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The Rules of Pacers Digest

Hello everyone,

Whether your are a long standing forum member or whether you have just registered today, it's a good idea to read and review the rules below so that you have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Pacers Digest.

A quick note to new members: Your posts will not immediately show up when you make them. An administrator has to approve at least your first post before the forum software will later upgrade your account to the status of a fully-registered member. This usually happens within a couple of hours or so after your post(s) is/are approved, so you may need to be a little patient at first.

Why do we do this? So that it's more difficult for spammers (be they human or robot) to post, and so users who are banned cannot immediately re-register and start dousing people with verbal flames.

Below are the rules of Pacers Digest. After you have read them, you will have a very good sense of where we are coming from, what we expect, what we don't want to see, and how we react to things.

Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

"Anyone who __________ is a liar / a fool / an idiot / a blind homer / has their head buried in the sand / a blind hater / doesn't know basketball / doesn't watch the games"

"People with intelligence will agree with me when I say that __________"

"Only stupid people think / believe / do ___________"

"I can't wait to hear something from PosterX when he/she sees that **insert a given incident or current event that will have probably upset or disappointed PosterX here**"

"He/she is just delusional"

"This thread is stupid / worthless / embarrassing"

"I'm going to take a moment to point and / laugh at PosterX / GroupOfPeopleY who thought / believed *insert though/belief here*"

"Remember when PosterX said OldCommentY that no longer looks good? "

In general, if a comment goes from purely on topic to something 'ad hominem' (personal jabs, personal shots, attacks, flames, however you want to call it, towards a person, or a group of people, or a given city/state/country of people), those are most likely going to be found intolerable.

We also dissuade passive aggressive behavior. This can be various things, but common examples include statements that are basically meant to imply someone is either stupid or otherwise incapable of holding a rational conversation. This can include (but is not limited to) laughing at someone's conclusions rather than offering an honest rebuttal, asking people what game they were watching, or another common problem is Poster X will say "that player isn't that bad" and then Poster Y will say something akin to "LOL you think that player is good". We're not going to tolerate those kinds of comments out of respect for the community at large and for the sake of trying to just have an honest conversation.

Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

A slip up every once and a while is pretty normal, but, again, when it becomes repetitive or excessive, something will be done. Something occasional is probably going to be let go (within reason), but when it starts to become habitual or otherwise a pattern, odds are very good that we will step in.

There's always a small minority that like to push people's buttons and/or test their own boundaries with regards to the administrators, and in the case of someone acting like that, please be aware that this is not a court of law, but a private website run by people who are simply trying to do the right thing as they see it. If we feel that you are a special case that needs to be dealt with in an exceptional way because your behavior isn't explicitly mirroring one of our above examples of what we generally discourage, we can and we will take atypical action to prevent this from continuing if you are not cooperative with us.

Also please be aware that you will not be given a pass simply by claiming that you were 'only joking,' because quite honestly, when someone really is just joking, for one thing most people tend to pick up on the joke, including the person or group that is the target of the joke, and for another thing, in the event where an honest joke gets taken seriously and it upsets or angers someone, the person who is truly 'only joking' will quite commonly go out of his / her way to apologize and will try to mend fences. People who are dishonest about their statements being 'jokes' do not do so, and in turn that becomes a clear sign of what is really going on. It's nothing new.

In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

If you see a problem that we haven't addressed, the best and most appropriate course for a forum member to take here is to look over to the left of the post in question. See underneath that poster's name, avatar, and other info, down where there's a little triangle with an exclamation point (!) in it? Click that. That allows you to report the post to the admins so we can definitely notice it and give it a look to see what we feel we should do about it. Beyond that, obviously it's human nature sometimes to want to speak up to the poster in question who has bothered you, but we would ask that you try to refrain from doing so because quite often what happens is two or more posters all start going back and forth about the original offending post, and suddenly the entire thread is off topic or otherwise derailed. So while the urge to police it yourself is understandable, it's best to just report it to us and let us handle it. Thank you!

All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

Rule #2

If the actions of an administrator inspire you to make a comment, criticism, or express a concern about it, there is a wrong place and a couple of right places to do so.

The wrong place is to do so in the original thread in which the administrator took action. For example, if a post gets an infraction, or a post gets deleted, or a comment within a larger post gets clipped out, in a thread discussing Paul George, the wrong thing to do is to distract from the discussion of Paul George by adding your off topic thoughts on what the administrator did.

The right places to do so are:

A) Start a thread about the specific incident you want to talk about on the Feedback board. This way you are able to express yourself in an area that doesn't throw another thread off topic, and this way others can add their two cents as well if they wish, and additionally if there's something that needs to be said by the administrators, that is where they will respond to it.

B) Send a private message to the administrators, and they can respond to you that way.

If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

If a poster is bothering you, and an administrator has not or will not deal with that poster to the extent that you would prefer, you have a powerful tool at your disposal, one that has recently been upgraded and is now better than ever: The ability to ignore a user.

When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

A) Any post they make will be completely invisible as you scroll through a thread.

B) The new addition to this feature: If someone QUOTES a user you are ignoring, you do not have to read who it was, or what that poster said, unless you go out of your way to click on a link to find out who it is and what they said.

To utilize this feature, from any page on Pacers Digest, scroll to the top of the page, look to the top right where it says 'Settings' and click that. From the settings page, look to the left side of the page where it says 'My Settings', and look down from there until you see 'Edit Ignore List' and click that. From here, it will say 'Add a Member to Your List...' Beneath that, click in the text box to the right of 'User Name', type in or copy & paste the username of the poster you are ignoring, and once their name is in the box, look over to the far right and click the 'Okay' button. All done!

Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

Rule #6

We cannot tolerate illegal videos on Pacers Digest. This means do not share any links to them, do not mention any websites that host them or link to them, do not describe how to find them in any way, and do not ask about them. Posts doing anything of the sort will be removed, the offenders will be contacted privately, and if the problem becomes habitual, you will be suspended, and if it still persists, you will probably be banned.

The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

Rule #9

Generally speaking, we try to be a "PG-13" rated board, and we don't want to see sexual content or similarly suggestive content. Vulgarity is a more muddled issue, though again we prefer things to lean more towards "PG-13" than "R". If we feel things have gone too far, we will step in.

Rule #10

We like small signatures, not big signatures. The bigger the signature, the more likely it is an annoying or distracting signature.

Rule #11

Do not advertise anything without talking about it with the administrators first. This includes advertising with your signature, with your avatar, through private messaging, and/or by making a thread or post.
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Top Draft Prospects

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  • Top Draft Prospects

    Heres the top draft prospects. I'll fill the draft measurements in after the players are measured. I'll also add anything else I find. When I add something I'll put it in green print so you won't have to read everything again. A good portion of the information came from http://www.nba.com/bobcats/draft_prospect_profiles.html

    TOP PROSPECTS

    Darrell Arthur
    Age: 20
    Position: Power Forward
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 225
    College: Kansas
    Class: Sophomore


    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    12.8 6.3 0.8 0.5 1.3 .543 .167 .702

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “On talent, Arthur has the makings of a lottery pick. He has great size, is very athletic, runs the floor like a deer and can be a very effective scorer in the paint and midrange game. However, his poor rebounding numbers and his inconsistency at KU have kept him from being a lock for the lottery. Look for him to fall somewhere between picks 10 and 20.”


    CBSSports.com
    "Arthur's stock has held steady, and this is as good a time as any to make the jump."


    RealGM
    "Arthur has a remarkable court awareness as he is almost always in an ideal position on both ends of the floor. He posts with purpose; constantly trying to seal his man and can finish well with either hand. Arthur is also a good passer out of the post and pretty much anywhere else on the floor. His ball-handling does need a great deal of more work. He is very athletic, sprinting the floor with gusto, beating his man down the floor for easy transition buckets. His jump shot is far from developed, but shows nice promise."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Watching Arthur play he just looks the part of an NBA prospect. With decent size, wingspan and offensive skills, Arthur is made for the pro game. He might not be ready right away, but within a few seasons he should be a NBA starter."


    NBADraft.net
    "A skilled power forward with a tremendous package of size and athleticism … Possesses a good handle for a player his size as well as a mid-range shot … Runs the floor very well for his size, very fluid … Solid post moves for a player his age, and showing good development in his post game … His shooting touch is good and his range seems to be improving."


    Draft Express
    “Athleticism…scoring mentality…ability to score in the paint…transition play/Running the floor…turnaround jumper…excellent lateral quickness…solid all-around defender.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Smooth big man with a scoring mentality, and very nice potential both facing and with his back to the basket. Possesses a terrific frame and wingspan, with excellent athletic ability."

    -------------------

    D.J. Augustin
    Age: 20
    Position: Point Guard
    Height: 6-0
    Weight: 180
    College: Texas
    Class: Sophomore


    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    19.2 2.9 5.8 1.2 0.0 .439 .381 .783

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Augustin is arguably the best pure point guard in the draft after Derrick Rose. He has incredible floor vision, great quickness, great shooting touch and is an incredible floor leader. His lack of size is the only thing keeping him from being a Top 5 pick. Look for him to go somewhere between 7 and 12 on draft night.”


    CBSSports.com
    "He's no better than the fifth guard behind Rose, Bayless, Gordon and Mayo. Still, Augustin has proved himself time and again as a solid NBA prospect."


    RealGM
    "Augustin is preposterously quick and nimble with the dribble, maintaining it effectively to create shots for himself and teammates with his gunslinger mentality. He would have struggled in the Derek Harper hand-check era, but he should be an effective NBA point guard in the way Tony Parker and Chris Paul have become All-Stars. Despite being so short, Augustin is able to get shots over taller defenders and also has a superior perimeter shot than the two similar bodied NBA point guards just mentioned."


    Collegehoops.net
    "If D.J. Augustin is to excel in the NBA he will have to be a trendsetter - there are currently no sub-six foot stars in the League. There is no doubt he has the speed, skill-set and intelligence to play at the next level, but to become a star he will have to be find a way to slay the NBA’s Goliaths."


    NBADraft.net
    "A true point guard who looks to set up teammates first…A leader. Very head strong, confident player, plays with a swagger to his game which is impressive in such a young player at such a demanding position."


    Draft Express
    “Strong build..basketball instincts…mix between scoring/passing… outstanding ball-handling skills with either hand, change of gears/hesitation moves…fundamentals…intangibles…winner.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "The best point guard in college basketball? Scoring playmaker with solid quickness and outstanding ball-handling skills. Unselfish, with excellent court vision. Rarely gets rattled, keeps turnovers to a minimum, and hasmultiple speeds he can utilize to get by his man and create offense, particularly running the pick and roll. "

    Pacers Digest own Thunderbird 1245
    http://www.pacersdigest.com/apache2-...ad.php?t=39167
    --------------------

    Nicolas Batum
    Age: 19
    Position: Small Forward
    Height: 6-8
    Weight: 210
    Team: Le Mans Arthe Basket
    Country: France

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:
    EuroLeague

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    8.5 3.5 2.7 1.5 0.5 .453 .290 .667

    What they're saying:
    RealGM
    "With ample athleticism, an absurdly long wingspan and well-developed skills in nearly every aspect of the game, Batum could certainly develop into the best player on an NBA team. The questions regarding his motor and aggressiveness to dominate appear to be his biggest obstacle between being good and being great. Batum has NBA range on his effective, albeit flawed jumper."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Batum’s combination of length and athleticism has NBA scouts drooling. Whoever drafts him will have to be patient, but as his game and body matures Batum could be an excellent NBA pro. However, similar to fellow Frechman Boris Diaw, Batum can get you a triple-double one night and then bring nothing to the stat sheet the next – his consistency and aggression level have been questioned."


