How Great is the 2017 draft class?

[ColdPickleNachos]

Isthat a good basketball play though?

It is when you can replicate it with consistency, and Ball has routinely shown the ability to hit from that distance. He also scored a hugely important bucket on the possession before that by driving to the basket and converting on an impressive layup.

FWIW, Magic Johnson seemed impressed.

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[slinslin]

Magic Johnson is one of the most ridiculous, most out of touch NBA commentators out there. Might as well use Dick Vitale to prove a point.

Showing another 30 foot step back 3 pointer as prove it is a good play does not prove anything. How about the misses?

Ball is shooting 60-something percent from the freethrow line.

Again FT% is a much better indicator for shooting% than 3pt% in college.

The bottom line is that settling for and taking a 30 foot 3pt shot is not a high bbiq play. It is not a good basketball play.
It is pretty ridiculous that people label Ball a high bbiq player because of that. Apparently being a good passer is equivalent to high bbiq to many.
Other players would get grilled for that kind of shot selection.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Magic Johnson is one of the most ridiculous, most out of touch NBA commentators out there. Might as well use Dick Vitale to prove a point.

Showing another 30 foot step back 3 pointer as prove it is a good play does not prove anything. How about the misses?

Ball is shooting 60-something percent from the freethrow line.

Again FT% is a much better indicator for shooting% than 3pt% in college.

The bottom line is that settling for and taking a 30 foot 3pt shot is not a high bbiq play. It is not a good basketball play.
It is pretty ridiculous that people label Ball a high bbiq player because of that. Apparently being a good passer is equivalent to high bbiq to many.
Other players would get grilled for that kind of shot selection.

1. I didn't show another shot as proof. It was the same shot; just showing context for the Magic Johnson comment. Ball is shooting 43% from 3, and he hits long shots frequently.

2. You're totally right. Forget Magic Johnson's opinion. He couldn't possibly know as much about basketball as you do.

 

[slinslin]

You can go across sports history. Being a great athlete in no way automatically makes one a great expert.

Some of the absolute best coaches even were not pro players.

Magic Johnson has made outrageous comments in the past.

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[ColdPickleNachos]

1. I prefaced the Magic Johnson comment with FWIW. In other words, my claim was that Magic adds credibility on some level, not that it makes the argument.

2. A Reddit post is a pretty weak source to demonstrate that your message board posts have as much credibility as Magic Johnson. If the standard for refuting one's expertise is that people on the internet consider your claims to be outrageous...

3. Magic Johnson is the greatest point guard of all time. That doesn't necessarily make his opinions correct, but it adds a lot more credibility than any of us on this message board have.

 

[Russ Smith]

Ball has yet to prove that he can run the pick and roll.

It is hard to judge him how he would transition to NBA PG when he does not really play like a PG at all in college despite the assist numbers.

He plays like a shooter with great passing. Almost all of his passing is in transition or simply standing around and throwing the ball to an open shooter or cutter.

You might want to watch a UCLA game before commenting. He drives and kicks more than anything.

UCLA doesn't run pick and roll much, pick and pop now and then the only pick and roll is with Anigbogu for lobs, they are using him the way the Warriors use Javale McGee. That doesn't mean he can't do it, just it's not in the offense much.

 

[Russ Smith]

Magic Johnson is one of the most ridiculous, most out of touch NBA commentators out there. Might as well use Dick Vitale to prove a point.

Showing another 30 foot step back 3 pointer as prove it is a good play does not prove anything. How about the misses?

Ball is shooting 60-something percent from the freethrow line.

Again FT% is a much better indicator for shooting% than 3pt% in college.

The bottom line is that settling for and taking a 30 foot 3pt shot is not a high bbiq play. It is not a good basketball play.
It is pretty ridiculous that people label Ball a high bbiq player because of that. Apparently being a good passer is equivalent to high bbiq to many.
Other players would get grilled for that kind of shot selection.

Sure but most guys FT% improve in the NBA over college, repetition. And the resaon most shooters see their 3% drop in the NBA is the line is further back, which won't be an issue for Lonzo since he usually is 5 feet beyond the line. He has a weird release which is why people question his shot but as his shot selection has improved, he's making them consistently.

 

[Russ Smith]

The thing with Lonzo is he seems to be able to do whatever he has to WIN games. People said he has no midrange, only 2 shots all year that weren't dunks, layups or 3's. The very next game, one game, he has 3 midrange shots, I think he's made 6 since that story came out. He's figured out teams are making him shoot playing him to pass and surprise, he's making floaters and scoop shots that he didn't have to take earlier.

