And the hits just keep on coming

[E.H. Munro]

Oh, please, let's not get melodramatic here. A little pot smoking  
does not a raving criminal make. If it did about 80% of the NBA would  
be in permanent lockdown (including a fair number of our local team).  
He was suspended once for hanging out with the wrong person, and a  
much shorter suspension for an unspecified team violation. Aside from  
that there's still a zero percent chance that Noah ends up a better  
NBA player than him, Noah is far less athletic (this isn't a knock  
against Noah, the only other big man I've seen with that sort of  
speed, quickness, and explosiveness  is the pre-injury Amare), not  
nearly as good a defender, and unlike Williams, has no offensive  
game. Noah's a more photogenic Tyson Chandler. And I don't think  
Williams is a top 3 pick at this point because his offensive game is  
about 2/3 garbage baskets. Those aren't as easy to get in the NBA (or  
at least you have to work harder against the better competition). He  
has shown a couple of nice shots in the 6' and in range, and his time  
executing the flex means that he's an effective high post passer  
(though that won't translate until he can knock down the jumper). So  
he's intriguing, but intriguing generally means mid to late lottery.  
Also the response was aimed at the poster that thought that Noah,  
who's already worse than Oden, would be a better pro player than Oden  
(in spite of the fact that Oden is a far better offensive player with  
his off hand than Noah is with his good one). My point with the Sean  
Williams comparison was that there was a zero percent chance that his  
preferred #1 pick would be a better NBA player than a late lottery  
selection. Noah is the most overhyped player in college basketball.  
He's a good defender, in a situation where he's generally the tallest  
and most athletic guy on the floor. In the NBA that won't be  
universally true (because there are a lot of NBA big men with his  
athleticism), so it's going to take him time to adjust. And it will  
be worse on the offensive side of the ball. That being said his  
height and athleticism are a guarantee of a top 6 selection.

E.H. Munro
ehmunro at hoopsboston.com

"Fucking Red, man. I mean, you knew it was in the mail but still. The  
best case scenario for this team would be the zombie of Red Auerbach  
digging himself out of the ground, showing up at Healthpoint covered  
in dirt and worms and telling Ainge, Wyc and Doc to get the fuck out  
of his way. I am secretly hoping that Leon Powe becomes possessed by  
Red’s undead spirit after purchasing a cursed Ouija board on eBay,  
launches a coup against the front office and ownership, and  
ultimately becomes the first Celtic owner/player with Darryl Dawkins  
being named coach. Now that would be some shit, right there." Tom Toner


On Jan 11, 2007, at 2:46 PM, Ryan M. Melanson wrote:

>
>
> the problem with Sean Williams is you're going to need to hire a  
> parole officer or guidance counselor to follow him around 24 hours  
> a day.  huge talent but an arrest waiting to happen.  Already been  
> suspended twice from BC for marijuana and from all accounts of  
> people who know him, not a good guy.
>
> If he had a good head on his shoulders, he would be a top 3 pick.   
> A less fragile, better defensive marcu camby.
>
> rmn