Brandon Jennings

Post #1 » by **revprodeji** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:59 am

Since we discuss the draft more than the draft board...

I am really trying to talk myself into Jennings. I know a playmaker is our biggest issues, and the kid is rumored to have serious skills. But for some reason after all the highlights and readings I cannot sell myself on him. Give me some help.

Krapinsky · Post #2 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:14 am

Funny you should post this now, as I just spent the last 30 minutes looking for new Jennings videos.

I see potential, but he still seems a ways away. He's very inconsistent and is going to need a strong tutor. It seems one moment he'll make a great pass for an easy dunk, the next he'll take a contested fade away that bricks out. His jump shot needs work. He tries on defense, but seems to gamble for steals a lot. I liken him to somewhere between Kenny Anderson and Rafer Alston.

Krapinsky · Post #3 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:23 am

Another note:

I don't think he is undersized as you said in the other thread. He's listed to be the same size as Chris Paul.

john2jer · Post #4 » by **john2jer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:35 am

It's not nice to lie, so I'm not going to try and sell you on him.

karch34 · Post #5 » by **karch34** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:50 am

Here's my attempt:

We know he's got some talent. Figure that playing overseas has allowed him to:

-play against a higher level of competition than at a major college (EXPERIENCE)

-taught a lot of lessons by not being given significantly more minutes than anyone else on the team and everything he got was earned (KNOWLEDGE)

-probably for the first time ever not being given license to do whatever he wants because he's the big man on the team...I think you can say at a lot of major programs he would've just been able to do whatever he wants (HUMILITY & COACHABILITY)

Krapinsky · Post #6 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:02 am

Here's an interesting story--

Jeremy Tyler a 6'11" junior commit to Louisville is foregoing his senior year in high school to play in europe.

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/ri ... id=4090570

4ho5ive · Post #7 » by **4ho5ive** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:36 am

I read that story about Tyler, crazy stuff. I hope it all works out for him because if the worst of the worst happens he wont have anything to fall back on.

I wouldnt be able to talk myself into Jennings. He doesnt help our size issues. Doesnt seem to be a team player, attitude, etc. Now I am basing this solely off of video clips and hearsay stories, but i think that is sufficient evidence to say he will never do anything good for anyone ever.

Krapinsky · Post #8 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:44 am

4ho5ive wrote:I read that story about Tyler, crazy stuff. I hope it all works out for him because if the worst of the worst happens he wont have anything to fall back on.

I wouldnt be able to talk myself into Jennings. He doesnt help our size issues. Doesnt seem to be a team player, attitude, etc. Now I am basing this solely off of video clips and hearsay stories, but i think that is sufficient evidence to say he will never do anything good for anyone ever.

(nodding in approval)

theGreatRC · Post #9 » by **theGreatRC** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:22 am

Rev, your new nickname is "The Washing Machine"

john2jer · Post #10 » by **john2jer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:13 pm

Because of his spin cycle?

Can you as a parent imagine letting your 17 year old kid move to Europe for basketball? It's like Royce White after getting kicked out of DeLasalle, I can't even imagine moving across town just for my son's basketball season. No reason he couldn't have played at the nearest public school.

I'm just amazed by the things I see from kids and parents when it comes to sports, as if an education means nothing. So of course here comes the argument that Royce transferred because of a college scholarship he got from basketball, but he already had that offer and actually accepted it the week he was kicked out of DeLasalle, and I doubt his interest is to stay at the U for 4 years to graduate.

So yeah, let's ship our kid across the pond because he gets hacked too much playing against smaller kids. Yeah I know hockey does it all the time, and I think that's just wrong too.

I'm gonna go get a cup of coffee and relax. ;-)

Post #11 » by **Worm Guts** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:21 pm

I don't get what you're saying. Most of the reason to get an education is to get a good job. This is a good job, and living in Europe for a year or two will be a good experience.

john2jer · Post #12 » by **john2jer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:34 pm

As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

And I think there's more to getting a good education than just getting a good job.

It's one thing to leave college early, but to leave high school early? I'm going to assume he'll have a tutor or get his GED or something, but even still... I just can't even imagine OKing that as a parent.

