Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Tall Midget wrote:
McDermott measured 6'6''.5 at the combine. Do you think he's going to be playing in the post all that much? I sure wouldn't expect that he would, especially in today's game.
He also lacks explosiveness and isn't that great of a ballhandler. When he beats defenders off the dribble, it's usually because he has excellent anticipation/vision and is moving as soon as he gets the ball and before the guy guarding him even gets into a defensive stance. Do you think he's going to be driving to the hoop a lot in the NBA? I sure don't.
He is clearly an excellent shooter, sometimes even with a defender in his face. That's what he will be in the NBA--a jumpshooter, and probably a very good one. There's a spot for guys like him on just about any NBA club, but he'll never be a star, or even someone who is a top 4 player on a championship-caliber team.
He is clearly an excellent shooter, sometimes even with a defender in his face. That's what he will be in the NBA--a jumpshooter, and probably a very good one. There's a spot for guys like him on just about any NBA club, but he'll never be a star, or even someone who is a top 4 player on a championship-caliber team.
I think he can be a star in the league, at least if scoring a lot is what makes a star. They may have gotten a Carmelo type scorer without making a trade or signing a free agent. I certainly wouldn't predict that, but it's not going to surprise me either.
As far as his height is concerned, it always makes me laugh when bernstein gets into an argument with a caller about an inch or so. I wonder how many guys who are listed at 6'8" really are. Being tall is certainly helpful under the basket, but guys like Aguirre, Dantley, and Barkely were all undersized guys who could score from the post very well. I'm not saying he can defend the post, but he's a dangerous scorer on the blocks.
I've heard too many comparisons to guys like Steve Alford which I have to assume are only based upon his shooting stroke and the color of his skin. McDermott is much more versatile than that.
Tall Midget wrote:
Do you think he's going to be driving to the hoop a lot in the NBA?
I think you'll be surprised at how often he does and just how effective he is in doing it.[/quote]
Yes, I will be extremely surprised if he regularly drives to the hoop in the NBA. He's simply not that good of a ballhandler. And he lacks a quick first step.
And are you seriously comparing McDermott to guys like Barkley or Aguirre? McDermott has a very different body type than those two and is beginning his career in an era where classic low-post play has been de-emphasized in part due to significant rules changes. The idea that he is anything approaching Melo's offensive equal is also preposterous. Melo is quicker, stronger, a better ballhandler and has better balance. What do you mean by scoring a lot, anyway? 25 ppg? He will never be a primary or secondary scoring option on a good team, in my opinion, so it will be impossible for him to achieve such a stat.
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