Comments on: Sizing Up the NBA’s 2006 First-Round Picks http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/ The season's over. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:07:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tyrone Henderson http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-689 Tyrone Henderson Mon, 28 May 2007 17:32:07 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-689 the rookies are getting better each year. the rookies are getting better each year.

]]> By: Jason http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Jason Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:18:48 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-402 Great work guys, but I got to disagree, Bargnani was not in a neck and neck race for ROY with Roy. Maybe people think so, but Roy's season is levels ahead of every other rookie, he handles the ball the majority of the 4th quarter, he has hit many many clutch shots already, and he is quickly becoming the leader of the Blazers. Great work guys, but I got to disagree, Bargnani was not in a neck and neck race for ROY with Roy. Maybe people think so, but Roy’s season is levels ahead of every other rookie, he handles the ball the majority of the 4th quarter, he has hit many many clutch shots already, and he is quickly becoming the leader of the Blazers.

]]> By: Anthony Yu http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Anthony Yu Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:05:00 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-401 Sergio and Nash would of been an AWESOME PG combo, this will kill PHX in the future, not just "a REGRET for PHX" (an idea posted by "Blazerholic"). Colangelo would of kept Spanish Chocolate in a heart-beat, but he seems to be managing MY TEAM, the Raptors and took "IL MAGO" for #1 pick MUHAHHAHA. Suns might fall apart in the future if they miss another PG draft chance. Sergio and Nash would of been an AWESOME PG combo, this will kill PHX in the future, not just “a REGRET for PHX” (an idea posted by “Blazerholic”). Colangelo would of kept Spanish Chocolate in a heart-beat, but he seems to be managing MY TEAM, the Raptors and took “IL MAGO” for #1 pick MUHAHHAHA. Suns might fall apart in the future if they miss another PG draft chance.

]]> By: UtesFan89 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-399 UtesFan89 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:54:43 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-399 Nice job with this. Seeing Brewer rot away on the bench is becoming a major annoyance... and is a huge reason I'm turning into an Anti-Sloan person. Any plans on doing it for the 2nd round? Nice job with this.
Seeing Brewer rot away on the bench is becoming a major annoyance… and is a huge reason I’m turning into an Anti-Sloan person.
Any plans on doing it for the 2nd round?

]]> By: 10FootBongz http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-398 10FootBongz Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:20:46 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-398 Good post, but I think that you will agree with me on one thing: You should have become a watchmaker. Good post, but I think that you will agree with me on one thing:
You should have become a watchmaker.

]]> By: Blazerholic http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Blazerholic Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:23:25 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-397 Actually, Sergio was drafted at #27 by the Suns, who traded him to Portland for cash. I think the Suns are going to regret that one. As far as Thomas vs. Aldridge, both are going to be special. Can Thomas put up consistantly good numbers every game? Because that's what Aldridge was doing before his surgery. Also, Thomas's 60% FT is not good. But I really do like both players. Actually, Sergio was drafted at #27 by the Suns, who traded him to Portland for cash. I think the Suns are going to regret that one.

As far as Thomas vs. Aldridge, both are going to be special. Can Thomas put up consistantly good numbers every game? Because that’s what Aldridge was doing before his surgery. Also, Thomas’s 60% FT is not good. But I really do like both players.

]]> By: Dwight's A Softee, Gilbert Fights Back, And The Clips Make The West All Messy « Three In The Key http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Dwight's A Softee, Gilbert Fights Back, And The Clips Make The West All Messy « Three In The Key Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:28:48 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-396 [...] A look at the ‘06 Rookies [...] [...] A look at the ‘06 Rookies [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Brian Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:16:05 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-386 I wish I had kept this all to one post... <i>Especially for a rookie, Thomas has a big mouth on the court as well, which was shown by his recent squabbles with the Pistons’ Rip Hamilton and the Knicks’ Nate Robinson and Steve Francis… but you gotta believe Scott Skiles likes his edge.</i> They do like his edge, but it's funny you mention both of those incidents. In both cases, Thomas wasn't the agressor, but it's entirely possible that he invited it somehow through the course of the game. Rip's had problems with the Bulls for a couple years now (I'm guessing partly due to Hinrich's defense of him), and was having an awful game. I'm guessing he saw the rookie as an easy target and went after him. Thomas really kept his mouth shut until both were ejected. He didn't take Rip's bait. As for the Knicks, well, come on. It's Nate Robinson. He lives to instigate. And it was more than just Thomas they were mad at, and I've yet to hear anyone take the Knicks' side in that ridiculous "controversy." I wish I had kept this all to one post…

Especially for a rookie, Thomas has a big mouth on the court as well, which was shown by his recent squabbles with the Pistons’ Rip Hamilton and the Knicks’ Nate Robinson and Steve Francis… but you gotta believe Scott Skiles likes his edge.

