Just a thought, does Balkman make Lee expendable? Having never seen him play the descriptions of his style sound similar to David Lee, perhaps with more energy.

Balkman is 6'6 and will be a 2/3 defender. He's not guarding NBA bigs.

Actually I like the idea of him and Lee together at times.

The good thing about that line up is that Balkman, Lee and Butler don't demand the ball, are good rebounders, and won't get frustrated with all the shots that Nate and Craw jack up.

I'm going to wait and see how both our picks turn out before I come to any conclusions. However, I don't think it's fair to bash this draft just yet. I agree we probably could have gotten Balkman later but if he knew he wanted those two guys, why not take them.

Some of these points have already been stated, I just want to to share my views:

1. Everybody says we need defense, toughness, heart, basketball iq, etc. but then complain when Isiah goes out and gets just that. Steven A says we need dogs -- well we went and got dogs and he hates the pick.

2. Neither pick demands the ball. They do things that nobody else on our team is willing to do. Collins could be the perfect player next to any of our current guards. All are scorers that need the ball in the body of a pg. Does this guy not remind you of the next Eric Snow? Such a stable point, plays solid defense, does nothing to wow you.

3. Balkman could turn into a Bruce Bowen type or Artest. He could turn into a Ben Wallace type. Look, size is helpful for rebounding but not essential. At 6'7 (can we be fair and compromise?) he should be fine. Look at what Danny Fortson can do on the glass. Charles Barkley was one of the better rebounders the game has seen, and I read somewhere that he is all of 6'4. In my opinion, the incredible rebounders/defenders influence a game just as much as the superstars because they give you so many more possessions and shutdown the opponent's best player.

Let's wait and see what we got before we make judgements. What if just got Eric Snow to compliment Nate and Craw in the backcourt for many years to come? What if we just got a 3 that rebounds like Rodman and defends like Bruce Bowen?

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by Ray15:

I'm going to wait and see how both our picks turn out before I come to any conclusions. However, I don't think it's fair to bash this draft just yet. I agree we probably could have gotten Balkman later but if he knew he wanted those two guys, why not take them.

Some of these points have already been stated, I just want to to share my views:

1. Everybody says we need defense, toughness, heart, basketball iq, etc. but then complain when Isiah goes out and gets just that. Steven A says we need dogs -- well we went and got dogs and he hates the pick.

2. Neither pick demands the ball. They do things that nobody else on our team is willing to do. Collins could be the perfect player next to any of our current guards. All are scorers that need the ball in the body of a pg. Does this guy not remind you of the next Eric Snow? Such a stable point, plays solid defense, does nothing to wow you.

3. Balkman could turn into a Bruce Bowen type or Artest. He could turn into a Ben Wallace type. Look, size is helpful for rebounding but not essential. At 6'7 (can we be fair and compromise?) he should be fine. Look at what Danny Fortson can do on the glass. Charles Barkley was one of the better rebounders the game has seen, and I read somewhere that he is all of 6'4. In my opinion, the incredible rebounders/defenders influence a game just as much as the superstars because they give you so many more possessions and shutdown the opponent's best player.

Let's wait and see what we got before we make judgements. What if just got Eric Snow to compliment Nate and Craw in the backcourt for many years to come? What if we just got a 3 that rebounds like Rodman and defends like Bruce Bowen?

A couple things....

1st-The dog type players we need....rookies don't come in and just be that type of player. SAS was talking about guys like a Reggie Evans, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest style of ball and locker room presence. Rookies just don't come in and do that right off the bat. And if they do, noone listens or they fight-Look at Nate-he can be considered a Bull Dog type player.

2nd-We have to tone down the Artest comparison. I am cool with Ben Wallace, Rodman, Bruce Bowen...but Artest is 6-8, 250 and a 20+ pt per game scorer....there is a HUGE difference between this guy and Artest.

If Isiah decides to play the youngins, I don't think Balkman being a rookie would affect his dog status.

