WizBlog RSS FeedSome Notes From Day 3
A couple of notes from Day 3.
(all from draftexpress.com for more information Click here. One big name that did not compete in Day 3 was Ty Lawson who sat out with a Hip Pointer.
Mike Taylor - One player that stood out more than anyone else in the individual drills was D-League combo guard Mike Taylor, a phenomenal athlete blessed with terrific scoring instincts who was deadly creating his own shot in 1 on 1 settings
Bryce Taylor - Had a nice all-around showing playing strong defense, knocking down shots and looking very crafty in the isolation-based drills.
Brian Roberts- Had a very strong performance as well (17 points, 5/7 FG, 1/1 3P), doing a great job mixing up his mid-range game with his dribble-drives, either finishing strong at the rim or getting to the free throw line (6-6 in this game). He seems to have significantly improved his ability to smoothly change speeds and keep his defender off-balance, which we just happened to watch him work on a few weeks back when we saw him
Wayne Ellington - Wayne Ellington bounced back in a big way after his disastrous performance yesterday, starting off extremely hot on his way to a 7-13, 17 point outing in 20 minutes
Pat Calathes - Wasn’t quite as good as he was yesterday, but he continued his pattern of impressive play dating all the way back to Portsmouth where he showed a terrific ability to fit in quickly on a team and both make himself look good as well as others around him.
James Gist - Had a worse stat-line today (6 points, 3-10 FG) than he did yesterday, but in our eyes played better this time around. He looked very active defensively in the passing lanes and did a great job getting out in transition, using his athleticism well around the rim and even knocking down a long-range perimeter jumper.
Mark Tyndale - stood out for the second straight game with the excellent versatility he brings to the floor. He can really do everything except shoot the ball effectively, whether it’s distribute, defend, get to the rim or play his typical energetic and heady style of basketball.
Jeremy Pargo - Underclassman Jeremy Pargo had a stronger performance in game two (11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 turnovers) than yesterday’s outing, doing a fantastic job showing off his incredible physical tools and getting into the paint time after time.
Gary Forbes - Clearly the best player on the floor (and likely of the day) stringing together one of the best single-game performances (30 points, 7-16 FG, 15-16 FT, 26 minutes) we’ve seen in the last five years of the pre-draft camp. Forbes was incredibly aggressive putting the ball on the floor with either hand and making very strong moves to the basket, being very physical once there and in turn getting to the free throw line at will.
Richard Hendrix - Did his best Paul Millsap impression, doing yeomen’s work on the offensive glass, picking up 6 rebounds on that end in just 22 minutes. He struggled to finish most of his shots inside, though, being unable to elevate quite high enough in traffic.
Lester Hudson - Had yet another uneven performance in game two, alternating between displaying fantastic scoring instincts and creativity and forcing the issues badly at times and making bad decisions. He clearly is an A+ shooter, both from the perimeter and especially creating separation from his defender with smooth body control from mid-range, but needs to show better patience deciding when to shoot.
Sean Singletary - Had a nice showing, displaying excellent creativity and court-vision distributing the ball, and also being very aggressive as a scorer, finishing the game with an impressive 15 points and 8 assists. He may have over-dribbled at times and is likely kicking himself for missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc, but it was good for him to break out of his shell here finally.
Maarty Leunen - Is never going to stand out in a setting like this, as there will always be bigger, more athletic players to ooh and ah over, but he once again showed his toughness, smarts and terrific skill-level by knocking down the shots that were presented to him, running the floor hard, competing on the defensive end, doing an excellent job on the glass, and not making even a single mistake.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:02 AM
And here is coverage of day 3 from nbadraft dot net.
Draftexpress also has some entertaining video interviews w/ NBA GMs and other basketball types at the Orlando pre-draft camp. None of our guys, and not too much real information — but still it’s fun stuff.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I wish there were box scores available for these Orlando games — probably are… but where?
May 30th, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I would love for Ty Lawson to go to the Wiz at 18. I think once the draft gets closer he will go around 9 or 10.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I dont know about Ty going in the top 10 but I definitely would not rule him out of the top 20.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I would have to agree with Gprep, the only reason I could see Lawson going in the top 15 is if a team is desperate for a PG and augustin is off the board. But you never know….
May 30th, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Remember some ones stock is going to rise rally high and couple peopls is going to fall..we might just encd up with a Top 10 Pick at 18…
May 30th, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Robin Lopez even looks like Anderson Varajoa..can you guys see the resemblence…
May 30th, 2008 at 4:37 PM
I would not go for Ty because we already have Antonio, Deshawn,Nick, Roger, and maybe Gil so we DONT need more guards
May 30th, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Robin Lopez is not likely to be a big-time player — I’m not sure Hibbert will either, but he has a better chance.
