then a bunch of guys (Jackson, Monk, Hartenstein, Markkanen, Bolden, etc.) who will be excellent if they are on the right team.

That last group of guys is going to be really hit and miss, as there aren't that many really smart teams in the league that can build teams correctly. For every team like GSW and OKC who built their teams expertly through the draft, you'll have ten others who don't know what they're trying to do (Sac, Orlando, New Orleans, etc.).

Bishop45 · Post #490 » by **Bishop45** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:30 pm

DayofMourning wrote:

Watch on YouTube

like this kid mang'.

Got consistent role player in his swag. We could teach him to dfense if that's a prob

leoshes · Post #491 » by **leoshes** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:08 pm

DayofMourning wrote:
leoshes wrote:Hey guys.
From Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, & Josh Jackson, who do you guys see as the best defender?

Its no contest. Josh Jackson.

You really think that? Can you explain why you believe that to be? & is it really that much of a diference that you would even say Its no contest?

I am also leaning towards Jakson but only cause he has such great timing on his blacks, & his potential at that end, but i see him very raw still on defense.

Ball for someone thats none for his offense plays has pretty good on the ball presser defense. Better then what i expected. But i still need to see way more.

Markelle is the one that i have seen the least, so if anyone wishes to comment on his defense, please do. Thank you

UD4MVP · Post #492 » by **UD4MVP** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:40 pm

Josh is the most competitive defender, but Fultz has some scary potential in terms of his physical advantages over other guards.

Burnie Riley · Post #493 » by **Burnie Riley** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:01 pm

Finally, full game vid of Isaac has arrived!

Spoiler:

I can't watch it now but I'll watch it later. His stats are amazing. he's been consistent. Analytics say he is very efficient and is putting up numbers like a KD lite. Maybe if he got more than 25 minutes, he'd be averaging more than 15 and 6. Per 40: 25 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, 2.3 stl, 1.6 blk,64% from 2 and 45% from 3

I'm starting to think Lonzo Ball's shot is legit. His percentages are ridiculous: 77% from 2 and 48% from 3. This ain't no Ricky Rubio sub 40 percent from 2 sub 30 from 3... Maybe Winslow should try shooting that way? :lol:

I think Lonzo could maximize Whiteside and our other players with his playmaking ability. His team is averaging 105 ppg, that's crazy for a college team.

There was an insider piece that said a scout was at the Huskies v Yale game and said Fultz didn't even play well and he got 30 on high efficiency. There was also a game recap from the other night where he got 21 on 9 of 18 and the announcers said he had " a ho-hum game." I want to see a game, but if he's putting up numbers like that on bad nights...

We need a top 6 pick! :nod:

Burnie Riley · Post #494 » by **Burnie Riley** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:05 pm

Forgot to post the Lonzo vid of the full game from last night:

Watch on YouTube

18 pts, 11 ast, 4 reb, 2 stl, 2 tov (2 for 2 from 2, 4 of 7 from 3)

I'm going to have a busy night watching these games and the Heat game...

UD4MVP · Post #495 » by **UD4MVP** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:08 pm

If a player like Isaac or Bridges is in the 10-14 range then we gotta get another first rounder. So many talented freshman

UD4MVP · Post #496 » by **UD4MVP** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:41 pm

Burnie Riley wrote:Finally, full game vid of Isaac has arrived!
Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

I can't watch it now but I'll watch it later. His stats are amazing. he's been consistent. Analytics say he is very efficient and is putting up numbers like a KD lite. Maybe if he got more than 25 minutes, he'd be averaging more than 15 and 6. Per 40: 25 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, 2.3 stl, 1.6 blk,64% from 2 and 45% from 3

I'm starting to think Lonzo Ball's shot is legit. His percentages are ridiculous: 77% from 2 and 48% from 3. This ain't no Ricky Rubio sub 40 percent from 2 sub 30 from 3... Maybe Winslow should try shooting that way?

I think Lonzo could maximize Whiteside and our other players with his playmaking ability. His team is averaging 105 ppg, that's crazy for a college team.

