I can't watch it. I just check the scores and when I see that they lost, I'm glad.
I think you can definitely build a good team without tanking but once the Knicks really started to slide it made sense to just go full retard and shoot for a chance at the top pick. Add a talented young kid and make him part of the foundation.
Hoping for the 1st pick and Okafor but I think they're basically guaranteed a good player. This draft is 4 deep at the top, IMO and the Knicks will definitely have one of those slots. Phil has his work cut out for him otherwise, though.
Like it's a big deal that the Knicks win a few games..
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Guangdong is down to Beijing 2-0 and will deactivate big man Jeff Adrien in favor of an all-import backcourt with Mudiay and Will Bynum.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Emmanuel Mudiay hasn't played in a game since November 23rd, so this is a very unconventional move to activate him this late in the playoffs
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Successful return for Emmanuel Mudiay, scoring 24 pts (8-19 FG, 6-10 FT) in 34 min. Guangdong beats Beijing in Game 3 of the CBA playoffs.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
In addition to Emmanuel Mudiay's 24 points (6-15 2P, 2-4 3P), he also had 8 rebs, 4 assists, 2 TOs, 4 steals today. Saves Guangdong's season
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Says something about Emmanuel Mudiay's professionalism that he didn't sulk and just steal money for the past 2 1/2 months. Stayed ready.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Guangdong loses Game 4 of the CBA playoff semis. Emmanuel Mudiay finishes with 15 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 turnovers in 44 minutes.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Mudiay's final shooting stats today: 3-10 2P, 2-4 3P, 3-6 FT. He finishes the season shooting 13-38 (34%) for 3 and 27/47 (57%) from FT line
RE: Cleanthony Early has been such a huge disappointment so far.
as my #1 pick in this draft. His floor just seems like easily the highest of the Top 3/4 being a two-way big and all.
IMO, he's like a bigger Derrick Favors with better outside shot. Favors has become a 16/8 + strong D player over 31 MPG player in his 5th season.
Towns is going to be really good imo. He's not Anthony Davis or Embiid but he's definitely more impressive than Noel as a prospect due to his offensive potential.
was absolutely terrific tonight besides getting in foul trouble.
He was able to score whenever they threw it into him down low. He looked very smooth in the post, nice footwork. He is a terrific free throw shooter and has a mid range shot.
Ash and I were talking earlier, he said he could be a 12/8 guy instantly in the pros. I agree.
Don't know him, but he was a great contributor to Knicks/BBall threads.
This is the only game I've seen of Towns and I'm very impressed. He would be a consensus #1 if he wasn't on such a stacked team and was featured more. His arms are like fucking tree branches and he knows how to use them on defense. Still has a lot to learn, but that's fine.
I'd go Towns, Okafor, D'Lo. I also think Mudiay has more than an outside shot of claiming #3.
RE: RE: Cleanthony Early has been such a huge disappointment so far.
Maybe next year is different but he fucking sucks at this point. Like... I'm not sure he's even a 12th man going forward bad.
Yep. I was one of the people who thought he'd be the steal of the Draft. Loved watching him during last year's March Madness for Wichita State. Now, he looks scared and out of place and he needs to hit the weight room ASAP. In hindsight, maybe they should've rolled the dice on Dinwiddie or Jordan Clarkson, but I'm not ready to give up on Early.
Thomas Beisner @Beisner_cn2 3h3 hours ago
Also interesting: Cauley-Stein is one steal away from tying Tayshaun Prince on UK's all-time list and Tayshaun played 40 more games.
The guy seemingly can do it all. His offense also seems very underrated. We know he's a defensive beast, but given his effort and agility, I can see him being a Tyson Chandler type of player on both ends, with maybe WCS having better effort and range.
Thomas Beisner @Beisner_cn2 3h3 hours ago
Also interesting: Cauley-Stein is one steal away from tying Tayshaun Prince on UK's all-time list and Tayshaun played 40 more games.
The guy seemingly can do it all. His offense also seems very underrated. We know he's a defensive beast, but given his effort and agility, I can see him being a Tyson Chandler type of player on both ends, with maybe WCS having better effort and range.
Keep in mind his age vs. the others. He will be a 22 year old rookie, Towns will be 20, Okafor 20 as well.
Wouldn't call myself a fan, but I really like what their coach has turned that team into. Just a fast paced shove it down your throat type of offense. WCS would fit that pace perfectly and I think their coach is smart enough to put him in the right position to succeed. It would be nice to see a guy like WCS end up on a team he can truly thrive with.
DraftExpress put up a video analysis of Mudiays performance
usually guys who play like him don't have nearly the strength. He's not as powerfully built as Towns but he's not some skinny little bitch either.
I think worst case scenario for WCS, he still becomes a stud defender and impact role player. Really high floor on him.