    NBADraft.net
    "Agile forward with size, an incredible wingspan, and great all around skills … Has a natural feel for the game, and great physical attributes … Competitive … Team player, but also knows when to take over … Has a diverse offensive game with the ability to pull up off the dribble, hit from outside, and penetrate to the rim … He has huge upside but needs to gain more experience."


    Draft Express
    “Size for wing player…freakish athleticism…outstanding wingspan…ability to create separation from defender…basketball IQ…court vision…terrific experience playing at highest level of European basketball…stat-stuffing role-player potential.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Smooth athlete with physical attributes and a style of play that is tailor made for the NBA. Great length, excellent quickness and superb leaping ability. Still inconsistent, but has terrific upside."

    ------------------------

    Jerryd Bayless
    Age: 19
    Position: Point Guard
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 190
    College: Arizona
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    19.7 2.7 4.0 1.0 0.1 .458 .407 .839

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Bayless didn't come with quite the rep of some of the other freshman guards like Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo and Eric Gordon, but he's had a spectacular freshman season. Bayless has great athleticism, can score of the dribble and from deep three-point range and proved that he could play the point, at least part time, in the pros. His lack of pure playmaking skills and the fact that he's a little undersized to play the two will hurt his stock a little, but overall Bayless looks like he'll fall somewhere between 3 and 8 in the draft.”


    CBSSports.com
    "Bayless will be a serious candidate to go third behind Beasley and Rose."


    RealGM
    "What has and will be the most immediately impressive aspect of his game is his extreme elevation on jumpers. It really is extraordinary and makes it possible for the 6-3 guard to be a shooting guard. Because of the elevation, he is able to spot an open teammate while taking the shot and get him the ball for an easy lay-up."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Bayless’ draft stock has exploded as the season has gone on and he continues to pile the points on the board. His offensive skills are NBA ready, but in order to really excel he will have to become more of a point guard or risk becoming a dreaded “tweener”."


    NBADraft.net
    "A “must see to believe” type of talent … Possesses incredible open floor speed, which combined with a devastating first step make him a nightmare to defend … Tremendous leaping ability and superb body control allow him to finish in the lane over much taller players … Gets great lift on his jump-shot, with range well out to the NBA three … Flash and flamboyance are nicely contrasted with a high basketball IQ and craftiness … Has all the tools to become a special player on the NBA level."


    Draft Express
    “Quickness…explosiveness…complete package offensively…perimeter shooting…NBA range…ability to create shot…ability to come off screens…ability to get to free throw line…unselfishness…committed to playing defense…intangibles.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Quick, fluid, explosive guard with possibly the best shot-creating ability in this draft. A scorer’s deluxe – terrific perimeter shooter, with a great mid-range game, but also gets to the free throe line at an excellent rate."

    --------------------------

    Michael Beasley
    Age: 19
    Position: Power Forward
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 235
    College: Kansas State
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    26.2 12.4 1.2 1.3 1.6 .532 .379 .774

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “He may have had the best freshman season in college basketball history -- even surpassing what Kevin Durant did last year. He's got great size, athleticism, can score anywhere on the floor and is a beast of a rebounder. Scouts claim that character issues from Beasley's high school days still haunt him. But, barring some surprise revelation or injury, Beasley will be either the first or second pick in the draft.”


    CBSSports.com
    "The drafting of Beasley will give somebody a 20-and-10 All-Star power forward."


    RealGM
    “Very explosive in the post, Beasley is NBA-ready to bang and score. He scores at a tremendously effective rate despite the constant collapse of double-teams when he touches the ball. Beasley is excellent at finding the vulnerabilities of a defense when he moves without the ball." Even more remarkable is how he always has his hands facing the ball, readying for a pass.”


    Collegehoops.net
    “Beasley’s dominant play this season looks to have made him a lock to have his name called first in this year’s draft. While there has been question marks concerning his attitude and maturity, he hasn’t been involved in any incidents while at Kansas State. While he might not be as good a prospect as Oden & Durant last year, if he keeps his head on straight he should be a future NBA All-Star.”


    NBADraft.net
    “A fabulous athlete with an NBA ready body... Completed one of the most dominant seasons in college basketball history, as a freshman … His length, quickness, jumping ability and strength combine to make him one of the most difficult match ups … His ability to play the passing lanes and come over weakside to block shots, further adds to his ability to fill the stat sheet … A strong personality with great confidence who never gets down on himself. There are few doubts about him becoming a bigtime impact talent at the next level.”


    Draft Express
    “Quickness…strength…hands…unbelievable scoring instincts…ability to create shot…finishing with either hand…back to the basket skills, rebounding…mismatch ability…go-to guy…incredible productivity…upside.”


    Dick Vitale on ESPN.com
    "A big guy inside like Beasley is a terrific talent. He can also step out and shoot the jumper, which makes him a bigger threat. There is no question that Beasley can be a star in the NBA. He is also a force on the boards after leading the nation at 12.4 per game last season. I really love his talent."


    HoopsHype.com
    “Versatile, ambidextrous power forward who can score equally well with his back to the basket or facing the hoop. Possesses outstanding athletic ability – particularly his quickness, strength and leaping ability. Dominated college basketball as a freshman – and looks like a can’t miss prospect barring red flags.”

