“That’s anybody’s opinion. I play the game to win, whatever it takes for my team to be successful… I’m a player. I’m a basketball player first. Whatever the coaches ask of me, Ill do. I’m just trying to help my team out and I’m glad we won that game.” [Ryan Hollins, on his tough guy reputation, via Mary Schmitt Boyer]
“[In] a nearly empty gym, Scott admitted he had never experienced or imagined anything like the 26-game losing streak. Or the depressing home loss in December to Miami when LeBron James came to town. That’s despite 10 years as a head coach, two as an assistant and 14 more as a player.” [Terry Pluto]
Sean Deveney argues that Kemba Walker would be a good fit for the Cavaliers, and he might fall to them if other teams with young point guards decide to pass. I like Kemba and all, and if he falls to the Cavs at, say, seven, they should take him, but is anyone else worried about an undersized, shoot-first point guard who doesn’t have a great jumper? I wouldn’t bet my life on Walker having a particularly good NBA career, though I am rooting for him.
And Sam Amico has the best Joe Tait piece you will read all day.
On The Twitters
“Got an advanced copy of ‘Have a Good Night Everybody,’ Joe Tait’s special on Fox Sports Ohio. Definitely tune in. It’s special.” [Bob Finnan]
“One more night, then I start rooting against King boy and for the meteorite that must be out there with his name on it.” [Bill Livingston]
“Just had a great team bowling party. Whole team showed up. @BooBysWorld1 bowled a high of 240 yaya… Thx @becksinla LOL” [Baron Davis]
Hmm, undersized, shoot-first point guard who doesn’t have a great jumper? Who else does that describe? Allen Iverson? I’m not saying Walker will have anywhere near the career AI did, but these were the same knocks on him when he came out of Georgetown.
I think Walker would be one of the best 6th men in the league. Instant offense off the bench. With the hand check rules in the NBA he should have no problem getting to the hoop. Just not sure he can be a starter. Nonetheless I think he will have a long, productive career.
I never thought of Hollins as a tough guy/enforcer – just annoying to the other team (sorta like Andy). Maybe this is giving him some confidence. I like what Coach Scott said about him being awkward and having to use his elbows/knees. Hopefully he’ll bulk up a little this off-season.
IF we don’t get Irving with our first pick, it’s likely we’ll go after Williams or Barnes (if he comes out and available where we pick). Assuming we land Williams/Barnes then I wouldn’t mind Kemba as our #2, but I’d prefer Knight – who I think has more upside to him. Or Kanter (c) if available.
However, another guy I llike as a shooting guard would be Jimmer Ferdette. I think he’s a quicker (although not quick) version of AP with better handles and able to create his own shot. I honestly think if we had Williams/Barnes as a scoring threat SF, Baron as a PG and Jimmer as a SG, then he could really flourish. One of our problems was lack of anyone who could create their own shot, now we would have a few that could. Defensively we would have a liability, but Jimmer seems to have a head on his shoulders and although would get beaten by some of the better SG’s, he would be able to handle his rotations still making some effort.
I like the Brandon Knight-Jason Terry comparisons. They are both score-first PGs with similar skill sets. He will be a good player but I don’t know if Byron Scott’s system can play on his strengths. I have the same concerns with Kemba: solid NBA player with a long career but more of a scorer than facilitator. However, if any coach can help them develop PG skills it would be Scott. Alec Burks looks like a potential sleeper for this draft and could be an option with the #8ish pick. I think he might have the most potential of the 3 second tier PGs but needs to put on some muscle.
Jimmer would be great on the 09-10 Cavs but not this team. We don’t have enough talent to compensate playing a man down on defense. Plus, I don’t know how well he can create shots for himself in the NBA. He could score 30 against the Knicks but would be 1 for 7 against the Bulls.
If we DO get Irving, I would like to get a big man with the 2nd pick (Kanter or the Lithuanians).
The only perimeter guys I’m sold on in this draft are Barnes and Irving. Hopefully we can get one of them with our first pick, and go big with our second. I like the idea of Kanter or Valanciunas. I don’t like Motiejunas at all, he looks like a worse Bargnani. Vesely is intruiging. I think he has “next Dirk” potential, but his chances of panning out look slim. The Cavs need a good player here so I wouldn’t take him.
I’d rather not take Knight or Walker. You almost never see a good team starting a point guard who can’t facilitate, and I don’t think we can afford to draft a non-starter in the top 10. If they reach their maximum potential, Knight could be a Chauncey Billups type and Walker could be Jameer Nelson, and then they’d be building blocks. But that’s a longshot.
I don’t like Burks: plays no defense, can’t shoot the 3, draws Larry Hughes comparisons from scouts. No thanks. As for Derrick Williams, I don’t think he has a ton of upside, and I just don’t think he fits well with our rebuilding project. I definitely see him as a 4, with good offensive skills but not superstar talent or much defensive/rebounding ability. A complementary guy who can be a key part of the offense, kind of like David West. With J.J. (who’s the only conceivable “building block” we’d be drafting around) he seems a bit duplicative, and not a home run anyway.
Also, I like some of the defensive talent in this draft like Faried and Biyombo a lot better than some of the players projected above them. Those two might be the next Rodman and Ben Wallace, and I’d be happy if we got one at #8.
Semi-breaking/mostly expected draft news!!! Derrick Williams will enter the NBA draft and will hire an agent. That’s 2 for 3 so far, but it doesn’t look good with Barnes. Still, it gives the Cavs one more fallback option if Irving is gone.
I don’t get the Irving over Williams talk. I just don’t see it. Williams has the makings of a transcendent scorer, and seems to actually care about defense: a Carmello/Durant hybrid. Irving is good, but he’s injury prone, and I just haven’t seen enough of him. He is a good table setter, I suppose. Let’s get the top two picks and take them both.