SI Rank: 6.8 significantly lower than those picked around him http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/2011/draft/tracker/draft_analysis/index.html
Oh no! Not the SI rank! Smith is doomed to have a terrible career - SI numerical rating system says so!
I wouldn't have viewed anyone selected there (or any other pick) as a guarantee, but I'd have been significantly more comfortable with Faried (since I viewed him as both BPA and a major need) or a higher upside risk pick like Nikola Mirotic.
Just for shits and giggles, let's compare measurements for Brandon Knight and Nolan Smith (and throw in Jarrett Jack and Deron Williams): Code: Name Height w/shoes Wgt Wingspan Reach Fat No Step Max Vert Bench Agility 3/4 Court Sprint Smith 6' 1.5" 6' 3.5" 188 6' 5.5" 8' 3" 5.6 28.5 34.0 9 11.05 3.17 Knight 6' 1.5" 6' 3.25 177 6' 6.75" 8' 2.5" 4.2 29.0 37.5 10 10.74 3.07 Jack 6' 2.5" 6' 3.5" 198 6' 7.5" 8' 4" NA 26.0 28.5 5 10.87 3.24 Deron 6' 1.75 6' 2.75 202 6' 6.25" 8' 2" NA 30.0 35.0 15 10.83 3.25 (Shoes were thinner when Jack and Deron were in college.) Now let's compare some stats for their last years in college: Code: Name GP Min Pts FG FGA FG% 2Pt 2PtA 2P% 3Pt 3PtA 3P% FTM FTA FT% Off Def TOT Asts Stls Blks TOs PFs Smith 37 34.0 20.6 7.0 15.4 45.8 5.5 10.9 50.1 1.5 4.4 35.0 5.1 6.2 81.3 1.2 3.3 4.5 5.1 1.2 0.1 3.2 1.9 Knight 38 35.9 17.3 5.7 13.5 42.3 3.4 7.4 46.1 2.3 6.1 37.7 3.6 4.5 79.5 0.7 3.4 4.0 4.2 0.7 0.2 3.2 2.2 Jack 32 34.1 15.5 5.1 10.0 51.4 3.7 6.7 54.9 1.4 3.3 44.2 3.8 4.4 86.6 0.3 4.6 4.8 4.5 1.8 0.1 3.4 1.7 Deron 39 33.7 14.9 5.4 12.5 43.3 3.3 6.8 49.1 2.1 5.7 36.4 2.0 2.9 67.7 0.4 3.9 4.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 3.3 2.4 What does this prove? Nothing! It was just for shits and giggles. (And of course Brandon Knight was just a freshman.) BUT: it is interesting that Smith shot the most free throws.
If potential is measured by comparing last-year-in-college-stats (remembering that Jack was probably about the same age as Smith), Smith should be a better scorer, draw more fouls and have a better assist to turnover ratio. But be a worse three point shooter.
While we're being optimistic, this guy looks a lot like Smith did in college: [video=youtube;eOFjRnPIdi8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOFjRnPIdi8[/video]
All these posts are arguing whether Smith will be a good guard. But we have guards. What about the criticism that we were hurting in every game last season because we needed rebounders, not guards, and the leading rebounder in NCAA history was grabbed with the very next pick? As I said all season, Juwan Howard would have greatly helped us. So now here's our lucky draft opportunity, and we turn it down.
at this point, all Blazers fans should hope that he is better than advertised.... I don't think POR was hurting in rebounding last year as much as they were in scoring.....particularly bench scoring...I mean there were times watching this team flail at trying to score was downright painful to watch....
Nolan Smith is not advertised as an above-average shooter. But we could have had the top NCAA rebounder in history.
Well, let's start advertising then. I believe that Shooter is in advertising, and, given his name, he's uniquely qualified for this job. barfo
Browsing some of the larger Duke basketball forums apparently Coach K said he's talked to teams that were serious about taking him in the early teens.
Toronto were outrebounded a lot last season. And yet, on their roster they had Reggie Evans, who has a better rebound/48 rate than Kevin Love. (And also Joey Dorsey who is close.) Why didn't they play them? I'm guessing because they can't do anything else. Pops Mensa-Bonsu is probably a good comparison for Faried, and he can't hold an NBA job.
Or maybe because the coach was bad? I'm not sure which it is, but I DO know that the coach got shit-canned. Ed O.
I watched Evans his first 3 years, when his coach was Nate McMillan. A great rebounder, he tried to become a good defender, thug variety since he lacked quickness. He just fouled a lot. A greater rebounder, Faried won the Defensive Player of the Year. So he has two great abilities, not one like the undrafted Evans.
What point is it talking about Faried now? POR isn't getting him, I agree with you I think they should have got him and then used the #26 to get Smith.... but they did not, at this point Smith is on the team, I don't have much hope for him, but at this point I hope he proves everyone wrong and becomes one of the better PG from this draft and (hopefully) a starting level PG... wishful thinking? yeah, definitely...but not much else to do at this point... After the last 2 drafts, I really have to question Chad Buchanan's talent evaluation....If none of them step forward this year, I can't believe Allen or his cronies wouldn't hold him accountable and look for someone else to evaluate talent come a potentially rich 2012 draft class....
He reminds me of Ben Uzoh - New Jersey Nets. Athletic with nice size, combo guard, not outstanding in any one area but no questions about work ethic. It's a great video, but I'm having trouble getting excited about him.
If the Blazers were going to pick a 4-year player, I'd rather have them draft the ACC Player of the Year over a 4-year guy from the Ohio Valley Conference. The 21st pick isn't worth getting too upset about, though, unless you're just looking for a reason to be upset.