    ------------------------

    Danilo Gallinari
    Age: 19
    Position: Small Forward
    Height: 6-9
    Weight: 212
    Team: AJ Milano
    Country: Italy

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:
    Italian League

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    17.5 5.7 1.3 2.0 0.5 .462 .405 .856

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Galinari reminds scouts of Toni Kukoc because of his fantastic basketball IQ. He has point forward skills, can score from just about anywhere and has excellent leadership qualities. Despite his rather ordinary athleticism and a so-so 3-point shot, he’s easily the best international prospect in the draft.”


    RealGM
    "Gallinari is an improving shooter, but his feel for the lane and ability to handle the ball is exceptional. He would be a top-flight point guard prospect if he were 6-2. He has the ability and confidence to play multiple positions on the NBA level. With such pure instincts, he would fit in on any team, no matter if he improves his athleticism or not."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Gallinari is a very impressive NBA prospect and should be a solid NBA pro. Whether he has as much “upside” as a prospect like Nicolas Batum is debatable, but Gallinari is definitely more NBA-ready than Batum and has the potential to be an above average NBA player."


    NBADraft.net
    "Very good athlete. PG skills in a 6-8 forward body, can play all the back-court spots. Has great fundamentals for his age, drives well and know how to create his own shot or pass the ball. His ball-handling is very strong for a man of his height. He can drive to the basket from left and right with a good first step and often tryes finishing with a dunk in traffic. Plays decently in the low post. Above average rebounder for the role. Good ball-hawk thanks to his quick hands. Reads the defense well so he's able to receive a lot of fouls and go to the FT line many times per game. Plays with intensity and heart. Natural born talent with intriguing upside: at 6-8 probably hasn't finished growing (has long legs not proportioned to the rest of body)."


    Draft Express
    “Size for position…Productivity at highest level outside NBA at young age…maturity…versatility…fundamentals…ability to play multiple positions…strength…frame…intensity…winning mentality.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Precocious European talent who is producing at the highest levels of international basketball, already as a teenager. A versatile small forward with great size who can play multiple positions on the floor. A solid shooter, terrific ball-handler and excellent passer."

    ------------------------

    Eric Gordon
    Age: 19
    Position: Shooting Guard
    Height: 6-4
    Weight: 215
    College: Indiana
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats

    20.9 3.3 2.4 1.3 0.6 .433 .337 .834

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Gordon has many star qualities. He's an excellent athlete, has an NBA body, is explosive going to the basket, an excellent defender and, until the last few weeks of the season, was a dead eye from long range. His struggles since injuring his wrist in January and losing head coach Kelvin Sampson, have been well documented. He couldn't hit a shot and he, and the Hooisers, went down in flames. While his performance in the last quarter of the season didn't help his draft stock, teams still see him as a Top 10 pick.”


    CBSSports.com
    "It'll be a shock if Gordon isn't a high-volume scorer at the NBA level."


    RealGM
    "With his exceptional handle in the halfcourt, Gordon generates separation from his defender and particularly is infatuated with the step back jumper. His jumper is world class for a player of his age: it is very fluid, his release is high and is quite compact. His range comfortably extends to about 25-feet. Not just a perimeter shooter, he is equally content to drive to the basket when defenders try to take away his jumper. He gets deep into the paint after shaking defenders with remarkable change of pace moves, invites and even generates contact and is strong enough to finish despite a hard foul. Strong and agile, he has the ability to contort his body and get his shot off. Gordon defines the term ‘pure scorer.’"


    Collegehoops.net
    "Gordon’s athleticism, explosiveness, strength and skills should allow him to score a bunch at the NBA level. The key for him to really excel is to develop his point guard skills (or grow a couple of inches)."


    NBADraft.net
    "A rock-solid and incredibly explosive combo guard … Tremendously aggressive, and relentless when going to the hoop … Constantly looks to attack and use his body to out-muscle weaker defenders at his position … Is not afraid of going at bigger help defenders and drawing contact … Great leaping ability and outstanding body-control allow him to finish effectively around the hoop … An assassin off the dribble, where a quick first step and combination of hesitation moves allow him get by people at will ."


    Draft Express
    “Athleticism, strength…scoring instincts/Go-to mentality…perimeter shooting…NBA range…quick release…ability to come off screens…pull-up jumper.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "A bowling ball of a shooting guard, with outstanding scoring ability Built like a brick wall, capable of just overpowering defenders on his way to the rim, thanks to his excellent first step and low center of gravity."

    ------------------------

    DeAndre Jordan
    Age: 20
    Position: Center
    Height: 7-0
    Weight: 255
    College: Texas A&M
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    7.9 6.0 0.4 0.2 1.3 .617 .000 .437

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “As a physical specimen, Jordan is a high lottery pick. He's huge, strong and athletic. However, he's pretty raw on both ends of the floor. His lack of production, especially in the second half of the season, has hurt his stock. However, big workouts could move him up again. He could go anywhere in the 5-12 range.”


    RealGM
    "As it stands now, Jordan is a long ways away from being an effective professional basketball player, but his size and athleticism show a lot of promise. His motor isn’t as good as you’d like to see from a big like Jordan and is perhaps more of a concern than the massive scaffolding that surrounds his game. Jordan is quick in transition and has good fundamentals in the post, already doing well to seal defenders. He invites contact in the post and has nice touch to the rim."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Whichever NBA team drafts Jordan will have to be patient with him. As the Lakers can attest with Andrew Bynum, the wait could be well worth it as Jordan has all the makings of a quality NBA big."


    NBADraft.net
    "Exciting bigman with a lot of promise … At 7-feet, his rare athleticism and explosive leaping ability gives him a tremendous amount of potential … He’s got a huge frame and can add a lot of weight and become a dominant interior force on both ends of the floor … His combination of size, length, and explosiveness makes him a quality shot blocker now who can develop into a dominant one with added coaching and discipline."


