Romeo Langford Thread

[eris]

Romeo Langford's numbers, and game, reminds me more than a bit of Paul Pierce. Langford an 18 year old Freshman playing with torn ligaments in his shooting hand on a much worse team against stronger competition just about matched Pierce.

Of course Paul got better and better and better. We don't know if Romeo can, or will, do that over the next few years.

[soxfan2003]

I'm ready to send Langford to the Pacers tomorrow.

For who? I'm assuming a big, which one?

[Wes-J]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

[cloverleaf]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

I hear ya. Looking at his shooting motion and considering his results with it PLUS all that standing around and not getting to it on D is IMO legit cause for worry. I consider this to be a Brad Stevens pick and I of course hope his mechanics issues don't go the way of Fultz.

[Writebloc]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

I hear ya. Looking at his shooting motion and considering his results with it PLUS all that standing around and not getting to it on D is IMO legit cause for worry. I consider this to be a Brad Stevens pick and I of course hope his mechanics issues don't go the way of Fultz.

I mean you must be exaggerating to even bring Fultz into the discussion right? What happened to him has never happened to another NBA player ever? I think that's a crazy comparison. So all of a sudden this kid is going to get an uncontrollable case of the yips because he hasn't been coached hard enough to cut off the ball? Many reports/videos have said that he's actually he's a good one on one defender. I don't know I think people are misconstruing his demeanor as nonchalant, he's just incredibly humble which is the way his parents raised him. I know that doesn't really compute in the NBA, but I do think he's that rare bird. Certainly, not one where you'd invoke the F comparison. I mean do you know Fultz's background and his handlers? That's a whole different story. Langford is coming from a extremely good family - not comparable at all.

[Slartibartfast]

What's interesting about this wing draft is how little separates the top wings. Barrett, Reddish, Langford and Culver all have fairly similar profiles. Good size, good frames, good but not great athleticism and issues shooting the ball. And Langford actually grades out the best in a few areas.

Culver gets the edge defensively and as a passer (though you could make a case for Barrett).

Reddish is the best pure distance shooter but Culver is probably the best 2-point jump shooter of the bunch. All are better with the ball in their hands. Langford the worst overall shooter.

Langford is the best finisher and foul-drawer. Reddish the worst.

Langford also might be the best all-around PNR guy, though Culver's passing is a big advantage.

Langford also the best iso guy with his triple threat package.

Culver the best rebounder. Reddish the worst.

Reddish the best defensive playmaker. Barrett the worst.

Barrett the youngest. Culver the oldest.

[KumaJG]

I am coming around to Langford

[m haynes]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

I agree 100% I saw a video that showed him off the ball and it was alarming to say the least. He was just standing there not in any postilion to make a play or contribute for that matter. Don't ask for the vid. I cant find it to save my life!

[Slartibartfast]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

I agree 100% I saw a video that showed him off the ball and it was alarming to say the least. He was just standing there not in any postilion to make a play or contribute for that matter. Don't ask for the vid. I cant find it to save my life!

Are people forgetting what Jaylen Brown looked like as a freshman at Cal? 29% from 3. Outrageously awful turnover percentage. No semblance of a handle outside of line drives or grab and go's in transition. No evidence of BBIQ. A mixed bag defensively.

And we took him at #3 (though that draft was pretty weak in that range of the lotto - Dunn, Chriss and Bender all lived down to their worst case scenarios).

I'm admittedly a fan of Romeo, but I don't see a big difference between Jaylen and Romeo as prospects. Jaylen the better all-around athlete with a little less funk to his shooting mechanics, but Romeo vastly more skilled at the same age (handle, finishing, PNR and pull-up game).

Both guys you could be forgiving of on shooting percentages because of how they shot in HS. Both a mixed bag in intangibles - Brown intelligent and hard-working off-the-court but clueless and undisciplined on it, Langford even-keel with some clutch in him, but completely lost off the ball on both ends.

With some good coaching, I'm very bullish on Romeo. A great talent and a great value at #14.

[darrendaye]

I hope Mazzula was hired with this kid in mind. It's in everyone's best interests that he develop combo guard skills where if he can learn to set up other guys, he has a high ceiling.

[ermocrate]

He looks to me like a weaker JB with better hands.