There was an insider piece that said a scout was at the Huskies v Yale game and said Fultz didn't even play well and he got 30 on high efficiency. There was also a game recap from the other night where he got 21 on 9 of 18 and the announcers said he had " a ho-hum game." I want to see a game, but if he's putting up numbers like that on bad nights...

We need a top 6 pick!

I've also started to talk myself into Ball. I think his form was what really turned me off to him, but wow this guy just makes everyone so much better. Fultz is still my #1 but I think ATM in the season Fultz and Ball are a tier above Dennis Smith and De'aron Fox. Guys like TJ, Winslow, Jrich, and Hassan would benefit a lot from a guy like Lonzo

CanesHeatFins · Post #497 » by **CanesHeatFins** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:44 am

From what I see thus far..
Fultz is a taller, more athletic Damien Lillard out there, with the long arms of a DWade. Washington had him listed with a ridiculous 6'10" wingspan, pretty sure that would easily be number 1 in the nba for point guards.

Ball is like having an offensive coordinator on the court. A 6 foot 6 Jason Kid, that's every bit as athletic as Josh Jackson, and can shoot like a young Kevin Martin.

Josh Jackson...I dont see it yet but I'll take yall word for it. For a player that seems to be really dependent on his athleticism, he just doesn't get up high enough for my liking. I dont look at him and think "whoa! how are nba wings gonna deal with that!" As of now Jackson is the type of prospect I jump on at number 8-15 not top 5.

Malik Monk is the real sleeper out of this bunch. He could quite possibly have both the most hops in this class and the deepest 3pt range in this class. Looks like a better scorer and shooter than Booker was at Kentucky already. Wish I could see his ability to run the point before draft day though.

Wait and watch list
Giles
Tatum
Isaac
Fox (kinda reminds me of Brandon Knight though)
Lauri Macadamian is legit, but he stays on the perimeter more than every guard on their team. Easily fixable, but I only want him if its with our potential 2nd 1st rounder.

I dont really bother spending hours watching games of inefficient players like smith and others. Inefficient college players = inefficient nba players, I know its still early, if they turn it around then ill give away some time to watch em.

Miles Bridges at times looks like a 6 foot 6 Blake Griffin tweener out there(i mean that in a good way), other times i feel like im watching Jared Dudley. Regardless he's worth the gamble if we have a second pick in the 12-18 range

UD4MVP · Post #498 » by **UD4MVP** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:13 am

Interesting fact about Ball's season so far he's 9th in USG% on UCLA.

puppa bear · Post #499 » by **puppa bear** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 9:55 am

UD4MVP wrote:Interesting fact about Ball's season so far he's 9th in USG% on UCLA.

Hockey assists kill your usage though. I haven't watched him enough to know if this is the case for him, but it could be.

I think this is the draft for Riley to try and get a second lotto pick, if ever there was one. We're not always a team that builds by the draft, but this year there will be players that go around 10-15 that can end up being really decent players (starters or key bench players). And we really need depth at the 1 & 4, plus playmaking in a pretty bad way. Being able to add a pair of kids from the top-15 could go a long way to building our next contending team - even if it's from trading these players for the right pieces.

If not for the possibility of Bosh playing again for another team then 2018 would be a better free agency for us to be aiming for. Tank this season and next (we keep it if we are top-7), then have a a roster full of young studs and no real significant cap issues. We would have to find takers for Dragic & TJ, but we probably are using Dragic to get the second 1st this year, and then we can trade TJ in the off season for space/expiring if we want to clear mega cap space. We can then go into FA targeting Westbrook, PG & whoever they want to play with.

Burnie Riley · Post #500 » by **Burnie Riley** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 12:54 pm

Watch on YouTube

3 of 5 from 3. This is unexpected and absurd. he has nba range.

Watch on YouTube

Monk looks like a pure scorah. I like him but I wouldn't draft Monk because he looks shorter than Fox with a short wingspan.

Spoiler: