2018/19 ROY/Rookie Discussion Thread

[LukaV]

I'm glad Sexton had two very good games, I hope that's a sign of (good) things to come! Cavs fans, what has been the difference between these two games and the ones before that caused such a big change in Cavs/Sexton level of play?

I'm also glad that Bagley had a very good game as well, I have a soft spot for the Kings and don't want them to be haunted by not drafting Dončić. I just wish the Kings weren't so log-jammed in the frontcourt positions so we could see Bagley consistently get 30+ minutes with lots of touches. However, perhaps it's for the best that they're easing him into having a pivotal role. Too bad that Giles hasn't yet built on his promising Summer League play, but with his injury history it's best to be patient.

As for Dončić, I'm glad he had another good shooting night from distance. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop in terms of his 3pt shooting numbers dipping towards the lower 30s, but I'll gladly be proven wrong if he keeps it up like this! And I do hope that with DSJ coming back from injury they'll find a way to keep Dončić as the primary playmaker, because games like this show that he can do wonders if given the full reigns.

I really hope that we'll look back at this draft in 5-7 years' time as one of the best drafts in NBA history. It looks like it has the potential for it.

[Maze]

Josh Jackson is like what, 20? And he's a bust out? Durrrrr realgm dur dur dur

I think he's 21...Will be 22 in Feb.But yes, he's looked absolutely terrible up to this point.

Can't shoot, terrible at FT's, poor ball handler, and a low BBall IQ.Sometimes I look at him and wonder how he was ever

considered a top prospect.

[sunsbg]

peja shearing love to luka as always. sure Barea was great too, but the key for the win was how Luka set the game in Q1. first game as Pg and totally dominated celtics.

Why don't go further ? Luka won the game during the warmups

Anyone not clear yet why so many people hate Doncic supporters, not him particularly ?

you can hate who ever you want.

Luka still had great game.

I'm sure he would have had a great game for you and won the game for the Mavs even if he didn't play.

Not hating really, actually enjoying your funny posts for some time.

[gh123]

There has always been a ton of Mvp players without elite athleticism. It's good to have, but not neccessary to be an elite player. Harden, Curry, Paul, Dirk, Duncan, you name it. None of them have never been elite athletes. I'd take Duncan with his smarts over someone like AD 100 out of 100 times.

I think James Harden is an elite athlete. Someone posted his combine stats and I think they were impressive.

Chris Paul used to be a freak athlete. Very fast and dunked a bit. I think he posterized Dwight Howard. He got injured early on while playing for the then New Orleans Hornets.

I would hate to be the person that has to choose between Duncan and AD.

Other than that, I absolutely agree with you.

Lol, why? Is there any kind of argument in any universe that it's better to have AD than Tim? And Harden is not an elite athlete, he's strong, sure, his agility seems 5o be elite, but that's about it.

[Bob8]

Why don't go further ? Luka won the game during the warmups

Anyone not clear yet why so many people hate Doncic supporters, not him particularly ?

you can hate who ever you want.

Luka still had great game.

I'm sure he would have had a great game for you and won the game for the Mavs even if he didn't play.

Not hating really, actually enjoying your funny posts for some time.

...I agree 15/8, 3/4 for 3, 3 steals and the win against Celtics is more or less like not playing.

I guess like you enjoy watching Ayton turning around your franchise.

[DaddyCool19]

"No projected lottery player was more surprising at the combine than James Harden. Many scouting reports on Harden say that he’s not athletic, but his results say otherwise. First, he recorded a 37” vertical and reached the same maximum height (11’8.5”) as Blake Griffin. Second, he ran a 3.13 sprint, which was only one hundredth behind speedster Ty Lawson, and repped 17 on the bench press. It’s been reported that the Thunder are considering him at #3. With no more reservations about his athleticism, is this enough for Harden to leapfrog Rubio?"

I also read something about his deceleration and it was borderline superhuman.

[draftnightsuit]

Doncic fanboys are starting to get annoying.

He’s good and I’m a fan of his, but he’s not that good to the point Phoenix would regret taking Ayton over him.

And Ayton has also been better. Doncic has a usage rate, plays no defense, and is a turnover machine.

[sunsbg]

you can hate who ever you want.

