LivingLegend wrote:Uptown wrote:FistOfOakley wrote:Uptown wrote:The days of Mark Jackson and John Stockton are long gone...When you think of today's top pg's all of them are big time scoring threats....Steph Curry, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Tony Parker, etc.....and all are more than capable and do a good job of initiating their teams offense....
just because those pgs can score doesn't mean you can fit anyone who can pass in the pg role... harden is sort of the de facto pg on houston but he doesn't bring the ball up or set up their offense...
if you're measuring russell as more the harden/ginobilli type of sg.. then he measures very good... if you're trying to fit him in the pg role... well he just doesn't grade out as well there since he needs some work on his pnr...
Harden is 6'6 225....Russell, at this point is not strong enough or athletic enough to deal with legit NBA SG's on a consistent basis, IMO. Not that he can't grow into it. From watching him play, the first thing that jumps out to me is his passing skill and the ability to see the floor. Projecting where he will be in the NBA, right now he looks more like a Lead-Guard to me. With his size, shooting ability, and passing skill, he's on the cusp of an NBA allstar if he plays exclusive PG similar to Michael Carter Williams. He will stuff the stat sheet, and can use his size to see and shoot over other PG's. He's also a new generation guard that can play both positions if you have play that double Lead Guard backcourt ( Lebron and Kyrie, Steph Curry and Jarrett Jack,) etc. But for me, his best position and most effective position, is PG IMO....
The kid definitely has tremendous skill, smarts and vision -- it is the physical part of the game that worries me. Can his body take the punishment of taking the ball to the rim as much as a star PG needs to attack the basket. Will he be a skilled but often injured player and will he be able to keep up defensively -- his lateral quickness seems suspect.
I do agree -- there is a bit of a Steph Curry debate here ---- I had the same concerns with Steph and still wanted Knicks to grab him but there were no Okafor, Towns, Mudiay's in that draft either.
I think Steph Curry went where he should have gone. He's shown he has that special "something" it takes to blend skills, smarts and talent into greatness. Thats really the part you get lucky or unlucky with.
Whats looking great about Russell is he looks great, and quite frankly the more the better. OK4 is an easy lock to be an all star for years and saying something about a 19 year is rare. Everyone sees it. Unless his knees break (Oden) he's a lock. Towns isnt simply because he hasnt shown, not because he cant be. Russell is starting to show. Im just glad to see more and more of these guys.
In a year like this you have to walk away with something that will pay. Russell has some question marks as to his position and how his game will translate but he's gonna be good. I just hope we grab a gem. We are so due 
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
1/26/2015 2:46 AM