Official 2014 NBA Draft Thread (the race to the bottom)

[MarcusGarvey]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Executives around the NBA increasingly believe that ballyhooed draft prospect Jabari Parker will choose to stay an extra year at Duke rather than enter the NBA draft this June, according to Sam Smith of Bulls.com. Parker, who grew up in Chicago, is No. 3 on both the DraftExpress and ESPN Insider prospect rankings, and his absence from this year’s draft would deal a blow to teams banking on a top pick in what’s supposed to be one of the best classes in years.

The presence of Jahlil Okafor, a former AAU teammate of Parker’s who’ll enter Duke next season, is weighing heavily on Parker’s mind, the executives believe. Parker also places a high value on education and feels he owes it to Duke to contribute to a better season than the Blue Devils are having so far this year, Smith hears. Parker has also seen the benefits that staying in school has provided to NBA stars in the past.

Recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv in November, when Okafor revealed he would go to Duke, that he thought the decision might influence Parker to stay in college another year so they could play together. The idea seemed far-fetched at the time, but now it appears it could indeed come to fruition. Parker, a 6’8″ freshman forward, won’t have to make his call on this year’s draft until the spring, so there will be plenty of time for him to go back and forth.

Joel Embiid’s entry into the 2014 draft isn’t a certainty, according to a report by ESPN’s Dana O’Neil. The 7-foot center has been a consensus top-five pick all year, and recently rose to the number one overall spot on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board [subscription only]. Despite performing at a high level and gaining momentum with scouts, the Cameroonian says he isn’t sure this will be his last season with Kansas.

“I don’t know if I feel like I’m ready for all of this,” Embiid is quoted as saying, acknowledging his inability to drive a car, eat well, and other elements that go along with the pro game. His hesitancy is not just based on life practicalities, either. He has studied other skilled big men that have thrived in the league, concluding: “All of the great big men went to college at least two or three years. I think it’s a big factor. I don’t know if it will always work, but I think it’s the best choice.”

Embiid is averaging 11 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in his freshman year. The report of his uncertainty comes on the heals of the news that NBA executives are increasingly expecting fellow top-5 projected prospect Jabari Parker to stay at Duke another year as well.

I hope both stay so all these teams tanking can take a mean L

That would suck for anyone picking outside the top 4

 

[S2J]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds talk about this beig bad juju in the game. Theres a reason why the NBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him for a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateau. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the summer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

 

[S2J]

^^^Mobile typos

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

That shit might as well have been written in Chinese

 

[S2J]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

That shit might as well have been written in Chinese

Lol But the information was still all correct.

 

[#1hiphopjunki3]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

Blake Griffin's offensive game is actually starting to get better. He is hitting jumpers and free throws on a more consistent basis and he is learning to take his time and set up the few post moves he has developed.

I think it pretty much comes down to if the player really has the dedication, drive and opportunity to improve and showcase the improvement to their game. Sometimes guys get pigeonholed into certain roles because the way the coach and staff wants them to play so they can't really showcase or incorporate the things they have worked on.

 

[S2J]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

Blake Griffin's offensive game is actually starting to get better. He is hitting jumpers and free throws on a more consistent basis and he is learning to take his time and set up the few post moves he has developed.

I think it pretty much comes down to if the player really has the dedication, drive and opportunity to improve and showcase the improvement to their game. Sometimes guys get pigeonholed into certain roles because the way the coach and staff wants them to play so they can't really showcase or incorporate the things they have worked on.

@ bolded, Yes, and that relays back to being in college vs being in the pros

You give a ngga millions guaranteed, he's already MADE IT, more hoes than his corny ass ever got, more obligations, charity work, his sponsors, etc....and u gon tell me they gon give time to the details. Sure some do, but there's a hell of a lot more that dont.

I.e What incentive does a guy like say, Amir Johnson, have to EVER get better. He's already being rewarded for athleticism alone. He already has a stamp in the league just for being athletic.

@ the underlined is the point i'm making. You not gettin no leeway to 'try new shyt' in an NBA game, whereas you could do it vs lesser comp and gain confidence.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

That shit might as well have been written in Chinese

I'll try and respond to the parts I can read. For one NBA Centers are not extinct in fact that might be the second deepest position in the league as far as talent. The position is making a comeback and Embid will add to the depth. If your a pro and you need 1 on 1 time to learn the "basics" well then that's a problem..Blake has far from plateaued. He's gotten significantly better since his rookie year where all he could do is run and jump and that was after spending 2 years in college. Maybe he should have stayed all 4 years?? Smh

 

[MarcusGarvey]

Staying is college is good for ones maturity and yes the basketball foundation cuz high school is basically dominated based on athleticism. guys on their rookie contract are given tons of resources to get better, they can put in extra hours in weight room, for conditioning, and working on different skills in the offseason or extended breaks. But once season starts there aren't a lot of extended practice time and it's a lot of film study.

