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Post by aussiehoya on Jun 28, 2005 14:37:39 GMT -5
ventured into brooklyn last night for a friend's going away party.. ended up meeting a guy who was close friends w/ Julius Hodge. The guy told me he came up with Hodge in New York and that he was going to the guy's draft party (which is tonight). we both talked for and agreed on two things:
1. hodge has a pro skill set, but may be too skinny to guard the 3 position at this point.
2. he's the type of player that has the potential to slip all the way from the late first round to anywhere in the second round...
anybody wanna do some name-dropping and spice this board up a lil?
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 28, 2005 14:45:43 GMT -5
I think Hodge can be a solid player in the league. He has the intangibles. I don't know if he will be a star. He may be a guy you bring off the bench and also play in the 4th period during crunch time. He is not a 2, but more of a 3. Tough competitor, and not afraid to step up in big games. I think he will slip in the draft because he is not a "sexy" pick. He is not athletic. He doesn't punch people in the nads. He doesn't leap through the air and through up a diamond sign everytime he runs the court. Basically, he didn't play for Duke or UNC or Wake Forest, so he doesn't get that extra "padding" like those Duke and UNC or Wake Forest players get.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 28, 2005 23:39:23 GMT -5
I was hanging out with Trenton Hassell and Troy Hudson tonight at the Pro Am and they told me that Ndudi Ebi should be all that David Stern needs to make HS kids banished from NBA forever ;D ;D
It was interesting talking basketball with them and when they asked if I was a T-Wolves fan I answered honestly "Hell No". Told them I'm a Philly fan and with that comes misery and they both laughed. Said I didn't need to watch Draft as Billy King would mess it up and Philly only had 1 2nd Round Pick and take the overrated and soon to be NBDL star Louis Williams. Anyways, they were in good shape Aussie, and looking forward to next year. Not really sure what to think of McCants as Hassell said he could be a smaller "Loren Woods" in terms of flaky behavior and Hudson liked the pick because he's athletic and can shoot---but as I brought up to them--he'll fit in nicely as he didn't make any shots in 2nd Half of National Title Game so that's good Wolves experience for those late moments in 4th to which they rolled their eyes and gave me some crap--all good natured though. Hey, at least I didn't kiss up to them and pretend to be a Wolves fan when I'm not right? Besides I'm buddies with a guy in League they both like and respect and he's a big Laker fan who gives them same crap.
Nice people though and wished them best next year.
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Post by aussiehoya on Jun 29, 2005 9:45:26 GMT -5
RDF i think you've got it twisted. I'm not actually a wolves fan - I'm actually a semi-fanatic NBA fan, that's really all. As a fan of the overall NBA I have players I'm really attached to (see: KG / AI / Dwayne Wade + The Daddy etc.).
I do not like McCants as a lottery pick or for that matter even in the second round. The guy clearly has absurd issues and has consistently shown over the course of his college career that he is all about HIM. He is just dying to come into the league so he can start complaining to more reporters about playing time. If he was being drafted for locker-room-cancer-upside then he was a fantastic pick for the wolves. I just can't see this guy panning out, but then I've been wrong before. And I guess if there is one alpha dog who'll be able to keep him in line for at least a couple of years it's KG.
agreed it was a good move not to kiss up to hassell / hudson. no further comment needed on that...
The SEC received a harsh slap in the face last night. How about Azuibuke / Morris and Roberson / Walsh going undrafted... ugh that looks bad for those guys..
now all that's left for me to do from an nba perspective is sit here with my fingers crossed praying to god that Bogut isn't a bust. If he's a bust i'll definitely take it personally.
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 29, 2005 10:03:54 GMT -5
Don't take it personally, aussie. Just because Bogus sucks, and he will be a bust, that is no reflection on you. I like Hudson and Hassell as players. Troy is solid and can hit big shots. Hassell is a great role player and decent defender. McCants!? Well when Kevin McHale hired Rex Chapman as his right hand man for the draft and future personnel manangement, I didn't expect Rex to have such an immediate impact on picking players. I mean drafting McCants and Bracey Wright surely indicates that the Timberwolves front office doesn't have their head between their legs.  I mean both these guys have bust written all over them. And who is doing the heights for these guys. McCants is like 6'2". They listed him at 6'4" but he is not that tall. He is not that good. Bracey Wright!? Please. These are the guys to replace Cassell and Sprewell. What a joke! Troy Hudson won't have to worry about playing time for a while with the Timberwolves. Because Wright and McCants will be busts. |
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Jun 29, 2005 10:58:17 GMT -5
I'm in agreement with you the_way on this one. McCants?!? Not only did the Wolves get one of the overrated UNC players, they got the WORST ONE. And Bracey Wright? Crap.
The Wolves could've had Danny Granger. Or Warrick.
*&*^%.
Excuse me while I light myself on fire.