[Slartibartfast]

I hope Mazzula was hired with this kid in mind. It's in everyone's best interests that he develop combo guard skills where if he can learn to set up other guys, he has a high ceiling.

Somebody's gonna have to teach passing on this team. Right now it's Hayward and the Gunners.

[sam_I_am]

He looks to me like a weaker JB with better hands.

He finishes below the rim more often too. Much niftier when he gets there though

[Half-Full]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

My least favorite of our draft picks, for the same reasons you noted.

[Half-Full]

Ain't gonna lie, of all the picks this one worries me the most. Actually the others don't worry me at all.

If I'm nitpicking I'm not a fan of his real nonchalant personality and approach to the game, particularly when it comes to defense and playing off the ball. Hard to say the thumb affected his shooting much since we see him dunking with that hand a lot it can't be that bad. Wish I didn't have to question his motor, stuff like that irks me in prospects.

That said I'm not gonna kill Ainge for the selection since it can be argued there's a lot of value in this slot for a talent of his caliber.

Definitely not shipping Jaylen because of anything to do with Langford, hell no.

I agree 100% I saw a video that showed him off the ball and it was alarming to say the least. He was just standing there not in any postilion to make a play or contribute for that matter. Don't ask for the vid. I cant find it to save my life!

I think it was this video (starting at around 7:30 mark):

Watch on YouTube

;t=519s

[31to6]

He looks to me like a weaker JB with better hands.

He finishes below the rim more often too. Much niftier when he gets there though

I agree they’re different in the air but almost everything they do on the ground looks really similar to me. Not at all surprised if Danny’s not planning on maxing out JB (is trade for a big) and was tempted to have a back up plan.

[Slartibartfast]

He looks to me like a weaker JB with better hands.

He finishes below the rim more often too. Much niftier when he gets there though

I agree they’re different in the air but almost everything they do on the ground looks really similar to me. Not at all surprised if Danny’s not planning on maxing out JB (is trade for a big) and was tempted to have a back up plan.

I don't see much JB in him honestly other than their freshman struggles (which for whatever reason hurt Romeo's stock a lot more than Jaylen, even though Jaylen's were arguably more severe). JB is a secondary slasher, a guy who depends on either mismatches or a dislocated D (in transition or off of someone else's penetration) to unlock his speed and power based rim assaults. To that, he's added a spot-up 3-point jumper to allow him to coexist more happily with the ballhandlers he needs to be most successful.

Romeo is a primary slasher and scorer, a guy who initiates the dislocation of the defense as the PNR ballhandler or perimeter iso guy. He doesn't rely on mismatches so much as good floor spacing and good screeners and then when he gets his step he's got more weapons in his scoring arsenal, including stepbacks, pull-ups and floaters.

I think Romeo might have a tougher initial road to usefulness than Jaylen, because he's less comfortable off-ball (whereas Jaylen was very wild on-ball) and it's harder for a rookie to get touches as the main point of attack.

Think young Larry Hughes or John Salmons (I think that was Gomes' comp) or Joe Johnson vs Brown's Richard Jefferson style game.

[31to6]

He finishes below the rim more often too. Much niftier when he gets there though

I agree they’re different in the air but almost everything they do on the ground looks really similar to me. Not at all surprised if Danny’s not planning on maxing out JB (is trade for a big) and was tempted to have a back up plan.

I don't see much JB in him honestly other than their freshman struggles (which for whatever reason hurt Romeo's stock a lot more than Jaylen, even though Jaylen's were arguably more severe). JB is a secondary slasher, a guy who depends on either mismatches or a dislocated D (in transition or off of someone else's penetration) to unlock his speed and power based rim assaults. To that, he's added a spot-up 3-point jumper to allow him to coexist more happily with the ballhandlers he needs to be most successful.

Romeo is a primary slasher and scorer, a guy who initiates the dislocation of the defense as the PNR ballhandler or perimeter iso guy. He doesn't rely on mismatches so much as good floor spacing and good screeners and then when he gets his step he's got more weapons in his scoring arsenal, including stepbacks, pull-ups and floaters.

I think Romeo might have a tougher initial road to usefulness than Jaylen, because he's less comfortable off-ball (whereas Jaylen was very wild on-ball) and it's harder for a rookie to get touches as the main point of attack.

Think young Larry Hughes or John Salmons (I think that was Gomes' comp) or Joe Johnson vs Brown's Richard Jefferson style game.

