Draft Combine: Winners and Losers

[lwc]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/e...raft-combine-dozen-winners-and-12-more-losers

Some interesting notes:

Winners​

8) Darius Miller - I admit I pegged Miller as a future overseas guy prior to the year, but he's progressed, matured and developed. Miller showed he can do it all at Kentucky -- and did it again in front of all the NBA guys. He made shots from deep, provided consistent effort and also got after it on the defensive end. He's likely the key to UK getting a record-setting six guys into the first round.

5) Meyers Leonard - He checked in at 7-foot-1 and change, had a 9-foot-plus standing reach and was also impressive on the court. He played hard, showed his athleticism and agility and likely solidified himself in the lottery. Toughness remains a question, but Leonard certainly helped himself in Chicago.

11) Robbie Hummel - The Purdue star blew out a sneaker. Blew it out completely. Most would have been rattled. Not Hummel -- who has blown out his knee on two occasions. He had to borrow a pair from Quincy Miller to take the vertical jump. Hummel was a winner because he did what he does well, make all the right decisions, drained shots -- and carried himself well. And he wasn't even wearing a knee brace.

Losers​

3) Jeremy Lamb - He sat next to Bradley Beal on Thursday morning, watching the shooting guards who elected to participate in the combine, and looked as though he would have rather been anywhere else. Lamb has talent, but he always appears disinterested. According to sources, it carried over to the interviews as well.

4) Tyler Zeller - He measured as a legit 7-footer with sneakers, but the most important stat for NBA guys isn't pure height -- it's standing reach. Zeller has short arms and his standing reach was 8-foot-8 inches. By comparison, Royce White -- who gives away more than four inches to Zeller - has a longer standing reach.

7) Andre Drummond - Could have answered some questions in a setting like this, but didn't participate. He obviously wasn't alone, but so many wonder about his love for the game and intensity. Drummond also wore sneakers that gave him an added two inches and didn't blow teams away in the interviews.

10) Renardo Sidney - I know he was overweight at a recent mass team workout, but I can't help wondering what the old Big Sid would have looked like against some of these big guys. He's so much more talented than most of these guys -- and wasn't even invited to Chicago. Such a waste.

 

[hrdboild]

Renardo Sidney was being talked about as a top 5 pick a few years ago and now he might not even get drafted. He really blew it. Just one bad decision after another.

 

[lwc]

Renardo Sidney was being talked about as a top 5 pick a few years ago and now he might not even get drafted. He really blew it. Just one bad decision after another.

He is a scary talent. Scary-good and scary because he is essentially a thug.

 

[ElRey]

If Drummonds doesn't do well in team workouts, then he's likely going to slip. He doesn't sound like he's been helping his cause.

 

[Gilles]

Hummel measured with 8'5" reach. Nobody's drafting him to play PF.

 

[Fear the Putin]

Wasn't Cousins teabagged all over the place during the combine?

http://dimemag.com/2010/05/the-winners-losers-of-the-nba-draft-combine/

Cousins started off on the wrong foot as he measured in with 16 percent body fat. His vertical was worse then Aldrich, as his max vertical was 27.5 inches. Also, Cousins declined to do the bench press because “he doesn’t lift weights.” But with all that being said, Cousins is not a raw athlete. What he is, is a very skilled big man that could make an immediate impact next year. Nonetheless, questions will continue to circulate about his work ethic and maturity.

http://www.nbadraft.net/combine-measurement-analysis

While DeMarcus Cousins length is absolutely jaw dropping at 6-9.5 in shoes with a 7'5.75 wingspan and 9'5 standing reach. Cousins was the shortest player with a 9'5 standing reach and came in third overall in wingspan to height ratio (8 1/4 inch difference). Unfortunately his 292 lbs and 16.4 percent body fat show that he hasn't been putting any work in on his cardio. Cousins' 16.4 % body fat was second only to Dexter Pittman's and is alarming to scouts. Considering there are concerns about his attitude and willingness to work hard, this is an additional red flag.

http://www.sbnation.com/2010/5/23/1483280/2010-nba-draft-combine-reaction-analysis

If ever there was a player who needed to have a good combine, it was DeMarcus Cousins, and he failed to deliver. From his combative stance towards reporters, to his weight and body fat percentage being less-than-stellar, to some odd quotes about him coming from teammate Daniel Orton, Cousins did not deliver enough to assuage the fears of General Managers and fans alike.

 

[rainmaker]

Neither Cuz nor Reke impressed in interviews either. Jimmer blew everyone away in interviews and we've seen how that's turned out so far. Much more concerned with how his workouts with us go, and the idea Brick has about Drummond being far more talented than he showed at UConn is definitely intriguing, on top of his defensive presence and athleticism.