Going back DeAndre Jordan, I don't think he can get better offensively, he is what he is, 4 years of college or not.

 

[S2J]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

That shit might as well have been written in Chinese

I'll try and respond to the parts I can read. For one NBA Centers are not extinct in fact that might be the second deepest position in the league as far as talent. The position is making a comeback and Embid will add to the depth. If your a pro and you need 1 on 1 time to learn the "basics" well then that's a problem..Blake has far from plateaued. He's gotten significantly better since his rookie year where all he could do is run and jump and that was after spending 2 years in college. Maybe he should have stayed all 4 years?? Smh

What, what, whaat?!

So Center wasnt removed from all star ballots? So they didnt JUST announce all star starters?

"One noteworthy development is the lack of a traditional center in either team's starting lineup. With Howard and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert missing the cut, the six frontcourt spots are occupied entirely by forwards."

The best Center in the game for years, Dwight Howard: 18 fuking ppg and12rpg...every. damn. year.

Compare that to Shaq, Olajuwon, David Robinson, Ewing, Mourning, Brad Daughety for cryin out loud. You cannot be serious.

See now you're just trying to prop up your boy Embiid cuz u know thats BS.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Yes because DeAndre would've had an offense if he stayed in college instead going pro with pro coaches (strength conditioning shooting) in game reps, film, and having no obligation to go to class?

Right.....FOH, some guys just have a limit on certain things.

Sigh. Yall r so confident in the bullshyt yall spit, i swear.

Pro coaches dont have 1 on 1 time to teach basics. This is common knowledge. Nba minds twlk about this beig a bad juju in the game. Therew a reawon why the MBA Center is damn near extinct.

When a guy isnt 'ready', bad habits are learned when playing against top competition and it retards a players' growth. Any basketball mind will tell you this. The only time what ur talkin works if u have a Jermaine Oneal situation where u can sit him fo4 a few years.

When u cant, u aee guys plateua. Like Blake, like Dwight.

I.e. its easier to work on my game over the sumer against lesser comp, rather than 'learning' against the highest level.

But again...most of u nggas do not hoop irl. So you wouldnt know

That shit might as well have been written in Chinese

I'll try and respond to the parts I can read. For one NBA Centers are not extinct in fact that might be the second deepest position in the league as far as talent. The position is making a comeback and Embid will add to the depth. If your a pro and you need 1 on 1 time to learn the "basics" well then that's a problem..Blake has far from plateaued. He's gotten significantly better since his rookie year where all he could do is run and jump and that was after spending 2 years in college. Maybe he should have stayed all 4 years?? Smh

What, what, whaat?!

So Center wasnt removed from all star ballots? So they didnt JUST announce all star starters?

"One noteworthy development is the lack of a traditional center in either team's starting lineup. With Howard and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert missing the cut, the six frontcourt spots are occupied entirely by forwards."

The best Center in the game for years, Dwight Howard: 18 fuking ppg and12rpg...every. damn. year.

Compare that to Shaq, Olajuwon, David Robinson, Ewing, Mourning, Brad Daughety for cryin out loud. You cannot be serious.

See now you're just trying to prop up your boy Embiid cuz u know thats BS.

I figured you would highlight that part of my comment and switch gears after i sonned you with the Blake example. That's some real petty shit but none the less I will serve you again. Besides point guard what position is deeper then center in terms of talent and productivity?

Dwight

B Lopez

Hibbert

Noah

Pecovic

Vucevic

M Gasol

L Sanders

Favors

Cousins

Drummond

Bogut

Horford

Valaciaunus sp

Verajo

Monroe

Is that's good enough for you? and of course it doesn't compare to a golden era of bigs it's a golden era for a reason. Open your eyes and stop believing that media hype. The real reason they changed the all star format isn't because the lack of centers it's because nobody tryna see a bunch of 7 footers posting up and shooting jump hooks.. It slows the game down and ain't nobody got time for that shit.

 

[S2J]

Lets see...Hawks, Raps, Bucks, Cavs, Kings, Pistons, Jazz...Helluva ensorsement for building around a Center there guy.

Get those defensive leaders,contributors, 'put up numbers on bad teams', and role players tha fuk outta here. Most of those dudes are SOLID. Thats it. Drummond has potential if ...he doesnt plateau

But Andrew Bogut...Larry Sanders?? You're proving my point by listing so many offensively limited stiffs.

And Joakim Noah, one of everyones 'best' Centers to name for this era, has career averages of 9 and 10, btw. 9...and 10.

Outside of Cousins and Howard, and maybe Lopez, none of those guys have a team built around them. NONE. Not even close.

