BRIGGS wrote:He's not on any mock drafts either but let me add Manny Harris to this list. He also has first round talent/skills and good size for the G position.

Our new and improved Larry Hughes??

Good call. I hadn't really thought about this guy but you're right, he really does resemble Larry Hughes in a lot of ways. Just going by the above clip, the available scouting reports & the numbers (I haven't seen him enough to really offer up my own opinion), it looks like for a 6'5" projected NBA 2-guard, he brings a lot of the same things to the table Larry does: similar size, ability to drive to the basket (this guy really goes to the cup strong and gets to the line a ton - plus he hits his FTs) and can knock down shots from the perimeter (looking at the numbers, it looks like his outside J's a little inconsistent though he could work on that and refine it). Great rebounder for a guard and he can really pass the ball too. Also looks like he gets a lot of deflections and steals as well -- all a-la Larry Hughes. Out of the few projected 2nd round big guards I've seen so far this year --- Patrick Christopher (not a very versatile player at all - played poorly in back-to-back games at the Garden last month in the 2k Sports Classic), Greivis Vasquez (a lot of talent and versatility but he never seems to shoot a consistent percentage - I still like this kid though), Lance Stephenson (he's raw so far and makes a lot of mistakes - not executing nearly as well as I thought he would - ballhandling, shooting, decision-making, temper, maturity, fundementals - every aspect of this guy's game and character needs work) --- Manny Harris looks like a better player than any of these guys...

I advocated bringing in Wesley Matthews Jr. from Marquette after he went undrafted and as it turned out, he's showing he's NBA material and is really doing a fine job filling in with the Jazz...Looks like this kid Harris offers many of the same qualities, esp. the ability to slash and get to the line. Only Harris is 3 years younger and looks like an even better all-around talent than Matthews. You definitely gotta look at this kid if you're the Knicks, no question about it. Givony currently has this guy going in the 2nd round on his mock (37th overall) - if that holds serve, he should be one of the players we consider with one of our picks (6'6" slasher Sylven Landseberg from Virginia is another guy I'm dying to see play and even though he's not putting up big numbers, I really like the overall versatility of little-known swingman Rashad Bishop for Cincy. This dude's a good, athletic two-way player at 6'6"). With only 2 2nd round picks to work with at this point, our scouts need to be working that much harder to find players. Hopefully the Knicks are doing their homework on guys in the draft but after Donnie came out and publicly questioned his scouting department after Brandon Jennings really starting showing his worth recently, I really gotta question the work and effort being put in by our scouts. I questioned them before at different times but now with Donnie himself coming out & being critical, there's definitely something to it. First of all, how do they let Zeke go but retain most of his scouting department?? How does that happen??? As of a week or two ago, Donnie came right out and said (paraphrasing): "I wish I could've brought in my own people - there were a lot of very talented people I wanted to bring in for those positions." I gotta say, I have Donnie's back on this. I mean we see it in baseball all the time - once a baseball manager is let go, 99% of the time, his entire staff is fired as well. Makes sense. You wanna let the new guy bring in guys he's comfortable with. Doesn't sound like Walsh was afforded that "luxury" and that's just wrong...

Michigan at Kansas, Saturday 12/19, 12:00 PM ESPN. Good chance to see Harris play. Will probably be matched up again Xavier and CJ Henry most of that game...I'll be watching...

BigSm00th wrote:briggs, i was searching for this the other day. one of my buddies played ball for harvard and said lin is an absolute stud. he's ripped apart BC the last 2 yrs, i think he is definitely NBA worthy, esp. for a 2nd rounder.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4731117&name=ncbexperts

my friend erik said lin is the toughest kid he's ever played with and an insane competitor. take it for what its worth, but i agree, i think lin has NBA potential and is definitely flying below the radar.

Seeing is believing when it comes to Harvard star

In preparing for my television call of Connecticut's home game against Harvard on Sunday, I asked Penn guard Zack Rosen about the Crimson. His response? "Jeremy Lin, he is their whole team. They have some good young guys inside and all, but Lin takes over games in the second half."

After watching the senior drop 30 on the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion, I know what Rosen means. Man, was I impressed. Lin used the ball screen to slice into UConn's defense, and although he almost always comes back to his right hand, he does so by using and reusing the ball screen to create a lane to the hoop.

Lin is as unique a player as his background is to the college game. He is different not merely because of his Asian-American heritage. More importantly, he is different because of his style, movement and athleticism.

Lin has a funny bunny kick at the peak of his jumper, and the extra leg movement gives off a funky, disjointed look that deceives defenders into thinking he is not athletic. But he's plenty athletic. Lin explodes at the hoop and can finish above the rim, and he has built his body into a strong physical specimen that can withstand contact.

Lin is not a pure shooter, but he has really solid fundamentals on his jumper and can elevate -- especially going right -- while maintaining great balance. Probably the most impressive part of the Harvard star's game is that his coach, Tommy Amaker, so desperately wants to get others involved that Lin is not really the focus of the team's offense for most of the first half. Yet he still puts up the numbers he does (18.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.1 spg).

If you want a new favorite college player to watch and cheer, put the soft-spoken, others-before-self Lin in your sights. You will not be disappointed.

orangeblobman wrote:It isn't changing fast enough. Revolutionary figures don't catch right away. He is the first of his kind, a martyr for the cause. The next Harvard shooting guard with Lin's awesome skillets will go first round.

TMS wrote:

fishmike wrote:

orangeblobman wrote:It isn't changing fast enough. Revolutionary figures don't catch right away. He is the first of his kind, a martyr for the cause. The next Harvard shooting guard with Lin's awesome skillets will go first round.

its already changed. Stephen Curry went in the lottery. Hansbrough, Earl Clark bigger more NBA 'types' go much later. GMs and coaches loves little skilled players who can shoot. Not saying he goes in the lottery but you look at the NBA now and I bet 25 GMs would see Lin as a rotation player at the worst

guys like Budinger who were easily deserving of going in the mid 1st round went in the 2nd, so i don't think it's changed all that much... there will always be skilled sleeper picks go in the 2nd round, guys like Nick Van Exel, Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis, etc. that slip through to the 2nd for 1 reason or the other.

playing at Harvard might hurt this Lin's stock but he's obviously got some nice skills that could translate over to play in the NBA from what u can see from these clips... gotta love his team first unselfish approach & the way he carries himself on the court... would love to catch some games of him televised as soon as i can, anyone know the next time a Harvard game will be aired?

if you get masn (wash/balt equiv of YES), the gtown hvd game is on that. sportstalk980.com should have the radio cov. its a noon game next wens (12/23)

BRIGGS wrote:More than two years ago

Yea I remember reading that from you. It's just another notch in your belt. I'm just glad that we actually got one of the guys you were looking at. This usually doesn't happen for the Knicks