Matthews vs. Webster

[Pinwheel1]

I give Antonio a little bit of credibility (players usually know a player when they see one) and he's pretty dubious and thinks Babbitt's at least a year away -- which I tend to agree with. Babbitt's ability to catch and shoot is not very good at all right now, he can certainly get better at it, but he's got to learn to catch, square and release almost in one motion. His shooting mechanics aren't bad, but his release is pretty slow and that isn't going to cut it at the NBA level.

Well I do agree he is a year away. But as I mentioned in the other thread, the fact that his pull up mid- range jumper is smooth, is very encouraging. He made it last night in the 4th and had one in the 1st half in game one. That is a shot that you would think would be easy for these guys, yet many struggle with it. It is a shot that makes Brandon so effective. Martel never mastered it. Allan Houston had a great one, as does Rip Hamilton. I love that shot.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Everyone on the forum who's watched summer league has more or less said that FWIW.

Well regardless if they think he is garbage (Which I think is about a year too soon to come up with that assessment) getting Wes was essential, because Babbitt like most rookies will need time to adjust. Similar to what we said about Bayless. If this was college football he would be red-shirted. But that does not mean it was a bad selection.

 

[noknobs]

Everyone on the forum who's watched summer league has more or less said that FWIW.

Channeling Allen Iverson - We talkin' bout summer league. I mean we talkin' about summer league. Not training camp, not training camp, not training camp, we talkin' bout summer league. It sounds like he's a little banged up, I think it's way too early to call him garbage. Last night I don't think anyone really looked that good (didn't watch the whole game).

And with Roy, Williams, Batum, Rudy, Bayless and Matthews, I don't think Babbitt (or Webster if he was still here) will be called upon much this year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well I do agree he is a year away. But as I mentioned in the other thread, the fact that his pull up mid- range jumper is smooth, is very encouraging. He made it last night in the 4th and had one in the 1st half in game one. That is a shot that you would think would be easy for these guys, yet many struggle with it. It is a shot that makes Brandon so effective. Martel never mastered it. Allan Houston had a great one, as does Rip Hamilton. I love that shot.

How many opportunities do you think Babbitt is going to get to play with the ball in his hands as a play-maker? At best he's going to be asked to come in for 8-10 minutes a night (at best!) to spot up on the wing and catch and shoot like all small forwards have been asked to do under Nate. If he can't do that effectively he's not going to have much of a role.

 

[andalusian]

How many opportunities do you think Babbitt is going to get to play with the ball in his hands as a play-maker? At best he's going to be asked to come in for 8-10 minutes a night (at best!) to spot up on the wing and catch and shoot like all small forwards have been asked to do under Nate. If he can't do that effectively he's not going to have much of a role.

You guys are very short-range thinking if that's what you are talking about. This kid is a long-term Travis replacement, imho - he can create a shot for himself when everything else fails. It might not happen immediately - given that he is a 20y/o rook - but this is where his bread and butter is going to come from. He might never be a world-class player - but in a limited role - as a 15-20MPG player who can create a shot when the team's first and second options are covered - he has a niche.

Doing the catch and shoot bit will of course be important as well - but if someone who is supposedly so limited and so slow can still average a double-digit in his first 3 games as an NBA player (even in summer league) while playing on a bad ankle - I think he has a chance to be an rotation player with some impact faster than you give him credit for.

 

[Pinwheel1]

How many opportunities do you think Babbitt is going to get to play with the ball in his hands as a play-maker? At best he's going to be asked to come in for 8-10 minutes a night (at best!) to spot up on the wing and catch and shoot like all small forwards have been asked to do under Nate. If he can't do that effectively he's not going to have much of a role.

True he has to hit the open outside shot. He also has to be able to take a step forward and hit a mid range shot has the defensive man goes flying by after they left him to double Brandon. And with the second unit he will need to run the floor (Which last night he showed he can while finishing strong) He needs to do it all and like you said (somewhere) he will need an adjustment period. But considering his skill set are you really concerned that he won't improve his catch and shoot skills? He is a very smooth shooter.

 

[Blaze01]

Babbit has been fine...jeez some of you overreact way too much.....

I wouldn't take Antonio's word for shit....that guy was a fucking scrub player and now he is some sort of talent scout b\c he played in the league? Give me a fucking break....

Thank goodness POR didn't jettison\write off Batum after his piss poor summer league play...b\c it obviously predicts a players NBA career right? The name Qyntel Woods comes to mind...

