2019 NBA draft part deux

[Klomp]

What good is a player's upside if he doesn't reach it?

[KGdaBom]

What good is a player's upside if he doesn't reach it?

Potential means you haven't lived up to your possibilities. It's almost a dirty word.

[Killboard]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Sure but in that same game Hachimura had 20 pts, 7 Reb, 5 assists and 3 blocks and was the biggest reason the Zags won the game down the stretch making play after play.

Clarke posted 17 points, 6 blocks and 5 rebounds that game... in 23 minutes due to foul trouble. Hachimura played 37 minutes. While you can have an argument why Clarke fouled that much, you cant deny who had better production per minute. Hachimura did a good job on offense, but Clarke defense was just as impactful.

The main point there isnt about if Hachimura is a best offensive player, or if Clarke is a better defensive player, but who is projected to fill better those roles at the next level, while holding themselves in the other half.

[Krapinsky]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Do you actually watch the video? I just saw a lot of impressive highlights from Zion and Hachimura.

First minute: Clarke for his part looks like a nuisance on defense but he basically gets to play center field on against a Duke team that is void of shooters and clogs the paint. He sits in the lane and jumps at Duke players as they drive, some times getting away with a foul and sometime altering a shot. I can't imagine any team in the NBA is going to allow Clarke to play centerfield with his small wingspan, nor could they with the quality of shooters in the NBA. His best play is at 1:11, but here a driving Zion misses an easy dish to Clarke's man.

Next 30 seconds: Clarke committing unforced turnovers trying to make basic plays with the ball in his hands.

End: Clarke missing free throws down the stretch after getting bailed out by the officials.

[Killboard]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Do you actually watch the video? I just saw a lot of impressive highlights from Zion and Hachimura.

First minute: Clarke for his part looks like a nuisance on defense but he basically gets to play center field on against a Duke team that is void of shooters and clogs the paint. He sits in the lane and jumps at Duke players as they drive, some times getting away with a foul and sometime altering a shot. I can't imagine any team in the NBA is going to allow Clarke to play centerfield with his small wingspan, nor could they with the quality of shooters in the NBA. His best play is at 1:11, but here a driving Zion misses an easy dish to Clarke's man.

Next 30 seconds: Clarke committing unforced turnovers trying to make basic plays with the ball in his hands.

End: Clarke missing free throws down the stretch after getting bailed out by the officials.

Iw watched highlights of that game before. But doing it again now:
Clarke cleaned up Barret drives on Hachimura several times. Barret ended up on 9/25 shooting.
1st foul was at 1:05> weak and late call IMO. The others arent there.

Your point is valid tough, Duke didnt have shooters. But Clarke rotations were perfect and he such a quick leaper that anticipates a lot of drives.

Obviously his impact on defense will be diminshed at the next level. Pretty much as Hachimura offense. Clarke could be limited by lenght, rebounding is what is going to be critical for him, but as team defense concepts goes this kid seems to excel at it.

I also see him hitting a open 3, finishing strong at the rim and being a terror on transition. He commited some errors when tried to force offense from the top of the key, that's something that KAT would be doing if he were on the wolves.

[KGdaBom]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Do you actually watch the video? I just saw a lot of impressive highlights from Zion and Hachimura.

First minute: Clarke for his part looks like a nuisance on defense but he basically gets to play center field on against a Duke team that is void of shooters and clogs the paint. He sits in the lane and jumps at Duke players as they drive, some times getting away with a foul and sometime altering a shot. I can't imagine any team in the NBA is going to allow Clarke to play centerfield with his small wingspan, nor could they with the quality of shooters in the NBA. His best play is at 1:11, but here a driving Zion misses an easy dish to Clarke's man.

Next 30 seconds: Clarke committing unforced turnovers trying to make basic plays with the ball in his hands.

End: Clarke missing free throws down the stretch after getting bailed out by the officials.

Boy you are reaching to diminish Clarke. He was flat out dominant. This was a scouting video not a highlight reel. You are going to see the bad plays as well. The FT shooting is the only concern. It has to be better than that and it usually is, but still not good enough.

[Nick K]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Do you actually watch the video? I just saw a lot of impressive highlights from Zion and Hachimura.

First minute: Clarke for his part looks like a nuisance on defense but he basically gets to play center field on against a Duke team that is void of shooters and clogs the paint. He sits in the lane and jumps at Duke players as they drive, some times getting away with a foul and sometime altering a shot. I can't imagine any team in the NBA is going to allow Clarke to play centerfield with his small wingspan, nor could they with the quality of shooters in the NBA. His best play is at 1:11, but here a driving Zion misses an easy dish to Clarke's man.

Next 30 seconds: Clarke committing unforced turnovers trying to make basic plays with the ball in his hands.

End: Clarke missing free throws down the stretch after getting bailed out by the officials.

I agree. I want to love Clarke but he just won't be able to do to nba men what he does to college boys. Plus, he's a shooting nightmare outside of 10 feet.

[Krapinsky]

If only we could've seen Clarke play against some average competition this season instead of these scrubs....

Watch on YouTube

Do you actually watch the video? I just saw a lot of impressive highlights from Zion and Hachimura.

First minute: Clarke for his part looks like a nuisance on defense but he basically gets to play center field on against a Duke team that is void of shooters and clogs the paint. He sits in the lane and jumps at Duke players as they drive, some times getting away with a foul and sometime altering a shot. I can't imagine any team in the NBA is going to allow Clarke to play centerfield with his small wingspan, nor could they with the quality of shooters in the NBA. His best play is at 1:11, but here a driving Zion misses an easy dish to Clarke's man.

