For you MKG doubters...watch this

[jholland321]

http://ukbasketballnews.com/archives/1991

Absolute STUD.

[ziggy]

"I want to be the best that ever played this game" - MKG

[Black]

Love him already.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I just wish he was doing all those reps with better shooting form.....

[ALong13]

I just wish he was doing all those reps with better shooting form.....

Agreed. I've never questioned his work ethic, no one can deny that man doesn't work hard, but he's got to change that shot if he wants to be a good player in the NBA. People work hard all the time, doesn't always make them great at what they do. He needs to keep the work ethic up, but more importantly he's got to be able to play ball, and on this team scoring is what we need the most, that's his weakest skill. I want him to succeed, I want him to be the greatest player to ever play when it is all said and done, and if that happens I hope his whole career is in Charlotte, but he'll have to prove me wrong (and I pray he does) to do any of that.

[jholland321]

Well shooting may be his weakest skill but he will not have a problem putting up atleast 12-16 ppg IMO. Transition wise the kid is a beast and can absolutely finish at.the rim and take contact because he is so strong. Also he is a good ft throw shooting despite his form. And its not like the kid can't shoot whatsoever, I understand that with his form it will be difficult to create his own shot over people, BUT in he catches it with enough space and.time to square up the kid WILL knock down shots, believe me. I'm a UK fan and whenever he pulled up for an open 3 I was excited, not yelling at the TV. He also can finish in the paint and this will be more difficult in the NBA but I don't doubt that as he gets stronger and smarter he'll be able to do this as well. In three years he'll only be 21 and still developing he CAN became great I just hate that a lot of people aren't giving him a chance.

[SJackson1]

his defensive game is awsome and he can guard many positions and pits alot of pressure and presence on the guys he's guarding. He will score 8 points a game just by running the floor

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Well shooting may be his weakest skill but he will not have a problem putting up atleast 12-16 ppg IMO. Transition wise the kid is a beast and can absolutely finish at.the rim and take contact because he is so strong. Also he is a good ft throw shooting despite his form. And its not like the kid can't shoot whatsoever, I understand that with his form it will be difficult to create his own shot over people, BUT in he catches it with enough space and.time to square up the kid WILL knock down shots, believe me. I'm a UK fan and whenever he pulled up for an open 3 I was excited, not yelling at the TV. He also can finish in the paint and this will be more difficult in the NBA but I don't doubt that as he gets stronger and smarter he'll be able to do this as well. In three years he'll only be 21 and still developing he CAN became great I just hate that a lot of people aren't giving him a chance.

I think a lot of people get nervous with a defensive specialist at pick 2. Jeff Van Gundy himself said he didn't see MKG becoming a star(but otherwise he was positive about him). Plus, the Bobcats have drafted "winners"/"champions" in their past, and it has been disastrous(May) to merely disappointing(Okafor, Felton). MKG could be different from those guys, but I think sometimes it's hard to tell the NBA talent of each of the top 4-5 guys on a loaded NCAA championship team since they can take the pressure off of each other. Corey Brewer looked like a stud defensive "winner" coming out of Florida, but hasn't worked out so well. Turns out Noah and Horford were the true NBA forces there. No doubt A.Davis is a true NBA force. The nightmare scenario for MKG is that he turns out to be a mix of C.Brewer and Julian Wright(currently in d-league). I guess the best case scenario is what?? Igoudala?? a better Gerald Wallace?? Ron Artest, maybe?? Pippen if his jumpshot improves?? If somebody can come up with a better comparison, I'm all ears.

Also, a lot of people here were on the T-Rob bandwagon. He offered a better balance of motor/rebounding AND some offensive skill, but of course he's 2 years older than MKG.

[jholland321]

I think a lot of people get nervous with a defensive specialist at pick 2. Jeff Van Gundy himself said he didn't see MKG becoming a star(but otherwise he was positive about him). Plus, the Bobcats have drafted "winners"/"champions" in their past, and it has been disastrous(May) to mildly disappointing(Okafor, Felton). MKG could be different from those guys, but I think sometimes we get too caught up in who won the NCAA playing on some loaded team. Corey Brewer looked like a stud defensive "winner" coming out of Florida, but hasn't worked out so well. The nightmare scenario for MKG is that he turns out to be a mix of C.Brewer and Julian Wright(currently in d-league). I guess the best case scenario is what?? Igoudala?? a better Gerald Wallace?? Ron Artest, maybe?? Pippen if his jumpshot improves?? If somebody can come up with a better comparison, I'm all ears.

I suppose I am biased being a fan of UK but of all those players you just listed that were winners in college, I never thought any of them coming out had "it", do you? Looking at their mentality like May or Brewer they didn't have this mentality that they want it so bad, that killer instinct that basketball means EVERYTHING to them and they leave it all out on the court, MKG does. I guess that could be homer-ish but I honestly think he is different and as far as comparisons go it's tough especially because he hasn't played a single game. I think it will help him tremendously if the Bobcats can get an elite 1 or 2 so he can play off the ball make cuts to the basket, and get fed by them, more drive and kicks for open looks etc. MKG when asked which player he thinks he resembles said he wants to be his own player but if he had to choose he said Pippen. I think everyone would be ecstatic with that type of player, however I think, like Pippen, he needs someone to play off of because it is difficult for him to create entirely on his own. I think he's going to be special and you have to remember he's not "supposed" to even peak till around 25-26...thats 7-8 years from now and you can believe it that he's going to be working every day to get it done, I love the kid and hope he succeeds.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I suppose I am biased being a fan of UK but of all those players you just listed that were winners in college, I never thought any of them coming out had "it", do you? Looking at their mentality like May or Brewer they didn't have this mentality that they want it so bad, that killer instinct that basketball means EVERYTHING to them and they leave it all out on the court, MKG does. I guess that could be homer-ish but I honestly think he is different and as far as comparisons go it's tough especially because he hasn't played a single game. I think it will help him tremendously if the Bobcats can get an elite 1 or 2 so he can play off the ball make cuts to the basket, and get fed by them, more drive and kicks for open looks etc. MKG when asked which player he thinks he resembles said he wants to be his own player but if he had to choose he said Pippen. I think everyone would be ecstatic with that type of player, however I think, like Pippen, he needs someone to play off of because it is difficult for him to create entirely on his own. I think he's going to be special and you have to remember he's not "supposed" to even peak till around 25-26...thats 7-8 years from now and you can believe it that he's going to be working every day to get it done, I love the kid and hope he succeeds.

Don't know if you watched May his senior year, but he looked like one of the best college players of all time during his tournament run.

