Celtics making promise to Royce White at 21? (rumor)

[Eddie20]

Man, his ball handling is really impressive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI4zkFEP7D0

[rondohondo]

Lets look at some of the numbers White put up against other top talent big men entering the draft

Game 1 vs Kansas and Thomas Robinson(Projected top 5 pick)
White    
18pts, 17 rebs, 4 asts , 2 blks, 1 stl, 50%FG  in 28 mins

Robinson
 11pts, 14 rebs, 2 asts , 3 blks, 0 stl 40%FG in 32 mins


Game 2 vs Kansas
White    
18pts,9 rebs, 5 asts, 0 blk, 0 stl      54% FG

Robinson
13 pts, 7 rebs 0 asts , 1 blk, 1 stl    45%FG

VS Baylor
(Jones - late lottery, Acy - 2nd rd pick/ )both elite athletes

Game 1
White
14pts,5 rebs, 4asts , 7 TO 58% FG

Jones
18pts,7 rebs, 2 asts, 2 TO 61%FG

Game 2 VS Baylor
White
11pts, 11 rebs , 4 asts 3 TO 37% FG

Jones
10pts, 12 rebs, 0 asts, 0 TO 45%FG

NCAA TOURNAMENT VS UCONN in a 77-64 win
(Andre Drummond - projected top 10 pick, Oreaki- future 1st rd)

White
15pts, 13 rebs, 2 asts, 1 TO 66%FG

Drummond
2 pts ,3 rebs , 0 asts,4 blks, 0TO, 5 Fouls 25% FG
Oreaki
2pts, 3 rebs,   25% FG


vs Kentucky ( Davis projected # 1, Jones projected late lottery)

White
23 PTS, 9 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls, 1 blk , 3 TO, 75% FG

Davis
15pts, 12 rebs, 5 asts, 0 stls, 2 blk, 3 TO, 44% FG

Jones
8 pts, 11 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl, 2 blk, 1 TO,  33% FG




So in 6 games vs other 1 rd big men
Anthony Davis - # 1 pick
Thomas Robinson top 5 pick
Andre Drummond - top 10 pick
Terrence Jones - top 15 pick
Perry Jones   - top 15-20 pick
Quincy Acy    - 2nd rd pick
Jeff Whitey   - 2nd rd pick
   Oreaki    - future 1st rd pick



White's Averages vs these 1st rd picks
16.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4 APG, 57 % FG

and his team went 3-3 against teams with clearly much more talent.


Yes he had some big turn over games , but on the c's he would have hall of fame players he is playing with to teach him when to pass and when not to , plus the best assist man in the game and a former PG coaching him to give him advice.

Those are some pretty impressive numbers against other high level draft talent

I really want this kid on the C's and would even trade up to get him
 

[Chris]

Man, his ball handling is really impressive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI4zkFEP7D0

?  He dribbled straight ahead in a wide open court, and barely got over the front of the rim.

edit: that's not to say he isn't a good ballhandler.  He is a very good ballhandler for a guy his size.  But I just don't think he has the quickness and first step to make much use for it.

[Eddie20]

Man, his ball handling is really impressive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI4zkFEP7D0

?  He dribbled straight ahead in a wide open court, and barely got over the front of the rim.

edit: that's not to say he isn't a good ballhandler.  He is a very good ballhandler for a guy his size.  But I just don't think he has the quickness and first step to make much use for it.

Not many PF's can dribble the length of the court, with a player on his hip, while keeping his head up and looking comfortable.

[Neurotic Guy]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

I respect your analytic skills and I have no reason to think your assessment is incorrect.  Also, we don't know for sure that DA really does love RW and has made a 'promise'.  But, if Ainge really is hoping to get RW, what do you think he sees (or what do you think he is missing) that makes him a appear to be a stand out prospect to Danny as opposed to the flawed, too-slow player you describe?

[Evantime34]

I really like Royce White. Even if you are iffy about his athletecism, him handling the ball and his shot he has at least one sure fire translatable skill, he's a great position rebounder.

Other than that his passing will fit in great with this team, especially in the interior with KG. His ball handling will help the second unit which was devoid of a creator last year. I think with KG drawing their center out of the paint White can drive by other 4's on the wing.

Despite all those things I don't like the promise. You never know how the draft will unfold and who will be available to you, a promise is rarely a good idea.

[Evantime34]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

I respect your analytic skills and I have no reason to think your assessment is incorrect.  Also, we don't know for sure that DA really does love RW and has made a 'promise'.  But, if Ainge really is hoping to get RW, what do you think he sees (or what do you think he is missing) that makes him a appear to be a stand out prospect to Danny as opposed to the flawed, too-slow player you describe?

Rebounding.

[Snakehead]

I really like Royce White. Even if you are iffy about his athletecism, him handling the ball and his shot he has at least one sure fire translatable skill, he's a great position rebounder.

Other than that his passing will fit in great with this team, especially in the interior with KG. His ball handling will help the second unit which was devoid of a creator last year. I think with KG drawing their center out of the paint White can drive by other 4's on the wing.

Despite all those things I don't like the promise. You never know how the draft will unfold and who will be available to you, a promise is rarely a good idea.

Very agreed.  I think the passing, ball handling, rebounding no question translate and that alone is worth a late 20's pick.  He has the body to rebound and if he wasn't playing PG in college I bet his rebounding numbers would be a lot higher.  Off the ball I think he'll be a strong rebounder in the NBA.

