The Best Fit for Rakeem Christmas?

[Cusefan0307]

Mo Speights!

Oh, you said "playing" in the finals.

Lol that dude must of gained 40 pounds in two weeks.

 

[jgeorge322]

That's a myth. None of the 4's or 5's playing in the NBA Finals have a jumper outside of Draymond, and he hasn't hit anything in a month.

i cant see why rakim couldnt be as good as tristan thompson and thompson's about to get PAID.

 

[jordoo]

I'd imagine Rak would be more effective closer to the basket, but Green has a ridiculous wing-span that belies his height a little. And he's a really good passer. He's not a full time center or anything, but the Warriors do play lineups with him at the 5 (including OT of game 1 of the finals). Green can guard a ton of positions on defense, is a good facilitator of offense, and has acceptable range out to the 3 point line. Green does a lot more well than Christmas does.

And one of the Warriors strengths this season has been switching a ton of position on defense and then spreading the floor and passing in the screen game on offense. Green fits great in that scheme.

 

[Knicks411]

i cant see why rakim couldnt be as good as tristan thompson and thompson's about to get PAID.

I think Tristan is probably quicker and might have longer arms? Rak probably has a more skilled offensive game. But if he devotes himself to basically grabbing every offensive rebound there is he could be very successful

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Whichever team is willing to commit a 1st round pick/guaranteed multi-year deal to Rak is the best fit for him.

 

[reedny]

Green blocked Lebron at the rim at the end of game 2. All they had to do was hold onto the ball and they would be up 2-1 right now.

I agree he's a better interior scorer, but he to would struggle against who Green is going up against right now.

Everyone struggles against who Green's going up against now. lol And I saw that block (running to the rim) .. great defensive play. I agree Green's versatile .. he's a stretch 4 (in my book), with limited range (I have seen him hit 1 tre' in the playoffs), who can defend better outside and seems to be a pretty good passer. I agree with Jordoo he fits GS's scheme (spread offense/screen game). I just think Rak can be as versatile .. just closer to the basket. He's got a nice stroke and (IMHO) a better low-block and mid-range game than Green, he can play the 4 or 5 in a smaller lineup and pass it (he ran that high-low play to TC to perfection, although the NBA's a different story). With NBA small-ball alive and well, why wouldn't a player like Rak who can block shots but also run .. be attractive?

 

[moqui]

Green shot 67% at the rim this year, anyone have any idea where to get college splits? Curious how Rak did.

Roc shot 70.1% at the rim his senior year, according to the excellent Hoop Math

 

[Knicks411]

Roc shot 70.1% at the rim his senior year, according to the excellent Hoop Math

Interesting. I'm sure Rak had a lot more post ups which are lower % shots.

I don't see how Rak can be as versatile as Green. I really don't see Green as any kind of comp for Rak. Green can guard multiple positions on defense and can play multiple spots on offense. Green made 111 3's this year in 79 games, shooting a shade under 34%. Not great by any means, but Rak has done nothing to show he can do anything like that.
Rak can be a 4/5 type, I just don't see hi ever having a game like Draymond's.

 

[reedny]

Interesting. I'm sure Rak had a lot more post ups which are lower % shots.

I don't see how Rak can be as versatile as Green. I really don't see Green as any kind of comp for Rak. Green can guard multiple positions on defense and can play multiple spots on offense. Green made 111 3's this year in 79 games, shooting a shade under 34%. Not great by any means, but Rak has done nothing to show he can do anything like that.
Rak can be a 4/5 type, I just don't see hi ever having a game like Draymond's.

That's a pretty good 3pt percentage, although since I've been glued to the playoffs he hasn't done from outside. I can also appreciate Green's versatility on defense ... guarding the perimeter and still functioning inside (to a degree). Rak doesn't have that range of skills. BUT, he's still a guy who can play either the 4 or 5, score facing up or with his back to the basket (which Green can't do), block shots (which Green is not great at), score over size inside and shoot the mid-range jumper with accuracy (Green may be able to do this but I haven't seen it).

Again .. I'm not an NBA guy (mostly follow college hoops), and my sample size of observations of Green is pitifully small. So .. my opinion's not worth much.

