Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Jeremy Lamb (HOU)

[HolyMage110]

I honestly have no idea how this guy isn't consensus top 3. Maybe I'm out to lunch but I don't see anything I don't like about him.

Elite wingspan, anticipation, body control, natural jumpshot mechanics. I don't know what you want from the 8th pick but you're not going to do much better than Lamb IMO.

What I really, really don't get is this notion that he had a bad college year. 18 points on 48% FG.

SIXTY PER CENT on two-pointers. 80% from the line. Natural shooter with an unblockable jumper, can create his own shot, athletic, quick, smart.

I must be crazy.

Sketchy defense, doesn't get to the line, has trouble asserting himself, poor demeanor and body language, not as long as advertised. His list of potential pitfalls is pretty well established at this point. Obviously there's some solid reasons that he's not a consensus top three guy, even if you like him that much. It's really about how eager you are to explain away (or just ignore) the downside, much as is the case with any non-sure-thing prospect.

exactly.
+ doesnt have a great motor
can get alot of shooting slumps, therefore affecting his whole game (what he said in an interview)

[MikeM]

IMO those pitfalls are all dubious at best. Poor body language? Really?

60.1% on 2 point FGs.

That is the best mark of any SG in DX's TEN YEAR database.

IMO poor body language isn't a sufficient enough counter point to such an impressive stat as above.

[The Chucker]

I honestly have no idea how this guy isn't consensus top 3. Maybe I'm out to lunch but I don't see anything I don't like about him.

Elite wingspan, anticipation, body control, natural jumpshot mechanics. I don't know what you want from the 8th pick but you're not going to do much better than Lamb IMO.

What I really, really don't get is this notion that he had a bad college year. 18 points on 48% FG.

SIXTY PER CENT on two-pointers. 80% from the line. Natural shooter with an unblockable jumper, can create his own shot, athletic, quick, smart.

I must be crazy.

Sketchy defense, doesn't get to the line, has trouble asserting himself, poor demeanor and body language, not as long as advertised. His list of potential pitfalls is pretty well established at this point. Obviously there's some solid reasons that he's not a consensus top three guy, even if you like him that much. It's really about how eager you are to explain away (or just ignore) the downside, much as is the case with any non-sure-thing prospect.

how many games yer seen lamb play

[Fenris-77]

IMO those pitfalls are all dubious at best. Poor body language? Really?

Yup, really really. Lets forget about Lamb for a second here. Try and think of how many really good NBA players looked like 'poor motor' guys at the NCAA level. The answer is not too many. Some, sure, but it's very much the minority. Someone who buys that line of reasoning will have issues with Lamb, especially in the top 3. I could go on, but I won't, because it's all been said here and that wasn't really my main point.

I'm not actually trying to sway your convictions about Lamb, just point out that there are actual legitimate concerns about the kid. Concerns that have real merit for people who actually know and follow basketball. Obviously you don't agree, which is fine, but keep in mind here that it's a matter of opinion, not fact (on both sides).

[HolyMage110]

but i think putting lamb under casey would have to make lamb push his game harder. casey wont give free minutes, u gotta earn them. if we draft him and casey molds him right, i dont see why he cant be another rip

[MikeM]

If all you have to do with your #8 pick is get him to try harder I think you have it made personally.

Sure, you can pick Sullinger or whoever but he's not going to grow overnight. He's not going to jump higher in 5 years.

[JamesNaismith]

I honestly have no idea how this guy isn't consensus top 3. Maybe I'm out to lunch but I don't see anything I don't like about him.

Elite wingspan, anticipation, body control, natural jumpshot mechanics. I don't know what you want from the 8th pick but you're not going to do much better than Lamb IMO.

What I really, really don't get is this notion that he had a bad college year. 18 points on 48% FG.

SIXTY PER CENT on two-pointers. 80% from the line. Natural shooter with an unblockable jumper, can create his own shot, athletic, quick, smart.

I must be crazy.