Next 30 seconds: Clarke committing unforced turnovers trying to make basic plays with the ball in his hands.

End: Clarke missing free throws down the stretch after getting bailed out by the officials.

Boy you are reaching to diminish Clarke. He was flat out dominant. This was a scouting video not a highlight reel. You are going to see the bad plays as well. The FT shooting is the only concern. It has to be better than that and it usually is, but still not good enough.

He is opportunistic. He's not dominant. He's not out there forcing his will on people.

I get that it's Duke and it's supposed to be an example of top tier competition, but you couldn't find a better offense for Clarke to match up against. No shooting and no post up game. I am concerned how effective he is going to be guarding stretch 4's on the NBA perimeter and holding his own against larger 4's that can post him up.

[gandlogo]

I just can't figure Clarke out. Even though he's significantly smaller than either, Clarke has the potential to be Blake Griffin or Tyler Hansbrough. Both were great players in college that played the same position as Clarke. I'm not sure how his help defensive plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. I'm not sure how his offense plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. On the other hand, I love high-motor high-BBIQ kids. He's a coin flip in my mind.

[packforfreedom]

this doesn't even make sense.

If this is about my comment let me help. I think the best basketball players are the ones most likely to have the highest upside. Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Culver, Hunter, Barrett, Garland and Brandon Clarke are the best basketball players and I think their upside is better than Doumbouya, Kevin Porter Jr, Nassir Little etc....

What good is a player's upside if he doesn't reach it?

Potential means you haven't lived up to your possibilities. It's almost a dirty word.

I'm not really sure how to respond: Potential is an actual thing in professional sports. Players get better, but some have attributes who can be maximized better than others. The Mavs didn't pick Dirk because he was such a great player but because he had the potential to be one. some players get picked when they're already more finished but their skillset doesn't allow them to become really good. Of course there are the Duncans, Abdul-Jabbers or Blake Griffins, but these are the exceptions and usually not there at #11.

A franchise in our position needs to take risks in the draft to take the next step. That's all I say. And to say that "either you are a player or you arn't" is just silly and lazy analysis.

[Klomp]

It's all about the potential....so glad we didn't take the guy with no upside

[packforfreedom]

I didn't expect you to get the point.

Curry changed his franchise because of his potential, which many people recognized before the draft. One tweet means nothing.

[Nick K]

It's all about the potential....so glad we didn't take the guy with no upside

Nobody thinks NAW has any potential either. Not to say he's Steph but he will be very, very good.

I was furious we didn't take Steph because he was as good a college shooter as I had ever seen. No team he faced could stop him.

[jpatrick]

I love Mike Schmitz scouting videos. Just watched the top four prospects. Would love to find a way to get Garland. In today’s NBA, he’s what you need/want in a PG.

[Calinks]

Again I think the mentality of these guys i a big factor. Take the guy who has the most irrational confidence combined with good work ethic lol.

[packforfreedom]

Again I think the mentality of these guys i a big factor. Take the guy who has the most irrational confidence combined with good work ethic lol.

except when it's Bazz.

[Domejandro]

I just can't figure Clarke out. Even though he's significantly smaller than either, Clarke has the potential to be Blake Griffin or Tyler Hansbrough. Both were great players in college that played the same position as Clarke. I'm not sure how his help defensive plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. I'm not sure how his offense plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. On the other hand, I love high-motor high-BBIQ kids. He's a coin flip in my mind.

I toned down my first response to this post by simply stating "Brandon Clarke is most certainly not a potential Blake Griffin, the games are not similar in the slightest".

[gandlogo]

I just can't figure Clarke out. Even though he's significantly smaller than either, Clarke has the potential to be Blake Griffin or Tyler Hansbrough. Both were great players in college that played the same position as Clarke. I'm not sure how his help defensive plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. I'm not sure how his offense plays out in a league where everyone can shoot the three. On the other hand, I love high-motor high-BBIQ kids. He's a coin flip in my mind.

I toned down my first response to this post by simply stating "Brandon Clarke is most certainly not a potential Blake Griffin, the games are not similar in the slightest".

I don’t disagree. I wasn’t making the comparison as to style of play. I was attempting to show two similar players in terms of having success in college (Griffin and Handbrough) that had completely different success level in the NBA. As it pertains to Clarke, I have no idea where he’ll fall on that continuum of impact. Somewhere between the two - but closer to which end?

[CP1981]

When it comes to the draft it's always a few qualities in players I want my team to avoid

I'm not big on older guys who take a while to finally put it all together. The guy who was bad or slightly below average his first few years of college then has a big breakout year. It's different if the guy was improving each year but the older guy who only had one good year is a big red flag for me


Low motor guys. They dazzle you with big highlights but they dont always play hard. And they tend to have a few games that make you think they will do it on a consistent basis but never do. Low motor guys are super frustrating. The talent is there but the drive and work ethic isn't

Workout warriors/ great combine guys. The workout video and measurements dont match the game film. Guy has incredible leaping ability and length but doesn't play good defense, doesn't rebound, and doesn't use their athletic abilities during actual games.

[GeekFreak]

Dream scenario is Celtics desperately want someone with our pick. Remember how much Danny Ainge was willing to give up for Justise Winslow? Maybe he will offer us #14, #20 and #22 for #11.