I had a chance to catch the point guard portion of the NBA Draft Combine from Chicago on my lunch break this afternoon. A few thoughts after the jump.
ESPNU broadcast the 45-minute session for points. The participants included Stephen Curry, Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague, Jonny Flynn, Patty Mills, Jrue Holiday and Ty Lawson, among others.
- Curry didn't look like comfortable in the dribbling drills. He didn't fumble the ball, but guys like Flynn and Lawson looked confident in the drills, Curry looked like he was just sort of getting through them. I'd say he was competent, but maybe mechanical.
- Maynor looks like the real deal. He handled the ball well, he was making quick, decisive cuts (which a lot of the guys weren't), and he was making his jumpers (which most of the guys weren't). Of the players I saw, I think Lawson and Maynor were the most impressive.
- Flynn didn't impress me in any of the drills, especially the most important drill they ran, the 3 on 2 fast break. I knew he wasn't a shooter coming in, but I thought he'd excel running the break.
- Jrue Holiday is a big dude and moves very well. If he could only shoot...
- Lawson looked very polished in all the drills and he did a good job of getting his feet set and delivering his jumpers in rhythm.
- Curry impressed me a great deal in any drill that involved shooting, or decision making. He really impressed me with his quickness and his cuts in the shooting drills. He worked off screens very well, and his release was lightning quick. In the 3 on 2 fast break drills he seemed to play like a two, which is good and bad. He was patient and made the right plays, he hit a couple of jumpers then pump faked, drew his defender and dished to his wing under the hoop for an easy finish.
- Maynor's jumper looks funky, he sort of kicks his legs out on his follow through, but it was effective in the drills.
- Teague seemed a little out of control to me, and I didn't get a chance to see him shoot much (ESPNU seemed to focus on certain guys more than others, mostly Curry, Flynn and Holiday).
- Sixers' assistant John Loyer was one of the guys running the drills for the points, which made me feel good for some reason.
- The ESPN talking heads sure think Curry is going to the Knicks.
Overall, this was obviously a very limited view at the PG crop, but I came away wanting the Sixers to land Curry even more. I don't think there's any doubt he's the best shooter in the draft and he looked to me like he just sort of knows how to play the game. I would've liked to see him running the point on the 3 on 2 break drill a few more times, but honestly if the Sixers land him, he's probably going to be a wing spotting up for a three on the break with Iggy handling the ball in the middle.
Maynor impressed me a great deal, I feel like he and Lawson are probably the best suited to step in and start right away as a pure PG.
I'll watch the rest of the coverage later on and add some more thoughts in the comments.
The ESPN talking heads sure think Curry is going to the Knicks.,
Which is interesting, cause according to reports i read the knicks hadn't even met curry until at the combine this week
Curry said he has a visit scheduled with the knicks and bobcats next week.
Yeah, I read somewhere the knicks were meeting with him soon - which is why this whole curry to new york thing is interesting...i think they've talked themselves into it - they see the system that he runs and think that curry would fit perfectly - i mean when the knicks were 'horrible' and a top 5 they still had curry going their - like a fait accompli wherever the knicks might pick if not top 2.
Though - wouldn't rubio do well in such a system?
Yeah, I would love to see Curry, but what you just said really made me feel satisfied if they end up with Maynor or Lawson. I had the thought that if they end up with Maynor or Lawson, that they could end up starting next year. If that is the case though, I'd really love to steal a late 1st or early 2nd and get Thornton, Ellington or Christmas as a shooter prospect.
I guess at 17 I just can't get my hopes up too hight - would i love to see them make a move? Sure - do i believe they'll move up - I don't - i think fiscal concerns will be factored in to every move the sixers make this off season with their roster - and i'm not sure comcast isn't a little 'happy' that they have the pay 17th pick salary instead of top 5 pick salary
If they take a shooter at #17 there are 2nd round guys that could contribute; T. Douglas [defensive player of the year in the A.C.C.]GOOD 3 PT. SHOOTER,not a pure pt., like Curry.C.Jurrells[compared to Lowry];A.J.Price [pure pt.,okay shooter]and my sleeper who may not get drafted [Devendorf] 6!4" shooter who could be S.Blake type.
From when the Knicks pick[#8] to when we pick every team seems to have p.g. covered.If any of these teams go p.g. than somebody [Jack,Felton,Sessions,Hinrich and Ford] may become available.
sessions will be available unless MIL can move Redd or Jefferson. MIL cannot afford to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jack move on. Felton's a question mark. Hinrich is a long shot to be moved, IMO.