The ability to put the ball on the floor, pull up and hit the mid range jumper is a good skill and Babbit does that very well...His outside shot isn't falling, but he can do other things besides just stand and shoot....nice midrange game, he has had a couple of nice drives into the paint, he mixes it up for rebounds...has made some good decisions with the ball and defended well, he hasn't tried to force too many shots...If anything I think he hasn't been aggressive enough on offense...He seems to play within the offense and doesn't try to force things...which is a good quality....There have been several times where he was open on the wing and Mills (in particular) looked for a shot himself instead of dishing it off for a wide open shot from Babbit...and Babbit has also passed up some wide open shots that I think he should have taken...he is shooting close to 46% (was 50% before last night)...pretty darn good for a rookie in summer league....compare that to #7 pick, Aminu who is shooting 25%....Babbit has been a pretty efficient shooter so far, I just would like to see him take more shots...

Let's see how he performs in actual NBA games next year before we start to call him garbage, shall we? Seriously, some of you people are unbelievable....

 

[Minstrel]

I give Antonio a little bit of credibility (players usually know a player when they see one)

Some of the worst GMs in recent memory have been minted out of that belief.

 

[jlprk]

I always assume the #16 pick needs a rookie year before contributing much, especially if McMillan is the coach. Babbitt and Johnson are about the only rookies just out of college on the Summer League team. They are up against guys who have played in Europe, D-League, or the NBA itself. Almost all (if not all) have played in the Summer League before. (I didn't check the roster, so there might be, like, 1 exception who just got out of college.)

So that's why Babbitt sucks on the Summer League team. Give him a year. McMillan doesn't play rookies unless they're in the top 6 anyway.

 

[B-Roy]

So that's why Babbitt sucks on the Summer League team. Give him a year. McMillan doesn't play rookies unless they're in the top 6 anyway.

Rudy, Batum, Jarrett Jack, even Sergio.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Some of the worst GMs in recent memory have been minted out of that belief.

I said "a little bit of credibility" ...

 

[Natebishop3]

Bump!

 

[MIXUM]

well one thing is for sure....


babbitt is utter garbage

 

[Pinwheel1]

well one thing is for sure....


babbitt is utter garbage

Based on all his playing time? Not that he deserves any right now, but get back to me in a year. It is way to early to make that statement.

 

[KingSpeed]

With all the injuries, there has been plenty of playing time available to Babbitt and yet Nate has failed to play him. That must mean he's not very good. As someone said, Nate has had no problem playing rookies in the past (Batum started his rookie year).

 

[Pinwheel1]

With all the injuries, there has been plenty of playing time available to Babbitt and yet Nate has failed to play him. That must mean he's not very good. As someone said, Nate has had no problem playing rookies in the past (Batum started his rookie year).

It means he is not ready now. Does not mean he is garbage. I have no idea how he will turn out, but I do know that it is way too early to make that determination. I can see him being another Josh McRoberts in terms taking awhile to develop. And McRoberts has looked decent this year. Certainly not garbage.

 

[Tince]

I wonder what percentage of 1st round draft picks who get DNP-CD's in over 50% of games in their rookie season and have turned into solid NBA players? The number has to be really low.

 

[jlprk]

Not with certain coaches, like McMillan.

As for Batum starting, why must I waste space typing that he started only because Webster suddenly had to miss the season. Everyone knows that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I wonder what percentage of 1st round draft picks who get DNP-CD's in over 50% of games in their rookie season and have turned into solid NBA players? The number has to be really low.

The number of 1st round draft picks making it into solid NBA players has become increasingly low regardless with all the the early entries. Babbitt is an older rookie, but he still only played two years in college.

The old saying used to always be that a player became dramatically better between his rookie year and his second year. And that was when they had more experience in college. (Remember how dramatically improved Drexler was after that first year?)
I still think it is best to wait a year for Luke. He needs minutes first.

 

[MickZagger]

I wonder what percentage of 1st round draft picks who get DNP-CD's in over 50% of games in their rookie season and have turned into solid NBA players? The number has to be really low.

define "solid NBA player".

 

[MickZagger]

I haven't completely given up on Babbitt yet. I think he could have a Pete Chilcutt type career.

 

[Natebishop3]

define "solid NBA player".

Sean Marks.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

define "solid NBA player".

6+ year career with at least a 13.5 PER career average (and a peak PER of at least 15.5 PER in a season with more than 1000 minutes).

Though he played in 45 games his rookie year, Jermaine O'Neal should count; he played only 37 games his 3rd year in, the bulk of them being DNP-CD's. Portland's practice facility acted as his college.