The problem with the Bobcats is that we continually draft players who need someone better to play off of. Okafor needed a great point guard to get him involved. Felton needed a better arsenal to pass to. Morrison needed an entire offense designed to get him open and a precise PG to deliver perfect passes to him coming off the screen.

Partly it's been bad luck, but we've also made poor choices.

One of these days, the Bobcats will draft a guy who can be "The Man". I know I'll see it. In fairness to MKG, every prospect this year below Davis had question marks. T-Rob seemed like the most NBA-ready guy to contribute on both ends of the court, but we drafted youthful stud potential. MJ IS a gambler.

[mrtarheel]

Good find, I think his work ethic alone will make him a good NBA player but his mindset is going to take him over the top. This pick is growing on me more and more

[jholland321]

Every great team is a team that plays off of each other, there's no 1 guy and MKG definitely won't be the 1 guy that turns everything around. That's why Wizards drafted Beal to go alongside Wall. I personally think MKG will be able to score around 12-16 ppg, the NBA game is longer, and faster which bodes well for MKG. Anything above those expectations is unfair to him, especially because he is a defensive minded player. My point is that every great team plays to everyone's strengths, the Bobcats started to put that together with MKG. And what qualifies as "The Man"? KD, Lebron, Dwade, Kobe, Rose, Chris Paul? If that is the type of caliber player you're talking about than you should probably lower your expectations or else you're going to be waiting a long time. I think MKG is a great addition to building this team and while he may not be the go to guy or "the man" he is the type of player you want on your team, especially with the players available, IMO.

[BrotherDave]

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!

:facepalm:

[dnbman]

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!

:facepalm:

Come on, seriously? MKG is a superior athlete with superior skills, save a not so hot jump shot. The comparison is laughable.

Although, that did remind me of this song, so I guess your post was o.k. in an unintentional sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIoHSu5v1Mo

[Ghost Kat]

I am no longer a hater.....I now want him to be Crash 2.0

[Black]

I am no longer a hater.....I now want him to be Crash 2.0

Crash 2.0 with an opportunity for much faster development. Wallace hardly saw the court before he got to Charlotte in his fourth season. I expect MKG to be well ahead of the curve.

[SJackson1]

i expect MKG to get alot of minutes next season, he has the best motor of any draft player this year and he plays hard every game !

[Whiz Kid]

I'm not a MKG hater. I'm thrilled he's on our squad. But if a "motor" and "work ethic" is what gets you in the NBA, then sign me up because that's what everybody seems to be going by. Nobody is looking at his current skills, which are all decent besides his shot, just his "motor" and "work ethic"...

[CatNation1]

I'm not a MKG hater. I'm thrilled he's on our squad. But if a "motor" and "work ethic" is what gets you in the NBA, then sign me up because that's what everybody seems to be going by. Nobody is looking at his current skills, which are all decent besides his shot, just his "motor" and "work ethic"...

elite man and help defense, elite rebounding, elite in transition, elite slasher. and when I say elite I don't mean "good, above average." I mean ELITE, like ready to contribute to those areas at a high NBA level RIGHT NOW as an 18 year old.

people apparently seem to think hes some 2nd round talent that just says "I hate losing" a lot. theres so much more to his game than that.

[spectre]

Did people get spoiled watching Crash work his ass off refusing to lose the game? That is NOT common and the loss was a big part of why we sucked ass last season. We just got it again in an 18 year old.

[Whiz Kid]

elite man and help defense, elite rebounding, elite in transition, elite slasher. and when I say elite I don't mean "good, above average." I mean ELITE, like ready to contribute to those areas at a high NBA level RIGHT NOW as an 18 year old.

people apparently seem to think hes some 2nd round talent that just says "I hate losing" a lot. theres so much more to his game than that.

You missed the point in what I was saying. I was defending him. I was saying that there is much more to his game than just his motor and work ethic...

[DashGlobal]

MKG is not an ELITE slasher.

He needs to improve his handle to to consistently beat his man off the bounce and get to the rim.

[Hormel]

man he's skinny

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Every great team is a team that plays off of each other, there's no 1 guy and MKG definitely won't be the 1 guy that turns everything around. That's why Wizards drafted Beal to go alongside Wall. I personally think MKG will be able to score around 12-16 ppg, the NBA game is longer, and faster which bodes well for MKG. Anything above those expectations is unfair to him, especially because he is a defensive minded player. My point is that every great team plays to everyone's strengths, the Bobcats started to put that together with MKG. And what qualifies as "The Man"? KD, Lebron, Dwade, Kobe, Rose, Chris Paul? If that is the type of caliber player you're talking about than you should probably lower your expectations or else you're going to be waiting a long time. I think MKG is a great addition to building this team and while he may not be the go to guy or "the man" he is the type of player you want on your team, especially with the players available, IMO.

I appreciate the debate.

I think Beal and T-Rob have better nba potential. It's quite conceivable for Beal to become a mix of Ray Allen and Eric Gordon. It's conceivable for T-Rob to become a poor man's Blake Griffin or Karl Malone.

In my humble opinion, MKG has more holes in his skill set than those guys. His upper body is painfully skinny, which could negate his primary(lone?) offensive skill (finishing) in the pros. He might have been a good pick around number 5 or so. I just don't think you take a "glue guy" like him at 2, not when you are the worst team in history, partially because you have a track record of drafting limited college all stars over and over.......

[Veteran_Picksetter]

man he's skinny

Yeah, I assume most of his 233 lbs. are in his legs. He could finish strong on the collegiate level, but he's gonna have to bulk up big time to do it in the pros.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

elite man and help defense, elite rebounding, elite in transition, elite slasher. and when I say elite I don't mean "good, above average." I mean ELITE, like ready to contribute to those areas at a high NBA level RIGHT NOW as an 18 year old.

people apparently seem to think hes some 2nd round talent that just says "I hate losing" a lot. theres so much more to his game than that.

I guess I appreciate the optimism, but......

You and I could be elite defenders in college with Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis behind us. They combined for like 6.5 blocks a game. We could be all up in our opponents' grills! Truth is, we don't know how much of that skill will carry over to the pros when he is surrounded by one of the worst rosters the nba has seen in a while.

Also, dude better bulk up seriously in the upper body if he wants to finish/rebound as well in the league....

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Crash 2.0 with an opportunity for much faster development. Wallace hardly saw the court before he got to Charlotte in his fourth season. I expect MKG to be well ahead of the curve.

