http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NBA-Sc...Part-One--2975/ I saw that Draftexpress started player pages for every player in the NBA, sorted by team. They already had pages for recent draftees, thus why there's nothing new for the younger players. I thought all of the new scouting reports were spot on, except I had a few minor disagreements with how Jackson's was portrayed since his was a bit different than the other guys, with more about his basketball IQ, and in other cases there were a few things left out that could have been said with Maggette and Jackson probably, but nothing big. All in all an interesting read.
Heh, I was looking through the list and saw this picture under Randolph's name. So, apparently he got the better of Hendrix on this particular play? Also, on a side note, they put the wrong Marcus Williams on there, unless we traded for a 6'7" SF from the Clippers?
I think they got our Marcus Williams' weight right at least... oh and his assist averages. Wait a minute there are clippers on that page! Okay that was just confusing how the right column doesn't reflect the scouting report about the Warriors. This report should have only warriors players on it, right? It didn't. I got more to add on this scouting report, but probably later. I agree with most of the positives about these players, especially with Mags. I disagree about his lateral quickness at shooting guard. It's not that good. At small forward he should be fine with his level of quicks and he can thrive in an open court game or halfcourt game to even function as a passer (3 assists a game is solid for a scorer). His defense is actually decent or pretty good (depending on which position he plays). He is extremely aggressive and that gets him in trouble when he doesn't need to do those things to play effective D. I still consider Sjax a huge player for this team if he can mesh well with mags + ellis. He'll be an asset for support of our bigs. His footwork is always excellent and I always lover passers who can dribble some and make their shots. I think Ellis should pick up his productivity as long as they use Biedrins in the pick and roll. So that part I agree with. We're still going to be a running team, but we need to develop our power forward and center spots where they can work in the paint. We should look for a team build where we have an outside and inside presence on both ends of the floor. Then the game becomes about ball movement and foot movement as the ball swings from side to side, inside and out for high % shots... then on defense guys can anticipate where the play will be to close on the passing lanes or be there to alter the shot. We have plenty of guys who are capable of doing this. I think Ellis could be a very good defender once he gets stronger and gains more experience of how to anticipate players and who the play will go to. Ellis is a very good ballhawk when he's playing one versus one defense... on point guards. For starters, I think Ellis + Marco should become midrange masters and use Biedrins, Wright, and Turiaf to get open as much as they can. Or... use Anthony Randolph in the pick and pop game since Randolph is a very good midrange guy with some deep two range. The midrange areas that are sparsely defended in today's nba could provide the space needed for 3 point shooters and paint players to do their jobs. Guys who have excellent touch from all over should use this instead of settling for 3's and standing around waiting for something to happen or dribbling into nowhere. It should be like football where guys train in running play routes so it becomes programmed into their mind. A high %2 is as good as a layup and you can still draw fouls this way if a defender goes up in the air at the shooter. Now let's talk about role players. Croshere is about an average athlete at SF, so maybe the scout report is right on. He's more quick than he is athletic. If you watch him and Dunleavy Jr (another 6'10 swing forward who is in between positions) Croshere is quicker on that first step and he's got faster hands and is stronger IMO. I would like to have Croshere back just because his step back midrange jumper is something that I liked from Murphy when facing in-the-paint defenders, but Croshere provides more effort on D. I like Croshere, but sometimes dread his inconsistency (like when I saw him in preseason I was hoping he'd get cut). Marco Belinelli and Kelenna Azubuike could end up being just role players. But they got upside and I love what their games are supposed to represent. Let's hope there are outstanding results from their (hopefully) increased playing time. CJ Watson love his mentality to go to the rack and utilize a pull-up midrange jumper. He can play both guard spots, but he is more of a point guard. Marcus Williams. He's got some potential to be good. He'd be a lotto pick if it weren't for the red flags... and I think those red flags don't have me too excited about him. But look at this way, if Sjax was able to resurrect his career here, anybody does. Kosta Perovic. Could be a nice backup player. Looks nice with his footwork. Turiaf. Great in college, should be solid for us as a defender/scorer. Has midrange shooting and inside scoring ability, although his touch on his shot really needs some consistency. We need more role players who can shoot the same shot everytime when open. It doesn't have to be complicated, guys just need to shoot the same shot. What I like about the Turiaf signing is that he'll bring what this team doesn't have: Fundamental big man skills + Presence + personality + energy. Foyle had only 1 of the 4. All in all, I'm really impressed with a lot of these guys' offensive games. It's like the nba has become about dunks and 3 pointers, but it should be about the whole game. inside, midrange, outside game. I think quite a few of our players have this ability, so now it's a question of creating shots to get the ball in the basket as accurately as we can and against what defenses are willing to give us.
I'm happy with everything except Harrington. I think he's going to hurt us more nights than he helps us as a PF starter. Right now I'd put this team down for about 38 wins, although I think they'll be entertaining to watch. Next year, and with a real PF, that could be closer to 50. Of course Nellie will likely not be here so maybe back to 45.
Croshere is not returning to the team is he? I don't think he's on the roster. I would have liked to see something about that one player that was heating it up in the summer league who was just recently signed. His name has escaped my mind.... EDIT: Anthony Morrow
Yeah, Cro's not coming back, but they put him on the page anyway. Morrow does have an entry if you look for him, but it's a pretty short blurb. Basically what they said is what my opinion of him is - he was a great shooter during college, and he could make it from anywhere past halfcourt. Free throw line, mid range, 3 point line, nba 3 point line, with a hand in his face or not, game on the line. He is better with his feet set, and had a habit of disappearing from the game at times, but I was never really sure why. He doesn't have any all-around game either, basically being kind of invisible in all other areas of his game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zhone @ Aug 3 2008, 01:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, Cro's not coming back, but they put him on the page anyway. Morrow does have an entry if you look for him, but it's a pretty short blurb. Basically what they said is what my opinion of him is - he was a great shooter during college, and he could make it from anywhere past halfcourt. Free throw line, mid range, 3 point line, nba 3 point line, with a hand in his face or not, game on the line. He is better with his feet set, and had a habit of disappearing from the game at times, but I was never really sure why. He doesn't have any all-around game either, basically being kind of invisible in all other areas of his game.</div> I guess he will compete with Marco for a spot on the active roster.
