Noah versus Horford

[Chris_Sanders]

Alright I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but at least it is an informed one.

The head of my therapy department at work has a contract with the NCAA. He works the March Madness games as a therapist doing stuff like stretching and taping ankles and the like. He worked in New Orleans and Atlanta this year, doing the Final Four and the championship game. We had a pretty extensive conversation about Noah and Horford today.

He basically said that from his observations that Noah is the player he would rather have on the Suns. He said that in the locker room and the huddle, Noah was the leader. He was the guy who fired up everyone. He genuinely loves the game which is why he plays with so much energy. Noah enjoys doing the dirt work and setting screens. Noah wasn't concerned with stats, but with doing whatever it takes to win.

Conversely Horford was somewhat of a loner. He is quiet and didn't really show any passion before the game or in the huddles. He is a stat guy, concerned with his touches. He didn't think that Horford would mesh well on a team with an established scorer.

He was standing in the tunnel when Noah went into the crowd to hug his girlfriend. He said security was called with the "Go get Noah from the crowd...again."

BTW I would kill for this job. For working the game they basically pay you in tickets. He cleans up on the resell.

 

[slinslin]

Didn't Billy Donovan himself say that nobody should draft Noah over Horford?

Would you rather have another Amare on this team or Anderson Varejao who is very similiar to Noah.

 

[D-Dogg]

I hope Noah gets hit by a bus.

/Lost

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Didn't Billy Donovan himself say that nobody should draft Noah over Horford?

Would you rather have another Amare on this team or Anderson Varejao who is very similiar to Noah.

That's the point. Horford isn't another Amare, he is more of a Joe Johnson. Quiet, distant, not a leader, wants the ball. No way does he mesh with Amare. Nor is the Anderson Varejao reference remotely what Noah brings. Noah is 10 times the defender that Varejao is. The only part of Noah that is like Varejao is the hair, which is probably why you are making that reference.

Of course I knew that this bit of inside info would be poorly received since it's all about the stats. Prior to this discussion, I was firmly on the Horford bandwagon. Now I am definitely not. The way to build this team is around Amare.

As far as the quote, Dick Vitale admits that Donovan never said that.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I hope Noah gets hit by a bus.

/Lost

Is this a quote from the TV show? I don't watch it.

 

[D-Dogg]

Is this a quote from the TV show? I don't watch it.

A paraphrase, actually...and it came true in the show.

I wonder if mine will. Will I feel bad if it does? I dunno. I hope the hell Boston drafts Noah so I can completely transition all my Danny Ainge hate onto a worthy idiot.

 

[devilalum]

I can completely transition all my Danny Ainge hate onto a worthy idiot.

Is this ironical?

 

[Covert Rain]

Noah is going to be average at the next level in IMO. I have seen nothing out of him to make me believe that he will be a dominate player at the next level. He doesn't play above the rim, has a suspect jumper and dissappears against guys his size. No thanks.

 

[D-Dogg]

Is this ironical?

No.

 

[Ronin]

Imo The Suns could really use Noah’s length and wingspan to guard KevinGarnett, Lamar Odom, Dirk Nowitzki, etc. Shawn does a decent job guarding the taller players but it’s still too easy for a taller player to shot over the top of him.

 

[mathbzh]

I chose Horford without any hesitation. Noah doesn't worth a lottery pick.
But if is really a leader I think he will be a very valuable player for any team. Better that you would expect according to his body and skills.
I read somewhere that the Spurs draft Parker not because of his skills and speed but because he is a natural born leader, something you can't learn.
It didn't work too bad... of course Parker was a late first round pick.

 

[Dr. Jones]

He cannot shoot.... We will not draft Noah.

Yi Jianlan or Brandon Wright.

 

[Russ Smith]

That's the point. Horford isn't another Amare, he is more of a Joe Johnson. Quiet, distant, not a leader, wants the ball. No way does he mesh with Amare. Nor is the Anderson Varejao reference remotely what Noah brings. Noah is 10 times the defender that Varejao is. The only part of Noah that is like Varejao is the hair, which is probably why you are making that reference.

Of course I knew that this bit of inside info would be poorly received since it's all about the stats. Prior to this discussion, I was firmly on the Horford bandwagon. Now I am definitely not. The way to build this team is around Amare.

As far as the quote, Dick Vitale admits that Donovan never said that.

ACtually Vitale first denied that Donovan said it and he was just kidding, and then apologized for divulging something that was said to him in confidence.

If you heard the whole tape it was blatantly obvious that Vitale was doing damage control. he even said on the tape that he got a call from someone at Florida, so it's pretty clear someone found out what he said and he realized oh this is going to look bad, coaches will never talk to me again, so he tried to spin it as having been a joke.

I wouldn't compare Horford to Amare, nowhere near as athletic, but I do think he'll be a better pro than Noah.

THe problem with Noah is he can't shoot, if he can't dunk it, he can't score. Terrific college player people forget he only plays about 26 MPG, his stats would be better if he played more minutes and got more touches but that team was all about team.

