Brandon Davies owned Portsmouth

[TexTechCoug]

An informal poll conducted among a small gathering of scouts who were asked to fill out their MVP ballots with about four minutes left in the game yielded only one name -- and for good reason. Davies averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds; he shot 68 percent from the field (25-for-37); and his team won the tournament. It was one of the more emphatic slam dunk MVP votes in recent PIT history.

But, it was also the way he did it. He scored with quick and decisive moves in the post. He grabbed key rebounds. Perhaps the best part of his game was his unselfishness, as he routinely drew defenders in the lane and dumped the ball to his teammates for easy scores. Davies brought the full arsenal to Portsmouth, and left town having greatly enhanced his draft status. Even if he struck out on draft night, as it's never the 60 best players who get picked, Davies tossed up a body of work this week that won't soon be forgotten by NBA teams already looking at options for summer league and training camp.

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/04/14/day-four-portsmouth-invitational-tournament/index.html#$/2013/news/04/14/day-four-portsmouth-invitational-tournament/index.html

[jay santos]

He's tall and his feet are quick enough he could potentially play the 4 or even 3. If he can gain strength and work on his perimeter game, he might have a chance to play in the NBA.

[Jacob]

The 3? Work on his perimeter game? You mean invent a perimeter game? He has no future as a 3.

[MarkGrace]

He's tall and his feet are quick enough he could potentially play the 4 or even 3. If he can gain strength and work on his perimeter game, he might have a chance to play in the NBA.

ha. Come on, Jay.

[jay santos]

The 3? Work on his perimeter game? You mean invent a perimeter game? He has no future as a 3.

I know it's a stretch, but he's got the length and the athleticism. I'm thinking of a Robert Horry type.

[Surfah]

I read that scouts really liked that he measured 6'8.5 barefoot. I thought you would appreciate that Jay.

[Indy Coug]

I know it's a stretch, but he's got the length and the athleticism. I'm thinking of a Robert Horry type.

He needs to rework his jumper mechanics if he's going to be Spot Up Bob.

[Moliere]

I love Brandon, but he's not even going to sniff the NBA. If he had developed a consistent 15-18 foot jumper, then maybe, but as it is he's likely bound for Europe.....which isn't a bad thing.

[Surfah]

I love Brandon, but he's not even going to sniff the NBA. If he had developed a consistent 15-18 foot jumper, then maybe, but as it is he's likely bound for Europe.....which isn't a bad thing.

What is a sniff? Because Brandon will be working out for NBA teams and I guarantee he is playing on some team's summer league this year and maybe invited to training camp somewhere.

[jay santos]

ftr, I don't think Davies will be on an NBA roster next year, but I think he has a chance to develop his game and make a roster within a couple years.

[Jacob]

Robert Horry is a significantly better athlete than Brandon Davies. Davies will play in summer league and have a terrific career in Europe. I doubt he'll be relegated to Korea or Brazil leagues.

[smokymountainrain]

I read that scouts really liked that he measured 6'8.5 barefoot. I thought you would appreciate that Jay.

Impressive. That puts him at about 6'10" in shoes.

[jay santos]

Robert Horry is a significantly better athlete than Brandon Davies. Davies will play in summer league and have a terrific career in Europe. I doubt he'll be relegated to Korea or Brazil leagues.

I guess I have bad memory. I would have said Davies is more athletic than Horry. It's always a bit of a mystery to me how some guys make the transition to the NBA and some don't. But it seems like guys like Davies that are pretty athletic, undersized 5's in college, occasionally are successful at developing a perimeter game and making the move to a different position. But I admit this analysis is outside my core competency, so take it fwiw.

[Jacob]

I guess I have bad memory. I would have said Davies is more athletic than Horry. It's always a bit of a mystery to me how some guys make the transition to the NBA and some don't. But it seems like guys like Davies that are pretty athletic, undersized 5's in college, occasionally are successful at developing a perimeter game and making the move to a different position. But I admit this analysis is outside my core competency, so take it fwiw.

I remember Horry with some nice dunks in traffic while slashing through the lane.

More importantly, I haven't seen any lateral quickness from Davies to make me think he would be able to guard anyone on the perimeter in the NBA. Horry had some of that. Davies seems like a methodical player in the post. Horry probably has longer arms too.

[smokymountainrain]

I remember Horry with some nice dunks in traffic while slashing through the lane.

More importantly, I haven't seen any lateral quickness from Davies to make me think he would be able to guard anyone on the perimeter in the NBA. Horry had some of that. Davies seems like a methodical player in the post. Horry probably has longer arms too.

No question, if Davies is going to play in the NBA, he has to be a 4. At 6'10" he has excellent size to do that. I can see him getting there with some improvement. He's as big, more athletic and a better player than Jarron Collins ever was. The fact that he's 6'10" - and I have to think his reach is at least average for his size - is a positive sign for his NBA chances.