It would be nice if he even remotely had the athleticism and strength of Crash. Maybe someday he'll be as muscular in the upper body. But I haven't seen a jaw-dropping dunk by MKG the way we we've seen from Crash. MKG can sneak a dunk in on ya real quick, but if anybody has a 12-feet in the air Crash-like dunk by MKG on video, I'd love to see it.

We had Crash. We let him go to start over because he wasn't getting us far. And then we use the number 2 pick in the entire draft to get a guy we HOPE could be Crash 3 years from now. It's kind of depressing.

[SWedd523]

It would be nice if he even remotely had the athleticism and strength of Crash. Maybe someday he'll be as muscular in the upper body. But I haven't seen a jaw-dropping dunk by MKG the way we we've seen from Crash. MKG can sneak a dunk in on ya real quick, but if anybody has a 12-feet in the air Crash-like dunk by MKG on video, I'd love to see it.

We had Crash. We let him go to start over because he wasn't getting us far. And then we use the number 2 pick in the entire draft to get a guy we HOPE could be Crash 3 years from now. It's kind of depressing.


He's 18 years old.

He is almost assuredly going to bulk up. Guys that young typically don't have muscle mass and don't start adding it on until they're done growing.

Here's MJ around the same age

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG-9qL1SYpE/T9EO_Kd58mI/AAAAAAAAHVw/vTUgSkUaFR0/s1600/MICHAEL+JORDAN+-+UNC+-+DEFENSE.jpg


And I don't know about you, but if MKG is an All-Star and First Team All-Defense in three years.................... then I'm gonna say we made a good pick.

[Whiz Kid]

I'm still looking for us to regain a face. Crash was our face. You look at the Bobcats when we made the playoffs and you could say "He's why they're there." Of course there were other assets on the team but u catch my drift. Honestly, I don't see MKG as that guy, not really even long term. He can be a big part, But I don't really see him as a face. I'm waiting on a guy who can instantly be "the guy." Like I said, MKG can be a big part of a good team, but I don't see him being the ultimate factor. When we get that guy? Sadly, I fear it's no time soon.

[QC Thundercats]

Dang VP, kind of hard on the kid, huh? I admit I had similar reservations before the draft, but after doing my due diligence on him, I'm convinced MKG is going to be an awesome player for us.

I think its hard to overlook his shortcomings based on expectations. At a #2 pick, we almost expect a savior/superman type of player to save the franchise. But those kind of instant expectations shouldn't be quite as strong, as younger and younger players are drafted at these top slots, and will need more time to develop. And now with enough young guys coming out, we almost expect these freshman draftees to come in and set the world on fire or else we call them a waste of a pick

John Wall, Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, and Demarcus Cousins were all top 5 picks and didn't have an impact right away and didn't turn their teams around. Harden, Westbrook, and Love took 2-3 years before they gained enough experience and skill to become budding stars. Did anybody really see all star caliber out of those 3 during their draft?

Also, Rich Cho is not the type to just throw away a draft pick. He's not spinning a wheel and throwing a dart to figure out who to get. Look at his history, he's overanalytical to a fault, and his formula is proven to work. Why would we not trust it now?


It would be nice if he even remotely had the athleticism and strength of Crash. Maybe someday he'll be as muscular in the upper body. But I haven't seen a jaw-dropping dunk by MKG the way we we've seen from Crash. MKG can sneak a dunk in on ya real quick, but if anybody has a 12-feet in the air Crash-like dunk by MKG on video, I'd love to see it.

We had Crash. We let him go to start over because he wasn't getting us far. And then we use the number 2 pick in the entire draft to get a guy we HOPE could be Crash 3 years from now. It's kind of depressing.

As for your physicality questions regarding MKG, its honestly nothing to worry about, especially if you're using Crash as a comparison:

Pre draft:
Crash - 6'7, 215 pounds
MKG - 6'7 233 pounds

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm90/jcnewt01/Basketball%20Rookie%20Autographs/XpectationsWallaceAuto.jpg

http://ksr.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mkg-dunk-portland.jpg

Pretty similar physique at the same age. Oh, and if you're questioning his athleticism, that dunk seems pretty doggone high to me. Maybe you have higher expectations than me, but I'll take a two-handed-manhood stealing-staring-down-through-the-rim-while-you-contemplate-another-career powerdunk any day of the week.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOYRTk7G4ZI

But to be 233 pounds and look like him means that he is basically pure muscle, and at that weight for a wing player, he won't be that easy to push around. Looks can be deceiving. Plus he could easily gain 10-15 pounds of muscle if needed over the years.

Also, a couple familiar sounding blurbs on Wallace before the draft:


He is dedicated to his game and has a bit of a gym rat streak in him. Wallace has special athletic gifts reserved for only a few and he was smart enough to hedge his bets in the draft by not hiring an agent.

Wallace is plagued by a problem not uncommon to young talented athletes: his game is much flash and little substance. Shot poorly -- just 17% from three-ball. Despite his athleticism, he has very little shooting range and his ballhandling skills still leave something to be desired. He could really use another year in college.
Right now, Wallace is all upside — a terrific athlete who needs work on every facet of his game ... An explosive player who can leap ... Suffered through horrendous shooting season and needs to get consistent from the outside to make an impact in the NBA
FGM-A: 126-288
FG%: .438
3FGM-A: 11-63
3FG%: .175
FTM-A: 88-155
FT%: .568
RPG: 6.0
APG: 1.5
PPG: 9.8
With those numbers, Wallace might've fallen outside of the first round of this draft. All the critiques are the same with MKG, except he's shown better touch as seen with his higher shooting all around, especially free throws.


I appreciate the debate.

I think Beal and T-Rob have better nba potential. It's quite conceivable for Beal to become a mix of Ray Allen and Eric Gordon. It's conceivable for T-Rob to become a poor man's Blake Griffin or Karl Malone.

In my humble opinion, MKG has more holes in his skill set than those guys. His upper body is painfully skinny, which could negate his primary(lone?) offensive skill (finishing) in the pros. He might have been a good pick around number 5 or so. I just don't think you take a "glue guy" like him at 2, not when you are the worst team in history, partially because you have a track record of drafting limited college all stars over and over.......

Here's a good clip of MKG against Carolina, so he's basically playing against 5 pros (I'm including Mcadoo since he'll be a top 3 pick next year). Going head to head with a guy considered to have more skill, he basically does what he wants against Barnes and Co.:

MKG - 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6-10 shooting
Barnes - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5-12 shooting

The video for that game shows that he's not a one trick pony, but has other skills and abilities too:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9mefHjfo30&feature=related

So I think our over analyization of prospects around the draft made it seem like he was a poor player and just an athlete, when in actuality he showcased a variety of skills to the extent that several teams had him as the second best prospect in the draft.

