Cool Rakim Christmas article

[RF2044]

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/06/19/rakeem-christmas-Caribbean-NBA-Draft-Tim-Duncan



Really, really, really hope he sneaks into the 1st round this Thursday.

 

[Ragman2000]

Great article. Hard not to root for him and I hope he carves out a long NBA career.

 

[Libero2]

I just don't know what more he needed to show people to prove he's got an NBA future. He's got size, NBA athleticism, a back to the basket game, a knack for blocking shots, can muscle with NBA bigs, averaged 9 rebounds a game, can hit a 15 ft jumper (albeit inconsistently) is a high character guy, and showed improvement every year, did well at the combine. I get why people don't see him as a superstar or even a starter, but man how can you not see a guy who can contribute to an NBA roster and play 5-10 years as a 7th guy and a 3rd rotational big.

I'm hoping he gets drafted a lot earlier than people expect. I hope he's that guy that goes higher than most expect because one team just fell in love with him.

 

[RF2044]

I just don't know what more he needed to show people to prove he's got an NBA future. He's got size, NBA athleticism, a back to the basket game, a knack for blocking shots, can muscle with NBA bigs, averaged 9 rebounds a game, can hit a 15 ft jumper (albeit inconsistently) is a high character guy, and showed improvement every year, did well at the combine. I get why people don't see him as a superstar or even a starter, but man how can you not see a guy who can contribute to an NBA roster and play 5-10 years as a 7th guy and a 3rd rotational big.

I'm hoping he gets drafted a lot earlier than people expect. I hope he's that guy that goes higher than most expect because one team just fell in love with him.

Literally could not agree more. Not suggesting he will be a star. But a rotation big? 100% confident in that. It will be a shame / a crime if he drops to the second, while undeserving / unproven bigs go ahead of him.

I'm actually fairly confident he'll slide in at the end of the first round, to a team that is looking for a bench guy ready to contribute immediately off the bench.

 

[Libero2]

Literally could not agree more. Not suggesting he will be a star. But a rotation big? 100% confident in that. It will be a shame / a crime if he drops to the second, while undeserving / unproven bigs go ahead of him.

I'm actually fairly confident he'll slide in at the end of the first round, to a team that is looking for a bench guy ready to contribute immediately off the bench.

He'd be a great fit for basically everybody at the end of the first round. In a way I kind of hope he ends up to the Knicks at the top of round 2. Lots of chances to play and prove himself on a meh team that has a fellow orange star on the floor in Melo. It would be a similar situation to grant a year ago, and I think Rak would do just as well, if not better. That said I would love to see him go top 25.

 

[OrangeDW]

I just don't know what more he needed to show people to prove he's got an NBA future. He's got size, NBA athleticism, a back to the basket game, a knack for blocking shots, can muscle with NBA bigs, averaged 9 rebounds a game, can hit a 15 ft jumper (albeit inconsistently) is a high character guy, and showed improvement every year, did well at the combine. I get why people don't see him as a superstar or even a starter, but man how can you not see a guy who can contribute to an NBA roster and play 5-10 years as a 7th guy and a 3rd rotational big.

I'm hoping he gets drafted a lot earlier than people expect. I hope he's that guy that goes higher than most expect because one team just fell in love with him.

I agree with all of that except for his size. His best position is center, and at 6'9 he's short for an NBA center. If he was 6'11, he's a much bigger prospect. I also feel like Onuaku would have a steady home in the league rather than being a 10 day contract guy, if he was a little taller.

With the recent "go small" trend which was taken to the extreme when the champions benched their 7 foot center and often played a 6'7 guy at center, maybe that will help both of them.

 

[Libero2]

I agree with all of that except for his size. His best position is center, and at 6'9 he's short for an NBA center. If he was 6'11, he's a much bigger prospect. I also feel like Onuaku would have a steady home in the league rather than being a 10 day contract guy, if he was a little taller.

With the recent "go small" trend which was taken to the extreme when the champions benched their 7 foot center and often played a 6'7 guy at center, maybe that will help both of them.

If Rak was 6'11" he'd be a top 15 guy without a doubt IMO. But just because he isn't doesn't mean he can't play and find a niche in the league. Which is the Crux of my argument. Rak can and will find a niche in the league. Hopefully he goes to a strong organization that gives him a chance to play and develop early in a good situation

 

[Cheriehoop]

Great and well deserved article not just about Rak but also Mike Hopkins.

