Post#264 » by payitforward » Wed Jun 26, 2019 3:03 pm
Once the Kawhi & Giannis comparos got thrown into the mix, this discussion about Rui became kind of pointless. You immediately start looking for anything you can pump up & for ways to put a curtain over problem areas.
Rui is not "a fantastic prospect." Zion Williamson is a fantastic prospect. Luka Doncic was a fantastic prospect. Rui is something different -- a kid with a lot of promise, whose game is quite unevenly developed.
His scoring, fine, that fits the "fantastic prospect" mold. & I agree that there's no particular reason he shouldn't become a good 3-pt. shooter. But, as Dat & others have detailed, there are problems in the rest of his game (defense, rebounding, etc.). Which means that how good a player Rui Hachimura becomes will depend on how much he improves.
That's not what we wonder about in the case of "fantastic prospects." Thinking about Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic, we wonder how well their (already fantastic) games will translate to the NBA. A totally different question -- & one we'll also have to ask about the parts of Rui's game that are already outstanding.
It's perfectly fair to say that problem areas in Rui's may be down to his late start but not to assume that he'll fix those problems & therefore to act as it they're temporary, which means that soon they won't exist. Do that, and, sure, lets compare him to Giannis. Kawhi Leonard. Whoever you prefer.
I can't see the good in that. In my experience, declaring victory before the battle begins doesn't help win the battle.
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