To bring it all back to the original point, if you draft an Embiid and you'll still need a #1 option. You will not build a franchise around him. Not in 2014 you wont. You draft a scorer/playmaker and you can throw any number of stiffs to anchor your defense....You just listed some great candidates.

And re: the all star game, stop. They initiated that b/c the position is dying and it started when guys like Brad Miller and Ilgauskas were getting all star nods. Irl...this is common knowlegde.

 

[#1hiphopjunki3]

Yeah the Center position isn't that great and a lot of those guys named are really power forwards playing center because the position is so weak and their games aren't diverse enough offensively and defensively to actually get many minutes at the 4.

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Those are all modern centers I even left off a few. Name a position besides point guard deeper then center. They don't play the 4 because the game has evolved and they can't match up with guys like Lebron and Carmelo playing PF. Hell Tim Duncan was playing center for half his career because of that same reason. Even durant will play the 4 for stretches.

 

[WhoisDonG???]

The Center position is dying because the rules they put in to open the lane and most these 7-0 cats want to be guards instead of centers... Plus these dudes not physical at all.

 

[#1hiphopjunki3]

Those are all modern centers I even left off a few. Name a position besides point guard deeper then center. They don't play the 4 because the game has evolved and they can't match up with guys like Lebron and Carmelo playing PF. Hell Tim Duncan was playing center for half his career because of that same reason. Even durant will play the 4 for stretches.

The game has evolved some what. I agree with you 100% but dictating match-ups work both ways. Not every team can strut a guy like Lebron or Durant out there to play the 4 and if Durant or Lebron couldn't rebound or knock down open jumpers at there height they wouldn't be able to play the 4 in stretches.

Not to mention if more teams had versatile center/power forward combo's, teams wouldn't be able to get away with playing small because the bigger teams would kill the smaller teams on the boards and be able to get higher % looks at the rim.

Lay-ups are and have always been higher % shots than jumpers

Power Forward is deeper than center and actually has real star power at the position.

Dirk (H.O.F. and still getting it done)

Duncan (H.O.F. and still getting it done)

Love (Star)

Aldridge (Star)

Griffin (Star)

Anthony Davis (Star in the making)

David Lee (very good player)

Al Horford (really is a power forward)

Paul Milsap (criminally underrated)

David West (underrated)

Bosh (underrated)

Zach Randolph (very good player)

Ibaka

Josh Smith (very versatile player)

Pau Gasol (still a good player)

and a few more I don't even want to point out

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

80 percent of the guys you listed don't play a lick of defense.. Unfortunately that's all the fans and casual viewers appreciate. The same reason carmelo was seen as a top 10 player for the longest. Some of the guys you listed are on their way out the league in a few years and majority of the centers I listed haven't even reached their prime yet. PF is top heavy but not really as deep as you think.

 

[#1hiphopjunki3]

80 percent of the guys you listed don't play a lick of defense.. Unfortunately that's all the fans and casual viewers appreciate. The same reason carmelo was seen as a top 10 player for the longest. Some of the guys you listed are on their way out the league in a few years and majority of the centers I listed haven't even reached their prime yet. PF is top heavy but not really as deep as you think.

Oh I agree a decent amount of them don't play defense well but most of them make sure a good defensive possession is secured by grabbing the defensive rebound, which is a really important part of defense also.

It's funny that you tried to point out how one dimensional some of the guys I posted are when most of your list actually fits your thinking. All of the gentleman I posted can effect the outcome of a game in a multitude of ways offensively and or defensively. While a good portion of the guys you posted are glorified garbage men who need to be spoon feed to get buckets, play bad 1on1 and team defense, not good rebounders and are turnover prone.

Now of course some can get better but we are talking about as you put it "the second deepest position in the league as far as talent." If you said potential I might agree but potential is based off of speculation. Right now the 2nd deepest position is the 4 in the NBA and with guys like Love, Griffin, Anthony Davis and even Ibaka who are 25 and under ballin, I don't know if that will change any time soon.

 

[MarcusGarvey]

Prospects Saturday

Wiggins 27pts, 5reb, 5ast. 8/13 FG, 2/4 3PT, 9/10 FT.

Embiid 14pts, 6reb, 3blk. 4/8 FG, 6/11 FT.

Parker 14pts, 14reb (10oreb), 3stl. 3/13 FG, 0/1 3PT, 8/9 FT.

Randle 14pts, 9reb, 3ast. 4/8 FG, 1/1 3PT, 5/5 FT.

Ennis 14pts, 5reb, 4ast. 5/11FG 1/2 3PT, 3/4 FT.

Harris 27pts 5reb 3st. 9/15 FG 4/6 3PT, 5/9 FT.