NCAA, RUBIO and JENNINGS UPDATES
so far almost 2 months into the season so far and theres still only one sure fire superstar and thats Blake Griffin, but after him it's a little shaky
Ricky Rubio still isnt 100% after the wrist injury(he'll be a superstar), Thabeet still lacks dominating offense to compliment his defense, Curry has had back-to-back sub-par games, Harden is a bit undersized and not as athletic as he should be, and Jennings is still finding his rhythm in Europe(i still think that move will end up helping him, and will have a very successful career).
This draft does have alot of depth(not like last year) and there will be a couple all-stars but as of know Griffin is the only safe bet all-star, DeRozan should be one, Harden, even Thabeet, Monroe, and Evans...with all the hype they got, but theres still time for them to get it together and play to their hype
Dionte Christmas, SG, Temple- He made a name for himself in last years NCAA tournament after a strong performance but has really turned it up this year... He dropped 35 on Tennessee last week and followed up with 21 vs Kansas, he has a sweet and dangerous stroke from the outside, not that good of a drive to the basket but he's willing to do it, with the right coach he'll be fine, and should be a better drive-to-the-basket player
he's on the 1st round bubble as of now, his age,22 is working against him but his consistency throughout his career shows he'll do just fine in the NBA.
20.8 ppg 6.4 reb 2.7 asts 1.4 stl .446 fg% .417 3-point%
James Harden, SG, Arizona State- No one benefits more from lack of bona-fide talent at the top of draft boards then Harden, in a normal year(say last year) he wouldnt be projected top-5 but this year he's easily in the top 5. He's undersized for a 2gaurd and will have problems vs. NBA 2gaurds and he lacks the athletic explosiveness...But his amazing scoring touch and dominate production has made it hard to ignore....he knows how and when to score and gets most of his production within the flow of the game
Harden has NBA size and is looking like a lock for the top 3 and his outside stroke is hard to ignore especially from beyond the arc...scouts still question if he'll be a great NBA player, but in a draft filled with question marks, he's one of the safest picks
23.7 ppg 6.3 rebs 4.2 asts 1.8 stl .577fg% .479 3point %
Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona- this draft is more for guards and SF's, Griffin is the best 4 in the draft and Hill has solidified himself as the second best
Hill entered college very raw and with tons of potential, his strength has improved and that has allowed him to dominate the low post on both sides of the ball. His rebounding has skyrocketed and has been very consistent scoring double-doubles in 8 of his last 11 games his 22-point performance vs Gonzaga solidified him as a top 10 pick if he keeps up his consistent production he could move into the top 5
18.9 ppg 11.8 rebs 2.7 blks .576 fg%
Greg Monroe, C, Georgetown- so far the best freshman player so far this season, he's played with fire and consistency his numbers don't jump off the stat sheet but he controls the game with his defense and picks and the little things....but his defense is game changing, and his offense is good and gets the job done when he's called upon to
12.4 ppg 6 rebs 1.7 stls 2.1 blks .576 fg%
DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC- When it comes to physical ability no one comes close to DeRozan but he hasn't been playing like he should be so far. His game is starting to get better and he's starting to come around. He's been trying to fit in and not dominate the game, but he needs to start being more selfish and thats one knock on him he lacks that killer instinct that the Wades, LeBrons and Kobes have....he'll get it with time and his coach is starting to get him more involved in the offense, so look out for him
12 ppg 4.6 rebs .9 stls .487 fg%
Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas- every year scouts look for a center who is dominate in the low post with the expected first 2 centers taken Thabeet and Mullens are not good offenively and Monroe is good down low...Aldrich is the best low post threat of them all but could he provide anything else to his team....his defense isnt nearly as good and the other 3 afore mentioned players...he could be a top 10 pick barring he plays up to his full potential
13.6 ppg 9.9 rebs 2 blks .591 fg%
Others
Jarvis Varnado, PF, Mississippi State
DeShawn Sims, F, Michigan
Tyshawn Taylor, G, Kansas
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Stephen Curry, G, Davidson- your typical old-school player possesses high basketball IQ and fundamentals over pure athletic ability, but the main worry on Curry isnt his athleticism its his lack of speed and explosiveness which may hold him back in the pros, also scouts look that he struggles vs. elite college teams
but on the flip side Curry doesn't have a supporting cast thats slightly presentable, in the pros he'll have that so he wont need to worry about scoring 30+ to get the win he'll focus on the little things like finding the open man and concentrating on D vs his man...cause thats all he'll have to worry about, another plus is his killer instinct down the stretch give him the ball and get out the way good. when its the last 3 mins of a game thats Curry's time he takes over and the quite kid becomes a beast
top 10 lock no questions and will suprise alot of ppl in the NBA
30.0 ppg 3.5 rebs 6.7 asts 2.9 stl .444 fg% .362 3point %
Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis- another player viewed as a one and done player, his stock has been up-and-down one week he plays up to his potential and the next he plays like 2nd rounder...this week was one of them, 2-for-9 shooting vs Syracuse. Shooting worse than 20 percent from beyond the arc and his shot selection has been reminiscent of Crawful not Joe Johnson(who i compare him 2)....he'll be fine but as of now his stock is fallin and no signs of getting up
15.4 ppg 5.4 rebs 3.6 asts 2.5 stls .410 FG% .194 3point %
Others
Samardo Samuels, PF, Louisville
Nick Calathes, G, Florida
Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville
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Ricky Rubio PG, Spain- Rubio has been out most of the year with a wrist injury, keeping us from checking in on his progress after an impressive performance in the Olympics. Rubio got his most consistent minutes of the season in the Spanish League this week and didn't disappoint. His 10 assists per game average would be impressive in college.
Rubio and Griffin are the only definite superstars but the rest are all question marks.
<table id="ctl02_ctl00_PlayerStats_tblPlayerStats" class="PlayerStatsContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>2008-2009
STATS
</td> </tr><tr> <td> PPG
0.3
</td> </tr><tr> <td> RPG
1.7
</td> </tr><tr> <td> APG
2
</td> </tr><tr> <td> FPG
0.3
</td></tr></tbody></table>
BRANDON JENNINGS
starting to come around and increased minutes will increase his production...
in the Euro League
18 mins a game 8.4 ppg 40.0 FG% 2.5 asts 2.1 stls
in the Italian League
17.2 mins 6.0 ppg 32.5 FG% 2.7 asts 1.9 stls
MOCK DRAFT( TOP 10 )next week lottery
Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
Hasheem Thabeet, C, Uconn
Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
James Harden, SG, Arizona State
Stephen Curry, SG, Davidson
Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona
Greg Monroe, C, Georgetown
B.J Mullens, C, Ohio State
DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC
next week the entire lottery mock draft