Is Babbitt really this bad?

[Nikolokolus]

Hey you forgot Bob Cousy ...

 

[Boob-No-More]

Dude................. you really went there. You picked the ONLY white guys to succeed in the history of this planet!!!!!! AAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nah, I just picked three first ballot Hall of Famers who went to small schools in weak conferences. There are tons of white guys who are in the Hall of Fame. And, they aren't all from the 1950s and 1960s. Of the four NBA players inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, two were black (Artis Gilmore and Dennis Rodman) and two were white (Chris Mullin and Sabonis). And there are tons more that played well enough to justify their draft position. Of course, there have also been plenty of black guys who went to major college programs that ended up being total busts in the NBA.

BNM

 

[Kaydow]

There are some players who can dominate college but are just a step slow for the NBA. Ammo was one (good move on ditching that contract with Belgrade, eh?) and Babbitt is another. (And it's not just white boys - remember Mateen Cleaves?) Babbitt is MADE for Europe and needs to go there soon.

As for Armon: it's lack of skills with him. If he was 6'7" he could probably carve out a Matt Barnes like career.

Nailed it. Babbitt is just too slow, and it's painful to watch. He constantly gets blocked, stripped, or has to rush some off balance shot just to keep from getting blocked/stripped. It's ugly. Plus he hasn't shown the ability to catch and shoot (which has kept guys like Matt Bonner in the league). His deficiencies didn't show up when he was playing Idaho, University of Portland, or San Diego State. The game just moves too fast for him. I'll admit that I thought it was a good pick at the time (go check out his college highlights on YouTube). I was wrong. He IS one of those guys who's game won't translate to NBA success. The only way this guy stays in the league is he can learn how to catch and shoot, and he just doesn't look comfortable doing that. The Fan Fest sealed it for me. He even looks terrible/slow/overmatched in a scrimmage vs. NBA Athletes.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

What is it that you still like about him? His personality, his game, his ability to dance the "Dougie?" Personally I thought that whole draft was basically KP's double barrel "Eff You Paul" as he was walking out the door. Even Eliot Williams who might have some promise had huge medical red flag with his knees and those eventually cost him his rookie season.

I'm sorry, maybe Babbitt will make a nice 11th man on somebody's roster someday, but even if he gets there in 3-4 years as you say, is reserving a roster spot for a guy who is probably below replacement level worthy of an NBA roster spot when there are going to be more deserving prospects coming up or coming along? Hell, I'd wager you could pretty easily find a more useful player with roughly the same amount of upside as Luke in the D-league without even trying all that hard.

I like his potential based on his college and D League stats, his summer league performance, comments made by other NBA players, and I have to admit his youtube hightlight video was pretty sweet. He's only played 137 minutes in the NBA, of which he's looked dreadful, but I don't think you can come to a conclusion on his potential based on the mostly garbage time minutes he's played so far. I think he'll be alright when he gets his feet under him.

 

[Kaydow]

I like his potential based on his college and D League stats, his summer league performance, comments made by other NBA players, and I have to admit his youtube hightlight video was pretty sweet. He's only played 137 minutes in the NBA, of which he's looked dreadful, but I don't think you can come to a conclusion on his potential based on the mostly garbage time minutes he's played so far. I think he'll be alright when he gets his feet under him.

I was like you, until I let go. The speed difference between the NCAA (in the WAC, no less) vs. the NBA is just too much for some guys to overcome. Luke doesn't play fast enough for the NBA. Plain and simple. If he learns how to catch and shoot, he could stick around like a Matt Bonner or Channing Frye. But we haven't seen that at all. It looks like he's rushing his shot to get it off, and he misses badly. Most of his perimeter shots aren't even close. I'm sure he could give Jimmy Chitwood a run for his money in a game of H-O-R-S-E, but he can't throw it in the ocean against NBA talent.

