Rehash the draft

by Steve The Hedge on Oct 25, 2008 10:31 AM PDT

Training camp is done, and we've had a chance to see how the rookies for each team have done in the preseason. What have you seen, and what are your expectations?

1. Rose. He got game. Sure, he'll be inconsistent, but he has shown the flashes that make fans stand up and shout.

2. Beasley. Odd. Big-O, little-d, very little-d. Zach Randolph with better elevation and speed.

3. Mayo. This year's Kevin Durant. He'll shoot a lot, and lose a lot.

4. Westbrook. The reach of the draft. Seems like a Leandro Barbosa clone. Great straight-line speed, but lacks the lateral quicks and court awareness needed in a PG. I bet they wish they'd picked Bayless to put alongside Durant. Those two together would have been devistating in a few years.

5. Love. Hmmmm. Can make an impact, but I would have expected him to be a starter during preseason. He didn't. Mayo did.

6. Gallinari. Broken. Not a good start. Just ask Oden.

7. Gordon. Good potential. Came off the bench and had some really impressive games and a couple ho-hummers.

8. Alexander. There's a little something there, but it was hard to see in the preseason. Late bloomer?

9. Augustin. Will see plenty of action due to his playing style. He may even become the starter this season.

10. Lopez. He's big. He's starting. He hasn't had a positive +/- yet. Doh!

11. Bayless. The Summer League MVP has the individual game, but needs to learn how to be a member of a team. With Coach Nate's help, he'll become a true game changer. Not this year though.

12. Thompson. Better than I'd expected. He can rebound well and score some garbage points. He seems a bit spotty on defense, but there's potential there.

13. Rush. Only two good preseason games. Both when he came off the bench. Once against a Memphis team he struggled against in a previous game. He's got role player written all over him.

14. Randolph. Better than expected in the preseason, but Nellie won't play him when the games count. Just ask any other rookie whose played for him.

One more bit of random speculation generated in an effort to kill the next few days.

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Comments

If all I had was your post to base my opinion on...

I would have no choice but to pick ODEN as most likely R.O.Y.

So I think I will! :)

LMA - Let the breakout year begin!
LMA puts the POWER in Power Forward!
35:48 min, 9-16 FG, 6-7 FT, +14 2 Off, 6 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 TO, 4 Stl, 1 BS, 24 Pts - LMA vs Sac 10-20-08

by LaMarvelous on Oct 25, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions

ah-HEM!

Fernandez?

"Brandon Roy a une énorme confiance en lui et un niveau de maturité assez impressionnant, et en plus c’est un vrai leader" - Nic Batum

by G_dubs on Oct 25, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I think you are wrong about Westbrook.

Westbrook is a great team player, shoots better than advertised, and plays phenomenal defense. I would say he reminds me of Leandro Barbosa, only slightly more athletic and a WAY better defender. There is no way “Seattle” would trade Westbrook for Bayless at this point.

I think Bayless will be great, just not in Portland. I don’t know if he can handle being the 7th option.

If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.-Charles Barkley

by Winchester on Oct 25, 2008 1:54 PM PDT reply actions

Westbrook looked dynamic last night

literally going to be the best athlete on the floor every night. The problem is he’s not a point guard anymore than Bayless is. Westbrook has a serious turnover problem, because he makes bad decisions and isn’t a great passer. If you can live with a good shooter, ridiculous slasher and phenomenal defender he’s your guy. If you want someone that will run your offense every time down, you’ve got the wrong guy.

by as11osu on Oct 25, 2008 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

in the end...

the right pick may have been Augustin for them (if a true pg is what they were anglin’ for). I hope they play watson and westbrook together with durant, green, and wilcox—at least they could outscore (some) teams.

My mom babysat Paul Allen, no lie. Check the profile.

by shwa on Oct 25, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe a trade is is order.

One of Seattle’s spare idiot bigs (Swift, Saer Sene, Petro) for one of Memphis spare PG’s (Crittendon, Lowry).

"Mister Oden is a very, very big human being." - Jerryd Bayless

by QualityPie on Oct 25, 2008 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Question about Westbrook

It seems to me that he has been labeled a good shooter due to his pre draft workouts, but has yet to show a good touch in college or in the pre season, %33 from the floor. So, as someone who has watched Westbrook, does he seem to have good mechanics and his pre season #s are a fluke? Or does he have fundamental shooting problems (I noticed he does not go straight up on his jump shot, but who does in the NBA.)

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Oct 25, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Here are my two cents so far

1. Rose: Went for 30 points against Dallas while keeping their PGs down. Will be good pretty soon, and make those around him better.

2. Beasley: He will never have problems to get a lot of points and rebounds. But will he make his team win?

3. Mayo: The jury is still out if Memphis gave up too much to get him. May turn out really good.

4. Westbrook: Good point guard and solid defender in a horrible situation, since he often has next to nobody to pass the ball to and a mediocre coach to teach him the game.

5. Love: Great passer. Nice trick shooter. Will be good, likely never great.

6. Gallinari: At this point, Batum looks like the better Euro pick.

7. Gordon: Wrong team. Will he ever be better than his namesake?

8. Alexander: I would have loved to get him in the draft. Now I’m rather glad we didn’t get him. High potential & high bust potential.

9. Augustin: If he can adapt to a coach who wants to stop him all the time and call plays he might be fine.

10. Lopez: Saw him in a really good game against Miami. Could be really good.

11. Bayless: Summer league doesn’t count. Needs to learn to play better without having the ball in his hands.

12. Thompson: Reach, but could be a solid role player.

13. Rush: Could be better than his brother.

14. Randolph: Nice player stuck between two positions.

15. Lopez, R.: Couldn’t watch him so far this season.

Odenied: If you're given lemmings—make lemming-ade (Bow4Meow)

by Norsktroll on Oct 25, 2008 4:12 PM PDT reply actions

From what I have seen so far

1. Rose – will be good but not great

2. Beasley – Is an arrest waiting to happen (the next Z-Bo)

3. Mayo – Solid pick up eventual All Star if the team can grow around him

4. Westbrook – 2 more years and you won’t remember Durrant in OKC (although just a side note here Luke Ridnour to Mil. was the best off season move in favor of Mil. if you ask me)

5. Love – Good never Great, should have kept Mayo

6. Galliarni – ???

7. Gordon – Will be great could possibly be the best pick in this draft 5 years from now

8. Alexander – Bust

9. Augustin – Would be better with a differant coach

10. Lopez – Solid Starter

11. Bayless – Wait and see, he can shoot but can he pass and lead.

12. Thompson – Don’t Know

13. Rush – Eventualy 6 man of the year

14. Randolph – Don’t Know

15. Lopez, R – If he can learn from shaq could be better then brother.

by jlarose78 on Oct 26, 2008 9:35 AM PDT reply actions