Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Jeremy Lamb (HOU)

[nowayguy]

Thing is, Lamb still produced unlike other guys with his attitude/demeanor.

[MastaMindz]

Here (http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/tim_chisholm/?id=397258), Chisholm says that Lamb possesses strong defensive fundamentals whereas I didn't get that from his latest blog post haha.

[dagger]

Yep. Chisholm is quite certain Lamb ain't the one for us

http://www.thecheapseats.ca/2012/06/uco ... ptors.html


UConn's Jeremy Lamb would be a terrible fit with the Toronto Raptors
Timpchisholm Jun 4, 2012 1 Comments

Forget Lin-sanity, Raptors fans have a serious case of Lamb-sanity, and it’s making me plain ol’ insane...

Look, the Raptors have enough guys that like to hang around the perimeter taking long jumpers, and they have enough players with defensive potential but no defensive intensity. Dwane Casey did an admirable job last season coaxing effort out of a traditionally laid-back club, but the last thing he needs is another guy he has to find a way to motivate to play to his fullest potential. He needs fighters, not floaters, if this team is going to take a step forward next season.

Bravo, Tim, Bravo - The Raptors need a lion, not a lamb.

[BillyGM]

Does he think that Harkless is better fit? Cause he may be.

[Reignman]

The hyperbole that Lamb is afraid of contact is not true at all. He averaged 4 FTAs per game and has a wide variety of floaters and teardrops with either hand, so does that scream a prospect who's shy of physical play?

Yeah, Lamb averaged 3.6 FTA while Beal averaged 4.7 and DeMar, whose sole supposed strength is getting to the line, averaged 4.2 in his freshman year.

Obviously it's fair to question Lamb's willingness to absorb contact. You hope that some added upper-body strength would help. But it's an issue that's being overblown pretty dramatically by Chisholm and a few others here.

It would be good to know the usage each player had during those respective seasons. I assume Demar handled the ball a lot less in his freshman year than Lamb in his soph year.

[Reignman]

Yep. Chisholm is quite certain Lamb ain't the one for us

http://www.thecheapseats.ca/2012/06/uco ... ptors.html


UConn's Jeremy Lamb would be a terrible fit with the Toronto Raptors
Timpchisholm Jun 4, 2012 1 Comments

Forget Lin-sanity, Raptors fans have a serious case of Lamb-sanity, and it’s making me plain ol’ insane...

Look, the Raptors have enough guys that like to hang around the perimeter taking long jumpers, and they have enough players with defensive potential but no defensive intensity. Dwane Casey did an admirable job last season coaxing effort out of a traditionally laid-back club, but the last thing he needs is another guy he has to find a way to motivate to play to his fullest potential. He needs fighters, not floaters, if this team is going to take a step forward next season.

Bravo, Tim, Bravo - The Raptors need a lion, not a lamb.

In fact, both Casey and BC have mentioned that they want a high-motor/high-energy player from the draft and Lamb doesn't fit the bill. Hell, PJ3 is another guy that doesn't fit the mould.

[dagger]

The thing is, of the names most often attached to the Raptors - the five including Lamb, Waiters, Lillard, Harkless, Ross... Lamb is the most passive, which is why my draft favorite for two months has been Lillard, and I am warming to Waiters and Harkless. Everyone at #8 has things in their game that you can pick apart, but skill things can be fixed with work and good coaching, but a weak motor is a weak motor. I don't know how you can mentor a passive guy into being more aggressive. There has to be fire in the belly. We ideally want somebody who can take charge of a situation. With Lillard and Waiters, I see that fire, not so with Lamb.

More Chisholm.

While guys like Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters are imperfect prospects as well, I can see how their skills would fit into Toronto’s holes, and how they’d make the team a little better right away while they worked out the kinks in their games.

[BillyGM]

In fact, both Casey and BC have mentioned that they want a high-motor/high-energy player from the draft and Lamb doesn't fit the bill. Hell, PJ3 is another guy that doesn't fit the mould.

I know who does.

[DG88]

I said this way way back when I look at a prospect I look at three things and the third being the most important. 1) Talent, 2) Skillset, 3) Mentality. Lamb has a weak mentality and just like PJ3 it's going to hurt him once he gets into the NBA.

[nahom1319]

I said this way way back when I look at a prospect I look at three things and the third being the most important. 1) Talent, 2) Skillset, 3) Mentality. Lamb has a weak mentality and just like PJ3 it's going to hurt him once he gets into the NBA.

Its not gona kill him, but its definitely gona take the shine off of him. If he had some intensity to him he could probably be tier one. With his passiveness he'll probably float between tier 2 and 3.

[Double Helix]

This whole roster looks like it's going to be changing drastically this free agency anyway. Through some form of transactions I expect we'll have at least 3 NEW players next year each playing 25-30 minutes per game (including JV).

I don't think we should dismiss a potentially top 10 SG prospect simply because he's a little soft because we feel like we've had a soft PG and a soft PF. Just because we've had jump shooters like Calderon and Bargnani in the past doesn't mean we should dismiss Lamb today. He's 20 years old. He'll be 23 when Bargnani turns 30. Let's quit making decisions based around Bargnani and Calderon and their weaknesses and start gathering some players who have the potential to be top 10 at their respective positions in the future.

JV might be a top 10 C talent.
Lamb could be a top 10 SG talent.
Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

That's a start. Chrisholm makes it sound as though Lamb only shoots jumpers, or that he's disinterested in basketball. Neither could be further from the truth. He's not Dwayne Wade. He's not Manu Ginobili but he does get into the paint and can score in a variety of ways there. Given the lack of talent at the SG spot these days... he could still give us an advantage over other 20 or so other teams with inferior SG talents.