 

[Blazinaway]

I was like you, until I let go. The speed difference between the NCAA (in the WAC, no less) vs. the NBA is just too much for some guys to overcome. Luke doesn't play fast enough for the NBA. Plain and simple. If he learns how to catch and shoot, he could stick around like a Matt Bonner or Channing Frye. But we haven't seen that at all. It looks like he's rushing his shot to get it off, and he misses badly. Most of his perimeter shots aren't even close. I'm sure he could give Jimmy Chitwood a run for his money in a game of H-O-R-S-E, but he can't throw it in the ocean against NBA talent.

what was said on the Fanfest broadcast is simple and clear, Babbit's a "shooter" if he can't make the shot's he out of the NBA.

 

[jlprk]

McMillan wanted shooters in the draft, and Babbitt had the reputation of best shooter, so Pritchard took him at 16, earlier than he normally would have gone. Pritchard always targeted one guy and drafted him earlier than he deserved, instead of taking the best player available at our slot.

It may take years like Outlaw, but Babbitt will find a small niche in the league by ignoring parts of the game and concentrating on selfish scoring. Or maybe he never will, like Webster and Bayless, who are worse than Outlaw because they didn't find a specialty they're any good at.

 

[jlprk]

Also, McMillan's system destroys all great shooters. It passes up the passing game. You're on your own to create your shot. You get no help. Movement is so slow that you're a rabbit playing with tortoises.

 

[Sinobas]

Even better.

Ten years ago we had a contender that was exciting to watch. Now after a ridiculous decade-long PR stunt where they were supposedly going to patiently rebuild through the draft we have zero (O) healthy, talented NBA starter-quality players attained through the drafts.

We have a talented PF, but his heart condition should rule out counting on him long term.

We have Gerald Wallace, our best healthy player, a true NBA starter.

We have 5-6 very solid backups, but none of them can consistently dominate as a starter.

The rest of our squad are throwaways.

Paul Allen makes Donald Sterling look like a basketball mastermind.

You're kinda twisting things here. The Blazers have been much more sucessful than the clippers.

Remember that we used the some of the players we drafted to acquire guys we didn't (Camby, Wallace)
But you're right, the bulk of our minutes are going to players we didn't draft.

Right now, LA and Batum are the only picks that are really paying off for us. You could argue Camby and Wallace, but those deals seemed to be more cost-cutting moves on the other teams part rather than them coveting our assets (Wallace more so). Freeland may pay off next year too!

But I wouldn't argue with anyone who says the Blazers have not done a good job at drafting over the last 10 years. And Luke Babbit is just a crap player. They may as well cut him right now and free up a roster spot.

 

[Kaydow]

Also, McMillan's system destroys all great shooters. It passes up the passing game. You're on your own to create your shot. You get no help. Movement is so slow that you're a rabbit playing with tortoises.

James Jones shot a career best 44% (3 Pt FG), & Rudy broke the Rookie Record for most 3s in a season in Nate's System. When Brandon was healthy, there were plenty of "good looks". He could break down a defense off the dribble, or defenses would be forced to double team him. When this happened, you saw some pretty good ball movement and lots of open shots It's hard to move the ball around on the perimeter when there are no playmakers to keep the defense honest.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I like his potential based on his college and D League stats, his summer league performance, comments made by other NBA players, and I have to admit his youtube hightlight video was pretty sweet. He's only played 137 minutes in the NBA, of which he's looked dreadful, but I don't think you can come to a conclusion on his potential based on the mostly garbage time minutes he's played so far. I think he'll be alright when he gets his feet under him.

To quote the eminent sage and philospher Raheem Morris, "Stats are for losers." I kid because I don't actually fully believe that, but without the eyeball test to go with those stats it's relevant ... my eyeballs tell me everything I need to know about Babbitt. He gets abused on defense because his feet aren't fast enough laterally and his instincts are bad at that end of the court and he's not very good on offense because (again) he's not very fast or quick or deceptive in his movements. Throw in the fact that he looks like he's either scared or overwhelmed most of the time against NBA caliber athletes and it all adds up to a fairly disappointing NBA career for a guy who has skill, but who doesn't possess enough NBA caliber traits to stick long term.

