Celts.

[mauconnfan]

Hey boog, "he transcended athleticism"??? Is this your best Isaiah Thomas or what??? LOL……...

 

[Waquoit]

I really don't like Julius Randle. I don't think his game will translate well (keep that in mind when we dredge up the "Who Surprised You With Their NBA Career" thread). I'm not sure who they should go with, but I hope it isn't Randle.

I agree. The guy has stiff written all over him.

 

[Waquoit]

Yes. Bird and Havilcek and Nelson and Ainge and Wedman.. This has been a Celt tradition.

Huh? The Celts drafted the 1st black player. They were the 1st team to put 5 black players on the floor. They were the 1st to hire a black coach. They were the 1st team to hire a second black coach and a third. That's the Celts tradition. Those white guys you mention were a tradition in that they were all absolute steals for the Celtics. Bird was drafted 6th, Ainge 31st and Havlicek 9th. Nelson was picked up off the scrap heap and Wedman was acquired for Darren Tillis. Yes, THE Darren Tillis.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't think that was BigErn lamenting the sizing issue in the coop thread iirc?

Makes me laugh every time. I still have no idea what he's talking about.

 

[intlzncster]

Makes me laugh every time. I still have no idea what he's talking about.

Ha yeah, well, if you don't want the moment spoiled, don't read on:

it was a pretty specific thread and was hardly a big deal. Some guy was complaining that they only went up to XXL size and didn't offer anything for bigger sorts. The guy above called him a fat bastard or some such sort. Though, as was noted in the thread, those shirts run very small.

 

[auror]

I agree. The guy has stiff written all over him.

Sure, a guy who averaged 15-10 as a freshman and led his team to the title game, while overpowering defenders so thoroughly with his strength and quickness that he was one of the top foul-drawers in the country. Definitely has stiff written all over him.

 

[tzznandrew]

Sure, a guy who averaged 15-10 as a freshman and led his team to the title game, while overpowering defenders so thoroughly with his strength and quickness that he was one of the top foul-drawers in the country. Definitely has stiff written all over him.

Almost every player that is projected to go in the lottery looks awesome in college. That doesn't mean he'll be successful in the NBA. Again, I may totally be wrong on this, but he doesn't strike me as über-athletic, he has a jumper that is somewhat sketchy at the foul-line, and, like you said, he overpowered defenders in the college game. Let's see him do that in the NBA.

Honestly, it looked to me like he's a skilled player who relied on strength and a friendly whistle in college.

 

[champs99and04]

Almost every player that is projected to go in the lottery looks awesome in college. That doesn't mean he'll be successful in the NBA. Again, I may totally be wrong on this, but he doesn't strike me as über-athletic, he has a jumper that is somewhat sketchy at the foul-line, and, like you said, he overpowered defenders in the college game. Let's see him do that in the NBA.

Honestly, it looked to me like he's a skilled player who relied on strength and a friendly whistle in college.

I don't necessarily disagree with your points, but there is a pretty sensible counter-argument to that: no freshman in the country demanded as much defensive attention as Randle. Whenever he caught the ball on the block, the double team would always arrive immediately. I know a double team isn't exactly a foreign concept, but more perimeter-oriented players like Wiggins and Parker didn't have to deal with that sort of thing, and as an 18-year-old kid, it's not surprising that he struggled as a passer.

In his first three games, he averaged 24 and 14 on 64% from the field and had 14 free throw attempts per game, the headliner being the MSU game where he dropped 27 and 13 in as hyped a preseason match-up as we've seen in a while. Perhaps he was victimized by being too good, too soon, especially being a bit of a throwback, back-to-the-basket player. That was his game - catch it on the left block, over his left shoulder, and he either scores or gets fouled. It doesn't work as well when you're the emphasis of everybody's scouting report and you play on a team that was starved for floor spacing most of the season.

Randle might not be an attractive pick, but if you're the Celtics and you can snag him at #6, I wouldn't be unhappy with that. At the very least, you know his rebound numbers (13.5 per 40 in college) are going to translate, and as is the case with most young players, the wide-open game is likely to benefit him. There's a pretty good chance he's going to develop a reliable mid-range jumper, and even though he isn't an elite athlete, he's much more explosive than somebody like Jared Sullinger. I expect him to be a productive player from day one.

 

[Waquoit]

I spent most of the past season reading how UConn had no big men. When Randle went up against those same big men on the biggest stage, he took himself out of the game.

 

[James]

Randle will be great , plays hard great attitude . Also lots of talent / physical gifts/young. The guy aaron gordon has bust written all over him , he isn't even a better prospect than MKG out of Kentucky .