    Draft Express
    “Incredible physical specimen...great size...long arms...freakish athlete...great hands...quickness in post...defensive potential...rebounding ability...incredible upside.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "7-footer with a great frame, incredible wingspan, and unbelievable athleticism. Has great hands and finishes well around the basket. A very good rebounder with the potential to develop into an excellent defender down the road."

    -----------------------

    Kosta Koufos
    Age: 19
    Position: Center
    Height: 7-1
    Weight: 265
    College: Ohio State
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    14.4 6.7 0.5 0.4 1.8 .508 .349 .680

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “He began his freshman season ranked as a potential Top 10 prospect, hit the wall midseason and finished strong. He's a very skilled big man with excellent perimeter skills. However, his so-so athleticism and rebounding ability limit his upside. Look for him to be a late-lottery to mid-first-round pick.”


    CBSSports.com
    "OSU would've been fabulous with Koufos and B.J. Mullens. Alas, it's doubtful Koufos will return to school to make it happen."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Players with Kosta Koufos’ size and skill package don’t come along too often, so his decision to enter the draft shouldn’t come as a surprise. While he would probably benefit from at least another year in college, Koufos should be an early pick this year and could pan out to be an above-average pro."


    NBADraft.net
    "A very skilled big man, Koufos shows the ability and desire to be a great passer from the post … He is also comfortable putting the ball on the floor, but lacks the athleticism and foot speed to be too much of a threat off the dribble … Although on the college level, he can take the ball off the dribble very effectively and ever from the top of the key … He is an excellent free throw shooter, can hit the three ball, and has a nice midrange jumper."


    Draft Express
    “Size…excellent wingspan…extremely high skill level…excellent hands…scoring instincts…back to the basket scoring/Jump-hook… outstanding shooting touch…phenomenal with feet set…true center defensively.”

    ----------------------

    Brook Lopez
    Age: 20
    Position: Center
    Height: 7-0
    Weight: 260
    College: Stanford
    Class: Sophomore

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    19.3 8.2 1.4 0.6 2.1 .468 .000 .789

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Brook Lopez has the physical tools and offensive abilities to be an excellent NBA player. He has great size, length and above-average athleticism. He's an effective scorer in the paint and can stretch the defense away from the basket. Right now he projects as the top center in the draft and a potential Top 5 pick.”


    CBSSports.com
    "He's the safest pick at No. 3, but can he ever be an All-Star?"


    RealGM
    "For a team looking for a well-developed offensive game at center, Brook Lopez is the 2008 Draft’s best option. I’m not sure if he will have the strength and athleticism to do this so easily in the NBA, but the way he seals his man and gets his body ready to immediately score while a pass is on its way is remarkable. This anticipation allows him to score before off-ball shot blockers and sagging perimeter defenders can come to assist his man. His touch around the hoop out of the post is terrific and is of course something that can’t be taught."


    Collegehoops.net
    "The best big man prospect in the draft not named Beasley, Lopez should make whatever NBA drafts him very happy. He should be a solid pro with the potential to be even better than that."


    NBADraft.net
    "Bigman with good strength and solid athletic ability … Brook has an excellent touch within 15 feet of the basket … Very smooth inside using a variety of polished moves including hook shots and drop steps … Soft hands, rarely fumbles the ball … Strong legs and upper body make him tough to push around inside … Strong rebounder using his long arms and body strength to clean the glass."


    Draft Express
    “Size…length…hands…ability to run the floor…ability to establish position in post…ability to draw fouls…post-scoring…a presence in post defensively…intelligence…extremely productive…Stanford pedigree.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Solid athlete with excellent size, a nice frame, and a good basketball IQ. Very effective with his back to the basket. Can hit a mid-range jumper and has a few basic moves he executes exceptionally well around the block."

    ------------------------

    Kevin Love
    Age: 19
    Position: Center
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 275
    College: UCLA
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    17.5 10.6 1.9 0.7 1.4 .559 .354 .767

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Love was one of the best players in college basketball this season, but will his game translate to the pros? He can score inside and out, has great strength and is the best outlet passer in basketball. But his lack of athleticism along with questions about his conditioning and the health of his knees are major flags. He should fall somewhere between 9 and 18.”


    CBSSports.com
    "Those who thought Love wouldn't make a good pro will be proved wrong."


    RealGM
    "Love will continue to be one of the most intriguing prospects of this class all the way up to draft night. The aspects of his game that people rave about (passing, low post moves, feel for game), are universally heralded, while the genuine concerns (lack of length, quickness, elevation), are cited with equal passion. Cut both sides right down the middle and I think that’s where you will find Love; he isn’t a top-five caliber pick (especially not this year) and he won’t be an ineffective bust. He will be an effective rebounder and passer, there is no doubt about those two things, so his value in the transition game is guaranteed."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Extremely strong and solid – gets position down low and is impossible to move. Very smart player. Supremely talented passer – excels leading fast breaks with long inbounds passes. Very strong passer also – can chest pass the full length of the court. Good low post scorer. While he probably won’t be a star in the pros, his smarts, strength and passing ability will allow him to carve out a career in the NBA."


    NBADraft.net
    "Bruising bigman with a great basketball IQ and feel for the game … Extremely adept on the block. His post skills are at an NBA level right now … A dominant rebounder, hits the glass hard, using tenacity, strength and athleticism … A fierce competitor. Has a passion and toughness to his game that so many big men lack … Really understands the game, with great vision and passing ability."


    Draft Express
    “Productivity…strength..ability to score in the paint…excellent touch …versatile post game…basketball IQ…passing skills…ability to ignite fast-breaks with outlet passes…rebounding instincts..winning attitude, incredibly productive…very little downside.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Super-skilled power forward with excellent instincts both facing and with his back to the basket. Has range out to the 3-point line, and outstanding footwork and touch in the post. A throwback, complete with the pump-fakes and the Tim Duncan-esqe bank shots from 15 feet.."

