Diesel Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 At first I was kinda pissed because I really had my heart set on Lawson, but then I realized this guy is a steal falling to us at 17. He was projected to go as high as 4th to Sacramento at one point, and he just slipped big time. We're getting a lottery talent with the 17th pick and with our future PG a huge question mark I think getting a future possible star was the right move. I just wish he had a shot discuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Still not that thrilled about it, honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHutch Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Lawson> Holiday should be decent, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Artesticle Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) I still don't understand how anybody is upset over this pick. I was happy as hell when I realized Jrue was still on board when we were up to pick. This kid has lottery talent, his potential is limitless. We're talking about a 19 year old kid, he's basically 3 years younger than Ty Lawson, the only player you could really make an argument for drafting. Jrue was expected to go in the lottery and we're extremely lucky he fell all the way down to #17. He was the #1 ranked high school prospect heading into the college season, I believe. The reason why he struggled in college was because UCLA used him as a 2 guard, instead of his natural position, at the 1. This is a 19 year old PG we're talking about, with great size at 6'4. The biggest knock I've heard against him is that he can't shoot the ball. Big deal, shooting is the easiest thing to develop as a basketball player. Just ask guys like Trevor Ariza, who couldn't make a jump shot to save his life coming into the league, and has turned himself into a lethal 3 point threat. Or Derek Fisher, one of the most dangerous shooters in the league, was never known as a shooter when he first entered the league. What I see here is the Sixers GAMBLING for star potential instead of just settling for the "safe" talent. The same argument was made when Thaddeus Young was drafted, that Al Thorton should've been the pick because he has "proven" more. 2 years into the league, Thaddeus is the better player, and like 4 years younger. Or when the Sixers made a mistake and drafted "NBA ready" Rodney Carney over a younger prospect like Ronnie Brewer. Sometimes, when a young player has potential, you just have to go with him. Especially for a team like the Sixers, who have basked in mediocrity, for how long now? So no matter what happens, I applaud Ed and the rest of the guys for having the balls to take a risk, which I'm sure will pay off. It's time to stop settling for the safe picks and go all in. An argument for Lawson is that he can give the Sixers immediate help. He's more "NBA ready." Well, he may prove me wrong, but how many rookies, especially ones who do not go in the lottery, come into their first NBA season and make a huge impact on their respective teams? Very few. I cannot think of any off the top of my head. If you want immediate impact from the point guard position, open up your wallet, resign Andre Miller. Jrue Holiday was a great pick for the Sixers, and most basketball experts agree. He may not contribute much his first year in the league, but most rookies don't do jack either. What I see here is an extremely young kid, with endless potential, who I think can be very special one day, and I'm glad the Sixers decided to roll the dice. As you can see, I'm a big Jrue supporter, and a huge supporter of the pick. For those who have doubts, be patient like you were with Thaddeus, he may take a year or two, but I'm confident that he was the right pick at the time. Edited June 28, 2009 by phiLA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multi-Billionaire Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) I wouldn't lie, if I was picking for the Nuggets and both Jrue and Lawson are available, I would pick Holiday. But only if we draft basing on talent alone. We need Lawson, we can't afford to wait for Holiday to develop although I'm not sure if you need to wait that long for him to develop. And anyway, he was off the board when Minny picked for us and we had to go with Lawson. Had it been the other way around, we may have drafted Jrue. He's long... what I like about his talent is "quiet". He's quietly explosive, like Brandon Roy who will quietly blow past you. There is a quiet meanness to his game. He's long and has long arms, a good defender, a good passer, and has a good feel for the game. The more I see his game, the more I like him. He sees the defense and figures out how to attack it precisely. Everyone thinks he's a project but I think he can have a ROTY-ish season. I see him as a top 6 talent in this draft, Sixers are very lucky to get him. But I just am as happy with our pick Lawson, and hope he can be as good and undo that Jameer Nelson trade. Yeah I just came with a comparison... he is a guard version of Lamar Odom. There's a smooth and meanness to his game. Edited June 28, 2009 by Snake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viral Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 I think he's kinda like Wade. If I were a Sixers fan, I'd love to get even a homeless man's Wade at 17. Ty Lawson may be better from day 1, but probably not even by much. While he's not much of a shooter yet, Holiday is a far superior defender even at 19. Couple that with his size and his advantage over Lawson in that area is immeasurable. The only thing that stopped him from being taken in the early lottery is his college performance. Here's the thing though, he played out of position for a team that is happy to score like 50 points per game (while holding their opponent between 30-40). He had to play off-ball while Collison and Lee dominated all of the point guard minutes. Not much statistical output should be expected out of a point guard playing shooting guard in the slowest tempo in college basketball, especially being put in that situation at such a young age. In no way did his college experience hinder him though. If he went to his other choice in Washington, he would have went Brandon Roy over there and got drafted top five. However, he'll have to settle for being a major steal just because he had an offensively disappointing performance at UCLA. The defensive tenacity he gained from there will prove to be worth much more than any statistically inflated season at a school with lesser prestige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoSixers Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 When the Sixers first made this pick, I wasn't really sold on him that much. I am not really big on drafting guys just based on their potential, over guys like Lawson or Maynor who proved that they had the skills in college and could come in and contribute right away in the NBA. I never really got to watch Jrue play much in college, but I knew that he was highly touted recruit coming into UCLA and really didn't put up that impressive numbers while he was there. But after looking it over and thinking about it a little more, I like the pick for the Sixers and I think Jrue will have a good future in the NBA. One reason he didn't have the best numbers at UCLA was because instead of like Tyreke Evans, who went to a school in dire need of a point guard; UCLA already had an established point in Darren Collison and Holiday was forced to play out of position. Russell Westbrook is another example of a guy at UCLA who had to play out of position because of Collison, and I would say he has fared pretty well in the NBA. Holiday was expected to go a lot higher in the draft, but tweaked his shoulder and caused him to fall right into the Sixers' lap. A few reasons why he is a better pick than Maynor or Lawson. He has better upside, he is three years younger than both, still raw and coachable after playing just one year in college. He has the long wingspan that Jay Bilas is obsessed with; 6'7" compared with 6'0" for Lawson and 6'2" for Maynor. He is also a really good defender, which the Sixers needed giving up two of their best bench defenders already this offseason. He also spells the name Drew in the most badass way possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Artesticle Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 When the Sixers first made this pick, I wasn't really sold on him that much. I am not really big on drafting guys just based on their potential, over guys like Lawson or Maynor who proved that they had the skills in college and could come in and contribute right away in the NBA.So you were upset when Sixers picked Young over Thornton? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoSixers Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 So you were upset when Sixers picked Young over Thornton? I never said that. But that is a different story, Young averaged 14 points per game and 6 boards while Jrue Holiday only put up like 8 points per game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wall2Wall Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 If you guys like Andre Miller, you will love Jrue Holiday. He's like a more athletic Miller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldChili Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Great pick imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phightins Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 *Is not educated enough to contribute a well thought out post* But based on what everybody else is saying, hopefully we will all be more than satisfied with the pick in 2-3 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWhiTex34 Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 (edited) How is every Sixer fan not happy about this pick? O.o Edited June 29, 2009 by DWhiTex34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.