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Damian Jones looking solid
« on: June 05, 2016, 08:24:29 AM »

Offline chambers

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New DX workout/interview with Jones. A longer version will be released soon too.
After seeing what the OKC big men did to the Warriors, I would be happy to draft this monster.
Legit 7 footer with bounce, soft hands and good footwork. Still raw but has great potential.

Even starting to step out and take some 3's which is very, very appealing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Ptox3ElkE
"We are lucky we have a very patient GM that isn't willing to settle for being good and coming close. He wants to win a championship and we have the potential to get there still with our roster and assets."

quoting 'Greg B' on RealGM after 2017 trade deadline.
Read that last line again. One more time.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2016, 08:50:39 AM »

Online Who

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I would be very happy with him at #16

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2016, 09:40:19 AM »

Offline chilidawg

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He was pretty unimpressive on the court as a college junior.  He may look good in workouts, but I'm skeptical.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2016, 09:44:40 AM »

Offline Celtics4ever

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His athletic numbers are well above solid.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2016, 09:44:54 AM »

Offline Csfan1984

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I'd hope he is there 23 given the amount of bigs in this draft.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2016, 10:00:05 AM »

Offline ssspence

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Include me in the strongly intrigued. As far as I'm concerned, the Cs are overloaded with role guys. I want to see Ainge take a crack at upside guys who are long / athletic for their positions... and it wouldn't hurt to see one of those on a true center if he can be found at 16, but especially at 23.
Mike

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Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2016, 12:28:25 PM »

Offline OldSchoolDude

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Anyone can look good in two minute clip from a much longer workout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K-EKA_vwOU

Just like anyone can look good in a two minute clip of their good plays in college.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKyP3Por3xI

I think success is more about the mind then about the body.  Barkley was too short but he had the will.  Bird was not a freak athlete but he had the will.   Draymond Green went round two because he was thought to be too short to guard the 4 and too slow to guard the 3.   But he has the will and found a way to make his body do what no one thought it could.  Damian Jones has a tone of talent but he couldn’t pull it together constantly.  Some games he was a beast and other he was a complete non factor.   He’s played three years of college ball and has proven that he has the physical game but not the mental game to make it work in the NBA.  Some one will drafted him like we did with Fab, but we took our gamble at #22.  I would take a shot in him in round two but I would rather draft AJ Hammons.   Yes there are issues with him like all players but I’d take Hammons #31 in a heartbeat.  Hammons is a senior so he losses value due to age but I think he would fit great on the Celtics and surprise a lot of people. Plus he played a much more consistent game in college.   Here are some clips that show his inside out game and show it against decent completion.

AJ Hammons Vs Diamond Stone BIG TEN GIANTS BATTLE (2-27-16) Maryland vs Purdue, MUST SEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYiPzFGS-8s

AJ Hammons Full Highlights vs Maryland (2-6-16) 18 Pts 10 Rebs, ANDREW BYNUM 2.0!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7_6Pj9HKNA

AJ Hammons Full HLIGHTS vs Michigan St. (2-9-16) 19 Pts 13 Rebs 8 Blks, BEST CENTER IN THE COUNTRY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6pQ-etm9_k

AJ Hammons Full Highlights vs Michigan (3-12-16) 27 Pts 11 Rebs 3 Blks, 2 EASY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuovzbyTKM

This is a highlight of Purdue vs Vanderbilt, you only see a bit of AJ Hammons but you get the idea that he out played Damian Jones.   At one point the announcer says that AJ Hammons was the difference in the game.

http://www.btn2go.com/video/vanderbilt-at-purdue---mens-basketball-highlights


Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2016, 12:35:31 PM »

Offline danglertx

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New DX workout/interview with Jones. A longer version will be released soon too.
After seeing what the OKC big men did to the Warriors, I would be happy to draft this monster.
Legit 7 footer with bounce, soft hands and good footwork. Still raw but has great potential.

Even starting to step out and take some 3's which is very, very appealing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Ptox3ElkE

He looks like he would DESTROY Yi Jilain's chair.  Against an actual person...

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2016, 12:41:26 PM »

Offline jay

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I really want Jones at 16.  He has all the measurables plus he is very intelligent.  I think he could turn into a big time defensive player.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2016, 01:04:23 PM »

Offline Smartacus

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Definitely think he could do better in the NBA spacing than the cramped college game.  He was looking really strong at the LeBron James Camp this summer, was surprising that he didn't take the next step in the NCAA.

Could be a nice project to become our starting center once we're really looking to contend in a few years. Fits the timeline if he lives up to his potential.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2016, 01:17:48 PM »

Offline PhoSita

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That video told me next to nothing about what he can do in a game or what role he'd play at the NBA level.

Especially the repeated dunking. That's nice. You can catch and dunk.

Why don't we ever see big guys doing a Mikan Drill? How about an extended Mikan Drill through contact? That'd be more interesting than the dunks.
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Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2016, 02:17:53 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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That video told me next to nothing about what he can do in a game or what role he'd play at the NBA level.

