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Message: [QUOTE="champs99and04, post: 2266553, member: 488"] Of course making your teammates better - and I might argue the semantics but I understand how the expression is used - is an important thing. I just question the track record of guys for which it's [I]the [/I]thing. Let's review some excerpts from Tyler Ennis' draft profile and see if any of it sounds familiar... [I]Ennis' playmaking ability is what separates him from other players in this draft class. He is one of the few pure point guards you can point to, as he led the NCAA in PPR as a freshman, posting a rate 50% higher than the next best PG. Ennis plays with a maturity beyond his years, as he operates at his own pace, is incredibly unselfish, and is always under control. He whips the ball all over the floor with great timing, moving the ball ahead for easy transition baskets, making pinpoint post-entry passes, and doing a tremendous job executing the pick and roll thanks to his superb ball-handling skills and court vision.[/I] [I]Since 2001, Only six drafted players under the age of 20 have posted a PPR over 5 like Ennis: Mike Conley, Ty Lawson, T.J. Ford, Kendall Marshall, Eric Maynor and Marcus Williams (UConn)which shows how rare it is to see a player this young show this type of passing acumen at such an early stage. Ennis' excellent feel for the game and anticipation skills show up on the defensive end of the floor too, as he generates a good amount of steals (2.4 per-40). Part of this has to do with the fact that Syracuse plays exclusively in a zone, but his solid wingspan (6-5), quick hands and exceptional instincts also have plenty to do with that. Ennis is not a prolific or efficient scorer as we'll discuss below, but he does show some promise as a perimeter shooter, which bodes well for his NBA prospects. He's proven capable of making jumpers with his feet set or off the dribble, and has the type of mechanics and touch that lead you to believe he'll continue to improve in time. Another aspect of Ennis' game that breeds optimism is his demeanor and the confidence he displays. He shows tremendous poise and maturity for his age, as he never looks rattled and seems to elevate his game when his team needs him the most. He took all of Syracuse's big shots this season, leading to some very memorable moments (and some less), but nevertheless proved that he likes the spotlight, has a killer instinct, and won't back down from a challenge.[/I] Note that I'm not comparing the two by any means. Ball is taller, longer, and a considerably better athlete than Ennis, who went 18th for a reason. There are simply specific skill sets - which Kendall Marshall, who's a little bigger, exemplifies better than anyone - that are held hostage by other things... Which makes it interesting that you say what you do about Russ, because you're spot on. Mix Lonzo's court vision and feel for the game with Russ' athleticism and you basically have LeBron. It's my opinion, though, that you're more likely to reap the immediate benefits of athleticism than any other singular NBA skill. IQ would be at the other end of the spectrum - even for the most intellectually gifted players, the NBA game presents a rapidly interchanging puzzle that Westbrook, as a ten year veteran, might actually be better equipped to handle than Lonzo if for no other reason than that he's seen it. So I expect Lonzo to be good, he's just going to have to show some things that he didn't at UCLA if he's going to be as transformative a player as some are hoping for him to be. The list of great NBA point guards who are neither freak athletes nor gifted scorers is thin. The question for me is whether Lonzo has that reservoir of next level athleticism and skill in him to unlock what can make him special. [URL="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tyler-Ennis-7144/"]DraftExpress - Tyler Ennis DraftExpress Profile: Stats, Comparisons, and Outlook[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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