Draft contest; Yi Jianlian; Thursday & beyond

[mark at 10thumbs.org]

Pick contest ---- If someone's collecting, I predict Yi Jianlian (#5),
Sean Williams (#32). I'm intrigued to possibly get the kid Sun Yue to be
Okajima to Yi's Dice-K...


Yi Jianlian ---- Ryan Nelson asked what people'd seen. I haven't watched
the amt. of "film" that NBA execs have, but in the YouTube clips (granted
those are a highlight variety, etc) it wasn't so much the skills he showed
or didn't, but an intensity, a fluidity,and a style that surprised me and
made me much, much less fearful.  I expected to see some stick that never
got touched in the paint, etc.  But he went around Gasol for a jam, then
pushed some folks out of his way.  I don't konw if grace is the right
word, but he didn't look like a kid who's clunky -- which is what i
expected... sort of like Yao or Darko did early on.

People say "what about the competition".  And that's valid, but kids get
drafted from minor conferences, Div 1AA, etc. and make it -- Pippen even
an Orien Greene.  I doubt the competition there is sooo much worse than
the comp. Jefferson, Pippen or a guy like Diaw faced.


Thursday & beyond ---- I'll go ahead and say that regardless of who we get
-- Yi, Horford, Green, Conley, etc. via the draft or trade that i think
this team is gonna surprise some people next season and make the playoffs.
even if we move Pierce, i think Jefferson is ready to be the leader. I
kinda wish we had a diff. coach, but I look at waht Doc might do next year
as similar to what he did his first year in ORL... get the team ot
overacheive a little.


(the other) mark