 

[longislandcuse]

I think Rak is the prototype backup 4/5. Doesn't need a 3 pont stroke although that would be the quickest way to get a pay day, however, if he can develop a solid mid range jumpshot (which he can) he gives you everything you could want in this NBA. Post skills, shot blocking, should be a decent rebounder, athletic enough to switch and can run the floor.

 

[Dave85]

Whichever team is willing to commit a 1st round pick/guaranteed multi-year deal to Rak is the best fit for him.

I hope he goes first round. That would be just so awesome!

 

[Melancer46]

Chad Ford just published a report saying Christmas looked like he belonged with Porzingis, Myles Turner, Jarell Martin, and the other guys in Vegas, and said he's hearing more and more that he'll be a first round pick.

Said to keep an eye on San Antonio and Golden State to target him.

 

[RF2044]

Chad Ford just published a report saying Christmas looked like he belonged with Porzingis, Myles Turner, Jarell Martin, and the other guys in Vegas, and said he's hearing more and more that he'll be a first round pick.

Said to keep an eye on San Antonio and Golden State to target him.

That's great news--would LOVE to see Christmas make it into the first round. He deserves to be picked there.

 

[moqui]

Chad Ford just published a report saying Christmas looked like he belonged with Porzingis, Myles Turner, Jarell Martin, and the other guys in Vegas, and said he's hearing more and more that he'll be a first round pick.

Said to keep an eye on San Antonio and Golden State to target him.

the Lakers loved his workout, too, but are supposedly hesitant to use their other 1st on him, especially if they go big at #2

 

[OttoinGrotto]

the Lakers loved his workout, too, but are supposedly hesitant to use their 1st on him, especially if they go big at #2

Yeah, that's exactly what the Lakers want the rest of the NBA to believe.

 

[jordoo]

The bottom line is teams are seeing Rak and saying this guy can come in and play right away plus he's still developing his game. There is tremendous value in that for playoff teams.

 

[skurey]

A Syracuse player on the Spurs? Dreams do come true.

 

[MSOrange]

Chad Ford just published a report saying Christmas looked like he belonged with Porzingis, Myles Turner, Jarell Martin, and the other guys in Vegas, and said he's hearing more and more that he'll be a first round pick.

Said to keep an eye on San Antonio and Golden State to target him.

Not bad for an over the hill senior in college

 

[TheCusian]

That's a myth. None of the 4's or 5's playing in the NBA Finals have a jumper outside of Draymond, and he hasn't hit anything in a month.

Mozgov has a nice jumper inside 15.

 

[Melancer46]

the Lakers loved his workout, too, but are supposedly hesitant to use their other 1st on him, especially if they go big at #2

Based on what I've heard regarding the Lakers, they want to either trade up to get a higher 2nd pick, or trade down to the 2nd round so that they don't have to use the 27th pick on a guaranteed contract.

 

[IthacaMatt]

He is Antonio Davis Redux, and should be gone by the 2nd round.
Career NBA statistics
Points 9,041 (10.0 ppg)
Rebounds 6,755 (7.5 rpg)
Blocks 889 (1.0 bpg)

Antonio Davis developed a midrange jump shot. Rak doesn't have that yet.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Based on what I've heard regarding the Lakers, they want to either trade up to get a higher 2nd pick, or trade down to the 2nd round so that they don't have to use the 27th pick on a guaranteed contract.

Because committing money to a rookie scale deal blows up their free agency plans as the cap explodes?

That don't make no sense.

 

[jncuse]

Based on what I've heard regarding the Lakers, they want to either trade up to get a higher 2nd pick, or trade down to the 2nd round so that they don't have to use the 27th pick on a guaranteed contract.

Must be all those guys lining up to play with Kobe...

 

[moqui]

Because committing money to a rookie scale deal blows up their free agency plans as the cap explodes?

That don't make no sense.

With Randle, Clarkson and this year's #2 and maybe 34, they think they will have enough young core pieces. they are probably delusional, but they want to retain maximum flexibility to get Kevin Durant in 2016 and to put as many veteran pieces around that group as they can.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Antonio Davis developed a midrange jump shot. Rak doesn't have that yet.

is a FT not a mid range jumper, or at least a good indication of success with same? He has it, just didn't need to show it, certainly last year as the only low post option the offense flowed through.