A Closer Look at Jabari Parker

[brooks]

I've heard a lot of talk that Wiggins has more potential than Parker. I was hoping that someone could explain this to me?
Parker needs work on his defense, most 19 year old rookies do
His offensive game is ahead of Wiggins
He attacks the glass better than Wiggins
He is already 240lbs
He seems to have a better feel for the game and a higher bball IQ
I'll be happy with either of them, just wondering why it is assumed that Wiggins ceiling is so much higher because I don't see it.

90% of it, at least, is based on athleticism and "potential" due to that athleticism. They have their place in the discussion, but neither should be the main focus when judging a basketball player. A high skillset/bbiq translate 100% of the time.

 

[Triumph36]

Parker was at 25 points per 40, which is elite territory, especially for a frosh and better than Carmelo's rookie year with higher percentages. Wiggins was at 20 per 40, that is a pretty significant difference. Not that Wiggins is chopped liver, but Parker is the best scorer in the draft and absolutely could be the next great NBA scorer.

citing per/40 as if it determines the better scorer is silly.

 

[shoes22]

90% of it, at least, is based on athleticism and "potential" due to that athleticism. They have their place in the discussion, but neither should be the main focus when judging a basketball player. A high skillset/bbiq translate 100% of the time.

If you're looking at the safest bet to be a franchise player and contribute right away, Parker is your guy.
Embiid is right up there with him, but I have serious concerns about his durability. I don't want to risk picking him if he has a higher risk of injury over his career...and it is something to be a little concerned about.
Wiggins has the kind of athleticism I haven't seen in a player in decades, but he definitely has the most to work on in terms of his game.

I'm convinced all three of these guys will eventually be perennial All-Stars (if healthy), so there really isn't a "bad" choice here.

 

[Zen]

If Embiid doesn't check out, Sign me up. I want Parker (if lebron isn't playing 3 for us) We have to go for the sure thing. After hours of videos at the very least he is a multi year all star.

 

[brooks]

I know it's moot to judge a player based on one game, much less one play, but I've seen this play a few times over the past 24 hours in watching Jabari and am blown away every time I see it:

[video=youtube;O-QDBD6LKXc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-QDBD6LKXc[/video]

I cannot even begin to describe the talent level it takes to pull something like that off with such fluidity. LeBron is the only other player of that size that I've seen pull off that kind of play. Obviously he's no LeBron, but I can't get over how good of a move that is. Reads all three defenders movements, picks up the dribble and does his best D-Wade impression to get by one guy, splits the other, takes off from the off-foot, and floats it above a flying hand with a level of finesse at a tight angle typically limited to LeBron, Kyrie, and a few others. The audacity it takes to even try something like that, let alone pull it off like it was nothing, just blows me away. It's innate. And I want it on the Cavs.

 

[shoes22]

I know it's moot to judge a player based on one game, much less one play, but I've seen this play a few times over the past 24 hours in watching Jabari and am blown away every time I see it:

[video=youtube;O-QDBD6LKXc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-QDBD6LKXc[/video]

I cannot even begin to describe the talent level it takes to pull something like that off with such fluidity. LeBron is the only other player of that size that I've seen pull off that kind of play. Obviously he's no LeBron, but I can't get over how good of a move that is. Reads all three defenders movements, picks up the dribble and does his best D-Wade impression to get by one guy, splits the other, takes off from the off-foot, and floats it above a flying hand with a level of finesse at a tight angle typically limited to LeBron, Kyrie, and a few others. The audacity it takes to even try something like that, let alone pull it off like it was nothing, just blows me away. It's innate. And I want it on the Cavs.

Oh my god. That was such an intricate range of motion on that basket, and the most impressive thing is he did all that in less than a second to get by THREE defenders.
That's the kind of move that could win you a dunk contest, and it wasn't even a dunk. :chuckles:

You can see why he is primed to be an elite scorer in the NBA...I don't think anyone could possibly defend that.

 

[brooks]

I don't think anyone could possibly defend that.

Not at all. As a defender, you can't even begin prepare for that kind of trickery - the only thing you can do is sit back and be amazed at what just happened. That's the Kobe-esque type of play where you think to yourself "why are you even trying that you idiot? Oh..what th...OH SHIT! Nevermind." You shouldn't be able to sift your way through three defenders and finish in traffic with such ease. It's just unreal, and yet those kind of plays come naturally to Jabari. Once his body develops and you teach him how to utilize that body + skillset in the NBA game...

I'm at the point where I'm just pretending that our pick results in Jabari and Embiid - I want both of them so badly.

 

[mAo_mAo]

I like Parker's game better than Wiggins. He has that shake to his game i.e. understanding game speed/Utilizing bursts/changing direction/ and use of his frame. Wiggins is athletically more gifted but give me a player with just above average athleticsm but is light years ahead of basketball feel and instincts.

