Yeah, would be nice if Portland weren't in it. On a different topic, he has Rubio at #3? He should absolutely be #1 if he enters the draft, IMO. If Rubio doesn't enter the draft, that's a pretty terrible-looking draft class. Even with Rubio it is, but at least there's a good top prize.
Blake Griffin is far and away the best player at this point. Rubio seems overrated at this point. What does he do athletically that is exceptional? I've also yet to see him play man-to-man defense against a great PG, and that includes the Olympics.
Riddle me this, would the Thudd-er take James Harden or Hasheem Thabeet? For some reason I just think that team is going to be giving us fits for the next ten years.
I had been real high on Rubio in the past, and I still think he will be a good NBA player, but if I were a GM I don't think I would take him in the top 5. 5-8 is where he belongs.
They won't give the Blazers fits if Durant's counterpart lives up to the billing. On a non-related note, I watched Trainspotting again tonight on HBO. Begbie is such an arse, isn't he?
His defense may not be great, but he's an amazing passer, and a great slasher who can finish at the rim. He has the chance to be a special point guard, IMO. Griffin has limited upside to me...he's a great rebounder, but he doesn't have much of a post game and I don't think his face-up game will be very impressive against NBA defenders.
Too many teams have gambled on upside and screwed up draft picks. Griffin is a decently high upside player who is already skilled enough to be one of the better PFs in the NBA. (Top Half) He's a no brainer to me.
I think Rubio can be really good, but he isn't a Chris Paul or a Deron Williams physically. I do think he'd be incredible in a D'Antoni offense, but is that worth the #1 pick? I agree with the poster who said 5-8 for him. Euros are an unknown. I thought Rudy Fernandez would be outstanding and a steal. Instead, he's a very good perimeter shooter who appears at times to be absent in the on-the-ball defensive scheme.
The teams that have hit it the biggest have gone for upside. Projectable upside is still the most valued commodity, which is why Stern shut off prep prospects from the draft. If he hadn't, they'd still be the top prospects each year. I don't agree that he'd even remotely be an above-average power forward in the NBA right now. His offensive skills are still so raw and his defense isn't dominant. He might be an above-average rebounder right now, but I don't think he'd be above average in anything else. He's very much an upside pick, I just think his upside isn't as high as Rubio's.
I just got the Blazers the #1 pick on my first try!!!!!!!!! On a side note- WHAT A WEAK-ASS DRAFT!!!!!!!!!!!
I think he profiles more like a Steve Nash than Paul or Williams. Hmm, I think he is a steal. I didn't think he'd be outstanding in his rookie season. He's been a good player, overall. I think he'll be somewhere between an above average starter and a borderline All-Star in a couple of years.
Yeah, that's why I posted he'd be fine in a D'Antoni system. I noticed you cropped that out of your response. Weird. Anyhow, Nash still hasn't even been to an NBA Final, has he. If that is the ceiling, well, count me out.
I actually didn't realize you were making a comment on Nash with the D'Antonti system remark, since Nash was an excellent player as a Maverick, too. Nash is dropping off now due to age, but a prime Nash would have been excellent for any team. I don't measure players' ceilings by how good the GM on their eventual team is.
Nash wasn't an MVP until he went to Phoenix. I expect #1 picks to be MVP-level players as their careers progress.
He was the same level of player in Dallas, though, as far as I'm concerned. He simply got more recognition in Phoenix. I have no idea whether Rubio will be an MVP candidate; I don't evaluate draft prospects that way, I evaluate them by whom I think will be the better player. After all, if you don't believe any of the prospects will be an MVP candidate, do you rank none of them at the top? I don't know whether Rubio or Griffin will ever be MVP candidates, but I think Rubio will be the better player.
I think Griffin is the more polished #1 pick. I just don't find any reason to question a mock that puts Rubio at #3. I hope they are both outstanding players.
I question anything I don't agree with. In no way does it mean I'm certain that I'm right, but discussion is always fun. I can't say I really care whether either one is successful. To paraphrase Moe the Bar-tender: I'm a well-wisher in that I don't wish them any specific harm. But if the Blazers were picking #1, as things stand I'd want them to take Rubio.
