Napier's Upside = John Stockton | The Boneyard

Napier's Upside = John Stockton

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SaeHusky

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I know the NBA draft is all about upside and thats why Napier is projected late 1st round. However I think the ceiling for Napier could be close to John Stockton. Both were 6ft 1" and 175-180 coming out of college. Like Stockton Napier is great at the pick and roll, can shoot, and has a high basketball IQ. Like Stockton - Napier isn't a explosive athlete who dunks with regularity. Perhaps the NBA has changed so much that a guy like Stockton wouldn't be as good of a player as he was in his era. But if Napier can be even 75% of what Stockton was in his prime - he will be a force to be reckon with.
 
Stockton was also blessed to have one of the greatest pick and roll big men in Karl Malone. I think with the right players and system, Bazz will thrive.
 
I agree, his passing skills are underrated. He could become an 8-9 assist per game guy at the next level.
 
Napier at an absolute minimum should be Patty Mills-ish. I think a better projection would be Kyle Lowry, but put in the right circumstances and system, he could become Chris Paul/John Stockton-esque. Any NBA comparison to Kemba Walker for Bazz (just wondering)?
 
John Stockton is a good comp, but I think he should model his game after Stephen Curry. He's about 2in shorter but both are lights-out from 3 with a quick trigger. Bazz may be a better passer.
 
Let's just hope he doesn't go with the Stockton short shorts.
 
The NBA makes no sense to me how is Ennis projected to be a top 5-15 pick? Well before Napier. What do they see that I don't?
 
UcannUconn said:
The NBA makes no sense to me how is Ennis projected to be a top 5-15 pick? Well before Napier. What do they see that I don't?
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GMs put a premium on youth, don't really know why past pick 7. its not like a later lottery guy is someone you build a franchise around, chances are said player would change teams after rookie contract. That said, Ennis has a terrific feel for the game and quite the playmaker. He also doesn't rely on his three point shot, can blow by with changes of speed. Nice prospect, at like pick 25. IMO Napier has shown the penchant to get better every single year, thats huge. He is gonna get better every year in the league. Reminds me of steve nash.
 
UChusky916 said:
John Stockton is a good comp, but I think he should model his game after Stephen Curry. He's about 2in shorter but both are lights-out from 3 with a quick trigger. Bazz may be a better passer.
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Bazz is great but Curry is even more ridiculous with the behind the back passes and no looks. Honestly my first thought when watching how Bazz started the year with all of the behind the back passes in the MD game was that he was trying to model his game after Curry.
 
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aceboon said:
Bazz is great but Curry is even more ridiculous with the behind the back passes and no looks. Honestly my first thought when watching how Bazz started the year with all of the behind the back passes in the MD game I thought he was trying to model his game after Curry.
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Yeah its clear napier was the flashiest hooper in college. His craft on each end of the floor is a god given talent. a scout told zagoria if he was 2 inches taller he'd be a top lotto pick even @ age 23.
 
Matrim55 said:
I love Shabazz, but Stockton is one of the five greatest PGs in history. Let's back away from the ledge a little bit.
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Agreed… I'll be rooting hard for Shabazz, but that is a bit lofty...
 
Matrim55 said:
I love Shabazz, but Stockton is one of the five greatest PGs in history. Let's back away from the ledge a little bit.
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Stockton great with no ring though. I'd take kidd over him, and maybe cp3 if he wins a ring. Magic and Zeke are 1,2. But i was a fan of stockton TOUGHNESS. used to set bone crushing screens, and often( all the time) was considered a dirty player. Kenny smith talked about it on Open Court, the pick n roll was great in the regular season. But became awfully predictable in a playoff series, who knows what stock could have done if he was allowed to free lance and get buckets.
 
James said:
the pick n roll was great in the regular season. But became awfully predictable in a playoff series, who knows what stock could have done if he was allowed to free lance and get buckets.
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As predictable as it was, it got the Jazz to the NBA finals multiple times. And if it had been against anyone but Jordan's Bulls, Utah would have a title.

Back to the main point: If Bazz comes anywhere near Stockton, he will have far exceeded expectations. Stockton was easily a first-ballot hall of famer.
 
Don't sell Bazz short. He's a winner. Any team taking Ennis ahead of Shabazz is staffed by nitwits.
 
UcannUconn said:
The NBA makes no sense to me how is Ennis projected to be a top 5-15 pick? Well before Napier. What do they see that I don't?
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They're stupid.

Selfishly, it may be good for Bazz.

I've never liked the Spurs (mostly because I used to root for Rip's Pistons and that Finals loss hurt me), but the Spurs would be the PERFECT team for Shabazz to be on. The Heat, too.
 
Going late first round would suck for his pockets but I would love to see Bazz with a great orgnaziation, preferably the Clippers with CP3/Rivers or GS with Steph/MJax
 
UCHuskies08 said:
They're stupid.

Selfishly, it may be good for Bazz.

I've never liked the Spurs (mostly because I used to root for Rip's Pistons and that Finals loss hurt me), but the Spurs would be the PERFECT team for Shabazz to be on. The Heat, too.
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I salivate at the chance Shabazz goes to the Spurs. The moment I saw a mock draft with him at their pick I geeked out and I'm barely a Spurs fan but I respect the franchise for it's dominance, coaching, etc. However, I began to worry about how much longer Pop would be there coaching once Timmy's done. Shabazz would grow even more under Pop.
 
Keep in mind - the premise of my original post isnt that I think Bazz will be one of the top 5 PGs of all time like Stockton. My point was that Stockton and Bazz are the same hgt and at this point coming into the NBA had a similar skill set. Like Stockton who went 16th in the first round - Napier is expected to go somewhere in that range.
 
I would hate Bazz to go to the Spurs they have another young PG about the same age. Some kid who UConn recruited who doesn't have two NC rings. Now the Heat would be a good place to land. Charmers contract is up and Norris Cole is meh.
 
I'd like to see the Spurs pick him up. They run a great system. He has high BB IQ.
 
Stockton may be a stretch but I believe that Bazz will have a good NBA career. Even if he is never a full time starter the young man will make a lot of $ over his career.
 
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