Especially the repeated dunking. That's nice. You can catch and dunk.

Why don't we ever see big guys doing a Mikan Drill? How about an extended Mikan Drill through contact? That'd be more interesting than the dunks.
true, as was pointed out above, the videos show so many players as shooting 100% and gobbling up rebounds left and right.

and oh, that fab video. i wish the celtics hadn't given up so soon on him. he will be star.  ;)
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Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2016, 07:12:53 PM »

Offline vjcsmoke

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Damian Jones ticks all the athletic check boxes, but he might turn out to be the next Fab Melo.

Honestly, I hope we move up from 16.  I'm not in love with Jones but I acknowledge his potential.  I'd rather draft someone less risky or with better upside though.

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2016, 11:08:45 PM »

Offline OldSchoolDude

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Damian Jones ticks all the athletic check boxes, but he might turn out to be the next Fab Melo.

Honestly, I hope we move up from 16.  I'm not in love with Jones but I acknowledge his potential.  I'd rather draft someone less risky or with better upside though.

In my earlier response I offered up A.J. Hammons as an option in the early second round.  He is what is is and that should be a quality back up center, but given our woeful big men he could start for us, unless we sign a free agent center.

Here are the clips again that I posed in my earlier post. 

AJ Hammons Vs Diamond Stone BIG TEN GIANTS BATTLE (2-27-16) Maryland vs Purdue, MUST SEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYiPzFGS-8s

AJ Hammons Full Highlights vs Maryland (2-6-16) 18 Pts 10 Rebs, ANDREW BYNUM 2.0!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7_6Pj9HKNA

AJ Hammons Full HLIGHTS vs Michigan St. (2-9-16) 19 Pts 13 Rebs 8 Blks, BEST CENTER IN THE COUNTRY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6pQ-etm9_k

AJ Hammons Full Highlights vs Michigan (3-12-16) 27 Pts 11 Rebs 3 Blks, 2 EASY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuovzbyTKM

This is a highlight of Purdue vs Vanderbilt, you only see a bit of AJ Hammons but you get the idea that he out played Damian Jones.   At one point the announcer says that AJ Hammons was the difference in the game.

http://www.btn2go.com/video/vanderbilt-at-purdue---mens-basketball-highlights

Re: Damian Jones looking solid
« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2016, 11:53:22 PM »

Offline Beat LA

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Based on everything I've read about the guy, I'll have to say HELL TO THE NO.  Here are three separate scouting reports on Jones -

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/damian-jones

NBA Comparison: Festus Ezeli
Strengths: Physically, Jones has ideal size, strength and speed for a center in today’s fast-paced NBA ... He’s tall (6'11”), long (7’2” wingspan), with broad shoulders, strength and high level speed and athletic ability ... He’s able to get up and down the floor very well for a player his size … He’s got very good touch around the rim and shows the ability to hit shots out to 15-18 feet ... Good at finishing on the block, provided he isn't forced to create a basket against a strong defender ... Between that and his improved shot selection, he’s become a very efficient player, shooting nearly 60% from the floor last season … His length and athleticism could lead him to a role as a very good help-side post defender … Additionally, he shows potential to become an even more potent offensive weapon with his improving mid-range jumper ... Jones is an intelligent, high-character guy who puts in the work off the court and without question be a good teammate at the next level ... Shows very well in workouts where his athleticism and shooting stroke make an intriguing combination ... Shows a lot of potential with the ability to be a dominant force when he's on his game ...

Weaknesses: Sustaining a high level of intensity and focus is his biggest obstacle ... Jones laid back attitude often manifests itself on the court, and his inability to consistently play to his ability is a concern ... He often disappears from games and currently lacks the tenacity needed to be a dominant presence inside ... Success will likely be highly contingent on landing in the right situation with coaches that understand how to build his confidence and get the most out of his abilities ... Competitiveness and feel for the game comes into question ... It is baffling how poorly (6.9 per game) he rebounds for someone with his physical attributes ... Post skills have not progressed as expected and still need work ... Has the length and hops to be a real presence inside, but doesn’t really have the rebounding numbers or defensive prowess to show for it ... Had a tough time emerging as Vanderbilt's clearcut star, depite being the best talent ... Jones productivity and efficiency (scoring, FG%, FT%, minutes) decreased accross the board as a junior ... He gets to the line at a decent rate, but struggled to convert once there ... Regressed as a free throw shooter last year, connecting on a college career-low 54% from the stripe ... Needs to work on becoming a bigger presence on both ends of the floor ... Commits a fair amount of turnovers with a lack of significant assist numbers ... Not particularly adept at passing out of double-teams ... Despite having a very strong frame, can be pushed around at times, so adding some lower body strength and especially toughness will be key ...

