Countdown to NBA Draft: Prospect Talk

[Marcus]

As a basketball fan you have to be happy if the Lakers receive the top pick.

I was 11 when this happened. I remember because I watched the video with my mom and she slapped me randomly.

just in case you even THOUGHT about doing some like that

[BeagleBoss]

I'm happy none of the top prospects have character issues. Last we need is a Winston.

[Capn'O]

Bleacher report came out with an article today on the top prospects with some quotes from NBA scouts.

On Okafor's defense:

Ekstrand argues that Okafor's defensive grade is still incomplete because the potential No. 1 pick was coached to lay back on that end. "People say he didn't play great defense, he didn't defend the pick-and-roll," Ekstrand said. "But at Duke, they didn't want him committing aggressive fouls on defense. If he's going to have two to three on the offensive end, you don't want him to have any on the defensive end because you want him to be in the game."

The league executive agreed to a certain extent but still foresees issues for Okafor defensively. "Let's assume that argument is right with Duke—that he was saved, he was never coached and he wants to play D," he said. "He's still not going to block shots. He's also going to have a hard time chasing around perimeter 4's. He's an offensive-minded 5. I think with Okafor, you need a guy like [Serge] Ibaka next to him—a guy that cleans up the glass and blocks shots."

I don't agree with the comment on his shot blocking, I think he'll average 1.5 to 2 blocks a game just like he did in college.

On Towns:

In addition to fine-tuning his all-around offense, Towns needs to learn to play defense more with his body than his hands. "Towns has the rep of being the better defender (over Okafor), but look at the minutes played and how many fouls he committed," Ekstrand said. "If you're only playing 20 minutes and you're in foul trouble, that's a red flag. What's not different from college to the NBA is you still have to use your body more and your hands less."

Also, the Sixers, Wolves, and Lakers say Mudiay play in China but we didn't...

They should pay me royalties. That's everything I've been saying about Jah's D - plus and minus.

But the flipside of that is KY was deep and Towns WAS coached to be aggressive on D as they weren't as reliant on his offense at first nor him playing major minutes. Perhaps they should have been, ultimately, as his offense improved.

[Crunch time 1]

I'm ready for the 5th pick the way our luck been i just know the outcome. I just hope whoever we pick with the 5th pick become a good player. I hope I'm wrong I have been trying to think positive but with this team I already know what is going to happen. The 5th pick and then we pick the euro guy. I just hope our luck change and he become a good player once it happen. All Knicks fans let's except this outcome and be happy we have a top five pick for the first time I'm years. Stop pumping yourself up for number 1 or 2 pick it won't happen for us

[beasonu]

[E-Balla]

I keep imagining scenarios where we get Porzingas AND Okafor and have to rein myself in and remember there's only one pick.

I haven't seen enough of Porzingas to really get excited. He looks promising but it'll take him time, dude is skinny as a rail. Perimeter shooting, shot blocking big man that I like though...Turner. He wouldn't fit with Okafor, but I'ma keep saying his name because I really like dude's shot blocking a lot and he's a really promising shooter (that FT%).

Myles is soft though. Like super soft. He could end up as a Matt Bonner type on offense even though he should be just as good as Towns with his athletic ability and skills.

Porzingis isn't soft at all and his aggression is actually an issue because of how small he is. Dude tries to power through guys sometimes but is just too weak to successfully do it.

Bleacher report came out with an article today on the top prospects with some quotes from NBA scouts.

On Okafor's defense:

Ekstrand argues that Okafor's defensive grade is still incomplete because the potential No. 1 pick was coached to lay back on that end. "People say he didn't play great defense, he didn't defend the pick-and-roll," Ekstrand said. "But at Duke, they didn't want him committing aggressive fouls on defense. If he's going to have two to three on the offensive end, you don't want him to have any on the defensive end because you want him to be in the game."

The league executive agreed to a certain extent but still foresees issues for Okafor defensively. "Let's assume that argument is right with Duke—that he was saved, he was never coached and he wants to play D," he said. "He's still not going to block shots. He's also going to have a hard time chasing around perimeter 4's. He's an offensive-minded 5. I think with Okafor, you need a guy like [Serge] Ibaka next to him—a guy that cleans up the glass and blocks shots."

I don't agree with the comment on his shot blocking, I think he'll average 1.5 to 2 blocks a game just like he did in college.

On Towns:

In addition to fine-tuning his all-around offense, Towns needs to learn to play defense more with his body than his hands. "Towns has the rep of being the better defender (over Okafor), but look at the minutes played and how many fouls he committed," Ekstrand said. "If you're only playing 20 minutes and you're in foul trouble, that's a red flag. What's not different from college to the NBA is you still have to use your body more and your hands less."

Also, the Sixers, Wolves, and Lakers say Mudiay play in China but we didn't...