He's certainly not perfect, Fultz is great, so is Smith, but I've spent the last 2 years reading how Lonzo wouldn't translate to college the Chino system makes him look good etc so now the he can't play like that in the NBA stuff. Eventually he'll convince most people he's just a great player, he does what you need to win.

Last night worst first half of the season for him and yet last 10 minutes he switches onto Dillon Brooks, holds him scoreless, puts up 10 pointsm finished the game with 11 boards. Oregon was trapping and zoning and even face guarding him so he couldn't kill them with passes, so he beat them another way.

As the Warriors say Steph gonna Steph, Lonzo gonna Lonzo.

 

[sunsfan88]

As the Warriors say Steph gonna Steph, Lonzo gonna Lonzo.

I think it would sound cooler to say Lonzo gonna Ball

 

[JCSunsfan]

The thing with Lonzo is he seems to be able to do whatever he has to WIN games. People said he has no midrange, only 2 shots all year that weren't dunks, layups or 3's. The very next game, one game, he has 3 midrange shots, I think he's made 6 since that story came out. He's figured out teams are making him shoot playing him to pass and surprise, he's making floaters and scoop shots that he didn't have to take earlier.

He's certainly not perfect, Fultz is great, so is Smith, but I've spent the last 2 years reading how Lonzo wouldn't translate to college the Chino system makes him look good etc so now the he can't play like that in the NBA stuff. Eventually he'll convince most people he's just a great player, he does what you need to win.

Last night worst first half of the season for him and yet last 10 minutes he switches onto Dillon Brooks, holds him scoreless, puts up 10 pointsm finished the game with 11 boards. Oregon was trapping and zoning and even face guarding him so he couldn't kill them with passes, so he beat them another way.

As the Warriors say Steph gonna Steph, Lonzo gonna Lonzo.

There is something with Lonzo. He seems to be able to do whatever he decides to do on the court. Whatever needs to be done, he just does it. He doesn't have to learn how to do it.

Magic used to be able to do that (to a much higher level of course because of his size).

 

[Russ Smith]

There is something with Lonzo. He seems to be able to do whatever he decides to do on the court. Whatever needs to be done, he just does it. He doesn't have to learn how to do it.

Magic used to be able to do that (to a much higher level of course because of his size).

a buddy and I were talking about it last week he just seems to be one of those guys that can do anything. The best way to make sure he does something is tell him he can't do it.

 

[GatorAZ]

a buddy and I were talking about it last week he just seems to be one of those guys that can do anything. The best way to make sure he does something is tell him he can't do it.

He needs to get on Gelo's workout plan though. The undershirt won't fly in the NBA.

 

[Russ Smith]

He needs to get on Gelo's workout plan though. The undershirt won't fly in the NBA.

Needs to get stronger yes but not like Gelo, if anything Gelo needs to lean out. Preferrably not on the same program Trier was on.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

1. I didn't show another shot as proof. It was the same shot; just showing context for the Magic Johnson comment. Ball is shooting 43% from 3, and he hits long shots frequently.

2. You're totally right. Forget Magic Johnson's opinion. He couldn't possibly know as much about basketball as you do.

Magic is not a pg

 

[BC867]

Magic is not a pg

You're right. Magic is not a Point Guard. He retired. He was a Point Guard, because he was a facilitator and made the rest of the team better on offense.

He learned later to be a shooting Point Guard, albeit with that shot-put of his. But it worked.

Magic Johnson did not play the Wing or Power Forward . . . or Center, except in one magical game, when he had to use his size in the absence of Kareem.

Hell, Magic was the same height as our Center-for-a-decade Alvan Adams and heavier and more powerful. Whenever the Suns played the Lakers, Magic guarded Adams on defense (Adams stationed himself 12 feet from the basket) and the whole rest of the Lakers team guarded a lighter player.

Eric Bledsoe is not a Point Guard. Brandon Knight is not a Point Guard. Leandro Barbosa is not a Point Guard. Running the offense, Earvin Johnson was a Point Guard!

 

[Mainstreet]

You're right. Magic is not a Point Guard. He retired. He was a Point Guard, because he was a facilitator and made the rest of the team better on offense.

