ESPN Rookie Rankings

[Arco Thunder]

That is AWESOME news! Go Kings!!!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

NBA.com's guy is more solid.

And you get to actually read his stuff for free:

http://www.nba.com/rookies/

Reke #1, Omri#5



Now as an aside, we have had a long time runnign thread about the race for Roy in the NBA section. Wasn't sure why this all of a suddenly popped up over here, but probably eventually I'll merge them.

 

[NME]

Now as an aside, we have had a long time runnign thread about the race for Roy in the NBA section. Wasn't sure why this all of a suddenly popped up over here, but probably eventually I'll merge them.

Sorry, it wasn't so much about the ROY race as it was further acknowledgement of the amazing surprise that is Omri.

 

[Merdiesel]

Struggles to shoot off the dribble
Poor shot mechanics
Lacks deep range
Lacks great lateral quickness

lol

Those are actually the things he does best. He has a quick shot, can shoot the ball deep and can get up for boards.

 

[NME]

lol

Those are actually the things he does best. He has a quick shot, can shoot the ball deep and can get up for boards.

It's amazing, not only how wrong the scouting reports were, but how immediately he proved them wrong. I was okay, but not excited when we drafted him, because it sounded like he was very limited and at most could be a Nocioni type player, but his handle and ability to make a wide variety of shots are so much better than advertised. As a rookie, he already compares favorably with Hedo at any point through his first several seasons in the league.

 

[USNAVY15]

I can't think of a team having a better draft when you count all 4 players acquired. Sure, Lebron, Carmelo, Kobe, Shaq, Wade, Dwight, and KG were all game changers, but that was just 1 pick. We arguably got a perennial top 20 player in the NBA for the next 5 years, plus what should have been the 5th or 6th pick in Omri Cassipi, in addition to a fan favorite and ultimate competitor in Brockman. and Sergio is like having another lottery pick in the mix. 3 lottery picks and Brockman. The T-wolves had 3 1st round picks, and they royally wasted 2/3 of them. We were 3/3 on picks and 1/1 on trades. Yes, this might put Petrie in running for GM of year.

 

[Asaf]

so awesome!

Casspi:

Dec. 16: If Jennings would be the unanimous choice for the most surprising rookie 'til now, Casspi would sweep the second-place votes. Consider the negatives listed on his draft card by ESPN's draft guru Chad Ford after speaking to scores of executives and scouts who had seen Casspi play for years:

Struggles to shoot off the dribble
Poor shot mechanics
Lacks deep range
Lacks great lateral quickness

Opponents must be shaking their heads at that evaluation. Casspi has blistered teams from everywhere on the floor. He hits 3-pointers, gets buckets off the dribble and races the floor for dunks. Plus, he defends anyone and everyone with quick feet and a tough demeanor. All this while having to make the conversion from a power forward in Europe to a small forward here, with some shooting guard mixed in thanks to the injuries in Sacramento to Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia.

There was a lot of talk about Casspi spending some time in the D-League to acclimate to the NBA after struggling in the Vegas summer league. Instead, he's fighting for a starting spot in the rookie-sophomore game during All-Star Weekend in Dallas and perhaps even a slot in the 3-point shootout.

I don't know where these guys get their info. Casspi was never a power forward in Europe. He's been small forward all along.

I have to say, though, the scouts weren't THAT far off the mark. Casspi was not nearly as good a shooter when he was playing for Maccabi, and there was some truth to all the faults they found with him. However, that's exactly what's so impressive about him. He is so focused in knowing exactly what he needs to work on, both to improve his weaknesses and make his strengths even stronger. And he keeps going at it in full speed. If he keeps this up, and I'm pretty sure he will because it's part of his character, he will become an allstar within a couple of years.

 

[DeaconBlues]

I don't know where these guys get their info. Casspi was never a power forward in Europe. He's been small forward all along.

I have to say, though, the scouts weren't THAT far off the mark. Casspi was not nearly as good a shooter when he was playing for Maccabi, and there was some truth to all the faults they found with him. However, that's exactly what's so impressive about him. He is so focused in knowing exactly what he needs to work on, both to improve his weaknesses and make his strengths even stronger. And he keeps going at it in full speed. If he keeps this up, and I'm pretty sure he will because it's part of his character, he will become an allstar within a couple of years.

I wouldn't say never, he played occasional minutes at PF when Maccabi decided to go small, and played almost exclusively at PF for Galil Elyon, if you remember (Of course, the Israeli league is populated by smurfs who were kicked out of the smurf village for their poor athleticism, so he could get away with it.)

Agreed about his work ethic, but I think you're stretching it with the all-star thing.

 

[Asaf]

I wouldn't say never, he played occasional minutes at PF when Maccabi decided to go small, and played almost exclusively at PF for Galil Elyon, if you remember (Of course, the Israeli league is populated by smurfs who were kicked out of the smurf village for their poor athleticism, so he could get away with it.)

Agreed about his work ethic, but I think you're stretching it with the all-star thing.

I didn't really follow him when he played for Galil, but with Maccabi he played small forward. Of course, every player occasionally plays out of his natural position for tactic reasons, but you have to agree that saying that he had to "transform" from PF to SF is way off the mark.

 

[DeaconBlues]

Oh, certainly, I was just nitpicking. It is curious that they would think that, considering their other observations about his shooting and mechanics were reasonably accurate.

 

[Reem]

so awesome!

Casspi:

Dec. 16: If Jennings would be the unanimous choice for the most surprising rookie 'til now, Casspi would sweep the second-place votes. Consider the negatives listed on his draft card by ESPN's draft guru Chad Ford after speaking to scores of executives and scouts who had seen Casspi play for years:

Struggles to shoot off the dribble
Poor shot mechanics
Lacks deep range
Lacks great lateral quickness

Opponents must be shaking their heads at that evaluation. Casspi has blistered teams from everywhere on the floor. He hits 3-pointers, gets buckets off the dribble and races the floor for dunks. Plus, he defends anyone and everyone with quick feet and a tough demeanor. All this while having to make the conversion from a power forward in Europe to a small forward here, with some shooting guard mixed in thanks to the injuries in Sacramento to Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia.

There was a lot of talk about Casspi spending some time in the D-League to acclimate to the NBA after struggling in the Vegas summer league. Instead, he's fighting for a starting spot in the rookie-sophomore game during All-Star Weekend in Dallas and perhaps even a slot in the 3-point shootout.

he played most of the time as SF in europe, due to the fact that maccabi had two bigger guys on the starting line, rarely played 4 but he's game was based on slashing to the rim, different from now.. he's adaptation is amazing because he changed his whole style of play, so you right about everything eles, I wish he will get inside more in the NBA, he was always considered as all around player, he played PG in his youth so he know how to handle and lead the offence, I guess he was a real project from young age kinda like Nowitzki was in Germany, I wish he'll have career like Dirk have, in Sacramento.