    Pacers Digest own Thunderbird 1245
    http://www.pacersdigest.com/apache2-...127#post719999
    ------------------------

    Last edited by Will Galen; 05-18-2008, 05:25 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Top Draft Prospects

    O.J. Mayo
    Age: 20
    Position: Shooting Guard
    Height: 6-4
    Weight: 195
    College: USC
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    20.7 4.5 3.3 1.5 0.4 .442 .409 .803

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Mayo's stock has been all over the place -- he was a potential No. 1 pick last summer and slipped to a late lottery pick early in the season. However, Mayo's steady play in the second half of the season won over scouts who see him as a potentially dominant scorer in the NBA. He should go anywhere in the 3-7 range.”


    CBSSports.com
    "The guess here is that Mayo will be a better pro than college player."


    RealGM
    "In an NBA in which very few players can create their own offense, Mayo will be elite (as long as he is not guarded by Russell Westbrook). He creates separation off the dribble to generate space to get his jumper off, but what is more impressive and refined is his knack for preserving his dribble, squaring up in a triple-threat position with purpose and intent. He is able to back defenders up with jab steps, which sets things up for when he does put the ball on the floor, where he is highly imaginative, utilizing a wide array of moves to score. Though shorter and slightly less athletic than both Jordan and Bryant, Mayo is headed for this type of individual career."


    Collegehoops.net
    "With the exception of LeBron James, few players can live up to the hype heaped on them at an early age. O.J. Mayo is one of those players. Projected as a NBA superstar since the seventh grade, Mayo has fallen out of favor as of late. Still, he is a spectacular basketball player and should have no trouble becoming an impact NBA player. Whether he will become the superstar he was projected to be is up in the air still."


    NBADraft.net
    "Extremely talented lead guard who routinely makes highlight plays … Possesses great all around skills … A fierce competitor. Plays the game with a tremendous amount of confidence, desire and intensity … The game comes very easily to him. A strong defender who can become a lock down type of defender with his great reflexes and foot speed … Shoots well from outside, setting up his dribble drive … His first step off the dribble is off the charts."


    Draft Express
    “Size…strength…versatility…shot-creating ability with either hand…NBA 3-point range…catch and shoot off screens…mid-range game…ability to pull-up sharply off the dribble…basketball IQ…court vision…ability to play multiple positions…perimeter defense…coachable…very productive.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Big, strong gurad with excellent versatility on both ends of the floor. Can play wither guard sspot and really knows how to create shots for himself and other."

    -------------------------

    Anthony Randolph
    Age: 18
    Position: Power Forward
    Height: 6-11
    Weight: 220
    College: LSU
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    15.6 8.5 1.2 1.1 2.3 .464 .105 .693

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “A big-time athlete, he has great size and is an excellent rebounder and an emerging offensive force. He needs to add strength and experience but many GMs believe he is one of the most talented players in the draft. He's been compared to everyone from Chris Bosh to Brandan Wright. Look for Randolph to go anywhere in the 5-10 range.”


    CBSSports.com
    "The average fan didn't see Randolph enough this season to know him, but scouts are very intrigued."


    RealGM
    "The aspect of Randolph’s game that jumps out at any observer is how skilled he was at triggering LSU’s transition game. After collecting a blocked a shot or rebound, Randolph will use his remarkably quick dribble for a player of his height to initiate their early offense. He will look to create his own shot, find an open teammate, or slow it down to setup the halfcourt offense. His decision-making in this area is very mature. In the halfcourt, Randolph has shown equal sophistication in the post as he has on the pick and pop/pick and roll. Randolph has excellent vision as a passer in the post. He finds open spot-up shooters and has the physical tools to deliver passes to the opposite side of the floor if need be."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Anthony Randolph is the ultimate “potential” pick – he’s not ready for the NBA yet, but his package of skills and length make him real attractive to potential suitors. He could end up being a star, but on the flip side, his game and body needs enough work that he also could turn out to be a bust."


    NBADraft.net
    "Long, lanky forward with a great deal of upside ... His length and agility makes him very unique playing on the wing ... Highly versatile…Randolph has a tremendous handle and gets to the basket extremely well off the bounce ... A smooth athlete with great foot speed ...Causes mayhem crashing the glass, often following teammates shots with highlight one handed finishes ... Also shows solid vision and playmaking ability for teammates ... Has a lot of defensive potential. Blocks a ton of shots (2.3 pg) for a wing player due to his length, timing and explosiveness ... Shows good promise as a free throw shooter (70%), hard work and repetition should help him increase it ."


    Draft Express
    “Size…wingspan…quickness…left-handed…4/3 mismatch threat (in style right now)…ability to run the floor…ball-handling skills..shot-blocking… …huge upside.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Long, left-handed, super athletic 4/3 with a skinny frame. Excellent ball-handler for his size, can create facing the basket, and will grab a rebound and take the ball coast to cast at times. Very versatile and talented offensive player who is only scratching the surface on his potential at the moment."

    -------------------------

    Derrick Rose
    Age: 19
    Position: Point Guard
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 205
    College: Memphis
    Class: Freshman

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    14.9 4.5 4.7 1.2 0.4 .477 .337 .712

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Rose has all the physical tools to be a superstar. He has great size, strength, athleticism and speed for his position. He also has a great feel for the game, plays unselfishly and can score on just about anyone off the dribble. Scouts wish he would improve his jump shot, especially from 3-point range, but that's his only real weakness. On some draft boards he's the No. 1 pick. On others he's the No. 2. I doubt he slides past there.”


    CBSSports.com
    "An NBA executive said Rose will join Chris Paul and Deron Williams as the best point guards in the world in three years, and that's probably true."


