The Cavalier's have the 1st, and 4th selections in tonights draft. They
have an opportunity to add an impact player, and depth, to a team that's
young, energetic. and improving through this post LeBron James
transition. For whatever reason, Irving is the consensus #1 player
available, although that really depends on who you ask. I think
Williams, regardless of position, is the most dynamic player in the
draft, and my choice for the Cavalier's with the 1st selection.
I've
heard the same tired cliche's used to describe Irving as of late, that I
witnessed being used to describe James for 7 years. I'm not saying
Irving won't be a good player, he very well may be, but just because he
is perceived to be the best PG in this years draft, doesn't mean you go
and take him, or that he is necessarily best for you.
Who
exactly did Irving make better at Duke? He didn't carry, or elevate the
program, they were the defending National Champions. When, and where did
he make a difference? Granted, he started as a freshman, so what...
Duke went 8-0...Yes they did, but what was so impressive about beating
Princeton, Miami (OH), Colgate, Marquette, Kansas St, Oregon, Michigan
St, and Butler?
I don't think Duke "needed" Irving, to defeat
any of those teams, Michigan St finished a disappointing 19-15, and
Butler was struggling early in the season to find itself. Irving was
nothing more than a marquee piece added, to an already strong program.
not much different than any pieces in years past. What's most
impressive, is that Duke went through their conference schedule without
Irving, went 22-4 in that span, won the ACC Tournament, securing a #1
seed in the NCAA Tournament. What exactly was Irving's impact? Duke
didn't trip and fall, when Irving suffered turf toe, in fact, they
didn't miss a beat.
What little was seen of Irving, nothing
particular stood out, other than perceived, public, and national
perception. He scored 17 PPG, 4 AST, 3 REB, he did however shoot an
impressive 529% FG. I will say the opposition had a lot to do with that,
and once again, its a sample of only 11 games played. Nolan Smith, was
actually more productive. Duke also had 9 players that played over 10
MPG, 7 of those playing over 20 MPG.
Brandon Knight, who by most
is perceived to be the 2nd rated PG in this draft, averaged 17 PPG, 4
AST, 4 REB, yet unlike Irving, he carried Kentucky. He only shot .423%
FG, but he was a part of a 6 player rotation, all of whom played over 28
MPG, with 4 being over 31 MPG. Enes Kanter, who was ruled ineligible by
the NCAA, would have more than lessened his burden, as Knight topped
out at almost 36 MPG. Not too make excuses on his behalf, but tired
legs, can effect your shot. I'm sure he can improve his shooting through
hard work, and his burden at the professional level, won't be as heavy.
Regardless, he can defend his position, and flat out score the ball.
Stop
with trying to compare Irving to previous PG's drafted, the ones
professing him to have been better than Chris Paul as a Freshman....Stop
it! Paul competed in the very tough ACC, which Irving missed, due to
injury. Paul elevated the Wake Forest program, the same cannot be said
for Irving, on any level. To follow that argument up with, "Coach K
never recruits 1 and done players". Coach K almost lost the National
Championship to Butler the year before, that in itself was more than
enough, to change one's way of thinking.
I watched Derrick
Williams during the year, and he just flat stood out! In a game in which
Duke needed Irving the most, he had no impact, he didn't make a
difference in the game, other than keep Duke in it. Sure he scored 28
points, but he only had 3 assists, 0 rebounds, and he lost by 16. For
the record, Chris Paul had an impact in the NCAA Tournament. You look at
Williams, and not only did he score 32 points, but he was dominant in
doing so! He was a beast around the basket, from 3 PT range (5-6), he
had 13 rebounds (6 OFF), 2 assists, 2 steals, and led Arizona back from a
6 point 1st half deficit, in rolling #1 Duke by 22 in the 2nd half.
That's having an impact, that's making a difference.
I know
Irving was only playing his 3rd game, coming back from injury. The
bottom line is, Williams was the deciding factor. All the so called
national experts, voicing his lack of a position, if he says he can play
SF, I give him an opportunity to do so. He is to good a player not too.
In my opinion, he brings more to the table than Irving. The Cavalier's
aren't as bad off at PG, as they had been in years past.
The
addition of Davis, which added veteran leadership at the position, and
Sessions, who carried them when Mo Williams went down. I think it was
the play of Sessions, that made Williams expendable. Sessions can play
on or off the ball. After watching him for a whole season, and I was one
of the few that stated Sessions should have started from day 1. He
improved with his time on the floor, even when Scott was unsure of how
to play him in the line-up. He had a strong February, starting 9/11
games in which he averaged 20 PPG, 9 AST, 4 REB, and he shot 56% from
FG.
All this talk about him being a serviceable bench player,
not the long term answer at PG, isn't the right fit to run Byron Scott's
offense, etc... What Scott needs most is productive, and efficient
players, and there aren't many available like William. As for position,
Williams would be at 1 of the 5 allowed on the floor at any given time,
it would begin there for me.
I would go Williams #1, and take my
chances on getting Knight at #4, or possibly a PG later, such as
Walker, if he slips, Morris, Cole, Jackson, or even Smith. Either way,
the Cavalier's have an opportunity to get another impact player, or
player worth developing at #4. Irving will then likely go at #2, with a
few teams attempting to trade up for him. I can't see PG going with
picks #2, and #3. Either way, by going Williams #1, the Cavalier's put
others in the position of seriously changing their draft boards if
Irving is still on the board at #2
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