Re: Peter May Ranks The Draftable Players

["Jaime Castillo, Jr." <jaims@info.com.ph>]

Thanks also, Joe.  Again, I guess that's why there's a list here...it's
where to put any stuff we like...  My bad, I guess some funny stuff are
really funny for others and to others they're not.

Well, I agree with you about Dookies.  Laettner, Langdon, Ferry, William
Avery, Hurley and some others...they were hyped to be great once in the NBA
but ended up as flops or journey men.  I guess I see what Mark's saying now
with this "Dookie" connections.  So, I get the same feeling with Jason
Williams now too!

But I still think Battier might be the one to break the "dookie jinx" in the
NBA since he's regarded more as a defender or a defensive anchor while the
others mentioned above are offensive monsters in college but never got to be
in the NBA.

I get your point now, Mark and Joe...Thanks.




> "Jaime Castillo, Jr." wrote:
>
> > > I'm not sold at all on Battier. He plays power forward for Duke, and
> > shoots
> > > over or dribbles around bigger players. The system at Duke allows him
to
> > do
> > > that. In the NBA he's a one-position guy--small forward. And I'm not
> > > convinced he has the quickness to play that position. He relies on a
lot
> > of
> > > flopping to draw charges, but those don't go over as well in the NBA.
I
> > > think he'll be a solid pro, but more of a "rich man's" Rick Fox. If
you
> > want
> > > a guy to contribute right away, he's your guy. But if you want a guy
with
> > a
> > > lot of upside, Battier isn't it. Personally, I think this team should
> > > consider Battier only if he's still there with the Phoenix pick.
Besides,
> > > his hairline just frightens me. He comes from that Riddick Bowe-Brad
> > > Daugherty family tree of athletes with no foreheads. They go straight
from
> > > eyebrow to hairline. Battier's decision earlier this season to
completely
> > > shave his head was one of the all-time no-brainers. But now he's
letting
> > it
> > > grow back... why? Do you think Battier, Bowe and Daugherty started
shaving
> > > their foreheads when they were 9 years old? Would the same strategy
work
> > for
> > > me, because my hairline is going the other way...
> >
> > Making fun of a person's looks is really not fun to read.  I don't see
this
> > as necessary and enjoyable to read.  Make fun or laugh at someone if
he's an
> > underachiever or a lazy person but not on a hard worker that has great
work
> > ethics and discipline.  You are talkin about Battier who I think and I
> > believe the most perfectly sound basketball player in the coming draft.
> > He's got skills and lots of talent and fundamentally polished.  I
disagree
> > when you said that he doesn't have much upside and is not for a long
term
> > plan...why would you say that?  Battier can definitely contribute right
away
> > and could become a team's defensive cornerstone for years that could
> > effectively rub onto his other teammates.  FYI, he's not slow as you've
said
> > that he could not guard small forwards...   If you watched most of their
> > games he could guard everybody in every situation possible!  Maybe it's
> > better to say he's a better George Lynch kinda player with better 3pt
> > shooting and defense (considering Lynch is already a good defender).
I'll
> > be very shocked if he doesn't get picked in the lottery! (Then it may be
a
> > good thing, then we could get him with our picks)
>
> Point taken, Jaime. In college Paul Pierce was barely considered a small
> forward, much less a 2-guard, because he was a 10 rebound type guy. It
sounds to
> me like Battier has a similar handle on the ball, a good outside shot, and
makes
> steals and plays on defense (Pierce can be an explosive shotblocker
sometimes).
>
> Now this might seem wierd, but if Battier were a NC Tarheal and had
exactly the
> same game I'd say he's "can't miss", but since he's a Dookie I have my
doubts
> about him just like Mark Berry seems to. This is just one of those things.
When
> you look at Jason Williams (as safe a "can't miss" as you'll find in
college)
> you can't help thinking "didn't William Avery also have a hell of a good
three
> point shot and an advanced scorer's mentality?"
>
> I do think Mark's riff on Battier's hair growth pattern was pretty
hilarious and
> quirky (as opposed to mean spirited in any way). I got a kick out of it
> completely.
>
> Joe
>
> ------
>
>
>