Lamb near decision...Drummond still unsure

[UCTrueBlue]

http://connecticut.scout.com/2/1173745.html

 

[HooperScooper]

Calhoun added that he would be rooting for Kansas in the championship game. “I have a good relationship with [Kansas coach] Bill Self,” Calhoun said.

And, no, Calhoun did not mention Kentucky coach John Calipari.

LOL!

 

[jrazz12]

Sounds like what we expected, Lamb will leave. Calhoun will encourage Andre to stay and likely will be back.

 

[champs99and04]

I wish Lamb luck in the NBA if/when he decides to declare. He'll always be one of my favorite players to where the uniform.

 

[geordi]

While I don't disagree that Jeremy may go in the lottery and that alone is likely to push him to leave, it's really difficult to see him contributing significantly at the NCA level unless he becomes more aggressive and willing to challenge a defender. I just don't see him doing that right now. He might get the money up front, but what's the long term gain?

 

[UCweCONN]

I don't know why JC is perpetuating this false idea that Lamb is a top seven pick. If I was an NBA GM, I'd never use a lottery pick for Lamb. Those picks should be for superstar type players not solid players or NBA role players. With all of the Kentucky and UNC players leaving plus Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, even Perry Jones III, I just don't see it. Just to start, Davis, Kidd-Gilcrist, Harrison Barnes, Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, Perry Jones III, that's seven right there I'd take over Lamb.

 

[kemba]

While I don't disagree that Jeremy may go in the lottery and that alone is likely to push him to leave, it's really difficult to see him contributing significantly at the NCA level unless he becomes more aggressive and willing to challenge a defender. I just don't see him doing that right now. He might get the money up front, but what's the long term gain?

Needing to become more aggressive isn't something that you need another year in school to learn. You can learn it at the nba level and in some ways depending on what team he ends up on, it's actually easier to do at the NBA level.

I hope he stays but if he's going to be a top 10 pick it makes sense for him to go.

Drummond on the other hand has a lot of stuff to work on and probably isn't ready to see many minutes in the NBA yet.

 

[johnhuskies95]

I don't know why JC is perpetuating this false idea that Lamb is a top seven pick. If I was an NBA GM, I'd never use a lottery pick for Lamb. Those picks should be for superstar type players not solid players or NBA role players. With all of the Kentucky and UNC players leaving plus Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, even Perry Jones III, I just don't see it. Just to start, Davis, Kidd-Gilcrist, Harrison Barnes, Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, Perry Jones III, that's seven right there I'd take over Lamb.

He's just going off of what the NBA guys are telling him.

Nearly every single NBA executive would take Lamb over Barnes, Rivers, and Sullinger.

 

[aceboon]

I don't know why JC is perpetuating this false idea that Lamb is a top seven pick. If I was an NBA GM, I'd never use a lottery pick for Lamb. Those picks should be for superstar type players not solid players or NBA role players. With all of the Kentucky and UNC players leaving plus Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, even Perry Jones III, I just don't see it. Just to start, Davis, Kidd-Gilcrist, Harrison Barnes, Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, Perry Jones III, that's seven right there I'd take over Lamb.

But you're not an NBA GM, and JC is actually talking to NBA people, not posting on the boneyard and assuming NBA GM duties. Not sure how you can watch Sullinger get washed out by anyone with decent length and athleticism and think that he screams superstar at the next level. Also, the lottery is 14 picks, you're not getting superstarts at all of those picks, you're lucky if you even get one in most drafts.

 

[freescooter]

I don't know why JC is perpetuating this false idea that Lamb is a top seven pick. If I was an NBA GM, I'd never use a lottery pick for Lamb. Those picks should be for superstar type players not solid players or NBA role players. With all of the Kentucky and UNC players leaving plus Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, even Perry Jones III, I just don't see it. Just to start, Davis, Kidd-Gilcrist, Harrison Barnes, Sullinger, Thomas Robinson, Austin Rivers, Perry Jones III, that's seven right there I'd take over Lamb.

