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

So, I had Russell at:
6.3 Scoring (elite)
3.5 Passing (excellent)
2.6 Hustle (decent)
81.9 Positional Rating - PG

Anthony Brown
5.6 Scoring (good)
2.5 Passing (good)
2.2 Hustle (average)
58.8 Position Rating - Wing

Nance
5.8 Scoring (good/very good)
2.5 passing (good)
3.0 Hustle (good/very good)
65 Position Rating (Wing)
77 Position Raring (Big)

 

I just pray that wrong about Okafor like I'm apparently wrong about most picks. I think he's going to be a solid NBAer right now. I'm not sure Russell is. We'll see what happens. I'm on board albeit cautiously...

 

I understand thinking that Russell has the star vibe to him. I definitely see that in interviews. I just honestly never saw the jaw-dropping NBA talent that everyone else did. I'm trying to catch up, but I just wasn't that impressed with what he looked like on the court. Conversely every time I saw Okafor on the floor he dominated the game. He commanded doubles consistently, he passed well out of the post, and he was unstoppable in single coverage...

But I trust Mitch. I've said it from the start. If they see it, fine. I'm open to what this kid brings. I definitely get the "special" vibe from him and maybe Okafor just doesn't exude that? That's fine. The Lakers are about sizzle and pop and this was definitely a big big move.

 

What was the bet? That Russell doesn't win ROY? Well I hope I lose it now!

I'm feeling alright. Took me a while to recover from the shell shock. Okafor to me was a no brainer, but hey they must have seen something I didn't. I'm on board. I'm excited about the versatility a Clarkson/Russell backcourt gives us.

The thing I'm focused on now is balancing the roster out. I'm not very high on starting Randle, Clarkson, AND Russell right off the bat. They're too young, too inexperienced. We need to find at least one starting caliber player, obviously it needs to be a big man. Names like Gasol, Aldridge, and to a lesser extent Love would definitely ease my concerns here, but we're a better team now than we were yesterday.

I still feel like Okafor will be the best rookie in this draft, but I hope I'm wrong now.

 

^I've been endorsing Okafor before the draft to anyone who asked... Now, I have to explain what makes Russell a better choice. My answer will be we are running with the times...wide-open offenses and spacing with shooters all around. Relate how West, Kupchak and Laker brass feel he is and will be something special. Essentially parrot all of this glowing accolades I hear...

 

Yeah I'm really hoping they see "transcendent talent" and aren't buying into the small ball hype. I agree that the league now is run by point guards but part of me still thinks Okafor is the kind of guy who can turn it around. Apparently they didn't though.

One thing that's really turning me around is Mitch's interview. He said they picked the best player. He said if he saw Shaq or Wilt walking through the door he'd take them meaning of course he didn't think Okafor measured up against them. They saw him up close so if they are skeptical about him, then who am I to disagree?

If they saw star in Russell I'll believe them. I'm skeptical but I'm totally willing to try.

 

I'm trying to get closer to that mindset. I'm not there yet...

 

Here, HJ, make yourself feel even better.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/31/8...-duke-basketball-nba-draft-2015-march-madness

Sure it's old and probably overly harsh, and before Duke won it all, and I used it as an example the other day of someone really reaching for flaws, but hey, pretend it's new and maybe it'll help some of us feel better.

 

I don't know what made Okafor's stock drop enough for Lakers to pass on him. There's chatter of him not being intense enough, questions about his conditioning, his defensive shortcomings on pick and rolls, shot-blocking...the bad free throw %. Russell had the fancy passing, superior court vision and leadership qualities. All good but there is the matter of assembling the right talent for him to run. Sure he makes the personnel around him better by setting them up to succeed but Okafor does that as well by causing defenses to collapse around him. Free up shooters and give 4's runs to the rack for put-backs or dives. Clarkson who is a burgeoning capable player at the point would probably have meshed with him...Lin too if he was retained.

I'm trying to objectively rationalize how Russell would fit with the current personnel in lieu of current style of play in The League. Brass want a revival of Showtime circa 2015 with him at the point...fine BUT Randle AND Clarkson are not enough. San Antonio could outmaneuver us for Aldridge's services...then what? Russell and Clarkson in the backcourt, 24 at the 3, Randle at the 4 and ??? at the 5. I don't want Aldridge at center. He played the 4 while Lopez or whoever did the dirty work in the middle. 24, Clarkson, Randle, ??? at the 3 and Okafor at the 5? That was my four fifths projected line-up.

It is what it is...I'm rolling with it. Let's see what Kupchak can do now...

 

...at Kevin O'Connor's write-up. The kid is 19 for f**k's sake. Was Bynum a prodigy at that age? No but Okafor had skills to start with...NBA tutelage, the right training regimen and conditioning coach would have molded him to be even better. I am stumped how the Laker brass opted not to choose him but I can see why Russell was the one. Fits the current style of play. 4's and 5's however are like offensive and defensive lines in football. Don't have that...don't have anything.

I like the Brown selection...would be great if he shows a knack to create off the dribble. His form reminds me of Sean Elliot.

 

Yeah, like I said, I used that article just days ago as an example of people picking apart Okafor's game to a ridiculous level and being overly critical. I specifically cited this part

Because, as I said then, aren't inside scoring and rebounding 2 of the biggest things you want in your center other than rim protection? Why does a center need to be a shooter, especially one with Okafor's size? He should get his butt in the paint and live there, easy buckets and boards. But, I thought it was funny and worth posting, we've gone a different direction and I'm good with it, and I wish Okafor well. I think he's got a great career ahead of him, and hey, he could always come sign here in 4 or 5 years to get the heck out of Philly.