About me: Rivalblues is the battle between UNC and DUKE. I'm a UNC fan. My friend is a DUKE fan. We want fans of both schools to come and talk smack. Try to keep it clean...if possible.
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Sean May was a Bernie Bickerstaff draft. I agree that Morrison wasn't a good pick and that Jordan isn't the best talent evaluator around. If you look at the moves made last year and in this year's draft, then you really see the hands of Larry Brown at work. DJ Augustine wasn't a bad pick last year to back up Ray Felton. The trade for Boris Diaw and Raja Bell was a solid Larry Brown move. Re-signing Felton also was Brown's doing I believe. There is some talk that they may bring May back at a bargain basement price if his knee is better. People make fun of Sean's weight and such, but the one off-season he had in college that wasn't interrupted by injury led to a Final Four MOP and National Championship run. Sean will never be built like his dad, but if anyone can convince him to get in shape, its Larry Brown. Bell missed the last 7 games and the team went 1-6 and missed out on the 8th playoff seed. Henderson gives them much added depth on the perimeter.
Let's face it. When it comes to decision making from the front office from Jordan, selecting Gerald Henderson was probably one of his more smarter moves. I'm betting Larry Brown put his well traveled foot down on this one. Jordan is trying to buy the Bobcats so let's hope he has learned his lesson. Adam Morrison? Lol. Don't know if Jordan was around when they picked Sean May. But hey, I have no problem with the Bobcats being an all-star cast of former Heels and Dukies. Send me a ticket..
Hunter, I don't think Tyler fit in with what the Bobcats are trying to do. I think they were looking for an athletic wing and ended up getting Henderson because the kid from Louisville was picked at #11. I think Tyler is in a good spot for him. He's not going to be expected to carry the Pacers, nor will he be under the pressure of playing in front of fans who watched him play collegiately and expect the same level of production. He'll get a chance to develop and adjust to the pro game rather quietly I think.
I think Cleveland will have the most entertaining player intro NBA history. They added Shaq and Danny to the mix. I'm not a big fan of the NBA but I'll watch just to see want they come up with.
Anyway, congrats to Tyler, Ty, Wayne, Gerald, and Danny for getting drafted last night. The first four going Round 1 and Danny going Round 2 to Cleveland. And, after all the conjecture about Tyler, he went as a lottery pick. Way to go big man.
Now is not the time to make snide swipes at the Dookies especially where Elliot Williams is concerned. Yeah, it really kills what was already a thin backcourt, but the kid is leaving for the right reasons, not because he was upset over his role or PT. That's a ridiculous statement. If he were leaving because of that, this decision would've come in April.
You nailed it. This kills Duke athletically. For the first time in recent memory you have some depth in the post and none...ABSOLUTELY NONE in the backcourt. For your sake, I shudder to think of what could happen if an injury hit one of those two guards. Pocious has a year of eligibility left if the choose to pursue that route...but wow. That's a killer for a team that was going to be more athletic than what Duke has had in the past 5 seasons or so. Now, they are worse off than they were last season.
For those demanding a change in K's offensive gameplan (myself included) this is definitely going to force his hand. He has no choice but to pound it inside and drive the lane.
Why is anyone shocked about E Williams leaving dook?
Everyone knew it was going to happen when he expressed anger towards his role on the team last year...BOOM a game or so later he was starting as a temp solution for K to keep him silenced. K threw a loyal till death Paulus under the bus because he new Paulus was on his way out anyways and he would need Williams next year. He is no better then Cal.
I'm sure his mother is having a difficult time and I hope that she gets better, but he was leaving dook anyways.
Just another player that realized "dook is where talent goes to die for K's legacy" and took the first way out of the Kville slums.
And the same can be said for DUKE players as far as how college talent translates into the pro game.
I prefer the college game, anyway, and don't use the NBA as a gauge. I mean, I wish them well and all, but show me what you got while you're at DUKE, baby.
Best wishes to his mom. Alex Stepheson knows where you are coming from...
Heading into next year, I felt UNC's backcourt would be in a bind vs. Duke for the first time since Felton's sophomore year. Whoever had owned the PG position, has owned the rivalry. Now it appears UNC has the upper hand as far as depth. Duke's guards will be Smith, Scheyer, and Jordan Davidson. UNC will throw out Drew II, Ginyard, Strickland, and McDonald. I like Duke's top 2 vs. UNC's top 2, but they will get gassed in a hurry. Absolutely no depth in the 1-3 slots for Duke. UNC will be young, but they can use 6 very talented players at the 1-3 and will have the most talented frontcourt in the ACC.
1) Brad Daughtery? Not impressive? Yeah, only a 5-time NBA All-Star who averaged 19 pts and 10 rebs for his career. The leading scorer and rebounder in Cleveland history until 2008. Yeah...wasted career there.
2) You mention Derrick Phelps, Shammond Williams, Salvidori, etc...come on man. That's a reach. You are naming guys who NO ONE had as high draft picks. The fact that Salvidori and Shammond even made the league is a testament to the UNC system. Shammond was ranked 129th in the nation when he enrolled at UNC. Want some names ranked ahead of him??? Langdon, Wojo, Curtis Staples, LaMarr Greer, Ishua Benjamin, Steven Goolsby, and Jerry Braswell. Name any of those guys who lasted more than 2 seasons in the NBA...let alone the 7 seasons Shammond has played in the league. Salvadori??? He was a 3rd string C at UNC his senior year and he still played 2 seasons in the NBA.
George Lynch? All he had was a 12 year NBA career as a 6'6" undersized PF.
JR Reid? 11 year career in the NBA. I will concede he didn't live up to the hype, but 11 years and a career salary of $16,071,000 (basketball-reference.com) sounds like a better than average career to me.
Montross? 10 years in the league.
Busts are big name, big talent guys who were lotto picks that are out of the league in 3-4 seasons or ride the pine the rest of their careers after being 1st AA or NPOY. UNC has a tradition of putting guys in the league for multiple seasons who supposedly don't "translate" well to the NBA game. None of the players you mentioned with the exception of Reid were thought of as can't miss, physically dominant specimens. The fact that most of those even got a few years in the league is a testament to the Carolina Way. Had they gone elsewhere, they would have never gotten that chance.
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