He learned later to be a shooting Point Guard, albeit with that shot-put of his. But it worked.

Magic Johnson did not play the Wing or Power Forward . . . or Center, except in one magical game, when he had to use his size in the absence of Kareem.

Hell, Magic was the same height as our Center-for-a-decade Alvan Adams and heavier and more powerful. Whenever the Suns played the Lakers, Magic guarded Adams on defense (Adams stationed himself 12 feet from the basket) and the whole rest of the Lakers team guarded a lighter player.

Eric Bledsoe is not a Point Guard. Brandon Knight is not a Point Guard. Leandro Barbosa is not a Point Guard. Running the offense, Earvin Johnson was a Point Guard!

Nice post, but Bledsoe is proving he is a PG.

I agree. Magic was a PG first.

 

[SirStefan32]

You're right. Magic is not a Point Guard. He retired. He was a Point Guard, because he was a facilitator and made the rest of the team better on offense.

He learned later to be a shooting Point Guard, albeit with that shot-put of his. But it worked.

Magic Johnson did not play the Wing or Power Forward . . . or Center, except in one magical game, when he had to use his size in the absence of Kareem.

Hell, Magic was the same height as our Center-for-a-decade Alvan Adams and heavier and more powerful. Whenever the Suns played the Lakers, Magic guarded Adams on defense (Adams stationed himself 12 feet from the basket) and the whole rest of the Lakers team guarded a lighter player.

Eric Bledsoe is not a Point Guard. Brandon Knight is not a Point Guard. Leandro Barbosa is not a Point Guard. Running the offense, Earvin Johnson was a Point Guard!

BC, I think Ouchie was taking a shot at Slin. Years ago Slin argued that Magic was not a point guard. Ouchie wasn't actually suggesting Magic was not a PG.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You're right. Magic is not a Point Guard. He retired. He was a Point Guard, because he was a facilitator and made the rest of the team better on offense.

He learned later to be a shooting Point Guard, albeit with that shot-put of his. But it worked.

Magic Johnson did not play the Wing or Power Forward . . . or Center, except in one magical game, when he had to use his size in the absence of Kareem.

Hell, Magic was the same height as our Center-for-a-decade Alvan Adams and heavier and more powerful. Whenever the Suns played the Lakers, Magic guarded Adams on defense (Adams stationed himself 12 feet from the basket) and the whole rest of the Lakers team guarded a lighter player.

Eric Bledsoe is not a Point Guard. Brandon Knight is not a Point Guard. Leandro Barbosa is not a Point Guard. Running the offense, Earvin Johnson was a Point Guard!

Maybe you don't get it

 

[hcsilla]

1. I prefaced the Magic Johnson comment with FWIW. In other words, my claim was that Magic adds credibility on some level, not that it makes the argument.

2. A Reddit post is a pretty weak source to demonstrate that your message board posts have as much credibility as Magic Johnson. If the standard for refuting one's expertise is that people on the internet consider your claims to be outrageous...

3. Magic Johnson is the greatest point guard of all time. That doesn't necessarily make his opinions correct, but it adds a lot more credibility than any of us on this message board have.

I understand all of this but whenever I hear Magic talk, I can't escape from the impression that he is simply dumb. Having very limited knowledge about the NBA is one thing, being dumb is another and I think Magic Johnson is heavily involved in both.

Good news is in the last few days he started to study the CBA ...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I understand all of this but whenever I hear Magic talk, I can't escape from the impression that he is simply dumb. Having very limited knowledge about the NBA is one thing, being dumb is another and I think Magic Johnson is heavily involved in both.

Good news is in the last few days he started to study the CBA ...

For a dumb guy he's been an incredibly successful business man.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

For a dumb guy he's been an incredibly successful business man.

That only means he has a smart business manager or financial advisors.

 

[BC867]

BC, I think Ouchie was taking a shot at Slin. Years ago Slin argued that Magic was not a point guard. Ouchie wasn't actually suggesting Magic was not a PG.

If Ouchie had used quotes, his intent would have been clear.

 

[GatorAZ]

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Release point isn't a problem.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Josh Jackson with a big game today. 31 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and some clutch scoring late in the game to get the win.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Release point isn't a problem.

The thing is that the picture does not show the actual release point or motion. Ball's motion is coming across his body left to right while Steph's is straight forward.

That said, I think Ball shoots that way because he is left eye dominant and right handed. The arc and rotation are good, so I would not mess with it.