SportsWiz says that Lawson reminds him of Brevin Knight. I like Brevin, he has had a nice NBA career — but he is a backup point guard.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:54 PM
As to needing guards, we may well lose Roger, and Antonio is getting older. In any case, I am sure we will take the best player on our board and not worry too much about position. Rookies don’t contribute much anyway.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Yeah and if we get a POint Gaurd..we can have Antoinio menotr him..now..that he is still with uss…
May 30th, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Tom,
In what way don’t rookies contribute because I’ve seen many who work their butts off…If AD is “getting older” and rookies “don’t contribute much anyway” what the hell player is that, a not-too-old-but-not-rookie player? I guess I need an example of this “golden player” because that seems a bit unrealistic. I’m just the type who thinks that age has nothing to do with anything - learning is continuous…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:34 PM
I checked the Washington Wizards site and here’s what I found:
Caron Butler’s House Part I
May 30th, 2008 at 9:35 PM
My bad - didn’t work here: http://www.nba.com/wizards/multimedia/butlercribs1_080530.html
May 30th, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Caron Butler’s House Part I
(This is just a test, so if it doesn’t work ignore this)…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Uhhh SportzWiz, what did I do LOL…I tried…I ‘ll get it
May 30th, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Bridge I think you forgot to put the url in the url section…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:56 PM
A blogger once said: “learning is continuous…” - - Obviously! lol.
Thanks Wiz-skins - we might have to have a tutorial or something for me with this “click here” thing. It’s good to have homies to teach me (tear -
)
May 30th, 2008 at 10:35 PM
You do better than I do at that hi falutin computer stuff LOL. I’m lucky to be able to boot the darned thang up?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Good point Tom. Everybody is thinking draft. I’m thinking how are we going to keep Roger. I need your knowledge and “numbers” experience. What has to happen to be able to keep him? In regards to Gilbert and Antawn.
I tend to over simplify things, but, you have known me long enough now to know what I mean. I hope all the “numbers”… salary, cap space, luxury tax space, and team members (hoping for 15 this year) work out in our favor this season.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:03 AM
That’s alright GR; we’re all in this together
May 31st, 2008 at 6:18 AM
That’s right, Bridge — and by the way, I don’t mean that rookies don’t *ever* contribute much. Al Horford sure did, and Stuckey has too. But, as you point out, learning is important. Most guys spend their rookie year, and their 2d year too, learning to play the nba game.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:25 AM
Well, the Orlando camp is over, and while we wait for SportsWiz to start a wrap-up item about it, here are a few odds and ends unrelated to the camp:
Dave Berri, of Wages of Wins fame, and author of my favorite way of analyzing NBA play and players, rates Antonio Daniels the 6th most underrated player in the NBA.
He also writes an interesting article on shopping for free agents, trying to figure out who the best bargains are among the many unrestricted FAs that will be available.
DraftExpress has a new version of its mock draft. Their projected first round looks unchanged. They have us taking Nicolas Batum (incredible athleticism, but w/ *project* written all over him), with Douglas-Roberts, Marreese Speights and Hibbert available on the board. I can’t see us doing that. By the way, Chad Ford is very high on Speights in this video..
Their projected second round has changed some, and this *is* reflective of peformances at the camp. Their analysts have moved some of my favorite 2d round players up — Joey Dorsey and Pat Calathes, in particular. They have us taking Lester Hudson, with JR Giddens and Kyle Weaver going in the following picks.
Rook will be happy that we have the option of grabbing Kyle Weaver. I like him too, and I like Giddens as well. Hudson dropped a little off his camp performance, but he is a pretty intriguing player all the same. All 3 of them are, although I would be happiest if we got Dorsey who has a chance to be a terrific player (as does Calathes, imho).
May 31st, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Guys I think Tom is like Greg Williams (you know how im talking about if you watch the Redskins)…he just doesnt like Rookies…
May 31st, 2008 at 8:29 AM
Well, I hope it’s not like that because that’ll be kinda contradictory for you Tom…To not like rookies, but to be so passionate about all this draft stuff - the draft IS about the rookies coming in…
May 31st, 2008 at 9:46 AM
About Robin Lopez I don’t think he will do well in the NBA because he does everything slowly. So I would not draft him.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Bridge — you got me there!
I am wacko about the draft, but then after it’s over I don’t expect that much out of the rookies. It makes no sense!
I have to wake up; I have to get over myself. But… can I do it? Will you help me? Keep me honest, ok? ;>