NBA GMs do crazy stuff, so who knows, but I agree with you...I don't see it myself. Of course thabeet was the 2nd player drafted a couple of years ago and he was no more NBA ready than I am. This "drafting on potential" is ruining the college game and the pro game simultaneoulsy. If you like circus play, the NBA is great, but if you like actual basketball it stinks. If they are going to draft 18-20 year old kids they really need to creat a real minor league like baseball and hockey have, bring players through the ranks and develop them.

 

[Cheddie]

“[The draft] going to have a lot of impact players,’’ said [a NBA} executive. “You have Jeremy Lamb, Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Jared Sullinger, John Henson - that’s five guys that would have been lottery picks last year that chose to get back to school and will be lottery picks this year.’’

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/...exaggerated/2YgicKHtDZx3eMFi0TpeSO/story.html

 

[johnhuskies95]

NBA GMs do crazy stuff, so who knows, but I agree with you...I don't see it myself. Of course thabeet was the 2nd player drafted a couple of years ago and he was no more NBA ready than I am. This "drafting on potential" is ruining the college game and the pro game simultaneoulsy. If you like circus play, the NBA is great, but if you like actual basketball it stinks. If they are going to draft 18-20 year old kids they really need to creat a real minor league like baseball and hockey have, bring players through the ranks and develop them.

Get real. The NBA now is the best it's been since the late 90's.

 

[Rico444]

People don't understand that Lamb got all the attention this year. Look at Kemba this year in the NBA -- he's not getting defended nearly as hard as he was in the Big East. In the NBA, Lamb is going to be one of many talented players. In a one-on-one situation, he is going to be fine.

 

[UCDaveD]

Lamb is going to be Nick Young in the NBA.

 

[UCweCONN]

“[The draft] going to have a lot of impact players,’’ said [a NBA} executive. “You have Jeremy Lamb, Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Jared Sullinger, John Henson - that’s five guys that would have been lottery picks last year that chose to get back to school and will be lottery picks this year.’’

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/...exaggerated/2YgicKHtDZx3eMFi0TpeSO/story.html

This was before the UK exodus and doesn't mention Thomas Robinson and Austin Rivers. Also, I'm sure there will also be the foreigners that noone heard of before the draft. I think Rivers is going to be a star. I'd pick him in the right situation.

 

[freescooter]

Get real. The NBA now is the best it's been since the late 90's.

You mean when offense consisted of going 1 on 1? I guess it is a matter of personal taste. If you like teams that actually play basketball it isn't very good. If you like individual acrobatics its fine.

I am not so sure that Lamb will be a top 7 draft pick given all the guys coming out. I am also not so sure that he'll ever be more than a journeyman player...maybe a very wealthy journeyman, but one none the less.

 

[johnhuskies95]

You mean when offense consisted of going 1 on 1? I guess it is a matter of personal taste. If you like teams that actually play basketball it isn't very good. If you like individual acrobatics its fine.

It's not surprising to me that you have a holier than thou, elitist attitude about styles of basketball.

You'd fit in well with the women's board.

 

[Reno]

You mean when offense consisted of going 1 on 1? I guess it is a matter of personal taste. If you like teams that actually play basketball it isn't very good. If you like individual acrobatics its fine.

Oh come on. The NBA is so far and away better than the college game that it's becoming harder and harder to watch college basketball. Everything from defense to offense to individual talent to the officiating is significantly worse in college basketball. I can only assume you do not watch the NBA on a regular basis.

 

[Walker11]

I believe UCweconn over every NBA GM. He clearly has watched at least like 5 other teams besides Uconn play this year.

 

[UConn990411]

I really think that 90+% of this board only follows college hoops...and of that 90% the vast majority only follows UConn basketball.

Lamb's offensive game (great mid-range jumper, really good when coming off screens, etc.) is tailor-made for the NBA. He didn't get to show that a lot this year because the team was so bad at setting screens and moving the ball, but those strengths make NBA scouts drool about his scoring potential. He also has ideal size and length for an NBA 2.

His poor defense (or, more accurately, unwillingness to exert himself on D) makes me question whether he'll ever be a starter, but Lamb has the ability to score in the NBA right now.

Oh, and he is a lock to go in the lottery. Not sure how that's even a debate, especially on this board.

