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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-27-2015, 03:28 PM:

Interesting article.

Veteran NBA draft analyst Ed Isaacson of NBADraftBlog.com took time to offer his insights about some Kentucky basketball players:

Question: Has coming back to UK improved Cauley-Stein’s status with NBA personnel? What improvements/changes have you see in his game?

Isaacson: I don’t know if it really has been as significant as some may make it out to be. I said last year that he could be a late lottery pick because of his size/athleticism combo, and I think if he’s any higher, it’s not by much. He’s still very challenged on the offensive end, from an NBA point of view, but he will be able to provide teams defensive help immediately. “

Question: What other player has impressed you the most from a NBA potential standpoint and why?

Isaacson: “Other than Booker, Dakari Johnson comes to mind. The commitment that he has put in to changing his body is the kind of things that resonates with NBA personnel. His game has slowly improved as well, but a lot of that comes from just being able to move better. Johnson still has a lot of work to do, but he is in a better position now than he was at the end of last season.”

Question: Finally, just from your perspective, what player holds the biggest key to UK winning a national title and why?

Isaacson: “To me, it’s two guys — Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis. Depending on how the minutes are going to be handled by March, it will still come down to the point guard position in the tight games. Getting Booker and Aaron Harrison the ball in good spots will be important, and both Ulis and Andrew Harrison have their individual strengths, which can be used accordingly to the match up. The team will need a leader out there, and they will look to those two to get it done.”

Link

Posted by Bama Cat (Member # 153) on 01-27-2015, 04:01 PM:

I agree with most of what he said but.......he made no mention of Johnson's jumping ability ? He has lost weight to improve his body and works harder but........ he's not going to improve his jumping ability much. He will get out jumped and have a lot of shots blocked in the NBA. If he can't see that then he is blind or just overlooking the fact.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-27-2015, 06:51 PM:

It is a shame that after almost three years at UK, Willie basically dunks all of his made shots. He did hit one mid range face the basket shot recently but it has not been taught to him as a tool he should use on a regular basis and that is sad. Willie is probably the most athletic big man ever to play at UK and his game has improved since he has been with us but his offensive game has improved very little. If he has the offensive skills to match his defense, he would be the top pick in the NBA at the end of this season. I fear our coaches have done very little to help Willie offensively but then again, he just may not have the natural tools to be a jump shooting big man. Willie will have a good NBA career and make a ton of money, that is what is important at this point in his career, that, and helping win us another national championship. Willie is one of my favorite all time UK players.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-27-2015, 08:32 PM:

I think the big guy are practicing more shots than we give them credit for. Slice was doing the coaches show last night when he reported he had a text from Towns wanting to know if he'd go over to the gym with him and get up some shots!

THese boys have been told what they need to do to get to the next level. Don't think the work ethic isn't there because I believe it is!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-27-2015, 10:47 PM:

Getting to the next level is why they come to Kentucky.

Posted by Green-Bean (Member # 13551) on 01-28-2015, 02:33 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by catmandoo:
Getting to the next level is why they come to Kentucky.

well then its not a players first as cal says if it was he would try and teach em, instead of a nba pipeline. I do not care for cals one and done system. and it will go away, and then what will he do? because imo cal cannot win with all three star players he gets players that are as good as they will be, if you are a true basketball fan u would like to watch them develop junt my opinion and it wont change.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-28-2015, 06:44 AM:

Me personally, I'm happy tohave the best talent in teh nation year in and year out! I don't thin khe got THAT many 1 and dones at the other two programs he coached. Sure he had 1 or 2 at those programs but not nearly this many!

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 01-28-2015, 07:07 AM:

I think Cal does teach, and he is widely recognized as a great teacher.

He is the most vocal opponent to the NBA's ridiculous age limit, which creates the whole "one and done" system. Cal has said many times that he would love to have his players stay for two, three, or four years. Imagine our team this year, with Davis and MKG as seniors, Nerlens as a Junior, and James and Randle as sophomores!

Anyway, I think the basic assumption is that without his 'pipeline to the NBA', Cal couldn't recruit. Here are a couple of differing thoughts:

(1) Built in to that assumption is the idea that these kids are NBA-ready, and just have to endure a year in college before they go pro. I think that may be true in a few instances, but I also think that Cal's offense and defense, his teaching, everything is designed to prepare his players for the pros. And it works, so this is a huge advantage for him.

(2) While I think the number of top-quality players coming to UK would slow down if the NBA were to revert to allowing High School kids to go directly into the league, Cal is still the coach of the University of Kentucky, and we would still get our fair share of the diluted talent pool.

(3) Should the NBA wise up and go the OTHER way and require kids to play two or even three years of college ball, then I think Cal would thrive even more. A small handful of programs would basically get all the top talent, and Uk would be foremost in that group.

If NBA scouts could see players play at the top level of college competition for two or three years, then the whole idea of drafting kids only on potential would diminish. With more data, the need to gamble is reduced. The league would benefit, and the college game would benefit. I really don't understand why the Players Union wants this rule.

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 01-28-2015, 10:34 AM:

I think Cal and his staff do a great job of improving players.

The two players that quite possibly made the biggest improvement happen to be the two most talented player he has ever coached: Anthony Davis and Derrick Rose. When he got to UK his offensive game was mostly dunks off of lobs or put backs. By the time he left, he had three pretty damn good post moves and was even knocking down some threes. Rose was a turnover machine when he got to Memphis with limited range and by the end of the season he had become an extraordinary point guard with a much improved jump shot.

DeAndre Liggins improved tremendously, Josh Harrellson, Eric Bledsoe, MKG, Teague, etc.

Posted by Green-Bean (Member # 13551) on 01-28-2015, 10:39 AM:

WELLTHATS WHY WE ALL GOT OUR OWN OPINIONS AND SEE, COACHES DIFFERENT. [Smile]

I LIKE AND RESPECT CAL, I JUST DONT LIKE HIS STYLE, OF BASKETBALL HE PLAYS, YEAH WE ARE 19 AND 0. BUT RUPP WON 129 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES ONCE. IMO RUPP WAS THE GREATEST COACH OF ALL TIME, ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!