How many of the projected top 3-4 have a floor below "impact role player"? Okafor, Towns and Russell will all be at least "impact role players" and have significantly higher ceilings. For all of the defensive hype on WCS, Towns plays less minutes, blocks more shots and grabs the same amount of rebounds while destroying WCS at the line despite WCS now in his third season.
that half that team despises Hornacek including the Morris twins.
I agree though, he's done a great job with them looking from the outside. Fun team to watch but unless Bledsoe hits another level, they're probably gonna be just another mid-tier team in a ridiculously loaded WC.
has a lower floors than WCS imo. If Okafor's scoring doesn't translate as well as we think and his D stays at this level, he could be a flat out bust.
And I think WCS is probably a slightly safer bet to be a "stud defender/hustle" guy in the NBA than Towns, although Towns has a clearly higher ceiling.
Knicks pick first and take Okafor. WCS goes seventh to ninth, as most mocks have him. Knicks trade Okafor for WCS and a quality starter, say at pg or pf. Then, Knicks get max cap player and another quality starter in FA.
Assuming WCS can hold down the fort at center while he gains strength, that would give the Knicks a quality full starting 5, practically the only way they can get one this year, I think. Otherwise they just have Melo, the draft pick and two quality FA, leaving a hole at the fifth starting position, which doesn't get filled for another year.
Knicks pick first and take Okafor. WCS goes seventh to ninth, as most mocks have him. Knicks trade Okafor for WCS and a quality starter, say at pg or pf. Then, Knicks get max cap player and another quality starter in FA.
Assuming WCS can hold down the fort at center while he gains strength, that would give the Knicks a quality full starting 5, practically the only way they can get one this year, I think. Otherwise they just have Melo, the draft pick and two quality FA, leaving a hole at the fifth starting position, which doesn't get filled for another year.
Thoughts?
Okafor isn't viewed as a "can't miss" stud. Don't see anyone giving up a "good" starter and a top 7-9 pick for him unless the "good starter" is less than what I'm envisioning.
The Suns were never supposed to be a mid tier team
They were supposed to be 76ers bad and somehow became this fast paced enjoyable team to watch that no team can take a night off against. I don't follow them closely so I wasn't aware of the Hornacek hatred. I knew Goran wasn't a big fan because of what his role turned into, but that's it.
They are definitely not close to being a real threat at the moment, but I really respect the fact that they aren't all in on the tank which is very trendy right now. You kind of just hope things break the right way for them. I think WCS would be a nice break for them, and would make them a lot more fun to watch. Which is good for all NBA fans.
he'd be the perfect defender to pair next to Cousins. That would be another great frontcourt.
That's really why I love WCS though, so much of the NBA is about "fit" and WCS is the type of guy that could fit in well almost anywhere because of his skillset.
going to need to pack on a lot of weight to ever come close to his ceiling. He also may be a guy that simply will never be big enough, like a javale mcgee. Not comparing them as players just in body type. At Cauley Stein's frame right now his ceiling is a role player imo.
his offensive ceiling is just way lower than all the other Top 5 candidates.
But damn I love his game. He might need to add a little more weight but I don't think he's that skinny. Plus he's so much more agile than a guy like McGee, he could defend PFs without hesitation.
He's probably the closest thing to KG as a defender I've seen in college. Anthony Davis might've been better, but not as KG-like on D.
A respectable mid-range J would go a looong way for him. He's definitely missing that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hNIX7V21pU - ( New Window )
I could give a fuck about the Knicks today.
But it's just gross to watch. And a lot of teams are proving this year that tanking isn't the only way to become a contender.
I hope you land the #1 pick, I love going to MSG for good Knicks games.
I think you can definitely build a good team without tanking but once the Knicks really started to slide it made sense to just go full retard and shoot for a chance at the top pick. Add a talented young kid and make him part of the foundation.
Hoping for the 1st pick and Okafor but I think they're basically guaranteed a good player. This draft is 4 deep at the top, IMO and the Knicks will definitely have one of those slots. Phil has his work cut out for him otherwise, though.
Guangdong is down to Beijing 2-0 and will deactivate big man Jeff Adrien in favor of an all-import backcourt with Mudiay and Will Bynum.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Emmanuel Mudiay hasn't played in a game since November 23rd, so this is a very unconventional move to activate him this late in the playoffs
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Successful return for Emmanuel Mudiay, scoring 24 pts (8-19 FG, 6-10 FT) in 34 min. Guangdong beats Beijing in Game 3 of the CBA playoffs.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
In addition to Emmanuel Mudiay's 24 points (6-15 2P, 2-4 3P), he also had 8 rebs, 4 assists, 2 TOs, 4 steals today. Saves Guangdong's season
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Says something about Emmanuel Mudiay's professionalism that he didn't sulk and just steal money for the past 2 1/2 months. Stayed ready.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Guangdong loses Game 4 of the CBA playoff semis. Emmanuel Mudiay finishes with 15 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 turnovers in 44 minutes.