[Bleeding blue in 62]

Thanks for putting the youtube video up. He chewed up those Tarhill pros. When people were talking that Barnes might go to Charlotte, I was saying "no wonder they have the worse record in the nba". There is no comparison between Barnes & Gilly. The dude is more than worthy of a 2nd pick. I love Anthony Davis but I really think Gilly will end up the better player. I would love have him back in Kentucky 1 more year.

[spectre]

Thanks for putting the youtube video up. He chewed up those Tarhill pros. When people were talking that Barnes might go to Charlotte, I was saying "no wonder they have the worse record in the nba". There is no comparison between Barnes & Gilly. The dude is more than worthy of a 2nd pick. I love Anthony Davis but I really think Gilly will end up the better player. I would love have him back in Kentucky 1 more year.

^ That's the kind of things those Kentucky fans I work with were saying.

I'm excited!

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Dang VP, kind of hard on the kid, huh? I admit I had similar reservations before the draft, but after doing my due diligence on him, I'm convinced MKG is going to be an awesome player for us.

I think its hard to overlook his shortcomings based on expectations. At a #2 pick, we almost expect a savior/superman type of player to save the franchise. But those kind of instant expectations shouldn't be quite as strong, as younger and younger players are drafted at these top slots, and will need more time to develop. And now with enough young guys coming out, we almost expect these freshman draftees to come in and set the world on fire or else we call them a waste of a pick

John Wall, Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, and Demarcus Cousins were all top 5 picks and didn't have an impact right away and didn't turn their teams around. Harden, Westbrook, and Love took 2-3 years before they gained enough experience and skill to become budding stars. Did anybody really see all star caliber out of those 3 during their draft?

Also, Rich Cho is not the type to just throw away a draft pick. He's not spinning a wheel and throwing a dart to figure out who to get. Look at his history, he's overanalytical to a fault, and his formula is proven to work. Why would we not trust it now?



As for your physicality questions regarding MKG, its honestly nothing to worry about, especially if you're using Crash as a comparison:

Pre draft:
Crash - 6'7, 215 pounds
MKG - 6'7 233 pounds

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm90/jcnewt01/Basketball%20Rookie%20Autographs/XpectationsWallaceAuto.jpg

http://ksr.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mkg-dunk-portland.jpg

Pretty similar physique at the same age. Oh, and if you're questioning his athleticism, that dunk seems pretty doggone high to me. Maybe you have higher expectations than me, but I'll take a two-handed-manhood stealing-staring-down-through-the-rim-while-you-contemplate-another-career powerdunk any day of the week.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOYRTk7G4ZI

But to be 233 pounds and look like him means that he is basically pure muscle, and at that weight for a wing player, he won't be that easy to push around. Looks can be deceiving. Plus he could easily gain 10-15 pounds of muscle if needed over the years.

Also, a couple familiar sounding blurbs on Wallace before the draft:

With those numbers, Wallace might've fallen outside of the first round of this draft. All the critiques are the same with MKG, except he's shown better touch as seen with his higher shooting all around, especially free throws.



Here's a good clip of MKG against Carolina, so he's basically playing against 5 pros (I'm including Mcadoo since he'll be a top 3 pick next year). Going head to head with a guy considered to have more skill, he basically does what he wants against Barnes and Co.:

MKG - 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6-10 shooting
Barnes - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5-12 shooting

The video for that game shows that he's not a one trick pony, but has other skills and abilities too:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9mefHjfo30&feature=related

So I think our over analyization of prospects around the draft made it seem like he was a poor player and just an athlete, when in actuality he showcased a variety of skills to the extent that several teams had him as the second best prospect in the draft.

Thank you for the extensive post!

I found that Portland dunk today myself, and I must say it was impressive. That's the one dunk I've seen by MKG that comes close to being Gerald Wallace-esque. The others I've seen are nice, but not NBA spectacular.

One thing to note: Barnes was in foul trouble during that UNC-Kentucky game. I remember he had to lay off defensively when MKG did that spin move at 1:15 in the clip above, due to having 3 fouls early in the second half.

Obviously MKG wasn't my choice but I appreciate eveyone's input here.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

He's 18 years old.

He is almost assuredly going to bulk up. Guys that young typically don't have muscle mass and don't start adding it on until they're done growing.

Here's MJ around the same age

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG-9qL1SYpE/T9EO_Kd58mI/AAAAAAAAHVw/vTUgSkUaFR0/s1600/MICHAEL+JORDAN+-+UNC+-+DEFENSE.jpg


And I don't know about you, but if MKG is an All-Star and First Team All-Defense in three years.................... then I'm gonna say we made a good pick.


Heck yeah, if he is an All-Star OR First Team All-Defense I'd be pretty happy about the pick. Especially the All-Star part.

You gotta admit that players were generally skinnier back in Jordan's time.

I know guys mature/grow at different rates, but Beal is only 3 months older than MKG, and he seems so much more physically developed, in the upper body at least. I assume T-Rob has been a physical beast since he was 18. To me, those 2 guys just had a few less question marks than MKG once they measured out with acceptable length numbers.

It's great that MKG hustles and all of that. But it's also nice to have guys who don't have to destroy their bodies in order to excel. Hopefully he will improve that jump shot/handle so he won't have to be a complete warrior risking injuries 82 nights just to be effective at all.

[captaincrunk]

I guess I appreciate the optimism, but......

You and I could be elite defenders in college with Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis behind us. They combined for like 6.5 blocks a game. We could be all up in our opponents' grills! Truth is, we don't know how much of that skill will carry over to the pros when he is surrounded by one of the worst rosters the nba has seen in a while.

Also, dude better bulk up seriously in the upper body if he wants to finish/rebound as well in the league....

Bismack Biyombo and Tyrus Thomas could probably combine for 5 blocks per game at 36 minutes a piece. Well, more than 4 anyway.

[BrotherDave]

Y'all are really overrating this kid right now, emphasis on the word kid. He is just as big of a project as Drummond is, at a position that will see much more talent to play against. He's not elite at anything yet, he hasn't played a single game in the NBA. He's gonna hit the rookie wall just as hard as Kemba and Biz did this year unless he works on his handle and shot enough to threaten on offense, otherwise teams will just sag off and pack the lane.

And please, stop using words like "motor" and "work ethic." Enough already, we get it. He hustles and won a lot in college, so did Felton and a million other mediocre NBA players. Let's focus on basketball skills.

