2011 NBA Draft

[Surfah]

I wonder if Jimmer got a guarantee from someone. He has been invited into the green room on draft day.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsja...n-nba.html.csp

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Yeah, neither him nor Brandon Knight stand out much in those numbers. But I did notice Jackson is solid in every category - in the middle, but the top half of nearly ever category and in the top 5-7 of a few of them.

Ford says the Heat have given Jackson a promise at 31. I doubt he falls that far, even coming off an injury, no combine, and no workouts.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

DX says Biyombo working out for Toronto, then Detroit, and then a meeting with NY.

Also reporting that GS offered Ellis, Biedrins, and Udoh for Dwight Howard. I wonder how long whoever fielded that call for Orlando was laughing after he hung up.

[Jacob]

The Biyombo workout:

chadfordinsider Chad Ford
Biyombo's workout in Detroit should be a doozy. He'll workout against Tristan Thompson, Markieff Morris, Jordan Williams, Keith Benson

If Kemba Walker is off the board, that Biyombo-Tristan Thompson-Markieff Morris workout on Tues should decide who Pistons take at 8

Hopefully Tristan Thompson really wows Detroit. They'll need a defensive minded big man next to Monroe for the future.

If the Jazz somehow ended up with Knight and Biyombo at 12, that would be much more than I could have ever hoped for out of this draft. I'd prefer that to having the 1st pick. I can't believe Biyombo droops that far, but Ford and DX seem to think its possible.

Beause I don't think he'll be there, I'm still in favor of drafting Knight or Kanter, then swapping with Toronto or Washington for Biyombo or Valanciunas. Then drafting Jimmer at 12.

[smokymountainrain]

If the Jazz somehow ended up with Knight and Biyombo at 12, that would be much more than I could have ever hoped for out of this draft. I'd prefer that to having the 1st pick. I can't believe Biyombo droops that far, but Ford and DX seem to think its possible.

I agree 100%. Of course, they'd be getting my #2 and #5 overall guys. That would be a dream draft.

Instead they'll take Kanter at #3 and Singleton at 12.

[smokymountainrain]

The Jazz weren't always great at drafting in the 2nd round. I've got the 1988 draft on and I just heard Rod Thorn announce the Jazz had taken Jeff Moe with their 2nd round pick. Yikes.

[MarkGrace]

The Biyombo workout:




Hopefully Tristan Thompson really wows Detroit. They'll need a defensive minded big man next to Monroe for the future.

Having a highly skilled big in Monroe makes it easier to draft a guy like Biyombo. Plus I think Biyombo seems like more of a 5 than Thompson and I doubt Monroe ever moves away from the 4 spot.

[DU Ute]

I'm starting to wonder if CarolinaCoug is my FIL.

[MarkGrace]

The Jazz weren't always great at drafting in the 2nd round. I've got the 1988 draft on and I just heard Rod Thorn announce the Jazz had taken Jeff Moe with their 2nd round pick. Yikes.

Anyone good go after that?

[smokymountainrain]

Anyone good go after that?

Vernon Maxwell, Steve Kerr and Anthony Mason would be the only guys taken after that who became impact players in the league.

[MarkGrace]

I'm starting to wonder if CarolinaCoug is my FIL.

Why? Would your FIL think this guy is eerily similar to Sean May, too?

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[smokymountainrain]

Biyombo that high and in front of Derrick Williams? Nolan Smith in the lottery? Nuts.

I think Nolan Smith is a very good PG prospect. He doesn't have any glaring weaknesses or negative aspects to his game. He's got good size at 6'2", he's an excellent athlete, he passes it well, shoots it well, can score, defends and seems to be good guy off the court. In my opinion, he's Kemba Walker with an extra inch or two and a better defender.

[DU Ute]

Why? Would your FIL think this guy is eerily similar to Sean May, too?

Everyone is Sean May compared to the Jimmer.

[smokymountainrain]

More on Biyombo...

http://thepaintedarea.blogspot.com/2...-prospect.html

In 14 ACB games, Bismack averaged 6.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 55% FG pct and 55% FT pct in just 17 mins per.

Biyombo is simply a monster shot-blocker--led the ACB in blocks, even with his limited playing time. No doubt he will be a helpside terror like his compatriot Serge Ibaka.

At the risk of an oversimplified comparison based on identifying characteristics, a la Dirk-Bird, here are Ibaka's numbers from when he played in the ACB: 7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 55% FG pct and 72% FT pct in 16 mins per. Very comparable, with Serge being a better FT shooter, but - surprisingly - Biyombo with much-higher block numbers than the young man who ended up leading the NBA in blocks per minute in 2010-11, and was third in blocks overall.

I find it telling that Biyombo, presumably at a younger age, averaged double the number of blocks per game than did Ibaka (in the same league), who just happened to be the best shot-blocker in the NBA last year. The draft is a crapshoot, but Biyombo being an impact shot-blocker/rim-protecter is about as close to a slam dunk as you can get in the draft.

So he can block shots, but can he play defense on the ball?

As much as Biyombo's ability to alter shots off-ball is great, it's his ability to change them on the ball that was especially impressive. Of the 21 charted defensive post plays for Biyombo on Synergy Sports Technology, he blocked 6-7 shots on the ball and severely altered 3-4 more shots. Nasty. Granted, a limited sample size, but still nasty.

Overall, Biyombo's post defense was stellar this year. On those aforementioned 21 post plays, his opponents managed to shoot just 22% (according to Synergy). Holds his position well, even against veterans, shows good balance and shuffles his feet well. Very sound in his approach.

In the best pro-league outside the NBA, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.

This all from an 18 year old rookie in that league. He's already very good at what he does and he'll only get better.

I'm not advocating the Jazz taking him at #3, but I wouldn't be upset if they do take him there.

[Jacob]

As for on the ball defense. Biyombo looks to be agile enough to even play some defense on the wing. I saw him pressuring guys on the perimeter and creating steals. He'd be great on pick and roll defense, IMO. I know I'm way to hyped on this guy, but I think he's such a special physical speciman. Dwight...LeBron...Bismack. Crazy, I know.

This draft is going to be a bit crazy. Last year we knew who the top 5, 6 and even 7 were. This year we're not even certain who will go 1 and 2. And it's completely unpredictable after that. And we'll probably see a big wrench thrown in Tuesday or so when a couple of trades go down. Then again, the trades might not happen until the picks start to be made.