DG is impressing some scouts

**CylentButDeadly** · 05-08-2011, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

I'm speechless.

I'm with you. Rondo is one of the better athletes in the league. As far as true point guards go, Rose, Wall, Westbrook are better athletes than Rondo, but that's about it. Chris Paul is an exceptional athlete, but Paul isn't known for explosion, but instead quickness and agility, so he's a different type of athlete than Rose, Wall and Westbrook, who are more explosive leapers. Regardless, Rondo is a top tier PG in the league and he's one of the most athletic at his position.

Comparing DG to him in any way is ill-informed and kind of ridiculous.

**CyJack13** · 05-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by CylentButDeadly

I'm with you. Rondo is one of the better athletes in the league. As far as true point guards go, Rose, Wall, Westbrook are better athletes than Rondo, but that's about it. Chris Paul is an exceptional athlete, but Paul isn't known for explosion, but instead quickness and agility, so he's a different type of athlete than Rose, Wall and Westbrook, who are more explosive leapers. Regardless, Rondo is a top tier PG in the league and he's one of the most athletic at his position.

Comparing DG to him in any way is ill-informed and kind of ridiculous.

Agreed. Also, Rondo's strengths coming out of college were his terrific rebounding ability and outstanding defense. From an NBA draft scouting report in 2005:

He has excellent lateral quickness and superbly quick and incredibly big hands. These two things together combined with his length make him a terror getting in the passing lanes, and Rondo indeed has league leading potential in this area if playing for a coach that doesn’t mind him gambling for steals on occasion. He’s extremely smart and confident in his defensive ability, and has the potential to develop into a smothering perimeter defender thanks to all of his outstanding physical attributes and the skills he already shows here. He’s not afraid to step in the lane and take a charge if the situation calls for it. Due to these same physical attributes (length, superb quickness and leaping ability, outstanding hands) Rondo is also a terrific rebounder who indeed led his team in this area from the point guard position. His toughness helps him out greatly in this area, and his Kentucky team would likely have been in very bad shape without his 6+ rebounds in 31 minutes per game. He managed to pull down 19 rebounds in 33 minutes in one extremely impressive performance against Iowa early on in the year.”

So yes both him and DG had questionable jumpers and doubts about their ability to finish at the rim, but Rondo was much, much better defensively. And whether you believe it or not defense is pretty important in the NBA.

**snowcraig2.0** · 05-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Rondo has superior speed and leaping ability to DG.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-08-2011, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by CylentButDeadly

I'm with you. Rondo is one of the better athletes in the league. As far as true point guards go, Rose, Wall, Westbrook are better athletes than Rondo, but that's about it. Chris Paul is an exceptional athlete, but Paul isn't known for explosion, but instead quickness and agility, so he's a different type of athlete than Rose, Wall and Westbrook, who are more explosive leapers. Regardless, Rondo is a top tier PG in the league and he's one of the most athletic at his position.

Comparing DG to him in any way is ill-informed and kind of ridiculous.

And I'm sure comparing him to the NBAs elite PGs in 2006 would have been considered ridiculous as well. Offensively, their games are similar. If you look at what people said about RR being limited by the system, it sounds very very similar to what we would have said about DG in Macs system. Rondo wasn't a lock when he was drafted. He was drafted on what he could be. He is a much better defender than DG so he always had that. I just have to wonder how we would take about DG if he would have been here for four years. I honestly don't think he is a lot better player now than he was a year ago but he was allowed to do much more this year.

**CyJack13** · 05-08-2011, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

And I'm sure comparing him to the NBAs elite PGs in 2006 would have been considered ridiculous as well. Offensively, their games are similar. If you look at what people said about RR being limited by the system, it sounds very very similar to what we would have said about DG in Macs system. Rondo wasn't a lock when he was drafted. He was drafted on what he could be. He is a much better defender than DG so he always had that. I just have to wonder how we would take about DG if he would have been here for four years. I honestly don't think he is a lot better player now than he was a year ago but he was allowed to do much more this year.

So yes they both have extremely questionable offensive games. Rondo however was an elite defender and rebounder, thus why he's a first round pick and DG is probably going to be an undrafted FA. We're comparing Rondo's weak points and DG's strong points that's why it's a bad comparison.

**CylentButDeadly** · 05-08-2011, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

And I'm sure comparing him to the NBAs elite PGs in 2006 would have been considered ridiculous as well. Offensively, their games are similar. If you look at what people said about RR being limited by the system, it sounds very very similar to what we would have said about DG in Macs system. Rondo wasn't a lock when he was drafted. He was drafted on what he could be. He is a much better defender than DG so he always had that. I just have to wonder how we would take about DG if he would have been here for four years. I honestly don't think he is a lot better player now than he was a year ago but he was allowed to do much more this year.

