Chad Ford Mock 7.0 today Gordon and Porzingis

[Jailan34]

When a player has 0 post or mid range game as well as struggles at the line I have a hard time seeing how he has serious offensive potential.

[NorthernLightning]

When a player has 0 post or mid range game as well as struggles at the line I have a hard time seeing how he has serious offensive potential.

You're not alone in wondering how an elite 18 year old freak athlete who is "psychotic" for basketball and shoots 35% from 3 has serious offensive potential.

I can't say you're in good company, but I can say you have lots of company.

[Finkelskyhook]

Honest question....What do you see in Gordon that would make you take him over Randle or Vonleh?

Well...Gordon is a better defensive player than Randle will ever be.  He's a lot further along as a player than Vonleh.

I would take him over Randle in a heartbeat.   It would be hard to pass on Vonleh's size and athletism.

[NorthernLightning]

Yeah, Vonleh might not have good hands, might be a bottom of the barrel passer, and might not develop elite helpside defensive instincts, but he's going to keep getting stronger and stronger, up to 260-265 of lean muscle.

That's just going to make him an even better rebounder and more capable of playing more minutes at center.

[kozlodoev]

When a player has 0 post or mid range game as well as struggles at the line I have a hard time seeing how he has serious offensive potential.

You're not alone in wondering how an elite 18 year old freak athlete who is "psychotic" for basketball and shoots 35% from 3 has serious offensive potential.

I can't say you're in good company, but I can say you have lots of company.

Players who shoot 42% from the line rarely have "serious offensive potential". That's just the way it works in the NBA.

[D.o.s.]

I can't wait until this draft is over. This habit of constantly posting draftexpress vids and you tube vids on prospective players is getting nauseating, like these vids are the end all be all of how to judge these players. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, sick of seeing them.

Agreed wholeheartedly.

[nickagneta]

I think a player can develop awesome weak side help defense so so much easier than a player can develop the ability to shoot. Gordon shot an almost incomprehensible 27.5% on 2 point jumpers, 42% from the line and even though he shot 35% from 3 that was a college three and the sample size is very small since he only attempted 45 all year. As a comparison a three point specialist like Trevor Cooney at Syracuse attempted 225 and Andrew Wiggins considered a decent three point shooter that used it as part of his arsenal on offense, shot 125.

Quote that 35% from three all you want, it means nothing taken in context. He's a bad shooter.

[hpantazo]

When a player has 0 post or mid range game as well as struggles at the line I have a hard time seeing how he has serious offensive potential.

You're not alone in wondering how an elite 18 year old freak athlete who is "psychotic" for basketball and shoots 35% from 3 has serious offensive potential.

I can't say you're in good company, but I can say you have lots of company.

I'm sorry , but what exactly is he "elite" at? All I see is an athletic kid with a good attitude who has no offensive moves and can't shoot if his life depended on it. There are plenty of those around in he nba and even more of them outside the nba. If he's so psychotic for basketball as you describe, he should have at least learned a move or two and developed a decent shot by now. It's not like he was discovered recentl in some remote African tribe and just started playing basketball.

[Silent Storm]

Apparently Exum has "refused" to work out for the Celtics: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft-extended.php

Assuming we keep the pick, who do you think we should pick at #6? I'm hoping that Utah doesn't pick Vonleh, he's really young but already has an NBA-ready body and is a skilled rebounder with length. His strength and agility would complement Sullinger and Olynyk well, but it would surely make Bass and Humphries redundant. I'm not crazy about Gordon because he's a tweener with a broken jumpshot, whereas Vonleh has a smooth jumper with sound mechanics. I think he would be a great fit with Rondo.

[hpantazo]

Apparently Exum has "refused" to work out for the Celtics: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft-extended.php

Assuming we keep the pick, who do you think we should pick at #6? I'm hoping that Utah doesn't pick Vonleh, he's really young but already has an NBA-ready body and is a skilled rebounder with length. His strength and agility would complement Sullinger and Olynyk well, but it would surely make Bass and Humphries redundant. I'm not crazy about Gordon because he's a tweener with a broken jumpshot, whereas Vonleh has a smooth jumper with sound mechanics. I think he would be a great fit with Rondo.

Bass or Humphries should have zero influence on who we draft. I wouldn't pass up Randle if he drops to us, foot injury and all. My first choice is Smart though.

[colincb]

Vonleh has very good hands according to Chad Ford.

Gordon shoots 29% away from the rim.  I wouldn't hang my hat on him being a 35% 3FG shooter off a small sample given the poorer result off a 5x larger sample which includes his 3 point shots.

[NorthernLightning]

With Sully and KO and Bass and Green and even Fav spreading the floor, Gordon is going to have lots of room to operate inside. He's both taller than most SFs and more athletic than almost all of them. He has solid handles, makes good decisions, and at 18 freaking years old people, will just get better and better scoring inside and outside. Just jumping over people and bursting around and through people, getting more and more skilled every week.

That's exactly the kind of player we would want at SF next to KO and Sully, both of whom are good players with weaknesses that can indeed be covered up by the right SF.

Gordon would be like another PF out there, great on the rebounds and putbacks, our best shotblocker, and a one man fast break.

It'll sink in eventually, and you guys will forget all about this little embarrassing time.

[NorthernLightning]

Vonleh has very good hands according to Chad Ford.

Gordon shoots 29% away from the rim.  I wouldn't hang my hat on him being a 35% 3FG shooter off a small sample given the poorer result off a 5x larger sample which includes his 3 point shots.

He won't need to rely on long twos and threes anyway. He'll be like Josh Smith with less bad shots from outside.

[nickagneta]

A lot if not most players do not get better. That's why the NBA Draft is littered with role players and busts every single year.

Sooner or later, that will sink in.

[MBunge]

Apparently Exum has "refused" to work out for the Celtics: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft-extended.php

Yeah!  One less potential bust to tempt Danny.

Mike