Thing with Towns is that many bigs his age have foul issues. So many that I can't hold it against him. Still it keeps him from the AD, Noel, Oden super defender class of prospects.

[beasonu]

ALL IN

[E-Balla]

ALL IN

I just got graduation money I need to throw 50 on each team outside of the top 5...

[Red Vines]

Hearing Bilas talk up Russell on ESPN as the best pure basketball player in the draft almost makes me want to take him over Okafor. 6.5 hours to go...

[j4remi]

Myles is soft though. Like super soft. He could end up as a Matt Bonner type on offense even though he should be just as good as Towns with his athletic ability and skills.

Porzingis isn't soft at all and his aggression is actually an issue because of how small he is. Dude tries to power through guys sometimes but is just too weak to successfully do it.

I'm not advocating Turner over Porzingis, I don't know Porzingis enough. But if you gave Matt Bonner Myles' length and shot blocking, he'd be pretty valuable imo. A stretch big that's a certified rim protector is pretty useful.

[VirginiaKnickFan]

Gotta get some good vibes goin for tonight!

Unfortunately, we are under the bad luck spell by this guy.

[GONYK]

Myles is soft though. Like super soft. He could end up as a Matt Bonner type on offense even though he should be just as good as Towns with his athletic ability and skills.

Porzingis isn't soft at all and his aggression is actually an issue because of how small he is. Dude tries to power through guys sometimes but is just too weak to successfully do it.

I'm not advocating Turner over Porzingis, I don't know Porzingis enough. But if you gave Matt Bonner Myles' length and shot blocking, he'd be pretty valuable imo. A stretch big that's a certified rim protector is pretty useful.

That would project him closer to Horry

[Besart19]

That said, this offseason we get both Okafor (or Towns) and Aldridge

Okafor/Towns
Aldridge
Carmelo
D.Green
Galloway

That would be a great lineup, with Shved off the bench for guard penetration. Since SAS may target Aldridge over Gasol, would that give us more chance to get Gasolina?

no. as they are probably in part not targeting him because they think it might be a waste of time. it would have no bearing on our chances. what we need is SAS to not steak LMA from us if he's interested in leaving POR.

This, and also they are stuck with Splitter at C (12M per) so it'd make more sense they sign a star PF instead of C

Splitter
Aldridge
Leonard
Matthwes, Green or Belinelli
Parker

[NoLayupRule]

that was that first game against Wisco early in the year. mad aggressive on the defensive drives that game too handsy though got in foul trouble. made the adjustment.

Yep but by the time the Championship game came it looked like he forgot how to guard Kaminsky and had to take his knocks all over again. The number one thing I took from that game (I noticed it in the ND game too) was that he wasn't ready to defend the perimeter but he showed good lateral speed the few times he got in a solid defensive position. He's usually way too low when defending drives but about 2-3 times that game he got his stance perfect and completely cut off Kaminsky on his drives.

be honest though, Frank did well to exploit the pick and roll against Okafor, their coach ran that play all day, and getting Jah out of the paint seemed to be their main plan all game

teams will run that on us, if were lucky enough to land Jah, but unlike the college game they won't be able to run a simple set play all the time with that level of effect. there are too many defensive adjustment options and if were playing against teams who's centers are shooting threes on us all game were gonna win that matchup most of the time anyway

[NoLayupRule]

ALL IN

$100 is "all in" for you?

thats depressing

you shouldn't be gambling but working apparently

[Sark]

Okafor holding 13 tennis balls in one hand.

[F N 11]

Gotta get some good vibes goin for tonight!

Unfortunately, we are under the bad luck spell by this guy.

Good vibes only!

[NoLayupRule]

Frank fraschilla once said Gallinari was going to be the Knicks version of Derrick Jeter. I wouldn't take him seriously.

Yeah Fraschilla isn't the best when it comes to judging talent. He comes up with some outlandish comparisons.

He was also really high on Jan Vesely and Yi Jianlan.

He said that if Yao is Biggie, Yi Jianlan is 50 Cent. I still don't know what that meant.

is he the guy who said so and so was "a few years away from being a few years away" and meant it not as a joke until he got called out?

[NoLayupRule]

Okafor holding 13 tennis balls in one hand.

yeah but how many can he fit in his mouth?

Chris Bosh is asking

[E-Balla]

Myles is soft though. Like super soft. He could end up as a Matt Bonner type on offense even though he should be just as good as Towns with his athletic ability and skills.

Porzingis isn't soft at all and his aggression is actually an issue because of how small he is. Dude tries to power through guys sometimes but is just too weak to successfully do it.

I'm not advocating Turner over Porzingis, I don't know Porzingis enough. But if you gave Matt Bonner Myles' length and shot blocking, he'd be pretty valuable imo. A stretch big that's a certified rim protector is pretty useful.

A good decent role player, sure. Porzingis is better in every way outside of his jumper and athleticism.