PDX vs DEN Game 4 SL-- 3pm PST

[Natebishop3]

Selective memory? He was hot early in summer league.

I honestly don't think Babbitt's problem on defense is lack of speed or desire. He appears to work pretty hard and moves around well, he just finds himself out of position a lot. I think that can improve (to being adequate) in time, making him worth keeping on the floor.

Selective memory?

He's 9-31 so far in summer league from beyond the arc. That's 29%.

His four games so far are:

4-9 from 3 against HOU
3-10 against Houston
0-6 against ATL
2-6 against Denver

This is summer league. He has had wide open looks and he can't knock them down. The guy is terrible. He wasn't hot "hot early", he shot a respectable percentage "early" and has quickly dropped off ever since.

 

[PapaG]

The nicest thing I'll say about Babbitt is that thankfully he's going to be wearing a suit most of the year. I know some of you people like him (or want to like him) but he's not an NBA 3 or 4 ... his game looks like it'd fit in somewhere in one of Europe's B leagues, but not the NBA -- he's too slow, not strong enough, no in-between game, tries hard but can't guard, has deep range, but is very hot and cold.

Welcome to the world of role players.

I still don't understand why Portland fans seem to think that every player needs to be exceptional in all aspects of the game. Or, at least why some players need to be all-around players.

Babbitt is already a better NBA player than the Euro dud from Boston with the non-guaranteed deal Olshey picked up yesterday along with a draft pick, and who will likely be waived before camp even begins.

 

[PapaG]

Selective memory?

He's 9-31 so far in summer league from beyond the arc. That's 29%.

His four games so far are:

4-9 from 3 against HOU
3-10 against Houston
0-6 against ATL
2-6 against Denver

This is summer league. He has had wide open looks and he can't knock them down. The guy is terrible. He wasn't hot "hot early", he shot a respectable percentage "early" and has quickly dropped off ever since.

He shot 43% in games that mattered last year.

Summer league matters for some players than the regular season, but not for others. Welcome to the S2 school of thought.

I still have to laugh about the entire "fax machine war" that you refused to budge on regarding when a player signs an offer sheet, by the way.

The Babbitt hatred is just stupid to me, frankly.

 

[Natebishop3]

He shot 43% in games that mattered last year.

Summer league matters for some players than the regular season, but not for others. Welcome to the S2 school of thought.

I still have to laugh about the entire "fax machine war" that you refused to budge on regarding when a player signs an offer sheet, by the way.

The Babbitt hatred is just stupid to me, frankly.

Yay! Papa is back and in full effect. Do you ever form an argument without throwing out something completely unrelated to try to support your claim?

The guy has one skill. I dare you to name another skill to his name. And he can't even do that one skill. Nobody ever has expected Babbitt to be anything since he was drafted (except maybe MM). I've had extremely low expectations for him since the moment he joined our franchise. He's not a "role player", he is commonly referred to in the NBA world as a "scrub" or a "bench warmer" if you will. He's a Jack Haley. He's taking up a roster spot. I'd rather have Ibekwe on our team.

 

[PapaG]

Yay! Papa is back and in full effect. Do you ever form an argument without throwing out something completely unrelated to try to support your claim?

The guy has one skill. I dare you to name another skill to his name. And he can't even do that one skill. Nobody ever has expected Babbitt to be anything since he was drafted (except maybe MM). I've had extremely low expectations for him since the moment he joined our franchise. He's not a "role player", he is commonly referred to in the NBA world as a "scrub" or a "bench warmer" if you will. He's a Jack Haley. He's taking up a roster spot. I'd rather have Ibekwe on our team.

He shot 43% from 3pt. That's pretty good for an NBA player. He's also the second-leading rebounder on the Summer League team.

What would Ibekwe bring to the team? What's his exceptional NBA skill. I understand that you don't like Babbitt; you've been shatting your thoughts about him over multiple threads for the last week, yet he's actually having a decent summer league.

13ppg/7rpg/2apg/1spg isn't that bad, IMO. At least not as bad your weeklong tantrum would indicate.

 

[PapaG]

Kenneth Faried averaged 8rpg in 26 minutes in the summer league.

Babbitt has averaged 7.3rpg in 30 minutes in the summer league.

I guess that means Babbitt rebounds at a slightly lesser rate than Faried when given minutes, since Summer League is all that matters when assessing Babbitt.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

He shot 43% from 3pt. That's pretty good for an NBA player. He's also the second-leading rebounder on the Summer League team.

What would Ibekwe bring to the team? What's his exceptional NBA skill. I understand that you don't like Babbitt; you've been shatting your thoughts about him over multiple threads for the last week, yet he's actually having a decent summer league.

13ppg/7rpg/2apg/1spg isn't that bad, IMO. At least not as bad your weeklong tantrum would indicate.

If Babbitt was an average defender he'd be a very good role player.

If Babbitt was a bad defender he'd be a good role player.

If Babbitt was a terrible defender he'd be a borderline acceptable role player.

