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

Absolutely, but they are a long, long, way from reaching that level. 3-4 years at the very least...

 

Definitely, but it also takes the right coaching to make those adjustments. I'm hoping Byron can be that guy.

David Blatt on the other hand...

 

Why that long to "move" the ball, though? Basketball 101. Jahlil, Randle, Kobe, Jordan, Boom Boom all are very coordinated and have great hands. And Jahlil Okafor is the guy at the center with his monstrous but soft hands .... catching the ball from everywhere and firing it back out. This is his strength coming out of college. It doesn't take rocket science to zip the ball around. I say they are doing it well this year at some point. IF we get Okafor.

 

Really? I thought he was awful.

I mean, good motivational guy, but he's not much of an X's and O's type of guy. All of the "WIRED" in conversations they had during the playoffs sounded like things any person watching the game would say.

"Get back on defense" "Keep Fighting" "Keep hustling"

There needs to be strategy in his coaching. "Get Lebron in the post, cut, move into open space, and move the ball."

 

Yeah, I miss Dan Tony and "ball finds energy!" "Go faster". Mumble mumble about all of that describing to the press what you're doing later.

 

I hate to inform you, but Byron probably isn't that guy...

 

I did say hope

 

Take a look at Youtube video; so, you could see the difference between an average offense to a great offense. Comparison of Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr and the differences between the schemes.

Point? It's not just about zipping the ball around; a great offense has multiple things they do and players they put in the right position to succeed.

 

Anyways, I'm getting off topic. Okafor, Towns, Russell, whatever; we were so freaking depleted last year; give me one, and I'm ecstatic...

 

I think Lakers are trying to convince the sixers to make the swap with them and get something extra on top of landing Okafor.

 

So Lakers have Mudiay today, Jah tomorrow, Russell on Saturday.

 

Russell is a playmaker. I don't think that's in question. It took Harden, Curry etc a few seasons to get it going and I see the same for Russell. I have no doubt we would make him into a star.

I also don't see it as following anyone else's lead. We would be taking the guy we felt was the best available.

 

As for Okafor, I still think he is our guy and will be the pick. I think he is the most ready to come on and contribute.

But I'm not so quick to dismiss what the scouts were saying. I don't put a ton into different journalists opinions but I do put stock in what scouts thinks. Their comments aren't deal breakers but they were eye opening.

 

It really annoys me that Towns won't work out for us.

 

ok, i'll tell it: when it became fairly clear that okafor was likely to be a laker, i noticed some narrative shift in the media.

and even those scouts don't seem immune to the idea that okafor having been #1 on the board for so long seems to have colored perceptions of his ability. like his stock is dropping, as opposed to towns and russell's rising. okafor did nothing to diminish his stock this year at duke.

and the odd comment about his love for the game...look at the phrasing...it comes off as speculation, not inside information. i don't think you develop his skillset whilst being not that into basketball.