Hello, police? I’d like to report a brutal beating: Slartibartfast’s analysis just kicked the crap out of my analysis!

I was being superficial — they move in a similar way. But everything you say is spot on (and I love your comps!), though it makes me sad: what gives with player development? I mean, how is Jaylen not in a gym running a hundred PnRs a day? I know he can dribble two basketballs at a time because in the summer you either hang out or train with old guys or hire someone to train you/make hype videos of you — but why isn’t it more under the control (or at least direction) of the team? What are the Cs paying him this year, maybe $10 million? And is it really just like ‘okay, work hard this summer it’d be cool if you worked on your free throws?’

I have no insight. I’m sure they need some mental and social and even physical time off. I’m sure stuff is probably more advanced than it used to be, at least with some franchises. But still, it’s like with diet for these guys on the road — seems like a significant gap in maximizing a team’s investment. I mean is Tatum out there with the hope that he’ll ‘come back stronger’ on his own?

[Slartibartfast]

I agree they’re different in the air but almost everything they do on the ground looks really similar to me. Not at all surprised if Danny’s not planning on maxing out JB (is trade for a big) and was tempted to have a back up plan.

I don't see much JB in him honestly other than their freshman struggles (which for whatever reason hurt Romeo's stock a lot more than Jaylen, even though Jaylen's were arguably more severe). JB is a secondary slasher, a guy who depends on either mismatches or a dislocated D (in transition or off of someone else's penetration) to unlock his speed and power based rim assaults. To that, he's added a spot-up 3-point jumper to allow him to coexist more happily with the ballhandlers he needs to be most successful.

Romeo is a primary slasher and scorer, a guy who initiates the dislocation of the defense as the PNR ballhandler or perimeter iso guy. He doesn't rely on mismatches so much as good floor spacing and good screeners and then when he gets his step he's got more weapons in his scoring arsenal, including stepbacks, pull-ups and floaters.

I think Romeo might have a tougher initial road to usefulness than Jaylen, because he's less comfortable off-ball (whereas Jaylen was very wild on-ball) and it's harder for a rookie to get touches as the main point of attack.

Think young Larry Hughes or John Salmons (I think that was Gomes' comp) or Joe Johnson vs Brown's Richard Jefferson style game.

Hello, police? I’d like to report a brutal beating: Slartibartfast’s analysis just kicked the crap out of my analysis!

I was being superficial — they move in a similar way. But everything you say is spot on (and I love your comps!), though it makes me sad: what gives with player development? I mean, how is Jaylen not in a gym running a hundred PnRs a day? I know he can dribble two basketballs at a time because in the summer you either hang out or train with old guys or hire someone to train you/make hype videos of you — but why isn’t it more under the control (or at least direction) of the team? What are the Cs paying him this year, maybe $10 million? And is it really just like ‘okay, work hard this summer it’d be cool if you worked on your free throws?’

I have no insight. I’m sure they need some mental and social and even physical time off. I’m sure stuff is probably more advanced than it used to be, at least with some franchises. But still, it’s like with diet for these guys on the road — seems like a significant gap in maximizing a team’s investment. I mean is Tatum out there with the hope that he’ll ‘come back stronger’ on his own?

Ball-handling seems to be one of the hardest skills to develop. There are weirdos like Jimmy Butler who will themselves into primary ballhandlers after starting out with the skill package of undersized PFs.

The theory I'm typing down directly from my butt is that it has a lot to do with center of gravity. The Jays are high hips, upright kinda guys. Exposes their handle to disruption and makes them shy about free-lancing under pressure. Whereas a guy like Jimmy plays lower to the ground and has an easier time stringing together compact moves.

Whatever the reason, some guys practice ballhandling and end up with martial arts style rehearsed moves which end up making them predictable and create tunnel vision moments whenever they start mashing buttons to unleash the combo. While others are able to make ball-handling more of a natural extension of their stride and can read and react to the defense as they go.

[Writebloc]

Something I think I've picked up on is his ability to vary his speed and decelerate effectively. That's a tough skill to master and not a lot of players are able to maneuver in traffic well. Langford seems to do that quite well. Jaylen is a streaker that finishes with power. Jayson is all spindly and will have to will himself to finish through contact. Langford seems like that is his bread and butter.