Given I heard today some gm's were asking questions like, "what's you favorite kind of pot to smoke", and "do you cheat on your gf's", I don't even know how they judge whether a player blows them away in the interview process or not. GM's aren't blowing me away with those questions.

Something to consider: If Drummond is in fact more talented than this past year showed, and if UConn put him in a role that didn't fit his talent, he's probably both sick of the stereotype and stupid questions about it. Same as with Cuz, who was repeatedly asked about being a cancer and his maturity, when in reality he wasn't half as bad as these "journalists" portrayed him to be. He was sick and tired of those questions and therefor didn't come across well.

 

[Bricklayer]

Let them pummel Drummond all they want -- I only care about what he shows US. Worst case scenario we end up choosing between him and whichever other of the Top 6 slips. The only really problematic scenario is if Drummond fails to impress and the other guy is Beal. Then we have to trade someone. Otherwise I would LOVE to have Drummond be one of our options at #5. Take him if he shows in workouts, take the other guy if he doesn't. Best thing that can happen for us is for people to be talking ish about him.

 

[Gary]

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

Robinson measured an 1 1/4 inches shorter than I predicted. I am not so sure I want a 6'8 PF.. Well closer to 6'9 but he's small for a PF.

 

[Gary]

How about Fab Melo? EXCELLENT wingspan (considering he's smaller in the chest), and standing reach (same as Drummond's) and he's a legit 7'0 with shoes.

Also Kendall Marshall.... NICE... 6'4.25 in shoes and he weighs under 200. What worries me is his standing reach, and wingspan. Looks like he has shorter arms.

I do like Marquis Teague too. He's 6'2 180 and has long arms and a big chest.

We seriously need to get a draft pick or two in the mid/late first round, and take Melo, and Teague. They are going to be good players/role players.

 

[ElRey]

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

Robinson measured an 1 1/4 inches shorter than I predicted. I am not so sure I want a 6'8 PF.. Well closer to 6'9 but he's small for a PF.

at 6'9, he's fine... did pretty darn good against Kentucky's frontline of Anthony Davis and Terrance Jones in the NCAA title game.

 

[Bricklayer]

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

Robinson measured an 1 1/4 inches shorter than I predicted. I am not so sure I want a 6'8 PF.. Well closer to 6'9 but he's small for a PF.

Really? I thought you were looking for 6'9" in shoes, which is about what he's at.

 

[Gary]

Really? I thought you were looking for 6'9" in shoes, which is about what he's at.

I was saying 6'10 because supposedly that's what he measured at the Lebron James camp he attended. I guess their idea of measurements was taking the players word for it?

 

[Bricklayer]

I was saying 6'10 because supposedly that's what he measured at the Lebron James camp he attended. I guess their idea of measurements was taking the players word for it?

Wouldn't surprise me. Who is going to show up at a camp that is going to measure them for real and damage their draft stock/hype?

 

[lwc]

How about Fab Melo? EXCELLENT wingspan (considering he's smaller in the chest), and standing reach (same as Drummond's) and he's a legit 7'0 with shoes.

Also Kendall Marshall.... NICE... 6'4.25 in shoes and he weighs under 200. What worries me is his standing reach, and wingspan. Looks like he has shorter arms.

I do like Marquis Teague too. He's 6'2 180 and has long arms and a big chest.

We seriously need to get a draft pick or two in the mid/late first round, and take Melo, and Teague. They are going to be good players/role players.

For any back court player, I never worry about standing reach. They defend usually with their arms extended horizontally. With that said, wingspan is VERY important. Having a small wingspan can be a problem.

 

[KingsCity]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft/2...2-andre-drummond-damian-lillard-austin-rivers

sb nation just said andre drummond is definitely in place to be drafted top 5 after he showed everyone his 38 in vertical leap

 

[Gilles]

Plumlee measured with 8'8.5" reach and he was for sure one of "slouching" guys. Yes, he jumps very high but still he probably have something like 8'11" reach and 39" two step jump. "7-footer with 41" vertical" just sounds more impressive.

 

[Vlade4GM]

For any back court player, I never worry about standing reach. They defend usually with their arms extended horizontally. With that said, wingspan is VERY important. Having a small wingspan can be a problem.

It can matter with their finishing ability.

 

[bajaden]

Hummel measured with 8'5" reach. Nobody's drafting him to play PF.

I think he's being considered at SF, but I doubt he's quick enough to play that position. He's a good shooter, so he might catch on as a specialist on the good team. I watched him in the standing vertical, and the dude can't jump. I think the knee injuries took away whatever athleticism he had. Fundamentally skilled though.