 

[intlzncster]

I spent most of the past season reading how UConn had no big men. When Randle went up against those same big men on the biggest stage, he took himself out of the game.

I kind of think UCONN took him out of the game. We played fantastic team defense with a strategy geared towards limiting his production.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

The guy aaron gordon has bust written all over him , he isn't even a better prospect than MKG out of Kentucky .

Yikes. I'll take that bet.

 

[Joobie]

IMO...Rondo could learn a lot from Bazz. Not to say, that Bazz can't learn a thing or two from R0ndo, but in the grand scheme of things, Bazz is a much better all around person & will be a consummate teammate. I think that for the Celts, it would be a win-win!

 

[James]

Yikes. I'll take that bet.

You're on the hype train of a guy who is positionless, gonna go ahead and call him Shawn Marion ? He is an abhorrent shooter and that won't change drastically . You must have forgotten how good mkg was at Kentucky , And he was a clear cut 3 guarding 3s.

 

[Strummer]

Shabazz/Green/Johnson/Love/Monroe

This needs to be rearranged:
Monroe Love Shabazz Green Johnson.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

You're on the hype train of a guy who is positionless, gonna go ahead and call him Shawn Marion ? He is an abhorrent shooter and that won't change drastically . You must have forgotten how good mkg was at Kentucky , And he was a clear cut 3 guarding 3s.

I didn't say a word about MKG. I'm responding to your claim that Gordon has "bust written all over him." I'm a little more bullish on the kid who just completely destroyed the combine with literally some of the best scores in its history who also happens to be the same age as a lot of high school seniors. Feel free to revisit it in a couple seasons and see where he's at.

 

[James]

I didn't say a word about MKG. I'm responding to your claim that Gordon has "bust written all over him." I'm a little more bullish on the kid who just completely destroyed the combine with literally some of the best scores in its history who also happens to be the same age as a lot of high school seniors. Feel free to revisit it in a couple seasons and see where he's at.

Yah I believe you're a celts fan it just confuses me why you would prefer a project whose outlook resembles an energy guy if anything . A guy like randle is a different prototype , just IMO.

 

[sdhusky]

Larry Bird is one of the greatest players who have ever lived. He transcended athleticism and was arguably the best passing and shooting big man ever as well as being imo the smartest player ever. I like Doug McD and all, but let's not even put him and Bird in the same sentence.

Bird vs. Doug McD as senior:

Bird averaged:
2 more points per game
4 more assists per game
8 more rebounds per game
and I bet 10 times more steals (dont' have stats on Bird)

And Bird lost one game all season, in the NC game to a Magic Johnson lead Mich St

Doug lost 8 times and didn't get past the sweet 16.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Yah I believe you're a celts fan it just confuses me why you would prefer a project whose outlook resembles an energy guy if anything . A guy like randle is a different prototype , just IMO.

I just think Gordon's got a much, much higher ceiling than Randle. Randle's got short arms, no right hand, isn't an elite athlete, and dominated guys in college by overpowering them with strength. Gordon - I think - can contribute on the defensive end right away. He tests off the charts athletically (literally, they had to change the testing devices) and he's only 18. He's the kind of kid that, when he's 22, it's going to seem like he's been in the league for a decade.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

He's not great by any means, but defenses at least have to honor him.

He's like a career 30% 3p shooter and like 31% this year, Rondo is like 28%, not much of a difference there other than Russ takes a lot more 3s and hurts his team more with that shot selection whereas Rondo doesn't.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Makes me laugh every time. I still have no idea what he's talking about.

Well even if that wasn't you I can just run with you being an all male dating site connoisseur. No wonder you have such an interest in me.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

No wonder you have such an interest in me.

Nice projection.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Randle will be great , plays hard great attitude . Also lots of talent / physical gifts/young. The guy aaron gordon has bust written all over him , he isn't even a better prospect than MKG out of Kentucky .

If the Celts keep their pick I'd much rather see Gordon there. Love his size/athleticism and if the Celts decide to stand pat and continue building with young guys he'll have plenty of opportunity to develop his offensive game

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Nice projection.

No thanks bud, keep it moving.

 

[auror]

I just think Gordon's got a much, much higher ceiling than Randle. Randle's got short arms...

Combine measurements:
Aaron Gordon- 6'7.5", 6'11.75" wingspan
Julius Randle- 6'7.75", 7' wingspan

They also had the same court sprint time, if we're finding other ways to say they're the same.