My NBA Draft 08 thoughts

[simplyRAVISHING]

I like portland's pick

[Lebron23]

Go Gordonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn



Clippers Sign Eric Gordon

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed rookie guard Eric Gordon, the team’s first round selection (7th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft, announced Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor.

An explosive scorer and a dead eye outside shooter who leaves Indiana University after a successful freshman campaign, the 6’3” guard averaged 20.9 points for the Hoosiers en route to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

A former Indiana Mr. Basketball, Gordon, led the Big Ten in scoring as a freshman and earned Second Team All-American Honors from the NABC and Third Team honors from the Associated Press as he established an Indiana and Big Ten freshman record with 669 total points, breaking the previous record held by Michael Redd from Ohio State and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Indianapolis native scored 20 or more points 19 times in 2007-08 and topped the 30-point mark three times, including a career-high 33 points in the season opener vs. Chattanooga, establishing an Indiana record for most points ever in a Hoosiers debut. Gordon, 19, was the 2007 Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year as a senior, putting an exclamation mark on a standout career at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

CLIPPERS GUARD ERIC GORDON:

On his view of Los Angeles...
"I really like the city, but I’m more of a Midwest type of guy. I’m just going to wait and see what L.A.’s all about when I move here."

On his role on the team...
"Depends on whether the coaches will be playing me as a point guard or shooting guard. It really all depends on whatever situation is right for me."

On his specific goals for the season...
"Well of course anybody would want to be on the All-Rookie team. It’s all about what happens on the court with your team. I would like to go to the playoffs and hopefully go to the Finals."

On the Clippers organization...
"This is where I thought I might be drafted at. It was definitely a high chance that I would be here. I know some players on the team and I am pretty familiar with them."

On the Western Conference and his impact as a rookie...
"Hopefully I’m somewhat of that missing piece. I like the chemistry the Clippers have. I think this is a great group to play with."


Elgin Baylor

CLIPPERS VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS

On Gordon's role on the team...

"Eric has played point guard in both high school and college and we’ve watched him play some terrific basketball. He is very strong and big on the perimeter. He’s also an excellent ball handler."

http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/gordon_080702.html

[Lebron23]

My Dark horse Candidate for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie Of the Year.

The 4th Best Talent in the 2008 NBA Draft ( Behind Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, and OJ Mayo)

Eric " Air" Gordon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNQRKsZYXZ8&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19sRqsD3DYk&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDoqI-CihM&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycMHuEqgleo&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhTAQwmDs3E&fmt=18

Eric Gordon is one of the best individual player in the 2008 NBA draft class, and he was also the most explosive scorer in the Big 10 Conference.

Gordon ended his freshman season averaging 20.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.4 assists per game, leading the Conference in scoring.

Free Throw Percentage: .834 FT %
Field Goal Percentage: .433 FT %

Awards and Recognition

Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2008)
First Team All-Big Ten (2008)
2008 Associated Press Third Team All-America


Los Angeles Clippers drafting Eric Gordon as the 7th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmfGmmZ6LHA&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiDcc9528r0&fmt=18

He was also the 5th freshmen selected in the 2008 NBA Draft, and I think his game reminds me of an athletic version of Mitch Richmond.


Eric Gordon destroying/Owning Michael Jordan's Kids ( Marcus and Jeffrey Jordan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7HiklrlfXE&fmt=18

The Knicks made a mistake by drafting Danilo Gallinari ahead of Eric Gordon, and this kid will fit perfectly in a Run and Gun Offense.

Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, and Chris Kaman = 2008 Version of the 1990's Golden State Warriors.

Goodluck to Eric Gordon and the Los Angeles Clippers, i wish that Mike Dunleavy will give enough playing time in his rookie season.

[mvblair]

All what was being written here is that he's interesting from a European standpoint. I mentioned the reasons in my last post. I honestly don't see what's wrong about that.

I think you're both saying the same thing. Robbe, you're saying "every American is like Koufos," and Mavs is saying "Koufos is like every American."

Besides, we could probably have a long, unproductive debate about what "being American" (and Greek, German, Italian and any other nationality) is. Fact is, he has a Greek passport.

It's great that he has a Greek passport. I'd say he's a Greek-American player.

[robbe]

I'm simply saying it's ridiculous to act like he's a European player playing in the United states. He played Highschool and NCAA basketball in Ohio. That doesn't mean he can't play for the Greek national team, but it does mean he's american born, bred, and trained.

All what was being written here is that he's interesting from a European standpoint. I mentioned the reasons in my last post. I honestly don't see what's wrong about that.

Besides, we could probably have a long, unproductive debate about what "being American" (and Greek, German, Italian and any other nationality) is. Fact is, he has a Greek passport.

[mavs128]

Koufos owns a Greek passport, played youth tournaments for Greece, was invited to the NT training camp and had drawn the attention of both Greek top clubs. But I don't know about your father.