Post #13 » by **Worm Guts** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:47 pm

john2jer wrote:As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

That's OK, I don't want my kid doing those things.

john2jer wrote:And I think there's more to getting a good education than just getting a good job.

Sure there's more, but some kids won't learn no matter where send him. It's not the same for everyone, and this might be the kids best chance to succeed.

john2jer wrote:It's one thing to leave college early, but to leave high school early? I'm going to assume he'll have a tutor or get his GED or something, but even still... I just can't even imagine OKing that as a parent.

If I were the parent, I'd make sure the kid was living with a resposnsible adult. Beyond that, there's not much of an issue.

Post #14 » by **revprodeji** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:49 pm

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:Another note:

I don't think he is undersized as you said in the other thread. He's listed to be the same size as Chris Paul.

Chris Paul is undersized, but he is incredible. Tony Parker is undersized, but he is incredible. Bassy is undersized but...

theGreatRC wrote:Rev, your new nickname is "The Washing Machine"

Ok, you will need to explain. I am trying to like Jennings because I see a very good chance we take him. Right now I am incredibly negative about him.

Krapinsky · Post #15 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:15 pm

john2jer wrote:As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

Maybe that's why he's going to Europe. I'm pretty sure you can do all those things there when you're 13, not to mention drink, bang hookers, and fire AK-47's.

Well Eastern Europe at least.

Post #16 » by **C.lupus** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:25 pm

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:
john2jer wrote:As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

Maybe that's why he's going to Europe. I'm pretty sure you can do all those things there when you're 13, not to mention drink, bang hookers, and fire AK-47's.

Well Eastern Europe at least.

Meh. You can do all that in many parts of this country. You just have to get out of the cities.

john2jer · Post #17 » by **john2jer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:37 pm

Worm Guts wrote:
john2jer wrote:As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

That's OK, I don't want my kid doing those things.

EXACTLY! So send him to Europe where it's much easier to get ahold of those and worse?

I guess we just disagree. We seems to happen a lot. ;-)

Dr.Krapinsky wrote:
john2jer wrote:As a 17 year old on his own for the first time? The guy can't even buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, or step in a casino in this country yet.

Maybe that's why he's going to Europe. I'm pretty sure you can do all those things there when you're 13, not to mention drink, bang hookers, and fire AK-47's.

Well Eastern Europe at least.

EXACTLY!

I just honestly can't think of a logical reason for sending a 17 year old kid who hasn't even graduated from high school yet to Europe simply because of basketball. Ok, now as I say that I think of the foreign exchange program and kids coming here, BUT it's done with the idea of getting a better education, not to play soccer or basketball here. The kids are still going to school. In fact I remember from high school, one of the most talented soccer players our school ever had was a foreign exchange student, but the highest he'd play was JV because he was more interested in being in the school's theatre program.

It's basically telling the kid that basketball is the most important thing in life. It's telling him that sports trumps all. I can definitely understand the counter-argument, I just don't agree with it.

Krapinsky · Post #18 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:44 pm

john2jer wrote:I just honestly can't think of a logical reason for sending a 17 year old kid who hasn't even graduated from high school yet to Europe simply because of basketball. Ok, now as I say that I think of the foreign exchange program and kids coming here, BUT it's done with the idea of getting a better education, not to play soccer or basketball here. The kids are still going to school. In fact I remember from high school, one of the most talented soccer players our school ever had was a foreign exchange student, but the highest he'd play was JV because he was more interested in being in the school's theatre program.

It's basically telling the kid that basketball is the most important thing in life. It's telling him that sports trumps all. I can definitely understand the counter-argument, I just don't agree with it.

Hmm... I can think of about 2 Million after tax reasons. You know, Ricky Rubio was playing basketball across europe when he was 16. He'll be fine. He can always get his GED at a later date. Or buy one.

john2jer · Post #19 » by **john2jer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:53 pm

Rubio's from Europe, though. Was he living with his family?

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, or maybe part of me feels for Tyler's high school coach who thought he had the best player in the country on his team, and a guaranteed state championship? :-)

Since clearly money and sports are the only important things.

I'll be honest, I'm conflicted.

Post #20 » by **Worm Guts** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:00 pm

john2jer wrote:Rubio's from Europe, though. Was he living with his family?

If Tyler's going to be making millions, there's not much that would prevent his family from travelling with him.