[Celts Fan 92]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

word to those athletic freaks nd speed demons like Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, nd Zach Randolph lol speed nd athleticism isn't the end all be all of players its some athletic players dat suck cuz they lack IQ

[Fafnir]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

word to those athletic freaks nd speed demons like Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, nd Zach Randolph lol speed nd athleticism isn't the end all be all of players its some athletic players dat suck cuz they lack IQ

Eh people underrate Pierce's altheticism. In college and his younger days he was quite the athlete. Much more quickness than White.

[Chris]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

word to those athletic freaks nd speed demons like Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, nd Zach Randolph lol speed nd athleticism isn't the end all be all of players its some athletic players dat suck cuz they lack IQ

Eh people underrate Pierce's altheticism. In college and his younger days he was quite the athlete. Much more quickness than White.

Exactly.  And it is more than just pure athleticism.  It is all about the first step.  And generally that is something guys always have.  From what I have seen, White doesn't have it. 

To go at those individual players, Pierce has one of the quickest first steps in the league, and he has always been able to leave his man in the dust, even if he might not win a sprint up the court (although, he would win a lot of those sprints in his younger days).  Miller is the same way.  Deceptively quick, and even quicker with the ball.

Randolph, I just don't see the connection.  Randolph is a very big man, and has some of the best footwork in the post in the league, and is able to create space with his quick feet and then use his high release and exceptional touch to score inside.  He is a completely different player than White.

[chambers]

I'm very excited about this kids potential.
I'd put money on it being Ainge that's promised him a roster spot.
Danny is searching for stretch bigs and although Royce doesn't have the jumpshot worked out yet, he has a fantastic handle and he will be able to draw opposing big men out to 15 feet once he gets a jumpshot in his game- this shouldn't be hard because he has soft touch and good mechanics already- just needs a bit more work on his lift and feet/legs before the shot.
I't not sure if many people watched him vs Kansas but comparing him to Sullinger, White was able to take Whithey (Kansas big man) out to the perimeter and then blow by him whenever he wanted.
Whereas Sullenger struggled mightily against Whithey because he wasn't fast enough to blow by and lacked the lift/explosiveness to get an effective shot off where his back wasn't to the basket. Royce has the potential to be a legit star in the NBA with some work and mental training.
Hopefully KG can help him there.

[chambers]

Footage of him taking opposing bigs to the hole and finishing.
Obviously he's dunking on skinny white guys a lot but compare how he handles the big 7 footer from Kansas to Jared Sullenger. Worlds apart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sps0J1jgses&feature=related

[Celts Fan 92]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

word to those athletic freaks nd speed demons like Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, nd Zach Randolph lol speed nd athleticism isn't the end all be all of players its some athletic players dat suck cuz they lack IQ

Eh people underrate Pierce's altheticism. In college and his younger days he was quite the athlete. Much more quickness than White.

Exactly.  And it is more than just pure athleticism.  It is all about the first step.  And generally that is something guys always have.  From what I have seen, White doesn't have it. 

To go at those individual players, Pierce has one of the quickest first steps in the league, and he has always been able to leave his man in the dust, even if he might not win a sprint up the court (although, he would win a lot of those sprints in his younger days).  Miller is the same way.  Deceptively quick, and even quicker with the ball.

Randolph, I just don't see the connection.  Randolph is a very big man, and has some of the best footwork in the post in the league, and is able to create space with his quick feet and then use his high release and exceptional touch to score inside.  He is a completely different player than White.

ijs i wouldnt draft anyone strictly off athleticism we already failed dat experiment wit guys like Kendrick Brown nd JR Giddens from da videos I saw White has a soft touch around da basket he's a versatile power forward i think he'll succeed on da next level

[Evantime34]

Watching that video just confimed what I have been saying.  He is just not athletic and quick enough to do that in the NBA.  He couldn't get separation with his first step against college big men.  He is not going to do it against NBA big men and wings on a regular basis.  The pivots and up and unders are nice, but in the NBA, that will be too slow, and will just get swatted back at him, and the passes won't be there, because teams will know they don't have to help on him.

I like the comparisons to Lebron, because that is exactly what he is, a Lebron clone...except instead of having otherworldly athleticism and quickness, he makes Antoine Walker look fast. 

word to those athletic freaks nd speed demons like Paul Pierce, Andre Miller, nd Zach Randolph lol speed nd athleticism isn't the end all be all of players its some athletic players dat suck cuz they lack IQ

Eh people underrate Pierce's altheticism. In college and his younger days he was quite the athlete. Much more quickness than White.

Exactly.  And it is more than just pure athleticism.  It is all about the first step.  And generally that is something guys always have.  From what I have seen, White doesn't have it. 

To go at those individual players, Pierce has one of the quickest first steps in the league, and he has always been able to leave his man in the dust, even if he might not win a sprint up the court (although, he would win a lot of those sprints in his younger days).  Miller is the same way.  Deceptively quick, and even quicker with the ball.

Randolph, I just don't see the connection.  Randolph is a very big man, and has some of the best footwork in the post in the league, and is able to create space with his quick feet and then use his high release and exceptional touch to score inside.  He is a completely different player than White.

Even if Royce doesn't have a great first step if he can come in and get a lot of boards, pass the ball well and lighten the ball handling load isn't he worth the 21st pick?