I am reading articles/reviews on Balkman and videos on him and somehow I am seeing a young and bigger Spree. I don't see the Rodman comparison too much other than the free spirit comparison. Rodman was an insane rebounder. I think this guy is a bigger Spree circa rookie year.

he has a body like artest and determination of jyd and the hustle of rodman

Posted by NYKBocker:

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by Ray15:

I'm going to wait and see how both our picks turn out before I come to any conclusions. However, I don't think it's fair to bash this draft just yet. I agree we probably could have gotten Balkman later but if he knew he wanted those two guys, why not take them.

Some of these points have already been stated, I just want to to share my views:

1. Everybody says we need defense, toughness, heart, basketball iq, etc. but then complain when Isiah goes out and gets just that. Steven A says we need dogs -- well we went and got dogs and he hates the pick.

2. Neither pick demands the ball. They do things that nobody else on our team is willing to do. Collins could be the perfect player next to any of our current guards. All are scorers that need the ball in the body of a pg. Does this guy not remind you of the next Eric Snow? Such a stable point, plays solid defense, does nothing to wow you.

3. Balkman could turn into a Bruce Bowen type or Artest. He could turn into a Ben Wallace type. Look, size is helpful for rebounding but not essential. At 6'7 (can we be fair and compromise?) he should be fine. Look at what Danny Fortson can do on the glass. Charles Barkley was one of the better rebounders the game has seen, and I read somewhere that he is all of 6'4. In my opinion, the incredible rebounders/defenders influence a game just as much as the superstars because they give you so many more possessions and shutdown the opponent's best player.

Let's wait and see what we got before we make judgements. What if just got Eric Snow to compliment Nate and Craw in the backcourt for many years to come? What if we just got a 3 that rebounds like Rodman and defends like Bruce Bowen?

A couple things....

1st-The dog type players we need....rookies don't come in and just be that type of player. SAS was talking about guys like a Reggie Evans, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest style of ball and locker room presence. Rookies just don't come in and do that right off the bat. And if they do, noone listens or they fight-Look at Nate-he can be considered a Bull Dog type player.

2nd-We have to tone down the Artest comparison. I am cool with Ben Wallace, Rodman, Bruce Bowen...but Artest is 6-8, 250 and a 20+ pt per game scorer....there is a HUGE difference between this guy and Artest.

If Isiah decides to play the youngins, I don't think Balkman being a rookie would affect his dog status.

I am reading articles/reviews on Balkman and videos on him and somehow I am seeing a young and bigger Spree. I don't see the Rodman comparison too much other than the free spirit comparison. Rodman was an insane rebounder. I think this guy is a bigger Spree circa rookie year.

I can be wrong but I can't see, or remember for that matter, a rookie coming in and doing the stuff SAS described. A rookies does some of the stuff the Wallaces, or Evans, or a guy like Reuben Patterson does whe ill most definatel be disliked by his team because of his rookie status...I am not saying it is right, jus in the NBA you sort of have to pay your does before you do stuff like that.

yeah, not a big fan of the posters that say we don't have any leaders, considering everyone is under 26 that counts and marbs led them pretty well pre-brown with a far less talented supporting cast.

Qrich needs to snap out of it and knock down open jumpers.

Posted by Ray15:

Ron Artest, Rodman, and Reggie Evans are not exactly incredible "locker room guys".

As for setting an example with engergy and hustle, what does age have to do with that? In a few years, who knows, these guys may turn into the type of leaders that you are talking about.

As for the comparisons I agree that Artest is going too far because he can put up 20 a night. I think the upside comparison would be a Bruce Bowen type on defense (without the 3 pointer from the corner) with the ability to pull down 10 boards a night. There has never been a player like that so we'll just have to wait and see. There was never a player like Rodman before he made a name for himself.

But that is exactly what SAS meant by a dog...I heard when he called for one on his show...his words were something along the lines of "Someone who will stand up to people in the locker room, someone who is nasty, will do the little things and doesn't cae what anyone thinks." Basically he was calling for a player exactly like Oakley (I'm not starting this argument just using him as a comparison). SAS was very vocalthat they needed a "dog" now. not that they should wait for one to develop.

After thinking this through this guy is exactly like Josh Howard was when he was drafted. I put the comparison in another thread too....Josh Howard is almost the perfect comparison to him for me.