Sketchy defense, doesn't get to the line, has trouble asserting himself, poor demeanor and body language, not as long as advertised. His list of potential pitfalls is pretty well established at this point. Obviously there's some solid reasons that he's not a consensus top three guy, even if you like him that much. It's really about how eager you are to explain away (or just ignore) the downside, much as is the case with any non-sure-thing prospect.

Defence actually is one of his STRENGTHS....

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSlEx-m6B6s[/youtube]

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jeremy-lamb

Lamb proved to be a very good defender last season for UConn, and that’s really promising considering he was a Fr. on a nat’l title team and in a competitive league like the Big East … He was able to defend all 3 perimeter positions effectively with his length and quickness , which is intriguing considering his youth … Length and quick hands proved him to be a threat as a ball-thief, and it created transition opportunities for himself and teammates

http://swishscout.com/?page_id=4991

Excellent perimeter defender with great lateral quickness; great at contesting shots, rotating and fighting over screens; Instinctive player who uses length effectively to jump passing lanes......

Has great defensive anticipation and instincts playing passing lanes, picking off lazy passes to go the other way for a quick two points. Doesn’t show up much on the stat side of the defensive end with only 1.3 steals and .7 blocks per 40 minutes, but has a great grasp of that end of the floor at a young age. With his seven-foot wingspan he would make an excellent and imposing inbound defender. Has a natural feel of when to help and rotate on defense in addition to using that length when getting a hand up while contesting shots. When defending off ball, he loves to reach on passing drivers in the lane to help out and try to knock the ball away. Shows great persistence fighting over screens off ball when trailing his man but can get screened out due to a lack of strength. Does a good job defending the pick and roll by fighting over screens and staying on his man.

So basically the problems you have are bad body language (which personally I could careless about) and second needs to get the line which I admit is a fault but working on getting to the line more is definitely a skill that can be worked on (like we did with Bosh over his career and Casey's better than any coach we've had)....

Lamb has all the skills you can want in a player and he actually applies them (as evidenced by averaging the MOST ppg out of any of the wing players in the draft); it just bothers people that he is THAT good but won't push himself more than asked.

[Fenris-77]

If all you have to do with your #8 pick is get him to try harder I think you have it made personally.

How'd that work out for Beasley?

[MikeM]

If all you have to do with your #8 pick is get him to try harder I think you have it made personally.

How'd that work out for Beasley?

Beasley has no position in the NBA. His body is not elite for his position like Lamb's is.

[HolyMage110]

i heard he didnt do too well in the new orelans workouts

[JamesNaismith]

If all you have to do with your #8 pick is get him to try harder I think you have it made personally.

How'd that work out for Beasley?

LOL Beasley's issue wasn't effort; it was that he is a headcase tweener.

[MikeM]

I mean, what does Beal do better than Lamb? Try harder? Rebound better? Because I'm definitely drafting a SG for his rebounding ability lol. I'm not seeing it!!

[HolyMage110]

if we do get lamb, do we move derozan to sf
LAMB does have potential, i just hope he doesnt become a bust

[Undefeated]

There are some concerns about Lamb's motor, but let's not blow it out of proportion like he's the second coming of Andrea Bargnani or even on the same level as Perry Jones III. When it comes to evaluating how hard a prospect plays I think it's subjective at best. On one hand, you have Lamb who was UConn's best player despite the team not making it a priority to get him the ball. I mean, it should be known that it doesn't need to come to the point where your best player has to demand the ball. You just do it, no questions asked. Despite all the turmoil, Lamb still made an effort to run off screens even when his teammates in the backcourt missed him for the wide open quick hitter at the elbow/wing either they were looking down on their dribble or they had their head turned the opposite direction for whatever reasons. He kept his head up and still did what he did best to keep the offense from hitting a dead end with the abundance of ball-stoppers. Then on the other hand, your best player should be getting in their teammates face and ear when they're not giving him the ball. He shouldn't be letting other guys stepping on his toes. But if you look at the hustle stats like steals and rebounds, he's pretty much above-average, so he's certainly not going through the motion for the full 40 minutes. Lamb has a good head on his shoulder, just needs someone who can get into him once in a while to give him that added motivation. I don't know why people pick on Lamb's motor. If you guys actually play rep. ball, you would know how it feels when your shots aren't dropping. It completely makes you feel like **** which is why I understand where Lamb is coming from.