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Mudiay's final shooting stats today: 3-10 2P, 2-4 3P, 3-6 FT. He finishes the season shooting 13-38 (34%) for 3 and 27/47 (57%) from FT line
Maybe next year is different but he fucking sucks at this point. Like... I'm not sure he's even a 12th man going forward bad.
IMO, he's like a bigger Derrick Favors with better outside shot. Favors has become a 16/8 + strong D player over 31 MPG player in his 5th season.
Towns is going to be really good imo. He's not Anthony Davis or Embiid but he's definitely more impressive than Noel as a prospect due to his offensive potential.
He was able to score whenever they threw it into him down low. He looked very smooth in the post, nice footwork. He is a terrific free throw shooter and has a mid range shot.
Ash and I were talking earlier, he said he could be a 12/8 guy instantly in the pros. I agree.
Here's how I would rate the 3 right now.
Towns
Russell
Okafor
This is the only game I've seen of Towns and I'm very impressed. He would be a consensus #1 if he wasn't on such a stacked team and was featured more. His arms are like fucking tree branches and he knows how to use them on defense. Still has a lot to learn, but that's fine.
I'd go Towns, Okafor, D'Lo. I also think Mudiay has more than an outside shot of claiming #3.
Quote:
He really needs to hit the weight room
Maybe next year is different but he fucking sucks at this point. Like... I'm not sure he's even a 12th man going forward bad.
Yep. I was one of the people who thought he'd be the steal of the Draft. Loved watching him during last year's March Madness for Wichita State. Now, he looks scared and out of place and he needs to hit the weight room ASAP. In hindsight, maybe they should've rolled the dice on Dinwiddie or Jordan Clarkson, but I'm not ready to give up on Early.
Also interesting: Cauley-Stein is one steal away from tying Tayshaun Prince on UK's all-time list and Tayshaun played 40 more games.
The guy seemingly can do it all. His offense also seems very underrated. We know he's a defensive beast, but given his effort and agility, I can see him being a Tyson Chandler type of player on both ends, with maybe WCS having better effort and range.
Link - ( New Window )
It was in a 5pt OT win against Philly, but still. The dude nearly had a 50pt triple double!
This guy is just unreal.
Also interesting: Cauley-Stein is one steal away from tying Tayshaun Prince on UK's all-time list and Tayshaun played 40 more games.
The guy seemingly can do it all. His offense also seems very underrated. We know he's a defensive beast, but given his effort and agility, I can see him being a Tyson Chandler type of player on both ends, with maybe WCS having better effort and range.
Keep in mind his age vs. the others. He will be a 22 year old rookie, Towns will be 20, Okafor 20 as well.
I think worst case scenario for WCS, he still becomes a stud defender and impact role player. Really high floor on him.
But yea he'd be a great fit.
link - ( New Window )
I think worst case scenario for WCS, he still becomes a stud defender and impact role player. Really high floor on him.
How many of the projected top 3-4 have a floor below "impact role player"? Okafor, Towns and Russell will all be at least "impact role players" and have significantly higher ceilings. For all of the defensive hype on WCS, Towns plays less minutes, blocks more shots and grabs the same amount of rebounds while destroying WCS at the line despite WCS now in his third season.
I agree though, he's done a great job with them looking from the outside. Fun team to watch but unless Bledsoe hits another level, they're probably gonna be just another mid-tier team in a ridiculously loaded WC.
And I think WCS is probably a slightly safer bet to be a "stud defender/hustle" guy in the NBA than Towns, although Towns has a clearly higher ceiling.
Assuming WCS can hold down the fort at center while he gains strength, that would give the Knicks a quality full starting 5, practically the only way they can get one this year, I think. Otherwise they just have Melo, the draft pick and two quality FA, leaving a hole at the fifth starting position, which doesn't get filled for another year.
Thoughts?
Assuming WCS can hold down the fort at center while he gains strength, that would give the Knicks a quality full starting 5, practically the only way they can get one this year, I think. Otherwise they just have Melo, the draft pick and two quality FA, leaving a hole at the fifth starting position, which doesn't get filled for another year.
Thoughts?
Okafor isn't viewed as a "can't miss" stud. Don't see anyone giving up a "good" starter and a top 7-9 pick for him unless the "good starter" is less than what I'm envisioning.
They are definitely not close to being a real threat at the moment, but I really respect the fact that they aren't all in on the tank which is very trendy right now. You kind of just hope things break the right way for them. I think WCS would be a nice break for them, and would make them a lot more fun to watch. Which is good for all NBA fans.
That's really why I love WCS though, so much of the NBA is about "fit" and WCS is the type of guy that could fit in well almost anywhere because of his skillset.
But damn I love his game. He might need to add a little more weight but I don't think he's that skinny. Plus he's so much more agile than a guy like McGee, he could defend PFs without hesitation.
He's probably the closest thing to KG as a defender I've seen in college. Anthony Davis might've been better, but not as KG-like on D.
A respectable mid-range J would go a looong way for him. He's definitely missing that.
Link - ( New Window )