[dagger]

Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

I think you're very optimisitc there.

[Double Helix]

I said this way way back when I look at a prospect I look at three things and the third being the most important. 1) Talent, 2) Skillset, 3) Mentality. Lamb has a weak mentality and just like PJ3 it's going to hurt him once he gets into the NBA.

PJIII hasn't even dominated his peers in college. He barely even improved over his freshmen season. His position requires more toughness, reaction time and scrappiness than the SG spot does. His single greatest gifts are his size and athleticism and he uses neither to alter or block shots against players smaller than him in college. PJIII has been told for years that he was great and yet he approaches the game like he's a 6'8 PF.

Lamb approaches the game like a player still discovering how good he can be. He wasn't a high recruit. He's a late bloomer.

[DG88]

JV might be a top 10 C talent.
Lamb could be a top 10 SG talent.
Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

Someone's got high expectations this offseason So we're getting 3 All Stars this offseason good to know we'll be in play for the championship next season

[Double Helix]

Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

I think you're very optimisitc there.

I'm always optimstic, Dagger.

Nash would be the top 10 PG. I'll admit that we don't seem to have the 10 SF lined up through a trade yet though...

[Double Helix]

JV might be a top 10 C talent.
Lamb could be a top 10 SG talent.
Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

Someone's got high expectations this offseason So we're getting 3 All Stars this offseason good to know we'll be in play for the championship next season

Well, if we acquired Nash via free agency he'd be the only all star. A trade for a player like Iguodala (just an idea) would too. JV and Lamb on the other hand would be years away, if ever. Let's not forget that top 10 at your respective position does not guarantee you an all star spot.

The all star game is a popularity contest where either the top 2 players at any one spot are selected to any one conference unless somebody more popular than one of those two is healthy.

[Rapture]

The thing is, of the names most often attached to the Raptors - the five including Lamb, Waiters, Lillard, Harkless, Ross... Lamb is the most passive, which is why my draft favorite for two months has been Lillard, and I am warming to Waiters and Harkless. Everyone at #8 has things in their game that you can pick apart, but skill things can be fixed with work and good coaching, but a weak motor is a weak motor. I don't know how you can mentor a passive guy into being more aggressive. There has to be fire in the belly. We ideally want somebody who can take charge of a situation. With Lillard and Waiters, I see that fire, not so with Lamb.

More Chisholm.

While guys like Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters are imperfect prospects as well, I can see how their skills would fit into Toronto’s holes, and how they’d make the team a little better right away while they worked out the kinks in their games.

Did T-Mac or VC have perfect attitudes? I understand that Lamb is more passive than those guys and not as skilled but talent is talent. You can't build around guys like Alvin Williams. You get those guys around your talented players. And to be honest, the only player who has high talent level and good motor, who could fall to us is Sullinger. I guess Lillard has the potential but he's a huge unknown and a big gamble in my opinion.

Lamb will probably never be a number one option, but he'll be perfect as a number 2 or 3 guy who can play off the ball and on the ball. Also his defense won't be a problem with his physical gifts. I can't remember that anybody was questioning his motor last year when they won the NCAA tournament. This year he had to almost always play the whole game if the game wasn't a blow out. It's very difficult to keep playing on a high level all the time when you get no rest and you have to avoid taking fouls. And of course everyone knows Napier didn't really help things too much..

[DG88]

I said this way way back when I look at a prospect I look at three things and the third being the most important. 1) Talent, 2) Skillset, 3) Mentality. Lamb has a weak mentality and just like PJ3 it's going to hurt him once he gets into the NBA.

PJIII hasn't even dominated his peers in college. He barely even improved over his freshmen season. His position requires more toughness, reaction time and scrappiness than the SG spot does. His single greatest gifts are his size and athleticism and he uses neither to alter or block shots against players smaller than him in college. PJIII has been told for years that he was great and yet he approaches the game like he's a 6'8 PF.

Lamb approaches the game like a player still discovering how good he can be. He wasn't a high recruit. He's a late bloomer.

I'm still skeptical if he can change his demeanor. I won't lie he's got great skills but doesn't use them effectively enough because he passive. He's gonna be a similar to a permanent potential type where he'll give you good numbers but you know he can give you so much more if he were more engaged. Also Chisholm does bring forth a point. Lamb is more of a midrange shooter than he is a 3 point shooter and slasher, which mean he'll get into DeMar and Bargs space on the floor. That could complicate things on the offensive end.

[DG88]

JV might be a top 10 C talent.
Lamb could be a top 10 SG talent.
Free agency could net us a top 10 PG.
A trade could net us a top 10 SF.

Someone's got high expectations this offseason So we're getting 3 All Stars this offseason good to know we'll be in play for the championship next season

Well, if we acquired Nash via free agency he'd be the only all star. A trade for a player like Iguodala (just an idea) would too. JV and Lamb on the other hand would be years away, if ever. Let's not forget that top 10 at your respective position does not guarantee you an all star spot.

The all star game is a popularity contest where either the top 2 players at any one spot are selected to any one conference unless somebody more popular than one of those two is healthy.

I'm just having fun with you DH

[CoachJReturns]

Given the shortage of quality shooting guards in the league, it probably wasn't a big stretch to say Lamb could be top 10 at the position. The 2 best shooting guards in the league are Kobe and Wade. Once they're gone in a few years, the quality at the position may be sorely lacking.
I'd prefer we trade up for MKG, but that ain't happening. Lamb is probably our guy, so I'm just going to accept it and appreciate the skills he brings, which include a solid offensive game and good defensive potential. I'll take that at the 8th pick.