 

[shandeezy7]

I agree with all of that except for his size. His best position is center, and at 6'9 he's short for an NBA center. If he was 6'11, he's a much bigger prospect. I also feel like Onuaku would have a steady home in the league rather than being a 10 day contract guy, if he was a little taller.

With the recent "go small" trend which was taken to the extreme when the champions benched their 7 foot center and often played a 6'7 guy at center, maybe that will help both of them.

He might only be 6'9" but he has the reach of a 6'11" guy. We'll see how much stock NBA execs put into that this Thursday I guess.

 

[OttoMets]

A 6'11" Rak would have played his last Syracuse game against Ohio State in 2012.

The real-life version is going to be a great pick for someone, though - hope he finds a good fit.

 

[OttoMets]

Nice piece. But this sentence is a grammatical and factual catastrophe: "Boeheim never lacked confidence in Hopkins, who’s game-winning free throws against UConn clinched Syracuse’s 1992 Big East Championship."

Did Sports Illustrated borrow some editors from the Syracuse newspaper?

 

[44cuse]

Literally could not agree more. Not suggesting he will be a star. But a rotation big? 100% confident in that. It will be a shame / a crime if he drops to the second, while undeserving / unproven bigs go ahead of him.

I'm actually fairly confident he'll slide in at the end of the first round, to a team that is looking for a bench guy ready to contribute immediately off the bench.

"With the 30th pick in the 1st Round, the Golden State Warriors select..."

44cuse

 

[reedny]

Nice piece. But this sentence is a grammatical and factual catastrophe: "Boeheim never lacked confidence in Hopkins, who’s game-winning free throws against UConn clinched Syracuse’s 1992 Big East Championship."

Did Sports Illustrated borrow some editors from the Syracuse newspaper?

lol. should have been "whose", correct. Also, note the other OP starting with: "Do any of the Freshman Start?"

 

[OttoMets]

lol. should have been "whose", correct. Also, note the other post starting with: "Do any of the Freshman Start?"

Yeah, I have a distinct memory of Dave Johnson hitting a 16-footer over Alonzo Mourning to win the Big East in 1992.

 

[weedsportwarriors]

"With the 30th pick in the 1st Round, the Golden State Warriors select..."

44cuse

He won't make it that far. With the 26th pick the Spurs Select Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse University. He will follow Duncan to the Spurs to be his replacement.

 

[themorey]

He might only be 6'9" but he has the reach of a 6'11" guy. We'll see how much stock NBA execs put into that this Thursday I guess.

His wingspan was measured to be 7'5" iirc. That's pretty damn impressive for a guy just under 6'9" who also happens to have a pretty good post up game.

 

[Tobias Funke]

If Rak was 6'11" he'd be a top 15 guy without a doubt IMO. But just because he isn't doesn't mean he can't play and find a niche in the league. Which is the Crux of my argument. Rak can and will find a niche in the league. Hopefully he goes to a strong organization that gives him a chance to play and develop early in a good situation

if he was 6' 11" he likely gets drafted years ago on potential.

 

[reedny]

Yeah, I have a distinct memory of Dave Johnson hitting a 16-footer over Alonzo Mourning to win the Big East in 1992.

I tried finding a box score, or play-by-play, for that game. Came up pretty much empty. Wiki has a summary of the BET's, including '92, but no box scores:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_East_Men's_Basketball_Tournament

Unfortunately, SU's archives don't have BET numbers, and their season box is a confused mess.
http://cuse.com/sports/2006/8/28/9192mbbstats.aspx?id=3163#TEAM.IND

 

[OttoMets]

I tried finding a box score, or play-by-play, for that game. Came up pretty much empty. Wiki has a summary of the BET's, including '92, but no box scores:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_East_Men's_Basketball_Tournament

Unfortunately, SU's archives don't have BET numbers, and their season box is a confused mess.
http://cuse.com/sports/2006/8/28/9192mbbstats.aspx?id=3163#TEAM.IND

Couldn't find a box, either, but this helps: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/19...n-center-johnson-east-tournament-championship