ESPN Still Ranks Simmons and Mitchell Ahead of Tatum for Future Star Potential

[footey]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

[kozlodoev]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Also, did you actually read the article? Because here's what they have to say about Tatum:

I think he's absolutely in the conversation for No. 2, as he looks the part of a future No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option. I don't think it's completely out of the question that he becomes the best player out of the three, especially given how valuable wing/combo forwards are in today's NBA.

[LRNation_]

Was it written by Woj?
Then ignore it

Being serious, they're paid to cause commotion, it gets them attention, that's more of their main job. That's why you take "Hot Takes" by somebody like Bayless with a grain of salt.

And yes, I do believe that ESPN's "experts" aren't very reliable.

I saw that about 2/12 "experts" believed boston would beat the 76ers, etc.
Makes to think...

You do have  to account that Tatum plays in a system with other stars like Kyrie, but Simmons and Mitchell doesn't, that could possibly be a factor.

[gouki88]

Jeez. I would rank Simmons probably on the same tier (although personally I don't think he'll develop at the rate JT will) but Mitchell? C'mon ESPN.

He has shown some brilliant inside scoring, but his general efficiency leaves a lot to be desired. He's also nearly 2 years older than JT

[LRNation_]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoff has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

So when a player scores 22 with 33% fg efficiency, he's gonna be a better player than Tatum who scores 25 pts with 65% fg efficiency.
Not to mention, Tatum is younger and had more time to develop...

[gouki88]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Definitely efficiency

[kozlodoev]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoff has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

So when a player scores 22 with 33% fg efficiency, he's gonna be a better player than Tatum who scores 25 pts with 65% fg efficiency.
Not to mention, Tatum is younger and had more time to develop...

I've go no idea what you're talking about, because none of the numbers you're citing have any basis in reality. Tatum is averaging 18 ppg in these playoffs. He's not shooting 65%, and Mitchell is not shooting 33%.

[droopdog7]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Also, did you actually read the article? Because here's what they have to say about Tatum:

I think he's absolutely in the conversation for No. 2, as he looks the part of a future No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option. I don't think it's completely out of the question that he becomes the best player out of the three, especially given how valuable wing/combo forwards are in today's NBA.

I think the best argument for Tatum is age, which really really matters at this stage in development.  A year and a half is gigantic.

[jambr380]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoff has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

8-24, 4-16, 6-21, 9-22 for a blistering .325 from the field so far against the Rockets.

For comparison, Tatum is: 11-17, 7-14, and 8-16 so far against Philly (.553)

Now I love Mitchell and he has a great career ahead of him, but there is a debate to be had here. Tatum's efficiency is incredible and he is almost two years younger than Mitchell. I agree, though, Mitchell deserves to be ROY over both Tatum and Simmons when taking all things into consideration.

[kozlodoev]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Definitely efficiency

Yes, on a team where your second and third offensive options are Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles, your efficiency might suffer, especially in the playoffs where the opposition has all day to gameplan against you.

[gouki88]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Definitely efficiency

Yes, on a team where your second and third offensive options are Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles, your efficiency might suffer, especially in the playoffs where the opposition has all day to gameplan against you.

That doesn't stop him from some truly horrible shot selection. He forces things that aren't there and goes against the flow of the offence regularly. Tatum is already better at picking his shots, and knowing when to move the ball

[kozlodoev]

That doesn't stop him from some truly horrible shot selection. He forces things that aren't there and goes against the flow of the offence regularly. Tatum is already better at picking his shots, and knowing when to move the ball

Yes, he's a rookie on a team that's starved for scoring. He doesn't really have the luxury to pick his spots like Tatum does.

[LRNation_]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoff has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

So when a player scores 22 with 33% fg efficiency, he's gonna be a better player than Tatum who scores 25 pts with 65% fg efficiency.
Not to mention, Tatum is younger and had more time to develop...

I've go no idea what you're talking about, because none of the numbers you're citing have any basis in reality. Tatum is averaging 18 ppg in these playoffs. He's not shooting 65%, and Mitchell is not shooting 33%.

Based it off of their previous game, but if you want the stats I'll give me to you.

Tatum is scoring about 18 pts per game with a .496 ef fg%

Mitchell is scoring about 24.4 pts with a .462 ef fg%

the league average is .521 efg%

Mitchell takes more shots, of course he's gonna have a higher ppg then Tatum, but what about efficiency, not to mention, Mitchell takes about 6 more FGs than Tatum. Other stuff around the board like TOV % and stuff, but it's not far fetched with Tatum having a brighter future then Mitchell.

[nickagneta]

Read carefully about what they said about their pre-season predictions. In pre-season both had Simmons and/or Mitchell as the best rookie, vis-a-vis best player also going forward. Neither really decided to change their mind because otherwise it makes their pre-season selections wrong. Sure they give a one sentence caveat that Tatum could be the best going forward, but otherwise they went with their pre-season picks to make themselves look smart.

[gift]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23430368/ranking-ben-simmons-lonzo-ball-nba-rookies-star-potential

Funny, I'm a homer, but can't help but think that there would have been a little more debate of whether or not Tatum projects to be a better pro than either of them.  Are they not watching the **** play-offs?

What is it in particular about Donovan Mitchell in the playoffs has made you think he'd be a worse pro than Tatum?

Definitely efficiency

Yes, on a team where your second and third offensive options are Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles, your efficiency might suffer, especially in the playoffs where the opposition has all day to gameplan against you.

But put Mitchell with better offensive teammates and he probably doesn't put up the volume stats that have him in this conversation either.

It is ironic that both of those guys have emerged by the absence of one player, Gordon Hayward. Mitchell would probably have been brought along more slowly if Hayward stayed in Utah and the same for Tatum if Hayward didn't break his leg in Boston.