2014 Draft Prospects:
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ESPN with a nice little human interest story on Isaiah Austin. Nothing really new but still a nice story. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Isaiah-Austin-5773/
The dude still hasn't put on any weight since being recruited but is still just as long as I remember. Shoots pretty well considering his limitation as well.
While most pundits seem to have kinda given up on the dude as a serious prospect, he at least has the lineage of an NBA that could make someone think otherwise (His uncle was Isaac Austin).
The dude still hasn't put on any weight since being recruited but is still just as long as I remember. Shoots pretty well considering his limitation as well.
While most pundits seem to have kinda given up on the dude as a serious prospect, he at least has the lineage of an NBA that could make someone think otherwise (His uncle was Isaac Austin).
Something I think has been mentioned here before is that the sport he played in Cameroons was volleyball. This prepares him nicely to be a shot blocking big in the NBA. The rest of it he has to learn as he has only played basketball 3 or 4 years but this is a tremendous start and he can contribute from day 1. Get to the 5th year and he very well might be a monster.
I'll say it again, I don't think Smart is a PG. I do think he's going to be a very good player, but he's more of a combo guard, and a lot of the things he does in college, will be a little harder to do in the NBA. And to be fair, some things will be easier. The main point is, he's not the kind of PG that I think the team needs. Exum may be, but I'd rather have an experienced PG. If I had to choose who I thiink the best college PG is right now, I'd pick Tyler Ennis of Syracuse. Great composure! I just love watching him play.
Ennis has good passing technique - if you get open, he will find you, but he can not create, forcing defense to react, shoots well from outside, when is picking his moments - really reminds early career Calderon offensively. On defense he's a part of the zone and shows very good anticipation, but he lacks in size, speed and length. Will be a steady presence, but nothing spectacular. Exum on the other hand has special skills: if you are in a position to draft him, you do it, no matter what.
Game of Kentucky vs Tennessee really changed my mind on WCS. I realize that Jarnell Stokes is hard to contain inside, but he absolutely abused whoever was guarding him, getting offensive rebounds at will, and when Kentucky started to concentrate all their attention on boxing him out his now open teammates picked up the slack - 20 offensive rebounds against 24 overall rebounds for Kentucky. Vonleh shows much more fight inside despite being 2 years younger, just knows how to be a garbage scorer and how to force fouls, plus another game with 2 made threes, making it 8-11 from college 3 over the last 5 games. Feels like rich man's Jason Thompson is his floor.
Game of Kentucky vs Tennessee really changed my mind on WCS. I realize that Jarnell Stokes is hard to contain inside, but he absolutely abused whoever was guarding him, getting offensive rebounds at will, and when Kentucky started to concentrate all their attention on boxing him out his now open teammates picked up the slack - 20 offensive rebounds against 24 overall rebounds for Kentucky. Vonleh shows much more fight inside despite being 2 years younger, just knows how to be a garbage scorer and how to force fouls, plus another game with 2 made threes, making it 8-11 from college 3 over the last 5 games. Feels like rich man's Jason Thompson is his floor.
I wouldn't place too much emphasis on one game, whether its a good one or a bad one. I thought Calapari used Stein a little strangely in that game. He didn't get many minutes and wasn't really in foul trouble. Having said that, I have Vonleh ranked ahead of Stein, and I think Vonleh can be quite a bit better than JT. In some ways, he reminds a little of a young Chris Bosh, but a little more physical in the paint. As far as Exum and Ennis go, I'd certainly take Exum over Ennis, and didn't suggest otherwise. Far more upside. All I was saying, that if your looking for a so called true PG, Ennis comes the closest of just about any other college PG. And he's only 18 or 19 years old. By the way, the problem with Vonleh, is that he plays on a team with a PG that hasn't seen a shot he doesn't like, and doesn't know that Vonleh exists.
from... a writer on NBA.com's Bulls page. Seems odd. A lot can change between now and spring though.
I know Smart didn't shoot well against Kansas, but he still put up 16pts, 10boards, 9asts, and 4stls. Shooting is the only thing he can't do, but his form isn't bad and he has a good work ethic. I don't think he's a combo guard, I think he's just a modern PG. Big, strong, athletic, smart, great defense. He's more of a scorer than a facilitator but he can run the offense very well and usually makes the right pass. I just think he'll be one of the best players from the draft. People always over-value the ability to shoot, which is the easiest thing to improve. With his size and athleticism, he'll be a contributor from day one. I also think he's much more athletic than people give him credit for.
I wouldn't be surprised if Jabari returns to Duke, though hopefully that doesn't happen. Wiggins is growing on me more. George Paul is a solid comparison though comparisons are generally useless. He may even be better when he puts it all together. It wouldn't at all surprise me if Randle turns into a franchise player and the best from the class. He's being somewhat overlooked but he's getting double and triple teamed every night. I know he's not a great fit next to Cuz but at some point it doesn't matter if he's far better than whoever else is on the board. He's freakishly strong and athletic, but he's so skilled and has a great feel for the game. Not undersized. Extremely smart and has the demeanour and personality of a superstar. He's actually reminding me a lot of Cuz at Kentucky, just smaller but more athletic and under control. More polished.
I'm a big fan of Exum too but who knows what he'll do? Workouts will mean a lot for him if he does declare this year.
I have so many games recorded that I need to get through, tough to find the time.
I wouldn't be surprised if Jabari returns to Duke, though hopefully that doesn't happen. Wiggins is growing on me more. George Paul is a solid comparison though comparisons are generally useless. He may even be better when he puts it all together. It wouldn't at all surprise me if Randle turns into a franchise player and the best from the class. He's being somewhat overlooked but he's getting double and triple teamed every night. I know he's not a great fit next to Cuz but at some point it doesn't matter if he's far better than whoever else is on the board. He's freakishly strong and athletic, but he's so skilled and has a great feel for the game. Not undersized. Extremely smart and has the demeanour and personality of a superstar. He's actually reminding me a lot of Cuz at Kentucky, just smaller but more athletic and under control. More polished.
I'm a big fan of Exum too but who knows what he'll do? Workouts will mean a lot for him if he does declare this year.
I have so many games recorded that I need to get through, tough to find the time.
He's a nice talent, but make a simple exercise: stand up and look right ahead of you. Then without moving your head focus your vision as far to the right as you can. Then close your right eye and realize, how much space you just lost control of. For a guy, who has help defense as a strength, Austin is at a huge disadvantage as far as controlling the whole opposing team goes
K
If Frazier can be a elite boxer (in a sport where vision is vital for your well being) with 1 eye I'm sure Austin can be a decent help defender regardless off the one eye plus he's use to it by now it's not like he's adjusting to it. The one eye thing I am not really concerned about tbh. The one eye does not seem to effect his shooting so I don't really buy into it he's adjusted fine.