[captaincrunk]

Y'all are really overrating this kid right now, emphasis on the word kid. He is just as big of a project as Drummond is, at a position that will see much more talent to play against. He's not elite at anything yet, he hasn't played a single game in the NBA. He's gonna hit the rookie wall just as hard as Kemba and Biz did this year unless he works on his handle and shot enough to threaten on offense, otherwise teams will just sag off and pack the lane.

And please, stop using words like "motor" and "work ethic." Enough already, we get it. He hustles and won a lot in college, so did Felton and a million other mediocre NBA players. Let's focus on basketball skills.

What about elite defense?

[spectre]

What about elite defense?

and that he was the leader of a team who won the 'ship at 18?

He is nothing near the project Drummond is.

[DashGlobal]

What did MKG do against Jenkins of Vandy in their two meetings?

Or any other very good scorers this year? Anyone got any games & players of where he shut down great players?

[Bleeding blue in 62]

Well on 3-4-12 Beal scored 5 pts on his own floor against Gilly & UK. Most of the game, he was checked by Gilly. I don't know what else you dudes want from from a #2 pick. There were several great players that the Bobcats management could have taken. My opinion, they got it right. I honestly can't answer what he did against Jenkins. I can't remember who he checked between Jenkins or Taylor. Both players are bigtime offensive players. The bobcats got a good scorer in Taylor.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Bismack Biyombo and Tyrus Thomas could probably combine for 5 blocks per game at 36 minutes a piece. Well, more than 4 anyway.

There's SOME hope in that. But interestingly, while we were one of the better shotblocking teams in the league last year, we STILL ranked low as far as opponent's FG%. Meaning teams shot a higher percentage than normal. Our overall team did not defensively take advantage of the shotblockers behind them. Will MKG be able to?? I don't know.

[TheBeagle]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG-9qL1SYpE/T9EO_Kd58mI/AAAAAAAAHVw/vTUgSkUaFR0/s1600/MICHAEL+JORDAN+-+UNC+-+DEFENSE.jpg


Ah. What beautiful unis. Wish they'd go back to these.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming....

[BrotherDave]

What about elite defense?
Like I said, he hasn't played a game in the NBA yet so it's to be determined. The last prospect that came into the league this highly touted as an elite defender was Corey Brewer. Not exactly setting the world on fire...


and that he was the leader of a team who won the 'ship at 18?

He is nothing near the project Drummond is.
This arguments means NOTHING. You can count a bajillion players that led their teams to a national championship that busted in the NBA. The Bobcat's have a pretty good track record of drafting them actually, Okafor (MOP 2004), Felton, May (MOP 2005), Kemba (MOP 2011). Maybe we should snare some sure-fire NCAA MOP's like Kyle Singler who's playing overseas right now, or Wayne Ellington he's a Tarheel! Or how about the aforementioned Brewer? I wonder what Mateen Cleaves is doing these days, he can mentor Kemba.

[SWedd523]

Bismack Biyombo
Iman Shumpert
Kawhi Leonard

That's three guys just from the '11 draft that were highly touted as elite defenders. They played pretty well last year.


You can also count a lot of players that led their team to a NT that did well in the league.

Al Groza, Clyde Lovellette, Tom Gola, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, David Thompson, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, James Worthy/Michael Jordan/Sam Perkins, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Glen Rice, Christian Lae (just kidding), Richard Hamilton, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony

[gamecocksmitty4]

Calling Kemba a bust after one (short) season with no talent around him and no offseason to work with the coaching staff is a good way to lose credibility in your argument.

[BrotherDave]

Bismack Biyombo
Iman Shumpert
Kawhi Leonard

That's three guys just from the '11 draft that were highly touted as elite defenders. They played pretty well last year.


You can also count a lot of players that led their team to a NT that did well in the league.

Al Groza, Clyde Lovellette, Tom Gola, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, David Thompson, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, James Worthy/Michael Jordan/Sam Perkins, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Glen Rice, Christian Lae (just kidding), Richard Hamilton, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony
But is it a direct correlation? Not by a long shot. Elite college defenders don't translate nearly as well as say, rebounding. That's my point.

Calling Kemba a bust after one (short) season with no talent around him and no offseason to work with the coaching staff is a good way to lose credibility in your argument.
Well, I'll give Kemba a benefit of the doubt for those reasons, I didn't mean to label him specifically a bust although it's fair to say he had a disappointing rookie season, did not make the Rookie team, and shot 36.6% from the field.

[SWedd523]

But is it a direct correlation? Not by a long shot. Elite college defenders don't translate nearly as well as say, rebounding. That's my point.
I was only using them as a counter example because you seemingly like going to some disingenuous (and backhanded) comparison between MKG and Brewer.

He was a great defender in college, shows tenacity and has great length, toughness, athleticism, and intelligence.

For now, I'm more than happy giving him the benefit of the doubt.

[BrotherDave]

It's pretty much common knowledge that when Brewer entered the draft he got the same accolades as MKG did this year. "Winner" "High Motor" "Elite Defender" all that. If you drag up old prospect reviews of Brewer before he got drafted they pretty much read identically with MKG's. I've never said that MKG will bust like Brewer, just pointing out that those high intangible guys aren't bulletproof, sure-fire success stories.

I just want people to pump their brakes a bit, that's all.

[SWedd523]

MKG compared to Brewer

-48 pounds heavier
-0.25" shorter in shoes
-3.75" longer wingspan
-1.5" higher standing reach

-1.5" higher no step vertical
-1" lower max vertical
-5 less reps on the bench
-.08 seconds slower agility
-.04 seconds faster sprint

-2 years younger on draft night

-only averaged 1.3 less points per game despite seeing fewer possessions (25.0 to 21.4)
-higher FG% and FT%.
-lower TP% but equal TS%
-much more aggressive with the ball (58.8% FT rate to 43.5)
-much better rebounder (7.4 to 4.7)
-lower assists but less turnovers as well
-less steals
-more blocks




Bigger, longer, similar athleticism, and better college production as a freshman compared to a junior. I think it's (to me at least) pretty evident that MKG is a much better prospect at the time of their respective drafts than Brewer was.

You like to cherry pick Brewer, I'll cherry pick Pippen for the sake of shits as gigs. Freshman MKG on left, Freshman Pippen on right. Advantage is bolded.

11.9/4.3 points
7.4/3.0 rebounds
1.9/0.7 assists
1.0/0.5 steals
49.1/45.6 FG%
74.5/68.4 FT%

omgz Gilly da GOAT

[captaincrunk]

Like I said, he hasn't played a game in the NBA yet so it's to be determined.