 

[Gurleyman]

Austin Rivers doesn't really have great point guard instincts, Thomas Robinson is a bit undersized for his game, Harrison Barnes flopped miserably when Kendall Marshall got hurt (couldn't create his own shot against Ohio), Sullinger struggled with the length of Jeff Withey, and Perry Jones drifts in and out of games all the time.

Lamb has his issues and flaws, too - that's not my point. Just that he's not the only one.

 

[Lefty2one]

You mean when offense consisted of going 1 on 1? I guess it is a matter of personal taste. If you like teams that actually play basketball it isn't very good. If you like individual acrobatics its fine.

Seriously, do you even watch the NBA? In the era of the point guard do you really think there's no team work in the NBA?

What you're saying can easily be flipped. If you like intelligent, skilled professional basketball players then the NBA is for you. If you like watching raw, athletic, unskilled players with limited bball IQ's that can't score unless they're wide open then college basketball is for you. The college game has been ugly, ugly stuff the last three years - one can hardly describe it as teams that "actually play basketball".

 

[caw]

This was before the UK exodus and doesn't mention Thomas Robinson and Austin Rivers. Also, I'm sure there will also be the foreigners that noone heard of before the draft. I think Rivers is going to be a star. I'd pick him in the right situation.

I doubt any GM would take Rivers over Lamb. He is a slightly better 3PT shooter at 37% vs 34% but doesn't do anything else better than Lamb. I guess he is more ball dominate but that's not necessarily a good thing. Lamb also will show up and his measurables (if his length is as reputed) will simply be too hard to pass up for many teams.

Sullinger is a very good college player, but how is he much better than Big Baby in the NBA. He's short and ground bound.

UK may have 2 players taken before Lamb, AD and MKG. Teague has an outside shot if a team is in need of a PG. Henson has a ton of concerns with his build (it's worse than Lamb's considering position). Barnes has a ton of ??? with his (even more than Lamb) disappearing acts. Jones III is in the same boat as Drummond, not producing as much as his talent dictates.

AD is #1, after that it's some combination of MKG, Lamb, Robinson, Barnes, Beal, Drummond, Sullinger, Jones III with Henson and Teague on the outside. That would put Lamb at 9th at worst. If Drummond doesn't go that means 8th. It wouldn't shock me if he fell to say 10th, but he's not going to drop much further and could easily move up to as high as #2 if he tests out well (which he will). He won't freefall like Drummond could.

Lamb may be a journeyman, but that all depends on what you mean by that definition. He won't be a KO journeyman, but he might be a Corey Maggette journeyman (15 PPG career average SG/SF).

Nick Young is an interesting comparison (16th overall pick). Young might be slightly taller at 6'5 barefoot and Young has a 7'0 wingspan with a 40 inch vert. However, Young is a very dumb player and still averaged 15-17 the past two years when averaging 30 minutes a game. I think Lamb is a better version of Nick Young mainly because I think Lamb is a better rebounder and Lamb isn't a complete idiot.

 

[freescooter]

Seriously, do you even watch the NBA? In the era of the point guard do you really think there's no team work in the NBA?

What you're saying can easily be flipped. If you like intelligent, skilled professional basketball players then the NBA is for you. If you like watching raw, athletic, unskilled players with limited bball IQ's that can't score unless they're wide open then college basketball is for you. The college game has been ugly, ugly stuff the last three years - one can hardly describe it as teams that "actually play basketball".

I don't disagree with your discription of College basketball very much, but that is what is to be expected when the best players basically use it as a place to spend a year before leaving for the NBA. I have no disagreement with anyone who says the NBA has better athletes, either. Of course it does. And they make some incredible individual moves. But the game...yuck! It is almost unwatchable to me. And defense? please...that was outlawed in the NBA a couple of decades ago. And NBA officiating I do think has improved, or is at lease more consistent than in the college game, thoguh if they actually called the game according to the rules as written, I'm not sure what would happen...heck the refs even admit that they have two tiers of fouls, those involving superstars, and everybody else...the stars never get called for fouling and always get fouled...

 

[Lefty2one]

Certainly can't argue about the officiating, it's basically turned the NBA into the WWF.