That's a different argument. My reply was strictly related to a prior comment about them being athletically similar. Playing style wise, I think DG is a better shooter right now than Rondo and will have a chance because he's developing as a shooter. Michael Redd was a terrible shooter coming out of Ohio State and he spent hours in the gym and tweaked his shot and became one of the better shooters in the league. Jump shots can be taught and that is why DG has a chance. Athleticism is either there, or it isn't. DG isn't explosive and lightning quick, but one thing DG has on his side is his stamina and conditioning. The guy can play hard for long stretches and that sets him apart from others. His length on defense is also critical, because he'll have issues fighting through screens due to his lack of bulk. His length gives him less ground to make up which will come in handy against quicker guards.

DG definitely has a chance and we're all rooting for him, but he might need some seasoning in the D-league before he catches on with an NBA franchise.

**CylentButDeadly** · 05-08-2011, 10:09 PM

Important note on Rondo as well. He was originally drafted by the Suns and at the time, was considered a long term project and eventual successor to Steve Nash, so teams definitely saw his value. The Suns however, in their infinite wisdom traded his rights almost immediately because they were dead freaking broke. They did the same with Luol Deng. That's another topic though for another day.

**jsb** · 05-08-2011, 10:09 PM

I like it how there are a ton of NBA experts on this board. Jeez.

My opinion is that the NBA tends to value 'metrics' a lot in their players. That's why they used to draft high school kids or foreign kids purely based on potential. I really think that DG's height and length is something that the NBA values much more than we think they do.

I'm not sure if he will get drafted, but I really think he is getting much more of a look then a lot of you seem to think.

**clonefreek** · 05-08-2011, 10:24 PM

Are you all crazy? Did you watch him this season? Yes his assists and pts went up but did anyone watch his poor decision making skills in the end of games? He is not a closer, or a winner, both are 2 key things nba scouts want. His height and length are positives, but his weakness and poor crunchtime decisions are big minuses. He is a subpar athlete and with a terrible jumpshot. I love DG and everything he did for iowa state but he is not a pro, his positives are replaced with all of his negatives.

**gocubs2118** · 05-08-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

Are you all crazy? Did you watch him this season? Yes his assists and pts went up but did anyone watch his poor decision making skills in the end of games? He is not a closer, or a winner, both are 2 key things nba scouts want. His height and length are positives, but his weakness and poor crunchtime decisions are big minuses. He is a subpar athlete and with a terrible jumpshot. I love DG and everything he did for iowa state but he is not a pro, his positives are replaced with all of his negatives.

LeBron James isn't a closer or a winner either. So what's your point?

**Tre4ISU** · 05-08-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

Are you all crazy? Did you watch him this season? Yes his assists and pts went up but did anyone watch his poor decision making skills in the end of games? He is not a closer, or a winner, both are 2 key things nba scouts want. His height and length are positives, but his weakness and poor crunchtime decisions are big minuses. He is a subpar athlete and with a terrible jumpshot. I love DG and everything he did for iowa state but he is not a pro, his positives are replaced with all of his negatives.

Nobody's saying he's going to go be a star in the NBA. I just think he could make a pretty good backup point guard that could play 10-15 minutes a game.

**clonefreek** · 05-08-2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

LeBron James isn't a closer or a winner either. So what's your point?

He won a national championship in high school, and he is a freak athlete. DG did none of those things. Lol are you honestly comparing lebron james to diante garrett lol wow.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-08-2011, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

He won a national championship in high school, and he is a freak athlete. DG did none of those things. Lol are you honestly comparing lebron james to diante garrett lol wow.

Well, they are similar athletes.

**gocubs2118** · 05-08-2011, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by clonefreek

He won a national championship in high school, and he is a freak athlete. DG did none of those things. Lol are you honestly comparing lebron james to diante garrett lol wow.

Ugh, no I wasn't. I was just trying to show you how ******* ridiculous it was of you to say DG can't play in the NBA because he didn't win in college. Just stupid.

**tm3308** · 05-08-2011, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

LeBron James isn't a closer or a winner either. So what's your point?

1. LeBron James is not a point guard. Point guards are like quarterbacks, they require a certain mindset/attitude/moxie to be great.

2. LeBron James is quite possibly the most impressive athletic specimen since Herschel Walker/Bo Jackson. That makes up for a lot of any lack of "it" factor.