And we haven't determined whether Beal can shoot, or whether T-Rob can rebound.

Oh wait, that's seriously wrong and you should be ashamed! Oops!

[QC Thundercats]

MKG compared to Brewer

-48 pounds heavier
-0.25" shorter in shoes
-3.75" longer wingspan
-1.5" higher standing reach

-1.5" higher no step vertical
-1" lower max vertical
-5 less reps on the bench
-.08 seconds slower agility
-.04 seconds faster sprint


Good post, I was gonna make a Brewer comparison chart as well. But a couple further points to this... yes Brewer was a college defensive stud, and is known as a good defender in the league. But maybe the most underrated aspect is:

MKG is 50 pounds heavier than Brewer, with the same amount of speed and athleticism. And its not 50 pounds of fat, but rock solid muscle. So, Brewer's defensive abilities were handicapped by his inability to physically match up with NBA size players. Guys can just muscle past and through him, no matter how hard he tries, which frequently earned him a spot on the bench. MKG on the other hand can actually push back, and in fact overmatch offensive players, as he has more weight on him than many wings in the league at this point already.

Another factor relating to weight: fatigue. Brewer has to exert much more energy in trying to physically hold up with anyone, and is going to tire out much quicker over the course of a game. MKG won't have this problem as he'll be able to hold his ground, and then can utilize his energy for quick bursts throughout a game. And he'll likely be much more durable throughout the season as well.

And lets not forget the factor that this weight will play on offense either. Brewer can only attack the rim on fast breaks as there is less resistance at the rim. But in the half court, he won't be strong enough to get to the rim and finish consistently. He's constantly knocked off balance and off track, and doesn't have the strength to finish on contact. What is one of MKG's strengths? Finishing with authority, contact be damned. Any arm swipes or body blocks, he just bounces right off of it, and his highlights consistently show him throwing it down in traffic in the halfcourt.


Y'all are really overrating this kid right now, emphasis on the word kid. He is just as big of a project as Drummond is, at a position that will see much more talent to play against. He's not elite at anything yet, he hasn't played a single game in the NBA. He's gonna hit the rookie wall just as hard as Kemba and Biz did this year unless he works on his handle and shot enough to threaten on offense, otherwise teams will just sag off and pack the lane.

And please, stop using words like "motor" and "work ethic." Enough already, we get it. He hustles and won a lot in college, so did Felton and a million other mediocre NBA players. Let's focus on basketball skills.

I agree that he is a work in progress, although I think he's more of a sure thing than Drummond. For two players who have holes in their game, would you rather have someone that is happy to be part of the life, enjoys the game of basketball and hopes to become a star, or someone who, without any prodding, wakes up everyday at the crack of dawn to work on his weaknesses, and is determined to turn himself into a star? I'd bet money that the second one is the person who will succeed in correcting his flaws.

I also agree that "motor" and "work ethic" have been overused and have become cliche. It doesn't differentiate MKG from these million other mediocre players. The words used for him should be obsessive, incessant, life-defining. Lots of players "work hard" when they are working on their game, but once the workout ends, they go back to their normally scheduled lives. From all accounts I've seen or heard, MKG lives, sleeps, breathes basketball, and doesn't care about too many outside things. I never see him turning hollywood just for making it into the league like a lot of other players (see Nick Young for example).


Like I said, he hasn't played a game in the NBA yet so it's to be determined. The last prospect that came into the league this highly touted as an elite defender was Corey Brewer. Not exactly setting the world on fire...


This arguments means NOTHING. You can count a bajillion players that led their teams to a national championship that busted in the NBA. The Bobcat's have a pretty good track record of drafting them actually, Okafor (MOP 2004), Felton, May (MOP 2005), Kemba (MOP 2011). Maybe we should snare some sure-fire NCAA MOP's like Kyle Singler who's playing overseas right now, or Wayne Ellington he's a Tarheel! Or how about the aforementioned Brewer? I wonder what Mateen Cleaves is doing these days, he can mentor Kemba.

To differentiate from the above players:
Okafor - doesn't love the game of basketball, just enjoys it, and happens to be big
Felton - undersized guard, fast but generally average athleticism for a guard
May - loved the lifestyle more than the game, didn't work hard and ate himself out of the league
Kemba - I actually think he does have a strong work ethic (oops, my bad, obsessiveness) to become a much better player than this past year. We'll see this upcoming season how serious he was at attacking his weaknesses


It's pretty much common knowledge that when Brewer entered the draft he got the same accolades as MKG did this year. "Winner" "High Motor" "Elite Defender" all that. If you drag up old prospect reviews of Brewer before he got drafted they pretty much read identically with MKG's. I've never said that MKG will bust like Brewer, just pointing out that those high intangible guys aren't bulletproof, sure-fire success stories.

I just want people to pump their brakes a bit, that's all.

One more thing regarding Brewer/MKG. Brewer was never a leader, it was Noah's team, with Horford being the silent leader, and Green being the upper class leader. He was just a piece that fit in, and also didn't have the relentless aggressiveness MKG exhibits (also probably related to his light weight). MKG on the other hand took over that national championship team as an 18 year old freshman. The Unibrow was the headliner, but MKG was the heart and soul, and his leadership in creating "the breakfast club" transformed all that youth into a culture of hard work, unselfishness, and accountability. Not to be overlooked.

I agree that we shouldn't anoint MKG as the next greatest thing just yet, as such large expectations shouldn't be heaped on him. But in trying to temper everyones over-exuberance, you do come across as the exact opposite, as strictly an MKG hater who doesn't think he has a chance to succeed and is destined to mediocrity. I think the best course of action is some middle ground until he can prove it at the NBA level.

[spectre]

At 18 BrotherDave? You think there's nothing special about that?

And why in the hell should we be "pumping the brakes"? Why should we not be getting behind the pick and be excited about him? Cuz he might not make it? That goes with every freaking pick does it not?

You need to move beyond the fact that we didn't choose your guy.

[batingaw]

I am not really sold on MKG. I want to see him play in bobcats uniform first.
I was impressed with only 2 games I watched. He is not afraid in going to the rim unlike Barnes who just likes to shoot outside. Don't get me wrong, Barnes is really good shooter. However, when I watched heats vs thunder finals, it was James who continuously attacked the rim and not settling for jumpshots leaving their 3 pointers free. James is the MVP and not battier or miller. Did you get my point?
Obviously, I want mkg more than Barnes. I haven't watch Robinson and beal. If anyone can give links to their full game, I would appreciate it.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

If anybody has a right to seriously question a draft pick, it is a fan of the Charlotte Bobcats. History has proven that.