I'm simply saying it's ridiculous to act like he's a European player playing in the United states. He played Highschool and NCAA basketball in Ohio. That doesn't mean he can't play for the Greek national team, but it does mean he's american born, bred, and trained.

[robbe]

kosta koufus is about as european as my father...he was born and raised in Ohio.

Koufos owns a Greek passport, played youth tournaments for Greece, was invited to the NT training camp and had drawn the attention of both Greek top clubs. But I don't know about your father.

[mavs128]

Beasley has the chance to be a beast. He's Kevin Durant with about 20-30 more pounds of muscle. The thing that hurt his draft stock was measuring in at 2.02 meters...most people thought he was more like 2.06 meters, and that's a big difference to NBA people. But he's got such an incredibly long wingspan, and he's really strong. Mark it down, he's going to win Rookie of the Year...Wade is the only other offensive weapon Miami has...Marion isn't a bad player but he's a defender, not much of an offensive force.

[elaj]

I thought that DeAndre Jordan was going to enter the draft? Apparently, I didn't see him selected in the first round

He was selected by LA Clippers in second round.

[Coke_Hero]

I thought that DeAndre Jordan was going to enter the draft? Apparently, I didn't see him selected in the first round

[stuart]

I think if Beasley has the determination, he can be a superstar. Beasley is a baller man, he has it. He looks like a shooting guard in build, but then to get multiple 20-rebound games? He has rebounding instincts of a man much larger, his timing is amazing, left-handed and the ability to get his shot off at any time.

There's only been a few times when I have watch a player make things look so terribly easy on the NCAA level as they were playing three levels above their competition -- Bird, Webber, Shaq, Duncan, Jay Williams (hey say what you will he did what he wanted) and Ewing. I include Beasley in that group.

Watching a couple Bird tapes of when he was in college. He knew what he wanted to do and how everyone would react in that sitation. Despite his obvious effort, Bird was toying with the competition most of the time.

I remember watching Duncan play for Wake Forest, and you even see it today, he was so long and quick off the ground -- his competition never stood a chance to get the rebound. He was definitely a league above.

Webber and Shaq were so athletically gifted at that age, it was sick. And Jay Williams was just in another gear -- his moves were so quick, you knew he had a lot more going for him.

I would imagine I would have said the same about Dwight Howard and LeBron James - they make the NBA look so easy at times, it's hard not to imagine them killing in college.

Stuart

[mvblair]

Everything is pretty nice, except Knicks Fans. Of course it is hard when your team is the worst in NBA history, but booing new player will not bring you to playoffs. Or maybe they wanted that Knicks choose Patrick Ewing JR? And then loose again and again. IMO it is perfect pick for Knicks, actualy is best pick in Knicks history of all times.

If Gallinari is as good as the reports in the US say, it'll be great to see him with D'Antoni. But New York needs to send Zach Randolph and/or Eddy Curry to another team if they expect to find much success in the next few years. Otherwise, with Crawford (who I really don't like that much), Nate Robinson, Gallinari, and Lee, they might look pretty good.

Overall this draft looks not very good and no super players will raise of them.

I tend to agree. At this point, it doesn't look like there will be many stars. But like Damelo said above, you never know what will happen. So much depends on how the coaches play the players and how the players fit into systems. I do think Rose will become a semi-star in the NBA. I like him quite a bit.

[rikhardur]

kosta koufus is about as european as my father...he was born and raised in Ohio.

So what?

[damelo]

Batum has NBA potential, definitely. He's shown he was all right at the end of the season, even if I think he was not ready when EL started. He had to learn. He is still toot young I think to leave, but he is ways better than Ajinca right now. His game may be even more efficient in NBA than in EL.
And, who cared about Udonis Haslem when he played in Cholet?
Batum was better than Tony Parker was the year before he left Pro A. And basically the same age. He knows what it means to win games.

Anyway, Gelabale, was Obradvic's guy in Real...

[House]

Everything is pretty nice, except Knicks Fans. Of course it is hard when your team is the worst in NBA history, but booing new player will not bring you to playoffs. Or maybe they wanted that Knicks choose Patrick Ewing JR? And then loose again and again. IMO it is perfect pick for Knicks, actualy is best pick in Knicks history of all times.

IMO Pekovic was the best player who attended this draft. Maybe not best Potential or Dunker, thats why he was chosen only in 2nd round.

Ajnica is too overrated and this is strange that Koufos was drafted later. Batum - another joke from France like Gelabale. Very good NDBL material. He couldn't play good in worst Euroleague team, and you think he will play good in NBA?

Beasley is another Carmelo Anthony and that means nothing good. Thats why overguarded Chicago chose Rose - another guard.
OJ Mayo looks promising, I expect another Michael Finley.

Overall this draft looks not very good and no super players will raise of them.