According to reports the bucks can't afford sessions of charlie v
guess the economy is hurting herby pretty bad
Stupid contracts are hurting them more than the economy. If they signed Sessions to the full MLE he'd cost them over $10M this season including the lux. tax. They're screwed.
How can you lose your starting p.g. and p.f. and compete? Skiles can!t be happy.Alexander better become a player.Jack may fit but can Indiana go with 2 midgets [Ford and either Flyn or Lawson]
I'd gladly let someone else overpay Villaneuva. Sessions is just going to be a casualty of the luxury tax and paying too much money to Michael Redd/Richard Jefferson/Ridnour/Bogut/Gadzuric etc.
If we wanted Redd,we could probably get him if we fill some of their needs with 3 players and a pick but his injuries are an issue.
Dalembert and Reggie for Redd would work money-wise, but it wouldn't save them any years or cash.
I have no interest in redd
I don't really either. Although if they could sign Gortat, draft Maynor, I wouldn't mind a deal sending Sammy and Reggie. I mean, there's a chance he could contribute in a role off the bench and you wouldn't be taking any additional years back.
Brian, can two teams have an [after the draft] deal in place and pick for the other team, I thought it happened but I might be wrong.
I can't remember it happening, but I'm sure they could. Just make the picks then wait until July 1st to consummate the deal.
Can Gortat shoot from 15 ft.? I was wondering if they sign him and move D.Howard to the 4.
Yes he can. I remember him burning Sam a couple of times in that Game 6. I don't know about him starting, don't they still have Foyle under contract as a backup C?
Can D Howard shoot from 15 ft?
If I was in charge of the Magic, I'd definitely start the lineup of Howard, Gortat, Lewis, Lee and Nelson next season (assuming Hedo walks). I think they're more likely to go with Howard, Lewis, Pietrus, Lee, Nelson though.
Hndshake agreements are always 'possible' but they arent enforceable.
See boozer and the cavs.
Lee may get his ball handling duties doubled,along with Nelson when Turk. moves on.Sac. has interest in Turk. supposedly.
I don't think they have enough cap space to sign him outright. Could be a sign-and-trade possibility.
According to D.Lynam, Iggy would like Kuester involved in the process.
He was a name floated about two weeks ago as a deep dark horse candidate, by a cleveland paper, if he's responsible for any sort of offensive game planning in clevelend i'm a little concerned
Hmmmn. Does Iggy have ties to him?
He used to coach here didn't he?
Yes, but the year before Iguodala got to the Sixers (2003) was his last.
Whoops. He came back to the Sixers in 05-06. So Iggy did play w/ him as the assistant.
She also said E.S. was absent from courtside for a fairly long period at the draft workout, may have been having a meeting of some sort. And also,out of all the candidates, Thebodeax has been the most secretive,from both ends.She believes something breaks in the next week to ten days.No sources quoted but she was right last week about Casey being a strong candidate so who knows.
This was per Jasner:
"There is reason to believe that the Sixers no longer have an interest in Boston associate head coach Tom Thibodeau"
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20090528_Sixers_talk_again_with_Jordan__Casey.html
Hope he is wrong.
Yeah, I put up that link on the coach tracker earlier. I'd love to know what his reason is.
Back to your orig topic...
Do you really think any of these rookie PG's are ready to start next year? Even under a non-PG system like the Princeton offense?
I think going after someone like Sessions is more likely- but I doubt they can get him for the MLE and wonder about his lack of shooting.
Maybe a sign and trade involving Sessions and Redd?
Don't want Redd.
I think Rubio, Curry, Maynor and Lawson could all step in and start on the Sixers. Holiday, Teague, Flynn...none of them look ready to me.
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/24733/drafting_a_pg_worth_the_risk_for_sixers
You know, I don't see them falling out of the playoffs is they don't re-sign Miller. I can't say for sure they'll be worse or better. Completely depends on who they get and what Brand looks like.
How did Patty Mills go?
He didn't look to bad in what I saw of him. They talked about him a lot, thought maybe he was a bit of a combo guard. Said he has to play well in the Euro camp, in five-on-fives to boost his stock.
Draftexpress is really improving yearly.(or I'm picking up on old features a year or 2 late) That player/team workout page is terrific. Thanks for the link.
Here is a link to some raw "efficiency stats." They aren't adjusted for anything, but draftexpress/david berri's blog will likely both have articles up within a month or so that are. Looks like Calathes would have been a player to take a long look at. He made the right move though likely. He will make more than an average American overseas because he is a dual citizen and thus won't be part of the whole 2 American rule or whatever.
Mockery folks - mockery
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-NBA-Combine-Edition-3235/