Sorry to be repeating myself here, but I just think Robinson and Beal were safer bets to be excellent NBA players. Both of them are awesome rebounders like MKG, but with better scoring capabilities and the physical traits to be decent enough defenders.

MJ gambled on potential. We might be having this MKG debate for a year or two.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I am not really sold on MKG. I want to see him play in bobcats uniform first.
I was impressed with only 2 games I watched. He is not afraid in going to the rim unlike Barnes who just likes to shoot outside. Don't get me wrong, Barnes is really good shooter. However, when I watched heats vs thunder finals, it was James who continuously attacked the rim and not settling for jumpshots leaving their 3 pointers free. James is the MVP and not battier or miller. Did you get my point?
Obviously, I want mkg more than Barnes. I haven't watch Robinson and beal. If anyone can give links to their full game, I would appreciate it.

Interestingly, despite being a jump shooter taking a lot of 3's and midrange shots, Barnes got to the free throw line more frequently--pace adjusted--than any of the first round wing prospects.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/By-the-Numbers-The-2012-Wing-Crop-3990/

MKG got to the line more frequently per possession, however. He didn't take 3 pointers nearly as often. I gather he did a lot of "slashing" instead.

For a good overview of players' abilities, go to youtube and type in the player's name and "nba draft video" or check out their video profiles on swishscout.com. Those two series really break it down.

[batingaw]

Interestingly, despite being a jump shooter taking a lot of 3's and midrange shots, Barnes got to the free throw line more frequently--pace adjusted--than any of the first round wing prospects.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/By-the-Numbers-The-2012-Wing-Crop-3990/

MKG got to the line more frequently per possession, however. He didn't take 3 pointers nearly as often. I gather he did a lot of "slashing" instead.

For a good overview of players' abilities, go to youtube and type in the player's name and "nba draft video" or check out their video profiles on swishscout.com. Those two series really break it down.

My observation about barnes and mkg is only based on the few videos that I watched. Thanks for the link but i prefer a full game because you can see the real thing.
Fyi, I am fan from Singapore. That is the reason I am not able to watch us college games.

[captaincrunk]

If anybody has a right to seriously question a draft pick, it is a fan of the Charlotte Bobcats. History has proven that.

Sorry to be repeating myself here, but I just think Robinson and Beal were safer bets to be excellent NBA players. Both of them are awesome rebounders like MKG, but with better scoring capabilities and the physical traits to be decent enough defenders.

MJ gambled on potential. We might be having this MKG debate for a year or two.
Safe doesn't win anything. The reason the tortoise beat the hare is because there were only two players. Put 28 other hares out there and at least ONE of them will get lucky.

[Scrapper1]

This kid is 18 years old..he is something special. Accomplished on every team that he has played for.. lets wait and see him play. I promise, he will hit the ground running. M..K..G

[BrotherDave]

At 18 BrotherDave? You think there's nothing special about that?

And why in the hell should we be "pumping the brakes"? Why should we not be getting behind the pick and be excited about him? Cuz he might not make it? That goes with every freaking pick does it not?

You need to move beyond the fact that we didn't choose your guy.

Lots of 18 yo phenoms come and go. Barnes was one not too long ago. And yeah, I think those of you who think MKG is the second coming of Pippen or Lebron should pump your brakes or you're just setting yourself up for massive disappointment.

[captaincrunk]

Lots of 18 yo phenoms come and go. Barnes was one not too long ago. And yeah, I think those of you who think MKG is the second coming of Pippen or Lebron should pump your brakes or you're just setting yourself up for massive disappointment.

Let's say we're cleveland in the early 2000's and we've just drafted LeBron James. How should we feel and act?

[BrotherDave]

Let's say we're cleveland in the early 2000's and we've just drafted LeBron James. How should we feel and act?
Ecstatic, he's a once and a lifetime talent, whose hype train had been validated every step of the way.

You're being silly if you think MKG is on the same career path as LeBron.

[captaincrunk]

Ecstatic, he's a once and a lifetime talent, whose hype train had been validated every step of the way.

You're being silly if you think MKG is on the same career path as LeBron.

OK so let's dial it back a little bit.

Let's say it's several years earlier and we just drafted pippen

now what

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Safe doesn't win anything. The reason the tortoise beat the hare is because there were only two players. Put 28 other hares out there and at least ONE of them will get lucky.


?????

Hakeem Olajuwon was a safe pick--not considered a risk.
So was Michael Jordan--not considered a risk.
Chris Webber was considered a safe pick.
James Harden was considered a safe pick.
Alonzo Mourning was considered a safe pick.

There are plenty of examples of safe picks that did well and plenty examples of safe picks who failed.

Same can be said for risky selections.

Take the guy that is the best bet and currently demonstrating the most nba-style skills. That would have been T-Rob or Beal this year at pick#2.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

OK so let's dial it back a little bit.

Let's say it's several years earlier and we just drafted pippen

now what

I just don't see Pippen in MKG. Unfortunately we'll never have the length numbers on Pippen, but he had to have had the longest arms and legs I've ever seen on a 6'7" player. Plus he could handle the ball and shoot despite such insane length.

What we could see in MKG someday is a somewhat better-shooting Gerald Wallace who is slightly less athletic. Man, Gerald's shot was ugly.

[SWedd523]

?????

Hakeem Olajuwon was a safe pick--not considered a risk.
So was Michael Jordan--not considered a risk.
Chris Webber was considered a safe pick.
James Harden was considered a safe pick.
Alonzo Mourning was considered a safe pick.

There are plenty of examples of safe picks that did well and plenty examples of safe picks who failed.

Same can be said for risky selections.

Take the guy that is the best bet and currently demonstrating the most nba-style skills. That would have been T-Rob or Beal this year at pick#2.
I think you're misunderstanding the use of the word "safe" in regards to draft picks.

Either way, Harden wasn't considered safe at the time. He was a risky pick that high.

[stun704]

Lots of 18 yo phenoms come and go. Barnes was one not too long ago. And yeah, I think those of you who think MKG is the second coming of Pippen or Lebron should pump your brakes or you're just setting yourself up for massive disappointment.
Damn Dave let it GO. Its ironic, MKG is as raw as drummond, except his mind is right

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I think you're misunderstanding the use of the word "safe" in regards to draft picks.

Either way, Harden wasn't considered safe at the time. He was a risky pick that high.

No misunderstanding here. What's not safe about drafting Olajuwon, Mourning, or Jordan?? As we all know, Sam Bowie was the big man "home run/take-a-risk/swing-for-the-fences" pick taken over Jordan.