 

[bajaden]

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

Robinson measured an 1 1/4 inches shorter than I predicted. I am not so sure I want a 6'8 PF.. Well closer to 6'9 but he's small for a PF.

According to Draftexpress data base, he's actually slightly taller than the average PF. He also has an 8'10" standing reach, and a 35" vertical. Hell, all he has to do is find out where Jae Crowder buys his shoes, and he can pick up another couple of inches.

 

[bajaden]

How about Fab Melo? EXCELLENT wingspan (considering he's smaller in the chest), and standing reach (same as Drummond's) and he's a legit 7'0 with shoes.

Also Kendall Marshall.... NICE... 6'4.25 in shoes and he weighs under 200. What worries me is his standing reach, and wingspan. Looks like he has shorter arms.

I do like Marquis Teague too. He's 6'2 180 and has long arms and a big chest.

We seriously need to get a draft pick or two in the mid/late first round, and take Melo, and Teague. They are going to be good players/role players.

The only way you get Melo is in the second round. Not a huge fan. Good defender at the college level, but the dude has no offense at all. I like Teague and Marshall. I won't state the obvious about Marshall. Teague is going to be a very good player down the road. Just going to take some time

 

[bajaden]

I was saying 6'10 because supposedly that's what he measured at the Lebron James camp he attended. I guess their idea of measurements was taking the players word for it?

Don't know how you can cheat as a player on a height measurement, so maybe whoever was measuring needed glasses. They were saying at the combine that some of the players try and cheat on their standing reach by not reaching as high as they can, so it will improve their vertical. The vertical is determined by substracting their standing reach from their vertical. So the shorter your reach, the greater your vertical.. I guess its all about where you want to look good.

 

[bajaden]

For any back court player, I never worry about standing reach. They defend usually with their arms extended horizontally. With that said, wingspan is VERY important. Having a small wingspan can be a problem.

As Bobby Knight says often on his game broadcasts, "You defend with your feet, not your hands"

 

[ElRey]

The rest of the draft combine results are out. Check out Harrison Barnes' vertical and Thomas Robinson's court sprint.

Top 5 each category

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?year=2012&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&source=NBA%20Draft%20Combine&sort=10

 

[bajaden]

The rest of the draft combine results are out. Check out Harrison Barnes' vertical and Thomas Robinson's court sprint.

Top 5 each category

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?year=2012&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&source=NBA%20Draft%20Combine&sort=10

Yeah, I think Barnes proved that he's more athletic than some thought. Very nice vertical. Now if he can improve his handles so he can get to the basket, that vertical will come in handy.

 

[Mal]

6' 8.75"

 

[vikinginferno]

I think all of Barnes, Beal, Robinson, and Drummond helped themselves in the athletic testing. Barnes and Beal both likely helped to remove the "average" athlete label that they had. Robinson and Drummond both showed the great athleticism that they have at the big positions. MKG didn't do all that well so that might help him drop to us...

 

[Vlade4GM]

As many suspected, there was an issue w/the original measurements the NBA released. Standing reaches were off by .5 to an inch. We're fixing

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/statuses/212559677517602816

Assuming he means they were off by an .5-inch lower and not higher, that's good news.

 

[Vlade4GM]

As Bobby Knight says often on his game broadcasts, "You defend with your feet, not your hands"

You defend with everything, it all matters to varying degrees.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Don't know how you can cheat as a player on a height measurement, so maybe whoever was measuring needed glasses. They were saying at the combine that some of the players try and cheat on their standing reach by not reaching as high as they can, so it will improve their vertical. The vertical is determined by substracting their standing reach from their vertical. So the shorter your reach, the greater your vertical.. I guess its all about where you want to look good.

You can cheat by wearing two+ inch thick shoes, but you can't cheat in socks though, and that's why I like that measurement much better, and just adding a standard inch or so.

If I were a player, I'd much rather have that inch or so on my standing reach than my vertical. People know verticals are not going to be a consistent measurement, but standing reaches probably don't have as wide of a margin of error since it's a pretty cut and dry measurement. If I was a PF, I'd know that there's going to be a big difference in perception of my size in a 8'9 standing reach and an 8'10. A 32 inch vertical vs. a 33 inch vertical though? I doubt it, an inch or two there is rather negligible, but when it comes to length, where your finger tips end can be a big difference in a made or missed shot (offensively or defensively), or a controlled or uncontrolled rebound. Leaping ability is going fluctuate based on how limber/healthy you are, what position you're in, how well you launch yourself, and how much momentum you need. Basically, there's a lot of factors, but your reach is simply a stretch of your arms, that doesn't fade with time and injury like your vertical can.