Nolan Smith?

[PapaG]

You added it after I questioned you. And yes, I saw his NCAA games and videos.

You commented on a post of mine. A post that you fucked up in the first place, by the way. Then, after I answer your question, you again fuck up your interpretation of my post. Are we now supposed to put everything we know about basketball in every post?

I also find it convenient you leave off many of the stats that favor Walker over Smith. PER is another stat where Walker's 29.58 bested Smith's 26.35.

That's fantastic value for the 21st pick. I'm beginning to like this pick even more!

Also, I didn't "leave out stats" intentionally, and this isn't about Smith being as good or better than Walker.

 

[B-Roy]

Two needs most saw we had were a backup 4 and a backup 1. We addressed one of those.

A big, of any kind, was more important than a backup 1, to me. They have guys who can fill in at 1 if there are injuries. They have almost no one who can do the same for the 4/5.

 

[PapaG]

Two needs most saw we had were a backup 4 and a backup 1. We addressed one of those.

Plus, the back-up 4 many people want measured 6'7" in shoes, doesn't play defense, played in a crap conference, and can't shoot FTs. The Blazers need more out of their back-up 4 than what Faried offers, IMO. I wouldn't have minded Faried at all, and wanted him, but the more I study Smith, the more I like him.

 

[B-Roy]

That's fantastic value for the 21st pick. I'm beginning to like this pick even more!

I know you're being sarcastic, but PER is relative, and there are a lot of high PERs in college.

Also, I didn't "leave out stats" intentionally, and this isn't about Smith being as good or better than Walker.

Then why compare the two? If you're trying to make us feel better about the pick you're doing a poor job of it.

 

[PapaG]

How about adequate? I'm not so sure about that either.

Can you ever be sure about a #21 pick being adequate? Smith's college career seems to indicate he will be adequate, but it's impossible to predict right now.

 

[PapaG]

A big, of any kind, was more important than a backup 1, to me. They have guys who can fill in at 1 if there are injuries. They have almost no one who can do the same for the 4/5.

I'm positive a veteran big is the next move for Portland. Faried isn't really a "big" anyhow, at least in terms of defending in the NBA.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Why do people have to be so goddamned negative about their favorite basketball team?

 

[PapaG]

Then why compare the two?

Because their stats are very similar. One pick is being hailed, and the other assailed

If you're trying to make us feel better about the pick you're doing a poor job of it.

Who is "us"? jwhoops did insinuate that he feels better about the pick after seeing some stats. Is he not a part of your clique?

 

[B-Roy]

Because their stats are very similar. One pick is being hailed, and the other assailed

They're not comparable, overall, but that's my take.

 

[Minstrel]

Why do people have to be so goddamned negative about their favorite basketball team?

I think some skepticism is warranted, but we shouldn't go overly negative. Any misgivings, of course, are fair to mention (and I certainly have mentioned my own misgivings about the doings last night) but ultimately even draft nights that have been panned by fanbases have occasionally turned out to have positive outcomes.

In three or four years, if these moves look as bad, or worse, Buchanan/Allen/etc can be quite legitimately flayed much as John Nash is. Until then, we should have our opinions but not take the negativity to an extreme.

 

[PapaG]

I think some skepticism is warranted, but we shouldn't go overly negative. Any misgivings, of course, are fair to mention (and I certainly have mentioned my own misgivings about the doings last night) but ultimately even draft nights that have been panned by fanbases have occasionally turned out to have positive outcomes.

In three or four years, if these moves look as bad, or worse, Buchanan/Allen/etc can be quite legitimately flayed much as John Nash is. Until then, we should have our opinions but not take the negativity to an extreme.

Is having Fuck Felton in one's signature an example of being overly negative?

 

[B-Roy]

Is having Fuck Felton in one's signature an example of being overly negative?

Yes, but he's one of my least favorite players in the NBA, and now he's on our team. Sigh...

 

[Minstrel]

Is having Fuck Felton in one's signature an example of being overly negative?

Actually, no. What I'd view as overly negative is continuous rants about the same thing (which is not aimed at anyone specific). I wasn't happy with the draft trade and first round pick and I've said so. I've also discussed it with people who questioned my attitude. That's fine and part of trying to objectively evaluate the team. IMO (and, of course, this is only IMO), it smacks of losing the plot (that following sports is supposed to be fun) to get angrier and angrier.

 

[gatorpops]

I don't think there's any debate that Nolan Smith is/was a great college player ... it's whether or not he can be a great NBA player.

Nik, can't this be said of every player in the draft. They were great somewhere or no one would take note of them.

Will any of them translate to the NBA? Will/did Oden? It's all an educated guess, seems to me.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I'm not very happy with our draft day but it happened and I'm going to try to be optimistic. I don't care if I'm setting myself up for failure.. The overt negativity at this point is pointless.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Can you ever be sure about a #21 pick being adequate? Smith's college career seems to indicate he will be adequate, but it's impossible to predict right now.

You should check out Kevin Pelton's WARP projection for Nolan Smith (over at Blazersedge.com)

 

[andalusian]

You should check out Kevin Pelton's WARP projection for Nolan Smith (over at Blazersedge.com)

To be fair, Kevin Pelton's WARP projection thought that Patty Mills would be a much better player than Eric Maynor and Wes Mathews WARP is very close to Nolan Smith's projected WARP.

So... with this said - it is a pretty clear that for late 1st and projected 2nd round picks - his projections are not as great as you would hope...

In 2009 his projection was that Nick Calathes would be the best player from the draft. He is averaging around 7 points per game in 16 minutes in the Greek league...

 

[PapaG]

You should check out Kevin Pelton's WARP projection for Nolan Smith (over at Blazersedge.com)

Why? None of it matters until Smith gets on the court. Either he can play, or he can't. Kevin Pelton's projection will have nothing to do with it.

Projecting an unknown? Now THAT is a waste of time. It's as foolish as projecting PER before a player plays even a minute in a game.