And Harden was considered NBA ready but not necessarily superstar material by the basketball folks I was in contact with at the time. About the only concern was that he played a deliberate pace at ASU and might need a little adjustment to the NBA shot clock. He was especially considered safe once his athleticism and length numbers came out at the combine.

[SWedd523]

No misunderstanding here. What's not safe about drafting Olajuwon, Mourning, or Jordan??

And Harden was considered NBA ready but not necessarily superstar material by the basketball folks I was in contact with at the time. About the only concern was that he played a deliberate pace at ASU and might need a little adjustment to the NBA shot clock. He was especially considered safe once his athleticism and length numbers came out at the combine.
Dream/Jordan--safe because they were going to be stars. You could tell. That's misusing the word. Those guys, along with LeBron, Shaq, Kareem, etc weren't "safe" picks, they were "duh" picks.


Usually, "safe" is meant in a pejorative manner... typically combined with low upside, low potential, role player, etc. For example, Thomas Robinson this year was "safe" because you know he's going to give you 12+ points and 8+ rebounds, but nobody expects him to be a star.

I've followed Harden since his freshman year at ASU. Many people were questioning him on the basis of being unathletic, unagressive, and a bad shooter. He projected to many as a big fish in a small pond at ASU and an eventual role player. They needed a SG but got a lot of questions after the draft as many considered other guys to be better players.

[spectre]

Lots of 18 yo phenoms come and go. Barnes was one not too long ago. And yeah, I think those of you who think MKG is the second coming of Pippen or Lebron should pump your brakes or you're just setting yourself up for massive disappointment.

Think maybe people are just throwing in a couple of extremes to counter another? Either way new draft picks are always compared to the better players...that's what new draft picks bring; great optimism.

But no doubt all of us homers appreciate your concerns. Being Bobcats' fans I doubt we'd be very good at handing disappointment.

...lots of 18 yo phenoms...that led their team to the championship? Don't think Barnes did that did he?

Crunk...loved the hare analogy!

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Dream/Jordan--safe because they were going to be stars. You could tell. That's misusing the word. Those guys, along with LeBron, Shaq, Kareem, etc weren't "safe" picks, they were "duh" picks.


Usually, "safe" is meant in a pejorative manner... typically combined with low upside, low potential, role player, etc. For example, Thomas Robinson this year was "safe" because you know he's going to give you 12+ points and 8+ rebounds, but nobody expects him to be a star.

I've followed Harden since his freshman year at ASU. Many people were questioning him on the basis of being unathletic, unagressive, and a bad shooter. He projected to many as a big fish in a small pond at ASU and an eventual role player. They needed a SG but got a lot of questions after the draft as many considered other guys to be better players.

If you go back to the post where this all started, I used the phrase "safer bet to be excellent nba players". Then that other guy came in with some "'safe' doesn't blah blah" comment. And I had to contend his nonsense.

Fact of the matter is, Michael Jordan was a safer bet to be an excellent NBA player than Sam Bowie. He apparently wasn't a "duh" pick for the Blazers at the time.

The point is that the safer pick can often be the right pick.

And the forum I was involved with at the time generally felt Harden was a safe bet to contribute in the nba. There was talk of him being a blend of Ginobli and Pierce.

College Harden a bad shooter? He shot 40% from 3 as a freshman and dipped down to a respectable 35.6% in his sophomore season. Overall he hovered above and below 50%, which of course is excellent for a guard. Everybody could see he was physically strong. And like I said, once his great combine numbers came out, he was a pretty safe bet by draft time.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Think maybe people are just throwing in a couple of extremes to counter another? Either way new draft picks are always compared to the better players...that's what new draft picks bring; great optimism.

But no doubt all of us homers appreciate your concerns. Being Bobcats' fans I doubt we'd be very good at handing disappointment.

...lots of 18 yo phenoms...that led their team to the championship? Don't think Barnes did that did he?

Crunk...loved the hare analogy!

We could do this all day. Barnes never played with Anthony Davis. He had the homeless man's Anthony Davis (Henson).

It's kind of hard to guage players when they have so much talent around them. And while UNC had great talent, Kentucky had IMMENSE talent.

[gamecocksmitty4]

We could do this all day.

That's the problem. We can argue all we want but nothing is going to change. Everyone has their opinion on MKG but until the season starts (or at least the SL season) there is going to be no evidence to back up anyone's argument because there is no NBA game film to watch. So until the season starts I think we should all just agree to disagree.

But to go ahead and throw in my opinion, here's what I think of MKG:

MKG is not flashy. Watching a highlight film is not going to show you how good he actually is. He does all of the little things well and has a well-rounded game. If you watched UK's games last year it was easy to be impressed. Nothing you haven't heard but he is tremendous on defense, has a great motor and work ethic, and plays within the team's game. I watched a lot of UK games to see Anthony Davis and always came away more impressed with MKG which says a lot considering I became a huge AD fan (which says even more considering I'm a Gamecock fan and HATE UK...liking not only one player but TWO on that disgusting team is crazy). MKG is an athlete and a basketball player with a great game already to go along with his raw offensive potential. I also love his ability to pass and how he gets excited when teammates make great plays. MKG is going to be the leader of this team right away.

[Bleeding blue in 62]

Hey Smitty, for what it's worth, I agree 100%. Gilly gave up personal stats for the team. He could have did a lot more scoring, but all 7 guys that played the majority of the minutes played as a team. Hence the championship. The Bobcats got a winner & a very talented player.

[captaincrunk]

We could do this all day. Barnes never played with Anthony Davis. He had the homeless man's Anthony Davis (Henson).

It's kind of hard to guage players when they have so much talent around them. And while UNC had great talent, Kentucky had IMMENSE talent.
So you're willing to admit that Kentucky had talent, but not the individuals on the team?

[spectre]

We could do this all day. Barnes never played with Anthony Davis. He had the homeless man's Anthony Davis (Henson).

It's kind of hard to guage players when they have so much talent around them. And while UNC had great talent, Kentucky had IMMENSE talent.

Sigh. We could do this all day but we won't...at least not from my side.

It's a very simple thing; either we get over who we each wanted drafted and embrace the pick the FO made (in a draft with no consensus 2-5) or we can just sit here continually bitching and moaning about it. After last season I'm more inclined to ride the hope train for a little while.

[TheBeagle]

'Nother good read from Bonnell:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/07/13/3381484/bobcats-rookie-kidd-gilchrist.html


Especially love how Dunlap made a point to stop practice and praise MKG. That's just awesome!