Luka still had great game.

I'm sure he would have had a great game for you and won the game for the Mavs even if he didn't play.

Not hating really, actually enjoying your funny posts for some time.

...I agree 15/8, 3/4 for 3, 3 steals and the win against Celtics is more or less like not playing.

I guess like you enjoy watching Ayton turning around your franchise.

I got your point months ago - Luka will bring double digit titles to whoever team drafts him, Ayton's team will be a bottom feeder for a decade at least. You can't get my point after so much time, so I'm giving up. Leaving this thread for the good of everybody else as they already hate both me and you. Bye!

[Michael Lucky]

Doncic fanboys are starting to get annoying.

He’s good and I’m a fan of his, but he’s not that good to the point Phoenix would regret taking Ayton over him.

And Ayton has also been better. Doncic has a usage rate, plays no defense, and is a turnover machine.

Ayton's defense is nothing to brag about either. 0.6 blks from a 7 foot 1 athletic center playing 32 minutes a game.

[PhilBlackson]

Don't sleep on Jaren Jackson Jr.

[NPZ]

Would still pick ayton number 1. He's been great

The Suns are also the franchise who lost the coin flips for both Kareem and David Robbo. They finally got #1 and they wanted their center.

[NPZ]

Luka doncic was the most NBA ready rookie. Actually Dallas should tank this year and add another key piece to Luka.

His mom is NBA ready too.

[Bob8]

Doncic fanboys are starting to get annoying.

He’s good and I’m a fan of his, but he’s not that good to the point Phoenix would regret taking Ayton over him.

And Ayton has also been better. Doncic has a usage rate, plays no defense, and is a turnover machine.

he has at least good company in turnovers competition.

https://stats.nba.com/leaders/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StatCategory=TOV

[PhilBlackson]

You can just see that it's not a matter of if but when and how many times will JJJ be a DPOY in his career (obv assuming health).

[Archx]

And Ayton has also been better. Doncic has a usage rate, plays no defense, and is a turnover machine.

Are you actually watching any Mavs games or just talking crap now? Because there is no point having a proper argument with you when you come to this kind of conclusions.

And when it comes to who had a bigger impact so far. Luka has the most 4th Q points of all rookies and has gotten his team into a position to win more times than even some established veterans. But you made it sound like he is a complete bust. So just curios why you think that way.

[Valard]

Watching doncic play you would never guess he is a rookie. His feel for the game is that of a tenured vet. I love the way he hunts down high percentage shots. Favorite part is his back to the basket game from the mid post. Seeing that out of a rookie is pretty special. Cant imagine what his game looks like with after 4 years of building an nba body as well as learning more schemes.

Ayton looks like he will be special in his own right but will really need a coach to hold him accountable for his deficiencies and demand improvement.

[Bob8]

Luka Doncic surpassed the 10-point mark for the 18th consecutive time since he began his NBA career on Saturday night. No other teenager in NBA history started his career with 18 straight double-figure matches. The previous record was held by Kevin Durant, who got 17 two-figure point games in the beginning of his career.

[GameBredAPBT]

Don't sleep on Jaren Jackson Jr.

No one's sleeping on him, but he isn't receiving the minutes that the other touted rookies are receiving. That's why he isn't getting brought up. He plays for a contending team & is being brought on slowly, while the others play for crap teams & have green lights to go ape.

[GameBredAPBT]

Can we get some folks in here who said this kid would be a non-factor/bust to eat some crow? People were calling it one of the biggest draft blunders of all time, taking him at 2.

Not only does he have one of the quickest 2nd jumps I've ever seen, his footwork is absolutely sick. He's going to be a post up machine. His rebounding is going to be outstanding eventually, and he's a gamer through & through, seems to have a very mature mindset for his age.

The thing that intrigues me most about him, is that he's such a unique player; I can't really think of anyone I could compare him to. He has a very unique build & skillset. I personally think the sky is the limit for this kid & the Kaangz, they made a picture perfect pick, and they're playing winning basketball, unlike some teams (*cough* Suns, *cough* Mavs).

[Goudelock]

You don't have to make a new thread every time a different thought pops into your head about a player. We have a rookie thread for this sort of thing.