I think this guy deserves his own thread. Check out his highlights video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBsojdLTqWY Now I know they are just "highlights" but the truth is there are a lot of them. And if you are comparing "highlights" I would venture to say his stack up pretty well against any other SG in the draft. Someone compared him to a Josh Howard. I can see it. Anyway watch the whole thing. It is pretty entertaining. Maybe a few too many fast break dunks, but the guy really does have a nice all around game. Much better passer than I thought. I think we have a steal here in the second round. He really could be our starting SG of the future. Getting him in the 2nd round to me makes the Leonard pick that much better because Barton could very well be as good as any SG we would have taken with the 11th pick.
Look, getting the kid is one thing... developing him is quite another. The Blazers need a coach. They need an organizer, a leader, and someone who will rightly evaluate what these kids will do and how to use them on an NBA court, teach them the NBA game. The Blazers are going to be bad next year, but the future is bright if these kids are allowed to develop on the court. One thing I don't know is if LaMarcus is willing to put in the time and the effort to nurture these kids and mold them into his supporting cast. He wants to win now, and I don't see him doing that in Portland. I would strongly consider selling high on him, getting some young nucleus pieces or high draft picks.
If you like stat-stuffers, Barton's your man. Draft Express compared all the top wing prospects. Barton was: (all these are pace adjusted) First in PER (MKG seventh, Barnes eighth) Second in A/TO Second in rbs/40 (behind MKG) Fourth in A/40 Fifth in TS% Fifth in steals/40 Sixth in blk/40 Seventh in FTA/pos. Eighth in P/40
it could be a perfect year to play the young bucks and see what we have, hopefully olshey can sell PA on it
I'm not going to have high expectations for him, just from a rotational view. I do, however, love that a guy 6'6" and only 174 pounds averaged 8 rebounds a game. That's impressive someone his size willing to go down to get boards, IMO. I will admit not having seen much of him, but that's impressive, and I would think speaks to desire on the court. Great pick at 40. Was really hoping we could get him and Quincy Miller back to back there.
This guy plays with the motor and confidence that Batum should I got a possible comparison for Will Barton: Tony Allen
I don't know about this one. Allen is an all-defense type of player. I thought HoopsWorld's comparison was decent: Marshon Brooks, or maybe a Larry Hughes.
At this point.... Seeing the potential FA's out there and what we have and need.... Knowing we're not getting any top-tier FA's.... I say we add some decent players to fill out the roster, let the kids play for the year, and try again in free agency next year. I realize that's a lost year in a lot of ways (sorry LA, it sucks, but you're getting paid)... But it's going to tell us a lot about the young talent we have. I'll probably get a lot of shit for saying so, but if you get some midlevel talent in free agency at reasonable prices, that's an opportunity to pick up trade fodder, so we can move that mid-year to acquire better chips to improve for the following year.
with the league being so guard friendly you dont need a tank at the two. Fact is one of the best players in the NBA could not bench 170 when drafted, and I doubt he has a max of much more now.
Same crap people talked about when we had Outlaw and Telfair and Webster and Monia and Khryapa as our young promising future talent. I think they would've been as crappy as they ended up regardless of us having a different coach. LaMarcus and Roy would've been more or less just as successful under a completely different coaching regime. A player is destined to be great or destined to be bad the difference in various NBA teams coaches means very little. All NBA franchise spend million on excellent coaching staffs with many resources. In the end I believe 90%+ of any player achievements is a result of the player. Yes coaches make tiny differences but overall their impact is quite minor.
It seems pretty common to use it as a short descriptive term. Why do you ask about it? Haven't you seen that before? Ed O.
I really like the guy, great motor, good Bball IQ, only knock on him is even if he goes to his left , he still finishes with his right. easy to learn to use the left more.
