Tom Haberstroh: Reason #3187 why players are not GMs: Norris Cole picks Cle St G D'Aundray Brown at 27 for MIA. He's not in Ford's 100. http://es.pn/MVoCzP about 5 minutes ago
Tom Haberstroh: Also great: Nolan Smith's reason why POR should pick Damian Lillard is basically, "Uh, you don't really want me starting at point, do you?" now
Great but short interview the Tom Hewitt, the voice of the PSU Vikings (announcer). Word for Word: - Watched Lillard Play 12 Times - Lillard played 8 Games as Junior until injuring knee, took rest of the season off - Came back stronger with a lot of extra weight and upper body strength - First game back against PSU dropped 40 points - Very explosive, tends to go to his left like many great scorers Danny Ainge, Larry Bird - Can shoot really deep, a legitimate 30 feet - The Game against PSU this year Lillard was making tough tough shots - Rodney Stucky is best comparison but Lillard is above him - Very much a Team Player, that's what he's all about - Not a Me Me guy, but when its crunch time and his team needs a bucket he gets it done, inside or out - Look forward to him being a Blazer
There are only a couple of players we could draft at #6 that would piss me off. So I think I will enjoy the draft
Coming around on Lillard makes it easier. If we "settle" for him, I'm ok with that. My fear is not pulling the trigger on something small that would get us MKG or Robinson.
I think I read first pick should be 4:36. Not sure if that is when they go on clock, or when clock is over though
Jay Bilas was on with Colin Cowherd, and they were discussing Austin Rivers...and Bilas said that Rivers was the only player on that team who could get his own shot and that the team really didn't have a PG to set up teamates etc, and that as a result of that often times the ball would be passed to Rivers and he would have to create his own scoring opportunity. He said he was a good kid, very smart and very confident and will be able to score in the NBA. Thought that he could have looked to pass more than he did, but he was an 18yr old kid and he thinks he can improve in that area..... This is part of the reason why I like Rivers and think he is underated.....The situation he was in at Duke thrust him into a go-to guy role with no real help from teamates to create easy shot opposrtunities for him..screens, etc....having to go 1v1 all the time, break down defenses and score when the team needed it b\c no one esle really could do that leads to inefficiency...but I feel that is misleading b\c when he is in the NBA surrounded by better players he won't be placed in that situation immediately, creative coaches can run him off screens etc, what he will be able to do is go 1v1 when needed and breakdown his defender to score, get fouled and get to the line (underated skill in the NBA IMO)...and he has a high bball IQ, so with some coaching he can\will (IMO) learn to use his skill to break down a defender and then when the defense collapses on him instead of forcing the shot pass to an open teamate... POR IMO is lacking...actually, they don't even really have one....a player who is capable of breaking down a defender 1v1 and getting a shot off....this has killed POR at the end of many games or in key situations last year....I really think Rivers could help with that, probably more than any other player (maybe Waiters?) in this draft...It is a HUGE need for this team IMO... Rivers is 19yrs old, lot of room for growth..I think he is a SG...no PG experiment....and he has the size to play SG, he will need to get stronger, but what 19yr old kid doesn't? They all do... I'd love it if POR can get him at #11, but I really don't think he will make it there, TOR @ #8 or NO @ #10 would likely scoop him up....I think there is certainly a little more risk if he is taken at #6, rather than #11, but if he won't make it to #11....I would not be dissapointed with the pick at #6....He was top of his HS class for a reason, he is a flat out dynamic scorer...and has a huge will to win...and the confidence to go along with it, and confidence is an often overlooked skill, you have to believe that you can compete and beat anyone if you want to be great, the question is does he have the talent to go along with it? I think he showed in college that he does have the talent to score for himself and that will translate in the NBA...what will define how great he can be is if he can get his teamates involved....I think he is smart enough to do that... I will be really surprised if he busts....
Regarding Rivers, my rule of thumb when thinking about or talking about a draft prospect is cropping up in my mind: If I find myself making a lot of if-then statements, or hunting for reasons why a guy might be good or why he didn't produce more in college, that guy will almost always be a bust.
Makes me feel better about not drafting Drummond then. It's taken me a lot to come around to drafting Lillard over him.
Ben Golliver @blazersedge "I've heard a lot about it. You can never buy too much into it." -- Damian Lillard on Blazers taking him at No. 6
Fun read for those of you who think Simmons is funny. Ford is a great strait man. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8100861/ford-vs-simmons
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress Anthony Davis: "I'm nervous. New Orleans might change their mind." (NBA Draft Media Day)
Trail Blazers @pdxtrailblazers Kawakami: Trail Blazers Could Take Austin Rivers At No. 6: The consensus in the media seems to be that at No. 6,... http://blogs.trailblazers.com/Broad...spx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