He is in fact a horrible defender - a terrible 1-on-1 defender, a team defense's worst enemy, make him unacceptable. His stats are good, but they just don't show how bad he is. He might even be OK against mid-level teams. But I would not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES play him in a playoff game. So, why not give PT to someone else. So, they real question becomes a matter of ceiling. I and other are pessimistic that he's going to get there. Some skills are readily learned, some aren't. It is unlikely he becomes an average NBA player let alone an all-star.

 

[MickZagger]

Babbitt blows!

 

[handiman]

4-9 from 3...

He wasn't "hot early"...

What part of "hot early" don't you understand? Citing the subsequent games (the first of which was still decent) is irrelevant. 4-9 in the first game is pretty damn good in my book. Even his misses looked like great shots.

 

[PapaG]

If Babbitt was an average defender he'd be a very good role player.

If Babbitt was a bad defender he'd be a good role player.

If Babbitt was a terrible defender he'd be a borderline acceptable role player.

He is in fact a horrible defender - a terrible 1-on-1 defender, a team defense's worst enemy, make him unacceptable. His stats are good, but they just don't show how bad he is. He might even be OK against mid-level teams. But I would not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES play him in a playoff game. So, why not give PT to someone else. So, they real question becomes a matter of ceiling. I and other are pessimistic that he's going to get there. Some skills are readily learned, some aren't. It is unlikely he becomes an average NBA player let alone an all-star.

Who is expecting him to become an All-Star? Hell, there are quite a few first-round picks who are out of the league or never play in it by the end of their 4-year rookie contract, and that includes lottery picks. If Babbitt can be a 40+% 3pt shooter and rebound a little, he'll get a second contract from somebody in the league.

As a 16th pick, that's really all I'd expect out of him.

 

[RayDavies]

Babbitt blows!

This.

Babbitt does one thing very well at an NBA level- shoot. He is a acceptable rebounder so far. Babbitt's defense is literally some of the worst I have EVER seen. While I like his ability from beyond the arc, I feel he gives back every point he scores -and then some- on the defensive end.

He's fine as a 15th man playing 5mpg.

I don't think it's "hate" when you point out that a player who has proven to be far below average in his career to this point, has been.

He's also too slow to defend the 3 position, and too much of a wuss in the post to handle your typical 4.

 

[PapaG]

This.

Babbitt does one thing very well at an NBA level- shoot. He is a acceptable rebounder so far. Babbitt's defense is literally some of the worst I have EVER seen. While I like his ability from beyond the arc, I feel he gives back every point he scores -and then some- on the defensive end.

He's fine as a 15th man playing 5mpg.

I don't think it's "hate" when you point out that a player who has proven to be far below average in his career to this point, has been.

He's also too slow to defend the 3 position, and too much of a wuss in the post to handle your typical 4.

Well, in terms of Babbitt's +/- in the summer league for 4 games, you're wrong. NateBishop's temper tantrum pertains to his summer league performance, which actually was pretty good, and he helped his team win games while on the court.

 

[Natebishop3]

He shot 43% from 3pt. That's pretty good for an NBA player. He's also the second-leading rebounder on the Summer League team.

What would Ibekwe bring to the team? What's his exceptional NBA skill. I understand that you don't like Babbitt; you've been shatting your thoughts about him over multiple threads for the last week, yet he's actually having a decent summer league.

13ppg/7rpg/2apg/1spg isn't that bad, IMO. At least not as bad your weeklong tantrum would indicate.

Oh PapaG, I'm not sure why you've taken such a liking to young Luke. Maybe you shared a drink with him in your imaginary world where he went off for 50+ points the next night, or maybe he is best friends with your cousin's neighbor's dog walker, or maybe you just think he reminds you of a young PapaG... I don't know what it is, but the guy is absolutely horrid and I find it laughable that people like you think he has an "exceptional NBA skill".

Ibekwe might not have an exceptional skill, but he does a number of things decently.... and he hustles. Depending on whether Freeland is injured or not, we might need some more help in the front court.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Who is expecting him to become an All-Star? Hell, there are quite a few first-round picks who are out of the league or never play in it by the end of their 4-year rookie contract, and that includes lottery picks. If Babbitt can be a 40+% 3pt shooter and rebound a little, he'll get a second contract from somebody in the league.

As a 16th pick, that's really all I'd expect out of him.

Lesson. Learned.

Just put the word "all-star" anywhere in a post and people on this forum will ignore the entire post not to mention the entire point and respond to the the word. (Barton)

Obama is a lying SOB and F--- Romney too. What's this political crap doing in the middle of my post? It doesn't matter, you're about to forget it and respond with "What the hell do you mean 'all-star'"

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I still don't understand why Portland fans seem to think that every player needs to be exceptional in all aspects of the game.

I'm quite positive that literally no one thinks this.

 

[MickZagger]

I'm quite positive that literally no one thinks this.

I know really.

This fanbase falls in love with every scrub on the roster down to the last man. Craig Smith, Juwan Howard, Patty Mills.... and many others could do no wrong in many Blazer fans eyes and they were certified scrubs.