Overall: Jones is a springy, skilled center who has the potential to make an impact at the next level, but often struggled to consistently make an impact at the college level ... He’ll need to become more tenacious and a bit stronger in order to find the consistency to stick in an NBA rotation, but the framework is there and he's by all accounts considered a high character kid ..

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Damian-Jones-7211/

Standing 6'11.5 in shoes with a tremendous 7'3.75 wingspan and a 244-pound frame that carries just 6.6% body fat, it isn't hard to figure out what makes Jones an intriguing NBA prospect on first glance. He may not be an Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan-level freak of nature, but has everything scouts look for in a center prospect physically, and a frame that still has room to grow. On top of his sheer size, Jones is also a good athlete for his size with a good mobility and explosiveness, even if he doesn't appear to be the most fluid strider running up and down the floor.

Playing nearly the exact same role that he did a year ago, Jones averaged a very respectable 1.01 points per possession over 13.5 possessions per game as a junior, a side-step from the .992 he scored over 14.6 per game as a sophomore. Doing the majority of his scoring one-on-one on the block, the Louisiana native was asked to use his size to his advantage against smaller defenders and finish shots created for him in the half court. Not the most polished player in terms of his instincts as a scorer and passer, Jones was not asked to be particularly versatile for Vanderbilt.

Finishing the year shooting an impressive 56% on the block, the 20-year-old big man doesn't have the most polished offensive repertoire, but his size, couple with flashes of touch on his turnaround jump shot and right handed hook allowed him to be quite effective in spurts creating for himself inside. Lacking much in the way of counter moves, Jones gets tunnel vision at times and his shot selection and feel for creating for himself isn't ideal, but as much as his game isn't pretty, it was quite efficient a year ago.

Aside from his ability to score on the block, Jones did his best work by far as a finisher around the rim. Shooting 68% around the basket in the half court, the athletic big man is quick off his feet and can dunk the ball effortlessly. The limiting factor on Jones's effectiveness inside last season was how frequently he settled for difficult shots, brought the ball low allowing the defense to get into position, and didn't go up quite as strong as one would hope in traffic. To his credit, Jones didn't necessarily shy away from contact, as he got to the line for 7.7 free throws per-40 minutes pace adjusted.

Unfortunately, Jones only converted 54% of his free throws last season, down from 61% a year before. His struggles at the line aren't surprising, as he made just 26% of his jump shots in the half court as well. Showing some flashes making jumpers out to 15-17 feet, but not with the kind of consistency you'd hope, Jones seems to have some upside as a shooter, but remains a long way away from being a reliable threat from the midrange. Similarly, he flashes the ability to put the ball on the floor an attack slower defenders driving to the rim, but often forces wild shots when he can't get an angle.

On the whole, Jones isn't an incapable scorer, but he disappeared for stretches on the offensive end, which proved problematic on a team that could have really benefited from a workhorse scoring presence. Jones doesn't always impose his will on games, lacking a degree of toughness, intensity and assertiveness at times, but his ability to finish around the rim, draw contact, and make the most of his tools on the glass figure to be far bigger part of his role than his ability to consistently impact the game on the block. His skill level is still a work in progress and his feel and motor leave something to be desired, but we've seen a number of big men with similar physical gifts make significant leaps or find key roles at the NBA level with better coaching and player development than they found in college. The team selecting Jones will hope he can take a page out of former Vanderbilt big man Festus Ezeli's book and grow into a rotation player.

Defensively, Jones is a bit of a mixed bag. Blocking a solid 2.5 shots per 40-minutes pace adjusted, Jones has some impressive flashes rejecting would-be scorers, but doesn't have great instincts contesting shots on the ball and isn't always as physically aggressive as you'd like a player his size to be around the rim. His instincts and passivity on the defensive glass are a more consistent issue as he pulled down just 7.1 defensive rebounder per-40 minutes pace adjusted, the fourth lowest mark among the 13 centers ranked in our top-100, behind a number of players with far less impressive physical profiles.

Jones has the quickness to step away from the rim and defend the perimeter fairly impressively in spurts and the strength to hold his own in the post, but he frequently gets caught in no man's land, is a step slow with his awareness, and doesn't show great anticipation. Jones clearly has the physical tools to be a factor on this end, and the flashes of potential he shows leave some room for optimism, but his instincts are still catching up.

Frustratingly inconsistent at times over the course of his three-year collegiate career, Jones is a one of the younger prospects in our junior rankings at just 20 years old. An Engineering Science major who has consistently been lauded for his intelligence off the floor, the flashes of good things Jones showed, coupled with his physical tools, give him the type of upside that could lead a team to bet on him in the mid to late first round. A late bloomer of sorts (RSCI #91), they'll hope he can begin to develop the kind of mean streak and consistency that would help him make better use of his physical tools as he enters his 20s, as players in his mold often develop later than most.

I couldn't find the recent one from hoopshype, but I did come across the first line of said report, after which I stopped reading, lol,"When Jones is engaged, he appears to be a future NBA starting center.