Is Fultz D'Angelo Russell 2.0?

[jyyzzoel]

Their bodies are similar:

Player A: Height: 6'3.25        6'9.75 WS         8'6     Standing Reach
Player B: Height: 6'3.5          6'9.75 WS         8'5.5  Standing Reach

Their college stats per 40 are very similar:

Player A: 22.3 points per 40  47.9% 2PT%  41.1% 3PT%  FT 75.6%  6.5 Boards 5.8 Ast 1.8 Stls
Player B: 24.9 points per 40  50.2% 2PT%  41.3% 3PT%  FT 64.9%  6.1 Boards 6.4 Ast 1.7 Stls

[Monkhouse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aghta4rX144

Guy explains the difference. And I think personally, Fultz is a better finisher, and I think more polished scorer. He has an ridiculous amount of offensive tools at his disposal, and he certainly has the spin move down. D'Angelo Russell was projected as a PG/SG hybrid combo guard, because the questions stipulated his foot and lateral quickness/speed would lead to Russell getting smoked on defense.

Fultz could end up being like D'Angelo Russell, but at least he won't have the same environment as the Lakers. I don't think Fultz, will be videotaping any of his close teammates private conversations, lest to say Isaiah Thomas. 

[CelticsElite]

Stats aside, Russell doesn't have the enormous number of offensive weapons and moved that fultz has. Fultz also has an advanced speed change ability, something that Russell doesn't know how to do. Fultz is more athletic and also seems to know how to run an offense. Fultz is a much better passer, and significantly better rebounder


They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

[jyyzzoel]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

[CelticsElite]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

[Bucketgetter]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

He’s really not at all like John Wall. And just saying worse defense, better offense is so vague.

[CelticsElite]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

He’s really not at all like John Wall. And just saying worse defense, better offense is so vague.

same halfcourt explosion and transition dunks as wall. He beats defenders and even changes direction slightly like wall. Also walls ability to efficiently.shoot from everywhere, except fultz shot looks better than when wall was a prospect

[saltlover]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

You must not regularly watch John Wall play defense, or you think very, very little of Fultz' defense.

[CelticsElite]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

You must not regularly watch John Wall play defense, or you think very, very little of Fultz' defense.

Lol. Is wall really that bad on defense ? Ill admit i don't watch him often

[gouki88]

D'Angelo is probably a poor mans Fultz, if anything. As others have stated, Fultz's offensive repertoire is quite a bit more developed and polished.

[saltlover]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

You must not regularly watch John Wall play defense, or you think very, very little of Fultz' defense.

Lol. Is wall really that bad on defense ? Ill admit i don't watch him often

He could be good.  But he's not.  He likes to go for steals, and will use his speed for the chase-down block, but for the other 70 or so defensive possessions he is the weak link.  He'll always let his man shoot over him instead of risk being beaten off the dribble and looking bad, but if you want to get around him all you need to do is set an okay screen, which he'll lazily go under.  And when the ball is on the other side of the court from him, he's thinking much more about leaking out for a fast break than he is defending his man should the ball reverse back towards him.  But he gets his two steals a game, so box score watchers are impressed; as are highlight watchers as he turn one of those steals into a fast-break score.

[Celtics4ever]

If he is, we should trade the pick.

[BlackCeltic]

I think Fultz is a hybrid of John Wall and Bradley beal.

[playdream]

I think Fultz is a hybrid of John Wall and Bradley beal.

That's.. not good

[hwangjini_1]

They do have  similitarities, but also the differences exist. Its possible Fultz can become a slightly better Russell

Do you mean that is his ceiling? Because if so - that is a bust

slightly better Russell is my floor for fultz lol. Its a high floor

Ceiling is a better version of John wall ( slightly worse defense, better offense)

You must not regularly watch John Wall play defense, or you think very, very little of Fultz' defense.

Lol. Is wall really that bad on defense ? Ill admit i don't watch him often

He could be good.  But he's not.  He likes to go for steals, and will use his speed for the chase-down block, but for the other 70 or so defensive possessions he is the weak link.  He'll always let his man shoot over him instead of risk being beaten off the dribble and looking bad, but if you want to get around him all you need to do is set an okay screen, which he'll lazily go under.  And when the ball is on the other side of the court from him, he's thinking much more about leaking out for a fast break than he is defending his man should the ball reverse back towards him.  But he gets his two steals a game, so box score watchers are impressed; as are highlight watchers as he turn one of those steals into a fast-break score.

good points, but this also raises the question of why he plays defense the way he does. what you are noting seem to be attributable to a preferred or learned style of playing defense, not a limitation set by physical abilities.

that is, if his defense to date is due to how he was taught to play defense, then it can be unlearned and a new, more effective style can replace it.

is fultz coachable? can he learn to play better defense? to play through picks?

i dont know, but all the reports do not say he is uncoachable. let's assume he can and is willing to learn defense under CBS. then many of the problems cited above might be ameliorated, if not eliminated.

i will trust ainge's judgement of this as well as CBS' coaching ability.