 

[Griffin]

I just don't see, at this point, how a team could draft Noah over Horford. If the Suns really do want Noah and Horford is still available, they can trade down. As far as character is concerned, I have to defer to the Suns organization and whatever they determine during individual workouts. I have not read any reports questioning Horford's character and/or motivation before.

As far as team fit, we need defense and rebounding. Both players can provide that, but Noah will struggle in our system if he can't shoot. Not everyone has to score, but everyone has to be able to shoot the ball, like KT. However, I am not convinced that Noah can't improve that aspect of his game. A lot of teams passed on Amare because they thought all he could do is dunk.

(Wow, there is a lot of threads about prospects that we may never get to draft if Atlanta gets lucky)

 

[Gee!]

Imo The Suns could really use Noah’s length and wingspan to guard KevinGarnett, Lamar Odom, Dirk Nowitzki, etc. Shawn does a decent job guarding the taller players but it’s still too easy for a taller player to shot over the top of him.

Noah is a stick figure..
this is what he'd look like guarding those guys >>>>

 

[Gee!]

He basically said that from his observations that Noah is the player he would rather have on the Suns. He said that in the locker room and the huddle, Noah was the leader.

How many leaders lead from the bench and rarely get on the court? Cuz thats where Noah is gonna be unless he ends up on the Bobcats or some other crappy team..

 

[D-Dogg]

Noah is a stick figure..
this is what he'd look like guarding those guys >>>>

Seriously.

 

[Covert Rain]

If I had to pick between the 2 I would go Horford. However, I still think Brewer is the best bet out of all of those guys.

 

[SO91]

While to some the information provided might be unpopular, I actually wanted to hear something like this. I know many view Horford as a stud who put up good numbers on a good team, a guy that can rebound and defend. What I wanted to know, and I believe I asked in another thread, was whether or not this guy could play without the ball, and would be comfortable being the 4th option, because that's what he will be on this team, assuming they don't do a major trade. I agree with Chris this team will build around Amare and the young guys they already have. I know we haven't won anything, but I don't believe you can win with a bunch of potential stars on one team.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

While to some the information provided might be unpopular, I actually wanted to hear something like this. I know many view Horford as a stud who put up good numbers on a good team, a guy that can rebound and defend. What I wanted to know, and I believe I asked in another thread, was whether or not this guy could play without the ball, and would be comfortable being the 4th option, because that's what he will be on this team, assuming they don't do a major trade. I agree with Chris this team will build around Amare and the young guys they already have. I know we haven't won anything, but I don't believe you can win with a bunch of potential stars on one team.

i take this talk about horford with a grain of salt. i mean, he came back to play for an extremely balanced team where he knew he wouldn't get many "touches" as they all scored pretty close to one and other. even if he ends up like a new-age horace grant he'd be a terrific addition to this team.

 

[nathan]

Noah doesn't worth a lottery pick.

Noah's upside isn't as high as Brandon Wright or Yi Jianlian, but he's not a bad player. There aren't 14 guys in the draft that I'd rather have than Noah. That makes him a lottery pick to me.

 

[mathbzh]

Noah's upside isn't as high as Brandon Wright or Yi Jianlian, but he's not a bad player. There aren't 14 guys in the draft that I'd rather have than Noah. That makes him a lottery pick to me.

I think he is a good player. But when you draft him you know what you buy, a role player. This is not what you expect from a high pick. So if you prefer I will say he is not a top 10 pick. But between #10 and #15 he is probably a very good choice.
As I said this is were his body an skills put him, but his leadership could make him a very valuable player for any team.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think he is a good player. But when you draft him you know what you buy, a role player. This is not what you expect from a high pick. So if you prefer I will say he is not a top 10 pick. But between #10 and #15 he is probably a very good choice.
As I said this is were his body an skills put him, but his leadership could make him a very valuable player for any team.

He's a good COLLEGE player.

He's a good 20-30 pick.

 

[mathbzh]

He's a good COLLEGE player.

He's a good 20-30 pick.

Ok you are Noah hater. So I chalenge you to give me 29 guys to be picked before Noah

Seriously how do you know he's just a good COLLEGE player? To that point even Oden is oonly a good COLLEGE player.

 

[planaria]

Nor is the Anderson Varejao reference remotely what Noah brings. Noah is 10 times the defender that Varejao is. The only part of Noah that is like Varejao is the hair, which is probably why you are making that reference.

You can talk that Noah is a better passer or a better ballhandling, but if you think that Noah at NBA is 10x the defender that Varejão is, so you really dont know what player Varejão is. Maybe you dont even saw him playing.

Varejão is the second in +/- stat for the Cavs playing just 23 mpg (just lose to Lebron James, but he still having a better +/- per minute than Lebron). And that is basicly due his effort on defense and rebounds.

Varejão also leads the entire league in offensive fouls drawned by a big margin.

All in all, with hair or not, Noah has a big task in the future until be proven as a better defender than Varejão.