I don't know which thread it was in, perhaps several, but I was pretty adamant that Lillard was the 2nd best player in the draft and that Drummond would be a starter from the get go, not the under-motiviated bust many predicted. It always struck me as odd that he was so physically similar to Oden yet pretty much an afterthought as a prospect. I think I also questioned what people saw in TRob... Ditto for MKG (you don't look for defensive hustle players in the lottery).
I don't think drafting is all that hard. People just fall in love with college energy guys (we're all guilty of it too), of course guys like T-Rob/MKG looked unstoppable because they're too physical for the average college player. Still those type of players are steals in the late 1st and early 2nd. Really there is a formula to making a good pick in the lottery, you have to look at shooting (from all areas on the floor), body (health, size, etc.), mindset (confidence is huge, along with team first ideals and killer drive/work ethic), defensive potential and ultimately does he fit your teams need. If he checks out for at least 4 of those 5, draft him.
My god I was drinking the Marshal at 11 koolaid. I thought with weapons around him he would be something special kinda like rondo. I tried reading through that way to long to fully do it but I think I was on board with Marshal/Lamb at 11 and trading the 6 until a week before draft then I wanted Robinson BAD at #6. Was so PISSED draft night when Sac took him at 5. I do remember the Blaze05 meltdown after we drafted Lillard and my it is hands down one of the funniest moments on S2.
On draft night When I saw barnes available at 6 I was super upset when the Blazers drafted Lillard. I just thought he had less upside than barnes. Also with barnes could have let Batum walk and make a play for goran dragic. But obviously the right decision was made. Goodjob Blazers. Boy were certain people who never think they're wrong/never willing to admit it.. Were completely off on this draft class. good laughs.
smh @ my Austin Rivers love. He might have been the worst player to get mins in the entire league his rookie year.
I wasnt sure at first but the closer we got to the draft the more I wanted Lillard. I was pretty confident that a good player would drop. I wasnt sure if that was going to be Drummond or Lillard.
I wrote Lillard off early and didn't even do research on him About a month or so before the draft I started doing some digging, and by draft night he was the #1 guy I wanted that the Blazers could realistically draft
I would have been happy to get a Jeff Teague level player out of Lillard (not that I am saying they appeared to be similar players). Needless to say that what he has given us has been amazing and more than I could have imagined.
I was on the Drummond tip, figured he was a classic "not gonna try until I'm getting paid" type. Kendall Marshall looked like a player too, so whatevz
Went through the 2012 draft thread. I was gunning for Dame hard. But for some reason, I was absolutely in love with Rivers and TRob (along with Wroten). smh And some of these choice posts: sigh