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 29, 2005 11:18:41 GMT -5
And did you see Hakeem Warrick's face when he was drafted low with the Memphis Grizzlies at the 19th pick. He was Editeded. Not a the Grizzlies for drafting him, but for all those teams who passed him up. He looked like he wanted to kill Stuart Scott while he was being interviewed by him.
How about Miami picking up Wayne Simien. Solid pick. These good teams are getting solid players who are ready to play right away. Hodge going to Denver is a good pick.
What about Taft from Pittsburg going 42nd when thought he was going to be a lottery pick. It was so funny, Jay Bilas said live on the air on ESPN that whoever told Taft he should come out earlier is an idiot. Of course he was drafted by golden state where, ehem, Chris Mullin is the GM.
And what about freaking 76ers GM Billy King drafting 6'1 Louis Williams out of high school. Are you kidding me? How does this man, Billy King keep a job? AI must be crying himself to sleep at night. Its going to be a debacle in Philly next year.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jun 29, 2005 11:36:53 GMT -5
I agree on the T'wolves' crappy draft, but I think Chris "Mr. Not-Overrated" Mullin made a good move drafting Taft. Taft may very well prove to be a bust, but what the hell, it was the middle of the second round and the guy does have a strong upside if he will just apply himself. Why not take a shot? If I were the Lakers, I would have drafted Taft instead of Von Wafer, let him go head to head with Turiaf and see what happens (although actually, I would have drafted that Russian point who was projected as a mid-first round pick over either Wafer or Taft, but that's a different story).
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 29, 2005 12:35:43 GMT -5
You are right about Chris "Mr. Overrated" Mullin. ;D Taft wasn't as bad as Bilas trashed him last night. I guarentee if Taft had played in the ACC, Bilas would say he is mid first round pick. For a 2nd round pick its worth a shot. Maybe he can battle Adonal Foyle for playing time. ;D
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 30, 2005 0:07:13 GMT -5
Aussie, KG was in the gym tonight watching his boy Trenton Hassell and Dwayne Casey was in too. Mr. Ebi had a one time appearance "pass" to show what he could do and needless to say he was sorry. KG didn't go up to him after the game either. Hassell was on fire from deep and had about 35. KG sat near me and I engaged in a brief but nice conversation that ended with me asking him to give a "Shout" to the biggest KG fan I know--you Aussie and he said "Thanks for the support , keep believin' and peace". So there you go Aussie, straight from mouth of KG, you got a mention and believe me I was laughing on way home thinking of how you would like that--he was with some friends and left with Hassell and Casey after game.
BTW, found out my old Sophomore HS Basketball Coach is a CBB Referee in SEC Conference and works some NBDL too. Lorenzo Bronson--very good guy and told him if he does a GU game he has to "give us a few" to which he replied with a laugh but I'll keep working on it rest of Summer League, ;D
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Post by aussiehoya on Jun 30, 2005 14:47:35 GMT -5
RDF - that made my week. Thanks for getting KG to give me a shoutout. I owe you one man - thats one of the cooler things someone has done for me as far as sports is concerned (trumped only by my boys buying me a signed Lavar Arrington Redskins helmet for my b-day).. I love the fact that he said "keep believin"... thanks again man.
That kinda got me thinking - if you could have any athlete from any sport give you a personal shout-out, who would it be?
Alright fellas, headed to cali in 15 mins for the weekend. forecast clear all the way... have a good july 4th everyone.
a word of advice for all that haven't yet checked out the "case for Tyler Crawford" thread on the main board - get your butts over there and give your 2cents, some good discussion happening..
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Thomas
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Post by Thomas on Jul 8, 2005 16:09:11 GMT -5
RDF, did Trenton Hassell and Troy Hudson tell you any stories(that you wish to share with us) about Ndudi Ebi. I bring this up because those in favor of letting high schoolers go straight to the NBA ONLY bring up guys like Amare Stoudamire, Lebron James, and Dwight Howard. I recall N.Ebi was a top 5 player headed to Arizona, but declared for the draft, and was selected late in the first round by Minnesota. N.Ebi should have gone to Arizona to DEVELOPED HIS GAME for at least 2 years and could have been a lottery pick. I can't believe NBA higher-ups get fooled by what high-schoolers do in post-season all star games where NO DEFENSE is played and everyone wants to shoot 3's and dunk.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jul 8, 2005 22:58:31 GMT -5
Thomas, I've been bashing Ebi's play in this and a few other threads--if you want to read about what a goon he's been, go to the site GopherHole.com and they recap the games and it's on point about Ebi--he's the biggest jerkoff you could imagine and his career is about over at the age of 21. He should be poster boy for why Age Limit is needed.
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I mean both these guys have bust written all over them. And who is doing the heights for these guys. McCants is like 6'2". They listed him at 6'4" but he is not that tall. He is not that good. Bracey Wright!? Please. These are the guys to replace Cassell and Sprewell. What a joke! Troy Hudson won't have to worry about playing time for a while with the Timberwolves. Because Wright and McCants will be busts.