    RealGM
    "Rose is a point guard in the truest sense of the word and was the clear go-to player on a Memphis team that was just seconds away from a National Championship. He creates wide-open shots with his dribble penetration, as there is nobody in the world he couldn't beat off the dribble."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Athletic point guards like Rose don’t come around everyday, so depending on how the rest of the season and the pre-draft workouts pan out, he very well may go first overall. His package of skills and athleticism should make him a star at both ends of the floor in the pro game. With all due respect to Jalen and Malik, Derrick should very easily become the best Rose to bloom in the NBA’s history."


    NBADraft.net
    "A breath taking athlete with terrific size for the point guard position at 6-4 … His upside is truly special … Likely to be the most athletic PG in the league for years to come … A point guard in the truest sense of the word. A pass-first point guard with excellent court vision … A relentless defender with quick hands and length. Gets low and will lock his man down on defense and should only improve. Gives the same intensity and effort on both ends of the floor … Tough as nails competitor. ..A warrior who leaves it out on the floor every time out."


    Draft Express
    “Physically overwhelms opponents…size…freakish athleticism…ball-handling skills w/either hand, transition play…finishing ability… unselfishness…versatility to guard multiple positions.”


    Dick Vitale on ESPN.com
    "I will say this -- Rose is very rare. You don't get kids like Rose or Chris Paul when he came out of Wake Forest, very often. He is a guy you can build around because he makes his teammates better. Not only can he score and penetrate, he plays unselfish basketball. I felt he got better with more experience at Memphis. There is no doubt in my mind that Rose is ready to have a major impact at the next level right away."


    HoopsHype.com
    "Freakishly athletic point guard with all the physical tools and instincts scouts crave. Possesses great size and quickness, is terrific at changing gears, with phenomenal body control, and is very unselfish."

    -------------------------

    Marreese Speights
    Age: 19
    Position: Center
    Height: 6-10
    Weight: 245
    College: Florida
    Class: Sophomore

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    14.5 8.1 0.9 0.4 1.4 .624 .000 .692

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “Speights is one of the most efficient low-post scorers in college basketball. He's not especially flashy, but can be brutally effective in the paint, both scoring and grabbing rebounds. Scouts question his position a little and his conditioning, but overall they project him as a late lottery to mid first-round pick.”


    CBSSports.com
    "From a physical standpoint, Speights is a top 20 pick."


    RealGM
    "If his performances as a freshman in limited playing time weren’t encouraging enough, he was tremendous both on tape and in the stat sheet for a rebuilding Florida team as a sophomore. With impeccable strength, athleticism and balance, there may not be a power forward prospect in college basketball outside of Michael Beasley who is more NBA-ready, yet also shows enough room for improvement to develop into an All-Star."


    Draft Express
    “Physically, it’s not hard to tell why Speights has terrific NBA potential. He has good size at 6-10, an NBA caliber frame, super long arms, and impressive athleticism. He runs the court well, has good quickness, is extremely quick off his feet, and is notably explosive finishing around the basket. He’s a very mobile big man, fluid and coordinated, and has excellent hands to boot.”


    HoopsHype.com
    "Long, athletic and extremely talented big man who can put the ball in the basket with the best of them. Likes to play with his back to the basket and has great hands and soft touch with both his left and right. Finishes well and has tremendous offensive instincts. A strong rebounder thanks to his quickness, frame and wingspan."

    -------------------------

    Russell Westbrook
    Age: 19
    Position: Point Guard
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 189
    College: UCLA
    Class: Sophomore

    Draft Measurements
    Height w/o Shoes
    Height w/Shoes
    Weight
    Wingspan
    Standing Reach
    Body Fat
    No step vert.
    Max. Vert.
    Bench Press
    Lane Agility
    3/4 Court Sprint

    2007-08 Stats:

    Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG% 3FG% FT%
    12.7 3.9 4.3 1.6 0.2 .465 .338 .713

    What they're saying:
    ESPN.com
    “At the beginning of the season, he wasn't on any draft boards. By midseason scouts were talking about Westbrook as a first rounder. Now, most scouts have him rated as the best pro prospect on the UCLA team. His combination of size, athleticism, strength and versatility means he's likely to go somewhere in the 8-15 range.”


    CBSSports.com
    "Westbrook blossomed into a guaranteed top 20 pick this season."


    RealGM
    "Westbrook may very well be the best athlete in this year’s draft and is probably the best defender. He won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award over senior Kyle Weaver and teammate Darren Collison. He is a lockdown, suffocating on-ball defender and will be so immediately upon his arrival in the NBA. He is so quick laterally and is also incredibly strong. Westbrook will also be a very good help defender, particularly as a shotblocker at the guard position."


    Collegehoops.net
    "Westbrook is an NBA highlight reel type of athlete that excels at both ends of the floor. His ability to play both guard positions makes him even more valuable, however, due to his size he will have to become more of a pure point guard. With his skills and athletic ability the sky is the limit."


    NBADraft.net
    "Athletic and explosive combo guard with the length to make up for his lack of height … Attacks the basket with a lethal first step and crossover ability … Can handle the rock well and gets into the lane effortlessly … Finishes well at the rim and is unafraid to go up in traffic … Huge wingspan allows him to play much bigger than his 6-3 height."


    Draft Express
    “Freakish athleticism, excellent first step/amazing leaper...phenomenal in transition...outstanding defender...understands role/team player...strong intangibles/work ethic...brings great energy...late bloomer/huge upside.”