[HolyMage110]

i actually think pj3 would be good if put under casey
look at JJ, he was horrible during the beginning of the seaon and apparently when he said he adapted to casey and the system he got a better feel for the game

[fredericklove]

I honestly have no idea how this guy isn't consensus top 3. Maybe I'm out to lunch but I don't see anything I don't like about him.

Elite wingspan, anticipation, body control, natural jumpshot mechanics. I don't know what you want from the 8th pick but you're not going to do much better than Lamb IMO.

What I really, really don't get is this notion that he had a bad college year. 18 points on 48% FG.

SIXTY PER CENT on two-pointers. 80% from the line. Natural shooter with an unblockable jumper, can create his own shot, athletic, quick, smart.

I must be crazy.

Interview. Interview is more important than skillsets and productions. Heck, interview is the most important thing in a basketball player's career.

[HolyMage110]

I honestly have no idea how this guy isn't consensus top 3. Maybe I'm out to lunch but I don't see anything I don't like about him.

Elite wingspan, anticipation, body control, natural jumpshot mechanics. I don't know what you want from the 8th pick but you're not going to do much better than Lamb IMO.

What I really, really don't get is this notion that he had a bad college year. 18 points on 48% FG.

SIXTY PER CENT on two-pointers. 80% from the line. Natural shooter with an unblockable jumper, can create his own shot, athletic, quick, smart.

I must be crazy.

Interview. Interview is more important than skillsets and productions. Heck, interview is the most important thing in a basketball player's career.

austin rivers seemed like he aced it when answering questions to the media, cant see how it would possibly go wrong behind closed doors

[Fenris-77]

How'd that work out for Beasley?

LOL Beasley's issue wasn't effort; it was that he is a headcase tweener.[/quote]
I'm going to assume you're joking and not blind.

As for the D, great D requires constant attention and effort, which (right now anyway) aren't Lamb's strong suit. Plus he's rail thin, so he's going to pushed around an bullied even by mid-sized NBA players. He's got great potential on the defensive side of things, but he's not there just yet, nt at the NBA level.

Commentary from a site doesn't make a thing so either. It's tough to reconcile comments lauding his steals with his actual (very pedestrian) steal numbers. You'll notice that my main concerns defensively are right in the quoted text there too.

I think I may pass on this thread until my rose coloured glasses come in the mail. I feel really out of place without them on right now.

[fredericklove]

IMO those pitfalls are all dubious at best. Poor body language? Really?

Yup, really really. Lets forget about Lamb for a second here. Try and think of how many really good NBA players looked like 'poor motor' guys at the NCAA level. The answer is not too many. Some, sure, but it's very much the minority. Someone who buys that line of reasoning will have issues with Lamb, especially in the top 3. I could go on, but I won't, because it's all been said here and that wasn't really my main point.

I'm not actually trying to sway your convictions about Lamb, just point out that there are actual legitimate concerns about the kid. Concerns that have real merit for people who actually know and follow basketball. Obviously you don't agree, which is fine, but keep in mind here that it's a matter of opinion, not fact (on both sides).

Let me ask you this. You ever seen a poor motor guy that keeps running around every screens in every offensive possession?

[DG88]

There's reason why people have soured a bit on Lamb. GM's know about his skills they've seen him play for two years now. They have a good estimation of his skills. During the combine he did nothing to highlight some red flags. GM's don't put much stock in terms of the numbers at the combine, like measurement and how fast or slow they did their drills. What the combine is really about the professionalism, and seriousness that the players approach the tasks and the interviews. It gives GM's a glimpse of how they could approach a basketball game in the NBA mentally. This is where Lamb didn't excel in and GM's aren't as high on him as they might have used to be.