2015 Nba Draft Discussion: Russell, Nance Jr., Brown

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by LaVarBallsDad, Oct 14, 2014.

  1. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    Brand was a 20/10 player and his 05/06 season was ridiculous - and then another good season - then the injury.
     
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  2. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    A lot of that would have been due to exposure. Being on the Lakers gives you national attention and a giant fan base to vote you into the all star game. Pau didn't exactly crank his game up a ton when he left Memphis. He just started playing with the best player in the world and for the best coach in the world on the biggest stage in the world. All of that will make you look better. Couple that with the fact that we got him at age 27, right when he was entering his prime.
     
  3. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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    Exactly. Ruptured his Achilles tendon. After that, he just wasn't the same player. Very unfortunate.
     
  4. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    I'm not sure I can agree to that. I think the winning culture of the Lakers transformed him into a great player. Environment has a lot to do with how a player performs. Pau obviously felt mishandled during the 2012-2014 seasons with the coaching changes and trade rumors. Look how much better he's played this year with the Bulls.
     
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  5. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    Pau doing what he did in Memphis in LA will always look more impactful because Phil knows how to use it and Kobe knows how to play off it. He DID play better here, and part of it was the culture, I'm just saying I think Kobe and Phil made him look SIGNIFICANTLY better because we were winning rings. Statistically, he improved a little. I'm just saying his ascension from being a talented big man to borderline superstar was more to do with deep playoff runs that Kobe and Phil helped him achieve rather than him improving his production by 8 pts and 5 boards a night.
     
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  6. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

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  7. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    Agreed. I just want to point out that he added a crucial element to his game that he never would have developed in Memphis.... toughness. That won't show up in stats, but that's what made him into a Top 3 big (at the time) in the league IMHO.
     
  8. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I did too actually but apparently that was his fear all along. :D
     
  9. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

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    :cry:
     
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  10. fabfourlakers

    fabfourlakers - Lakers Starter -

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    Guys, with the news of Embiid...would you do 2nd and 27th for 3rd + Embiid + Saric? or Just 2nd for 3rd + Embiid?

    We would probably get Mudiay at 3rd, let Embiid heal, and then return a pretty sick lineup not this year but next year of Embiid, Randle, RHJ (if we get him at 27), Mudiay and Clarkson....very nice young core and talent wise we get a heck of a lot better much quicker...and we can still attract some FA's for our 3 spot (Durant maybe?).

    I know we all want Okafor and I'm down for him...but if you had a shot at getting the top guard and a big like Embiid who probably just wants to get out of Philly, would you do it?
     
  11. unpossibl1

    unpossibl1 - Rookie -

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  12. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    No. Bigs with foot injuries are a recipe for disaster.
     
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  13. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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  14. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    that's if you buy that the source was passing along genuine information. another angle not mentioned in the article is that the lakers want people to know they'll listen to trade offers for the pick. but none of this strikes me as true.

    most of the time, though, you have to think about leaks in terms of who has something to gain. mudiay and porzingis's agents would have something to gain via the dissemination of this information, but ford cites a lakers source. i don't really see a sensible reason for the lakers to communicate with the press their disinterest in two of the top three prospects in the draft.

    the statement also lacks context, some of which may have been absent even when ford elicited the comment. for example, perhaps this is a scout who doesn't put much stock into workouts, and thus "not being blown away" by a workout does not equate to "not excited about drafting this guy". maybe this lakers source thinks workouts against pylons and stationary trainers are sort of invalid to begin with.
     
  15. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah I have this as Ford blowing big puffs of smoke out of his own butt. The Lakers ball all other accounts were very impressed by both workouts and both interviews.
     
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  16. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

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    Smoke screens everywhere. Read, but take it with a handful of salt.
     
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  17. Savory Griddles

    Savory Griddles Moderator Staff Member

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    He just wants people to believe that his Porzingis hard-on is valid.
     
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  18. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    Wouldn't dare touch Embiid. Don't think he'll ever be fully healthy nor do I think he'll last very long before a medical retirement is required. After Nash, I don't want someone who even gets a cold more than twice a year.
     
  19. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    damn, that's unfortunate. I really liked him as a prospect for us.
     
  20. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    He started as a low 1st rounder and his stock plummeted to the 2nd round... I don't blame him. This draft is definitely weakening though.
     

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