    Pacers Digest own Thunderbird 1245

    http://www.pacersdigest.com/apache2-...ad.php?t=39161
    ----------------------
    COMPARING STATS
    NAME
    P
    PTS
    REB
    AST
    ST
    BLK
    FG%
    3FG%
    FT%
    Jordan
    5
    7.9
    6.0
    0.4
    0.2
    1.3
    .617
    .000
    .437
    Koufos
    5
    14.4
    6.7
    0.5
    0.4
    1.8
    .508
    .349
    .680
    Lopez
    5
    19.3
    8.2
    1.4
    0.6
    2.1
    .468
    .000
    .789
    Love
    5
    17.5
    10.6
    1.9
    0.7
    1.4
    .559
    .354
    .767
    Speights
    5
    14.5
    8.1
    0.9
    0.4
    1.4
    .624
    .000
    .692
    Arthur
    4
    12.8
    6.3
    0.8
    0.5
    1.3
    .543
    .167
    .702
    Beasley
    4
    26.2
    12.4
    1.2
    1.3
    1.6
    .532
    .379
    .774
    Randolph
    4
    15.6
    8.5
    1.2
    1.1
    2.3
    .464
    .105
    .693
    Gallinari
    3
    17.5
    5.7
    1.3
    2.0
    0.5
    .462
    .405
    .856
    Batum
    3
    8.5
    3.5
    2.7
    1.5
    0.5
    .453
    .290
    .667
    Gordon
    2
    20.9
    3.3
    2.4
    1.3
    0.6
    .433
    .337
    .834
    Mayo
    2
    20.7
    4.5
    3.3
    1.5
    0.4
    .442
    .409
    .803
    Augustin
    1
    19.2
    2.9
    5.8
    1.2
    0.0
    .439
    .381
    ,783
    Bayless
    1
    19.7
    2.7
    4.0
    1.0
    0.1
    .458
    .407
    .839
    Rose
    1
    14.9
    4.5
    4.7
    1.2
    0.4
    .477
    .337
    .712
    Westbrook
    1
    12.7
    3.9
    4.3
    1.6
    0.2
    .465
    .338
    .713
    Last edited by Will Galen; 05-18-2008, 05:32 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Top Draft Prospects

      Good idea, and great work, Will Galen!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Top Draft Prospects

        i still cant wait for preraft camp to see Love's real weight, im sayin 295+
        STARBURY

        08 and Beyond

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        • #5
          Re: Top Draft Prospects

          Originally posted by Robertmto View Post
          i still cant wait for preraft camp to see Love's real weight, im sayin 295+
          Ford said he's already dropped 13 pound s in workouts. That would make him 262 if his weight was really the 275 he was listed at.

          So I'll say he will be much closer to 262 than 295.

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          • #6
            Re: Top Draft Prospects

            Originally posted by Will Galen View Post
            Ford said he's already dropped 13 pound s in workouts. That would make him 262 if his weight was really the 275 he was listed at.

            So I'll say he will be much closer to 262 than 295.
            if he has lost 13 pounds then i say he will come in at the 280 range...
            STARBURY

            08 and Beyond

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            • #7
              Re: Top Draft Prospects

              I'd be shocked if Love comes in that heavy.


              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Top Draft Prospects

                The height is the thing.
                This space for rent.

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                • #9
                  Re: Top Draft Prospects

                  Great job on this. I was looking for something like this to compare them. Thanks.

                  One thing, you've got Gallinari on there twice.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Top Draft Prospects

                    I am between Augustin, Westbrook, and Speights. I think the pacers pick one of those three. I am intruiged by Love, but I also have a lot of doubts. I think he will be gone when we pick though.

                    I am starting to think we will pick Augustin, all the stuff about no starting PG where we are picking, best player available, etc... is just a smoke screen. His size is really the only legit knock on him, besides that, he has it all.
                    "As a bearded man, i was very disappointed in Love. I am gathering other bearded men to discuss the status of Kevin Love's beard. I am motioning that it must be shaved."

                    - ilive4sports

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                    • #11
                      Re: Top Draft Prospects

                      Originally posted by Infinite MAN_force View Post
                      I am starting to think we will pick Augustin, all the stuff about no starting PG where we are picking, best player available, etc... is just a smoke screen. His size is really the only legit knock on him, besides that, he has it all.
                      That's a pretty legit knock, though.
                      This space for rent.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Top Draft Prospects

                        Good post. Especially helpful for people like myself who don't enjoy the college game all that much.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Top Draft Prospects

                          A+ post. I was hoping someone would make something like this. Since I'm more of a college BB fan, I enjoy reading up on these types of threads.

                          So far, after reading up on some bios and going by games that I've seen this year, this is my stance on some of the players in our range.

                          Yes (in order):

                          Anthony Randolph- Too much potential to pass up
                          Marreese Speights- I could see him turning into a poor mans Dwight Howard
                          OJ Mayo- Future 25+ppg player
                          Darrell Arthur- Another physical big. Inconsistent rebounding almost put him in the 'No' category though
                          DJ Augustin- He's short, but his talent trumps that IMO.

                          No (some of these are soft No's, could change easily after measurements and workouts):

                          Eric Gordon- I'm a huge IU fan so what does that tell you?
                          Kosta Koufos- Don't know a ton about him, even though he played in the Big Ten. I just know he underachieved all year. I saw maybe two games of his, and I don't remember being particularly impressed either game.
                          DeAndre Jordan- Haven't seen him play, but on paper it looks like he was inconsistent and underachieved quite a bit.
                          Kevin Love- Soft 'No'. Could have easily been a yes. If he measures out at 6'10" 260-265, he's moves into the 'Yes' category.
                          Russell Westbrook- Another soft no. If he measures out at 6'4" or taller, he could be a yes. His athleticism and defensive abilities could be a major upgrade to the backcourt.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Top Draft Prospects

                            I just don't think we have the luxury to say no to some of these players. At 11, we get guys that have some serious flaws or limited potential.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Top Draft Prospects

                              It's not like we have no choice but to take a player. If we don't like what's left, trade the pick.

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