It's nice that you want to see him succeed and give him a chance, but frankly there's not enough raw material there to build an NBA player and sticking with him for four years to see what you get is going to end up a monumental waste of time because he's so easily replaced with other NBA caliber prospects via the draft, trades or the D-league.

If he was a raw seven-footer that could jump out of the gym and hoovered rebounds by the bushel full, but couldn't shoot to save his life and had terrible footwork, I'd say stick out and see what he can give you, but Babbitt is (unfortunately) mostly a finished product given his age, the way he plays and the fact that his physical deficiencies were the biggest question mark about him coming out of college.

 

[jlprk]

He gets abused on defense because his feet aren't fast enough laterally and his instincts are bad at that end of the court and he's not very good on offense because (again) he's not very fast or quick or deceptive in his movements. Throw in the fact that he looks like he's either scared or overwhelmed most of the time against NBA caliber athletes...sticking with him for four years to see what you get is going to end up a monumental waste of time because he's so easily replaced

Enough about Outlaw. The thread is about Babbitt.

 

[THE HCP]

Of course, there have also been plenty of black guys who went to major college programs that ended up being total busts in the NBA.

BNM

Really! You expect us to believe this? With this statement, you have lost all credibility with me! And for your info, I don't believe ANY of the 3 players you name make it into the Hall. Just my opinion.

 

[BBert]

Don't draft white guys from weak division colleges.

Truer words.........

Racists.

Armon and especially Babbitt just aren't that good. It's not like the future of the franchise depends on either one of them, or that the team gave up anything significant to get them.

 

[jlprk]

Enough about black guys....What about Mexicans?

 

[THE HCP]

Najera just had knee surgery.

 

[jlprk]

You probably don't know this, but when I came on board the league there was a pretty good Hispanic in the NBA, Jim Washington. People forget him because of his Anglo name.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/washiji01.html

 

[illmatic99]

lol. I was jus joking.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Really! You expect us to believe this? With this statement, you have lost all credibility with me! And for your info, I don't believe ANY of the 3 players you name make it into the Hall. Just my opinion.

TROLL!!!!

Hey "The",

Mixum hacked into your account again. He's posting under your screen name and making you look like a clueless fool.

BNM

 

[MickZagger]

The first Mexican I remember in the league was Horacio Llamas. He played his college ball at Grand Canyon and kinda looked like a young HCP

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Good grief, Luke has only been here one season and he's being dissed pretty well.

I hear he's made a lot of improvement during the off season. If that continues he may make a nice player in another couple of years.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Don't draft white guys from weak division colleges.

Hmmm..., I recall teams stocked completely with whities kicking the crap out of NBA all star teams in the not too distant past Olympics and World Championships.

 

[Ed O]

I am not encouraged by what I've see from Babbitt so far, but I'm not overly concerned, either. I'm willing to give him more time to come around.

Ed O.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I think the only way Luke survives at the NBA level is to learn slow-foot deception game like Chris Mullin.

If he can play in the seams, be a great passer and get quick with his shot he could be a good bench guy.

Right now, it looks like he is struggling to play team D and expending way too much energy.

 

[oldmangrouch]

His big selling points were supposed to be his shooting and his NBA readiness. He wound up with a team that really needed someone who could come off the bench and score - in other words, it was his best case scenario. He still cratered.

His guaranteed rookie deal means the team has to let him stick around....but there is absolutely no reason to waste PT on him.

 

[jlprk]

The first Mexican I remember in the league was Horacio Llamas. He played his college ball at Grand Canyon and kinda looked like a young HCP

The resemblance is striking, if he shaved his head, gained 80 pounds, and shrank a foot.

My guy Jim Washington actually looks like a native Indian, not like a Spanish conquistadore who ruined the gene pool.