2018 NBA Draft - June 21

[ajz20]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=470&v=7JQdFlcy9vo

His defense is meh, but offensively he looks like a beast.

As for Porter, he isn't really comparable to Giannis imo. He isn't going to score and attack like Giannis.

A ton of potential. Very good year to have a top 4 pick. Let’s pray we actually do and not 5to 9 range. Drop off after top 5 is clear as of today. Bamba is 5th best player but still could be a future all star center. After him you are looking at good starters but not players you build your team around like the top 4 or5.

 

[Nathan S]

Another huge game for Doncic...18 points on 6/8 shooting, 6 boards, 5 assists, +27 in 21 minutes of action.

Anyone know if there's a betting market for ACB/Euroleague MVP? Doncic has to be near the top. That'd be something to win league MVP as a teenager.

 

[Adam]

Ayton has a real change of pace and he seems like a smooth athlete. Reminds me of David Robinson in that way. I think his offense is almost entirely face up jumpers and offensive Rebounds but his touch is good

 

[EdMonix11]

I don't think he's stiff, I think he's just maturing athletically. It's pretty tough to be that big already at 16 / 17 / 18 years old.

Porter has really started to catch up with his body though and he was noticeably smoother as an athlete the last 12 months.

I think Porter will exit college with a lot of the knocks Durant had (sketchy handle, seems too laid back, will go through stretches where he drifts a little and doesn't demand the ball) but he has the unteachable trio of length, athleticism and shooting stroke.

Barnes doesn't seem like an apt comparison to me because he never reached his potential as a shooter. I think Porter will be far more refined, with more size and an attainable ceiling. If Barnes were a better shooter, he'd have an easier time creating. Teams will have to respect Porter's jumpshot far more, which should he mask some of his deficiencies at creating off the dribble.

I watched both the Nike Hoops Summit and the Sierra Canyon game from start to finish and just saw a guy who has a slow first step and couldn't shake high school kids. I just expected a lot more from a guy people are comparing to two transcendent players....

I just felt like I saw a guy who was elite because he has been bigger, stronger and faster than everyone else his entire life and could just blow past guys. I didn't get a sense that he had any feel for the game. I didn't see a plan B for when he couldn't blow past his defender-- it was contested runner after contested runner around the paint and a lot of fadeaways from distance.

He's a good shooter, he can jump out of the gym and he's really long. Obviously he has a unique skill set and I'm not saying he's bad.... just not sure he's the top player in the draft at the moment. I think he's a guy whose skill set will lead him to disappearing for long stretches of a basketball game.

I think Porter will be a good #2 but not the franchise-altering player people are saying he is.

 

[Photon]

Another huge game for Doncic...18 points on 6/8 shooting, 6 boards, 5 assists, +27 in 21 minutes of action.

Anyone know if there's a betting market for ACB/Euroleague MVP? Doncic has to be near the top. That'd be something to win league MVP as a teenager.

Any time he starts to make plays and starts to fly around the court, his team just explodes. He has a huge impact on players around him.

 

[Nathan S]

Any time he starts to make plays and starts to fly around the court, his team just explodes. He has a huge impact on players around him.

Through 7 games, Real Madrid has a 133 offensive rating with him on the court...that's just jaw dropping. Twice tried (once succeeded ) to dribble between the legs of a defender yesterday. Playing with a Ginobili-esque kind of confidence that wreaks havoc on the defense.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Ayton has a real change of pace and he seems like a smooth athlete. Reminds me of David Robinson in that way. I think his offense is almost entirely face up jumpers and offensive Rebounds but his touch is good

Yep. Early returns on Ayton seem to be setting himself up to go #1 overall. He has looked great early on at AZ. It's amazing, given the talent they have this year, that he still just jumps off the screen.

He's really filling out, frame wise and his athleticism has smoothed out significantly since he was a soph / junior in HS (where he looked a little awkward at times).

Ayton looks like he's going to be about as NBA ready as a modern NBA Center comes now a days. If he's healthy and productive, he's the hands down selection for me.

I love Doncic.....there's less risk involved there but Ayton's ceiling is pretty limitless.

 

[Just Checkin]

It's gonna be fun watching NCAAB and actually imagining them on the Cavs rather than how they'd fit the NBA in general.

 

[czvo]

Yep. Early returns on Ayton seem to be setting himself up to go #1 overall. He has looked great early on at AZ. It's amazing, given the talent they have this year, that he still just jumps off the screen.

He's really filling out, frame wise and his athleticism has smoothed out significantly since he was a soph / junior in HS (where he looked a little awkward at times).

Ayton looks like he's going to be about as NBA ready as a modern NBA Center comes now a days. If he's healthy and productive, he's the hands down selection for me.

I love Doncic.....there's less risk involved there but Ayton's ceiling is pretty limitless.

So basically it's looking more and more like there are going to be four really damn good players in this draft (Porter, Bagley, Doncic, Ayton), and we haven't even gotten to Bamba, Jackson, Carter, Williams, Knox and Sexton.

Provided the Nets don't shock the world and make the playoffs (or come close), the Cavs will should have a very deep group to choose from. And to make things even better, they're going to bring whatever rookie they draft into a situation where they aren't forced to play big minutes right away. They can allow the kid to get his feet wet.

 

[Photon]

Doncic 6 points in one possession and with behind the back pass to start the next fast break...

 

[Nathan S]

Starting to sound like a broken record here, but this is another incredible game by Doncic...

EDIT: He finishes with 27 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 turnover in 28 minutes.

For context, high-scoring games are quite rare in Euroleague due to the shorter game, and the typically egalitarian playing style of most teams. In the last ten seasons, only two players have averaged over 20 points per game. After averaging a modest 8 points per game last year, Doncic is averaging 23 points per game so far this year...

 

[BimboColesHair]

So basically it's looking more and more like there are going to be four really damn good players in this draft (Porter, Bagley, Doncic, Ayton), and we haven't even gotten to Bamba, Jackson, Carter, Williams, Knox and Sexton.

Provided the Nets don't shock the world and make the playoffs (or come close), the Cavs will should have a very deep group to choose from. And to make things even better, they're going to bring whatever rookie they draft into a situation where they aren't forced to play big minutes right away. They can allow the kid to get his feet wet.

Or returning guys like Miles Bridges, Mikal Bridges, Bruce Brown, etc. who can take the next step in their game.

Love Miles Bridges...wouldn't be surprised to see him play himself into the top 5 conversation.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Oh shit. He has become more explosive off the dribble it looks like.. I have no doubt he is going to look faster in the NBA under a good workout regimen. He barely has any muscle on him.

He is like the Messi of Basketball.. that's his best comparison.

He is incredible.. Let the Nets lose and lose some players.

https://youtu.be/bDqfHV8WZ3w

 

[MarkyCavs88]

View: https://twitter.com/mike_schmitz/status/922942109207863297

 

[Nathan S]

Crazy to think he's the age of a typical NCAA freshman. Only Durant and AD won the Wooden Award as freshmen...the way Doncic's playing, he would win it easily.