Drummond Workout 6/14/12

[Prince_XY]

I would point out that if Drummond and Barnes hadn't entered college with such fanfare, I don't think anyone would be talking about them going in the top 10 picks of this draft. They are both getting a lot of credit for what they did in HS, and what they hope they can become.

Well, that is the norm and the same yardstick is being used for all draftees for several years now.

And where else should we be basing the credit or their potential?

To the few games they played in College which could turn out to be just an anomalous year for them?

 

[Prince_XY]

He's a crappy rebounder, and he shouldn't be dribbling the ball. His "skills" in basketball are mostly on the defensive side sans rebounding (which he just flat out sucks at). Like I said earlier, if we wanted a defensive specialist (which Drummond isn't) then we should take a different player.

I agree if you'll just base it on his College play.

Have you seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXB6vc5Z_A4&feature=relmfu

Which BIGs in the NBA do you think have high school highlights of their skills like this when they were 18 years of age?

Can you give me any video highlight of one at 6' 11" and 18 years of age with better skills?

 

[Gary]

I agree if you'll just base it on his College play.

Have you seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXB6vc5Z_A4&feature=relmfu

Which BIGs in the NBA do you think have high school highlights of their skills like this when they were 18 years of age?

Can you give me any one at 6' 11" and 18 years of age with better skills?

I don't put much stock in high school videos. The talent level is FAR below the college level. And at the college level Drummond wasn't worth the hype he got. If he went to a smaller school he wouldn't be in the top 10.

 

[Glenn]

Are you implying that something really serious happened to Drummond in his transition from high school to College?

Is it possible to just suddenly forget all your basketball skills in a year?

I think we are mistaken if we are drafting Drummond based on his performance in College alone. How many College games did he play?

Is he a finished product at 18?

Are KG, Dwight Howard, and Bynum finished products when they were drafted in the NBA?

Of course not.

Why?

Because they were only teenagers too!

18 years old, 6' 11'", 278 lbs, very mobile(especially laterally), and with good basketball skills in basketball. He can block shots, dunk the ball with authority if he wants to, rebound, dribble the ball, and shown some flashes of being a good passer. Those qualities are rare. The only thing that will hinder this kid from being better than Dwight Howard is if he gets injured (like Oden) or if we mess-up his development just like what is happening now to Evans.

I am not going to anwer all the questions because the people in his draft range are also young yet played far better in college. I don't know why Drummond did so poorly but the others in his draft range did NOT have the big fall off. If there is a reasonable and known (not theoretical) reason for why his game fell off in college, I'll listen. I am not going to risk millions of dollars and a significant part of the future of this team on guess work when there are other options.

What may hinder his development is whatever caused his play to deteriorate. I need to know what that is. To say that the only thing that will limit him is injury is wishfull thinking. Maybe he is dumb as an aging clam. I don't know but he is doing next to nothing to reassure me.

 

[Telemachus]

Well, that is the norm and the same yardstick is being used for all draftees for several years now.

And where else should we be basing the credit or their potential?

To the few games they played in College which could turn out to be just an anomalous year for them?

I will always pay more attention to what a player does in college, than to what they did in HS. There is simply NO comparison when looking at the compitition. I have seen a lot of guys dominate in HS that couldn't cut it in college. I have also seen many guys come out of HS ranked in the top 5 who never came close to living up to expectations. It is like a person who graduates from HS at the top of his class and ends up a C student in college. It isn't that he suddenly got dumber, but that the people around him are much smarter as a whole.

 

[Prince_XY]

I will always pay more attention to what a player does in college, than to what they did in HS. There is simply NO comparison when looking at the compitition. I have seen a lot of guys dominate in HS that couldn't cut it in college. I have also seen many guys come out of HS ranked in the top 5 who never came close to living up to expectations. It is like a person who graduates from HS at the top of his class and ends up a C student in college. It isn't that he suddenly got dumber, but that the people around him are much smarter as a whole.

I may have missed knowing that player. Most probably the ones you've seen either plays PG, SG, or SF, and they were not as BIG as Drummond who can play both PF and C.

Give me a name who was comparable to Drummond - a talented mobile BIG, at least 6' 10" and around 250 lbs. I'll check his high school video highlight when he was 18 years of age or younger. I will compare their skills/talent.

I still think Drummond is one of a kind although still very raw. Give this kid to San Antonio or Lakers and he is almost guaranteed to be one of the most dominating bigs in the NBA.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Right, for me, it's Drummond or trade down for 2 mid first.