WaltLongmire wrote:We might need a big, and I'm in on taking OK4, but some of the biggest mistakes in draft history have occurred when teams took big over not so big.

Thabeet, Darko, Oden, Bargnani, K. Brown, Olowokandi, Bowie... You don't always hit an Anthony Davis or Tim Duncan jackpot.

I think Russell will have a lot of appeal to Phil, but the college regular season is not over, there is March Madness, and then all the tryouts. Add to this the possibility of not getting OK4, and I see no reason why Phil HAS to go for size.

I think there is significant safety factor with Okafor as a big. When you get down to it--you can say what skill does this guy have--and the bottom line is this guy can score in the post--the names you mentioned above at their best in CBB or who didnt even play CBB--they dont have the fundamental and proven offensive talents/skills/size that this guy has. At worst we could look around to find a pogo stick type like Chris Andersen to play next to Okafor to make up for his defensive deficiency--those guys are round and dont cost too much. but to get the potential 25 point pivot scorer--thats the hard part.

When you say pick #1 or 2 3 etc.. I think you need some bonafies. I think there is some bonafides that Okafor than Russell are proving to be big time players. Karl Towns has played 1 great game against a mid major--one game he scored over 15 points out of 18. Now you cant dismiss his triple threat ability--but is he has safe as proven Russell or Okafor--no. Even if Towns ended up as the best player in the draft--unless he has a few more games like he did against E Kentucky--its hard to pick him above these two(thats is were lucky enough to be top 3) as well as Mudiay without seeing consistent game production in a live setting like these two guys are doing. I think that any one doing their draft stuff must have Okafor #1 and Russell #2 right now.

mreinman wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

mreinman wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:If anyone watched that--they'd now be thinking Okafor or Russell--that good. Best pass I have seen in CBB in 10 years tonight-- magic Johnson type stuff. If he was just a tad more athletic he'd be an easy #1 but hes still great and I mean great. Hes long hes got long arms hes a GREAT passer great shooter quality man defender and an excellent rebounder from the guard position. Really the only thing you are talking about is just a little speed and ups but this is the next Walt Frazier here folks.

Geeeeeeeez! Really? Can we see how he does in the NBA a bit first?

This guy is Walt Frazier.

So we have Tim Duncan and Walt Frazier coming in the same draft. Now that is a special draft class!

Who have also been compared to Eddy Curry and Evan Turner!

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:We might need a big, and I'm in on taking OK4, but some of the biggest mistakes in draft history have occurred when teams took big over not so big.

Thabeet, Darko, Oden, Bargnani, K. Brown, Olowokandi, Bowie... You don't always hit an Anthony Davis or Tim Duncan jackpot.

I think Russell will have a lot of appeal to Phil, but the college regular season is not over, there is March Madness, and then all the tryouts. Add to this the possibility of not getting OK4, and I see no reason why Phil HAS to go for size.

I think there is significant safety factor with Okafor as a big. When you get down to it--you can say what skill does this guy have--and the bottom line is this guy can score in the post--the names you mentioned above at their best in CBB or who didnt even play CBB--they dont have the fundamental and proven offensive talents/skills/size that this guy has. At worst we could look around to find a pogo stick type like Chris Andersen to play next to Okafor to make up for his defensive deficiency--those guys are round and dont cost too much. but to get the potential 25 point pivot scorer--thats the hard part.

When you say pick #1 or 2 3 etc.. I think you need some bonafies. I think there is some bonafides that Okafor than Russell are proving to be big time players. Karl Towns has played 1 great game against a mid major--one game he scored over 15 points out of 18. Now you cant dismiss his triple threat ability--but is he has safe as proven Russell or Okafor--no. Even if Towns ended up as the best player in the draft--unless he has a few more games like he did against E Kentucky--its hard to pick him above these two(thats is were lucky enough to be top 3) as well as Mudiay without seeing consistent game production in a live setting like these two guys are doing. I think that any one doing their draft stuff must have Okafor #1 and Russell #2 right now.

So it would seem that the real issue with you would be who we pick if we lose out at #1, and have to choose at #'s 2,3,or 4.

Sounds like you would target Russell, and I think Phil might also be more interested in him than Towns, although you always have to consider guys who might prove themselves the rest of the year- especially someone who would carry a team in the NCAA tournament.

Got to see Portis in overtime yesterday. Not one of his best games, although he did score the winning basket on a very smart cut to the basket. Moved well on defense- came out to the perimeter once or twice, and saw a good block on an Alabama penetrator. Saw one attempted shot in the paint which did not look polished, but was not able to see that high release jump shot of his because he did not take one. Wish I had been able to see the entire game.

BRIGGS wrote:When is the last time anyone has seen a pass like this--forget freshmen in college? Look how easily he throws it--hes palming the ball like a tennis ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdId6AdS-xg&x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534

I don't see Russell as a top two pick its a bounce pass that he has done before, Sam Dalebert has a few of those this year 4-7 range possibly. Good talent just not enough athleticism. Would love to see how he scores at the combine. Could be better than what we see.

BRIGGS wrote:When is the last time anyone has seen a pass like this--forget freshmen in college? Look how easily he throws it--hes palming the ball like a tennis ball.

The pass was good. Lets not go crazy.

Vmart wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:When is the last time anyone has seen a pass like this--forget freshmen in college? Look how easily he throws it--hes palming the ball like a tennis ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdId6AdS-xg&x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534

I don't see Russell as a top two pick its a bounce pass that he has done before, Sam Dalebert has a few of those this year 4-7 range possibly. Good talent just not enough athleticism. Would love to see how he scores at the combine. Could be better than what we see.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Vmart wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:When is the last time anyone has seen a pass like this--forget freshmen in college? Look how easily he throws it--hes palming the ball like a tennis ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdId6AdS-xg&x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534

I don't see Russell as a top two pick its a bounce pass that he has done before, Sam Dalebert has a few of those this year 4-7 range possibly. Good talent just not enough athleticism. Would love to see how he scores at the combine. Could be better than what we see.

The athletic question marks worry me. It's easier to score when you're carte blance to shoot the rock. Look how dominant Evan Turner was. But the guys in the league are too fast and quick to get away with that. I do think GE's better better than Turner. However, I don't see this as a guy I want chasing Damian Lilliard and Steph Curry around the court in addition to shouldering playmaking abilities.

A Galloway type guard might come into play if Russell is drafted. Let this kind of player go up against the opposition PG. Russell has some size, no reason why he can't compete at the SG position defensively... at least he can match their speed to some extent.

At least from what I have heard and read, you don't need the classic PG in the offense we will run. Russell and Galloway (I might be putting the cart before the horse in saying he will be a starter next year) can both shoot from distance, and also have midrange games. Russell is the more spectacular passer and is a better 1/1 type of player-Galloway seems a bit more conservative and disciplined at this point.

I would think Phil needs a big man who can pass, so that has to be considered. OK4 is a decent passer, not sure about the other potential centers in this draft. His center will also need a decent midrange shot. I think if this kind of player is not available if we can't get OK4, Phil might very well take a player like Russell.

This is probably the most important draft Phil will ever participate in as a Knick. Hope he makes the right pick.