They do like his edge, but it’s funny you mention both of those incidents. In both cases, Thomas wasn’t the agressor, but it’s entirely possible that he invited it somehow through the course of the game. Rip’s had problems with the Bulls for a couple years now (I’m guessing partly due to Hinrich’s defense of him), and was having an awful game. I’m guessing he saw the rookie as an easy target and went after him. Thomas really kept his mouth shut until both were ejected. He didn’t take Rip’s bait.

As for the Knicks, well, come on. It’s Nate Robinson. He lives to instigate. And it was more than just Thomas they were mad at, and I’ve yet to hear anyone take the Knicks’ side in that ridiculous “controversy.”

]]> By: Brian http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Brian Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:11:53 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-385 And to finish my post, Aldridge's and Thomas's per 48 minutes stats (while keeping in mind how much better of a team the Bulls are): Aldridge 19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks .75 steals, 50.3% fg 72.2% ft Thomas 18.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 2.3 steals, 48.0% fg 60.4% ft. Nope, not even close to a misstep for Paxson, IMO. And to finish my post, Aldridge’s and Thomas’s per 48 minutes stats (while keeping in mind how much better of a team the Bulls are):

Aldridge 19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks .75 steals, 50.3% fg 72.2% ft
Thomas 18.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 2.3 steals, 48.0% fg 60.4% ft.

Nope, not even close to a misstep for Paxson, IMO.

]]> By: Brian http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Brian Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:02:32 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/2007/04/12/sizing-up-the-nbas-2006-first-round-picks/#comment-384 <i>Aldridge has a great knack for offensive rebounds already, and it looks like the trade from the Bulls will end up as a rare misguided personnel decision by Chicago GM John Paxson.</i> Way too early to say that. First off, I'd like to say that Aldridge's heart thing (which hopefully sounds like he should be fine from) would have scared the ever-living crap out of the Bulls and could have been an Eddy Curry situation all over again. I think Pax has to be glad he avoided that. As for their actual production, I think we need to put them in context. Aldridge's Offensive Rebound rate is 12.6 and Thomas's is 10.4, so I don't think they're that far off. Aldridge is in a better situation in terms of playing time, so we get to see more of him. But Thomas really has come on a lot a stronger, as you said, since his playing time has increased. He's been really impressive on the defensive end (he's just a natural shot blocker), and the engery he injects is really hard to measure (and it's the sort of think they were missing when Nocioni was out). And if you're going to cherry pick a couple of games for Aldridge, you should have also mentioned Thomas's two best games: the 23/9 against Boston (in 29 minutes) and the 27/8 against Cleve (on 9/11 shooting). Personally, I still think Thomas shows more potential, and has a chance to be a special player. I think Aldridge is also going to be good, too, so I'm not disparaging him by saying that. But if the trade hadn't been made, I think you'd be praising Thomas. I don't see how Aldridge would be able to duplicate Thomas's minutes on this Bulls team (in spite of them needing a low post scorer), and he would end up sitting because he doesn't have the defensive presence that Thomas already has (which is why his minutes are increasing moreso than his scoring). Aldridge has a great knack for offensive rebounds already, and it looks like the trade from the Bulls will end up as a rare misguided personnel decision by Chicago GM John Paxson.

Way too early to say that. First off, I’d like to say that Aldridge’s heart thing (which hopefully sounds like he should be fine from) would have scared the ever-living crap out of the Bulls and could have been an Eddy Curry situation all over again. I think Pax has to be glad he avoided that.

As for their actual production, I think we need to put them in context. Aldridge’s Offensive Rebound rate is 12.6 and Thomas’s is 10.4, so I don’t think they’re that far off. Aldridge is in a better situation in terms of playing time, so we get to see more of him. But Thomas really has come on a lot a stronger, as you said, since his playing time has increased. He’s been really impressive on the defensive end (he’s just a natural shot blocker), and the engery he injects is really hard to measure (and it’s the sort of think they were missing when Nocioni was out). And if you’re going to cherry pick a couple of games for Aldridge, you should have also mentioned Thomas’s two best games: the 23/9 against Boston (in 29 minutes) and the 27/8 against Cleve (on 9/11 shooting).

Personally, I still think Thomas shows more potential, and has a chance to be a special player. I think Aldridge is also going to be good, too, so I’m not disparaging him by saying that. But if the trade hadn’t been made, I think you’d be praising Thomas. I don’t see how Aldridge would be able to duplicate Thomas’s minutes on this Bulls team (in spite of them needing a low post scorer), and he would end up sitting because he doesn’t have the defensive presence that Thomas already has (which is why his minutes are increasing moreso than his scoring).

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