 

[Spencer Hawes]

I know it's moot to judge a player based on one game, much less one play, but I've seen this play a few times over the past 24 hours in watching Jabari and am blown away every time I see it:

[video=youtube;O-QDBD6LKXc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-QDBD6LKXc[/video]

I cannot even begin to describe the talent level it takes to pull something like that off with such fluidity. LeBron is the only other player of that size that I've seen pull off that kind of play. Obviously he's no LeBron, but I can't get over how good of a move that is. Reads all three defenders movements, picks up the dribble and does his best D-Wade impression to get by one guy, splits the other, takes off from the off-foot, and floats it above a flying hand with a level of finesse at a tight angle typically limited to LeBron, Kyrie, and a few others. The audacity it takes to even try something like that, let alone pull it off like it was nothing, just blows me away. It's innate. And I want it on the Cavs.

If I'm correct, that was the Euro-step and would be called a travel in the NBA. :chuckles:

 

[Spencer Hawes]

I've heard a lot of talk that Wiggins has more potential than Parker. I was hoping that someone could explain this to me?
Parker needs work on his defense, most 19 year old rookies do
His offensive game is ahead of Wiggins
He attacks the glass better than Wiggins
He is already 240lbs
He seems to have a better feel for the game and a higher bball IQ
I'll be happy with either of them, just wondering why it is assumed that Wiggins ceiling is so much higher because I don't see it.

1. Yes, most 19 year olds need to work on their defense. That's almost like saying all first round draft picks can be all-stars if they work on their game. What separates Wiggins from Parker on defense is the straight up athleticism. That cannot simply be brushed aside since most lock-down perimeter players are incredibly athletically gifted.

2. Yes, he has a well polished offensive game. His offensive ceiling is probably Carmelo Anthony in his prime. But that should not take away how Wiggins may develop into a more impactful offensive player due to his shear athleticism which would allow him to slash and take higher percentage shots. If you don't see how this is important, see Dwyane Wade in his prime. Dude is not a great jump shooter and a terrible 3 pointer shooter but his superior slashing and finishing abilities puts more pressure on the defense than someone with a more polished offensive game.

3. Maybe at the NCAA level where a more skilled offensive player is better at attacking zones but in the NBA, that's not gonna be the case. That was one of the arguments with Drummond. He put up so-so stats and some some people argued that teams zone defense and packing the paint was effective in slowing him down. Wiggins will have more room to operate in the NBA and due to his athleticism alone, I think he's gonna have an easier time slashing and finishing around the rim at he next level.

4. 240 lbs you say? You can tell from his physique he has a Melo type body. He's gonna have to trim down a little. Not saying it's a bad thing since he can through his weight around but 240 lbs Jabari Parker is not 240 lbs prime Ron Artest or Lebron James.

5. Sure he appears to have a better feel just from his offense alone but let's not label him a higher basketball IQ player just yet.

I'd be ok with Parker since I think he's easily gonna put up 25+ ppg in his prime and I told my friend that he would be the #1 pick early in the NCAA season. :chuckles: But aside from a more polished offensive game that he can add to at the next level, I don't see him doing anything better than Wiggins at the college level and I think Wiggins is just getting started.

 

[Alec]

I know it's moot to judge a player based on one game, much less one play, but I've seen this play a few times over the past 24 hours in watching Jabari and am blown away every time I see it:

Yeah, Wiggins won't ever be able to do something like that.

I really don't envy GMDG. I mean, I do. But fucking this pick up would be simply awful.

 

[Green Lantern]

Like I mentioned I watched a lot of Duke games(hoping to see then get blasted) but this kid brought it every night.

19.1 pts per game
8.7 rebs per game
1.2 assts..that needs to improve

I could change my stance but right now if I had to choose between Wiggins/Parker, I'd go with Parker.

 

[Alec]

Parker is going #1 overall. Based on Griffin's comments about his philosophy on building the team and the kid's freakish ability to score. I'm pretty confident in that prediction.

Lots of time though.

 

[marxus]

Parker is going #1 overall. Based on Griffin's comments about his philosophy on building the team and the kid's freakish ability to score. I'm pretty confident in that prediction.

Lots of time though.

Scoring 19 points on 47% shooting is far from freakish.

 

[CanadaEh]

I'm just thinking about the open looks Parker would be able to get from defenses gearing towards stopping Kyrie and Dion slashing. Or vice versa, having open looks for Kyrie or Dion on the wing. Implement the right offensive system and it would be unguarable drive and kicks all game long. You can teach defense; it's all effort, hustle and determination, but you can't teach Parker's feel for scoring the ball. I've said it since we got the #1 overall, if Embiid's back checks out 100% he should be the choice, but given it's not, I'm choosing Parker over Wiggins.