how do you know he wasnt just down playing it?

Also.. he said no Lebrons or Duncans. Sorry, but there arent any. Could there be some good players? Could Bogut and Williams be very good and play right away? Sure.

Are there 2 or 3 guys that are clearly heads above everyone they are playing against? No... sorry.

As good as Marvin Williams *might* be he's a freshman putting up 10/6. Carmelo was putting up like 20/10 by this time for Cuse. Bogut is having a breakout season but you yourself were hohum on him a year ago. I think what Isiah was talking about are guys that have been playing like men among boys for a couple years now. Lebron, Melo, Amare, Duncan... those guys did that. Greg Oden is doing that. Marvin Williams and Bogut arent doing that. For all you know they are the next Chris Mihm and Rodney White.

Posted by BRIGGS:

both Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams are franchise type talents who will have IMMEDIATE impact on any team.

Marvin is a new aged PF who has the quickness and agility of amare stoudemire, and the ability to step out like radman or dirk and play outside in. hes like what Tim thomas should be, hes everything Tim isnt. he s much more athletic and the main thing is he plays with a great deal of intensity.

After these two players are quite a list of guys who can improve the club quite dramaticaly.
thats why I am a little scared when I hear isiah really say poor things about the draft. Y9ou get the feeling that he would rather go after a guy like antoine walker or something and say hes a young vet, but it would be just another big name with a poor team game and a huge $ contract.

we've seen it. TT could be great. but TT just is not the same player since NJ knocked him out last season. He felt betrayed by his teammates and he's had personal stuff to deal with.

TT is suffering this year from no leadership - coaching and teammate-wise. TT would do well under a Pat Riley type coach.

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by BRIGGS:

both Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams are franchise type talents who will have IMMEDIATE impact on any team.

Marvin is a new aged PF who has the quickness and agility of amare stoudemire, and the ability to step out like radman or dirk and play outside in. hes like what Tim thomas should be, hes everything Tim isnt. he s much more athletic and the main thing is he plays with a great deal of intensity.

After these two players are quite a list of guys who can improve the club quite dramaticaly.
thats why I am a little scared when I hear isiah really say poor things about the draft. Y9ou get the feeling that he would rather go after a guy like antoine walker or something and say hes a young vet, but it would be just another big name with a poor team game and a huge $ contract.

we've seen it. TT could be great. but TT just is not the same player since NJ knocked him out last season. He felt betrayed by his teammates and he's had personal stuff to deal with.

TT is suffering this year from no leadership - coaching and teammate-wise. TT would do well under a Pat Riley type coach.

Tim Thomas isn't anywhere near the player Charles Smith was, and Charles didn't do well under Riley. Nor did Mashburn. Other than James Worthy, Riley has never really done well with sfs. My guess is Riley would despise Tim Thomas as much as we do for his lack of effort.

As for the talent level of the draft, I'll add that Amare and Wade didn't stick out in high school and college, respectively, as truly dominating talent. They were merely very good, but had big questions next to their names. Sometimes you can find a gem in the rough. Tracy McGrady certainly wasn't thought of as a dominant player coming out of high school. In my experience, it's very rare that a can't miss prospect comes out and doesn't miss. So, yeah there are no Lebrons or Duncans or Shaqs this year, but there may be a few Amares/Wade/Al Jefferson level talent.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by fishmike:

how do you know he wasnt just down playing it?

Of course Isiah is downplaying it. That's one of his trademark moves. Downplay something so that the expectations aren't so high, therefore, if he gets someone good he can say, "Wow, I didn't think we'd be able to get somebody this good" and if he doesn't he'll be able to say "That's pretty much the way I figured it would go". Either way, he can only look good and you people can just keep eating it up.

Do you actually think that would fly?? If the guy Zeke gets turns to be a bust he will get blasted. And there is no way to pull that off if the players that the other teams draft turn out to be studs.

I think he is downplaying the draft because he doesn't want anyone especially fans to give up on this season. Plus he is correct in saying there is no sure thing like Duncan or Lebron in this draft.