Thorpe: Lillard is third-best sophomore

[BlazerCaravan]

The finishing around the rim thing is the one area where I'm a little bit concerned. He's not "Bassy bad," but it seems like he's too enamored with the circus-shot layup than just going into a defender's chest and finishing or forcing the refs to call a foul.

It's the last bastion of Damian's ego (that sounds overblown); he wants those calls but he's not getting them. I bet it chaps his hide.

 

[Nate4Prez]

Anyone with ESPN Insider have the whole list? I'd like to know where Harrison F. Barnes is ranked.

1. Anthony Davis, Pelicans
2. Andre Drummond, Pistons
3. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
4. Jared Sullinger, Celtics
5. Terrence Jones, Rockets
6. John Henson, Bucks
7. Bradley Beal, Wizards
8. Patrick Beverley, Rockets
9. Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors
10. Miles Plumlee, Suns
11. Andrew Nicholson, Magic
12. Harrison Barnes, Warriors
Barnes is the fourth player in this class who has star potential, which he showed in the playoffs last season. And he likely would be closer to reaching that level if the Warriors hadn't added Andre Iguodala this past summer.

An elite athlete with size, great shooting skill and a post game that can be dynamite in time, Barnes is currently figuring out how to use his tools in a backup role. But it would not be a surprise to see him in the top five of this list by early spring.
13. Tony Wroten, 76ers
14. Jae Crowder, Mavericks
15. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bobcats
16. Jeremy Lamb, Thunder
17. Draymond Green, Warriors
18. Brian Roberts, Pelicans
19. Maurice Harkless, Magic
20. Thomas Robinson, Trail Blazers

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm really surprised by how much better Terrence Jones is playing this year ... too bad he's a low-rent douche-bag.

 

[PapaG]

The biggest problems right now is Dame's shooting percentage (which is abysmal) and his assist numbers are down. The fact that we're still debating Davis vs Lillard is pretty amazing considering how touted Davis was coming out of college. It will be interesting to see how they stack up in ten years.

His assists are down to 6.1 from 6.5.

More important to me is his turnovers are down from 3.0 to 2.1. Statistically, that's a much larger difference.

 

[PapaG]

I keep hearing people on the radio claim that Dame is "coasting", that he's "pacing himself", and that he's trying to "preserve himself" for later in the season by playing a less demanding brand of basketball. Anybody buying that? That basically sounds like people giving excuses for what is perceived as subpar play.

If 20ppg/4rpg/6apg/1spg/2tog is "coasting" or "subpar", then we have very different definitions of what that words means.

His shooting % are 40/38/89, compared to 43/37/84 last year.

The season is still young, and I expect him to start shooting better from 2pt.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

His assists are down to 6.1 from 6.5.

More important to me is his turnovers are down from 3.0 to 2.1. Statistically, that's a much larger difference.

Good call on the turnovers being more statistically significant (33% drop) than the assists drop (which can be chalked up to fewer minutes anyway).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If 20ppg/4rpg/6apg/1spg/2tog is "coasting" or "subpar", then we have very different definitions of what that words means.

I believe I said "perceived" as subpar--I certainly wasn't calling him that. But I've read several people in this forum commenting that they expect Lillard's level of play to rise as Matthews' "comes down to earth"; I didn't invent the criticism, just asked for people's perspective thereupon.

 

[PapaG]

I believe I said "perceived" as subpar--I certainly wasn't calling him that. But I've read several people in this forum commenting that they expect Lillard's level of play to rise as Matthews' "comes down to earth"; I didn't invent the criticism, just asked for people's perspective thereupon.

Ah, got it! Mea culpa!

 

[riverman]

The finishing around the rim thing is the one area where I'm a little bit concerned. He's not "Bassy bad," but it seems like he's too enamored with the circus-shot layup rather than just going into a defender's chest and finishing or forcing the refs to call a foul.

My pet peeve has always been bricked layups. I'm with you on this one. What I'm wondering is where the Tony Parker teardrop went that he said he worked on all summer? I'm not sure going into a defenders chest is always the best play though because of the risk to injury. Iverson was a master at that but ended his career wrapped head to toe like the Mummy. On a good note though, Wes is finishing layups and fast breaks which he struggled with last season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

What I'm wondering is where the Tony Parker teardrop went that he said he worked on all summer?

He has made one in each of his last two games. Maybe not a "teardrop" but a nice runner none-the-less.

 

[1eyejack]

He'll never be a winner unless he has a real superstar as his Batman. He's just a Robin.

No offense but that's nuts Davis is a stud! Guys going to be one of the best big men in the game for next 10 years.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

No offense but that's nuts Davis is a stud! Guys going to be one of the best big men in the game for next 10 years.

None taken, it's my wildest belief, but I really believe it! There's a decent chance I'm wrong. We shall see.

 

[illmatic99]

Drummond with 31pts, 19rebs, 6stls, 2blks in a win today vs PHL in just 33 mins. He was 7-18 from FT however, but that is one sick line from a 20 year old.

 

[Natebishop3]

Drummond with 31pts, 19rebs, 6stls, 2blks in a win today vs PHL in just 33 mins. He was 7-18 from FT however, but that is one sick line from a 20 year old.

That's like a young Dwight Howard.

18 FTA... wow.

 

[B-Roy]

The finishing around the rim thing is the one area where I'm a little bit concerned. He's not "Bassy bad," but it seems like he's too enamored with the circus-shot layup rather than just going into a defender's chest and finishing or forcing the refs to call a foul.

http://stats.nba.com/playerShotchart.html?PlayerID=203081

Shot chart shows him at 40.22% at the rim.

He was 50% last year (200/400).

A lot of weird data in his shot charts. For example, that top of the key three that was money last year? He's bricking them. His shooting was pretty even last year, but this year he seems to be shooting much better on the left side of the court. Not sure how much is significant/even out over the course of the year but still...interesting.