First things first... What is Rivers?

[aas3452]

I really don’t have a problem with keeping Gordon, Vasquez, Rivers and Burke (if we draft him) on the team. I can work. It would definitely create some competition, depth at PG & SG and solidify 3 positions on the team (PG/SG/PF). I say… draft burke if he is available at 6. If he is a starter by training camp, then you have a Rivers and Vasquez coming off the bench as our backups. You would split the minutes amongst all them thus keeping everyone fresh, including Gordon, throughout the season. How is this a bad move?

[luckyman]

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ss...ie_aus_14.html

Yes I've seen that quote already. Just because he says that doesn't make it reality. He got better attacking the rim before his injury, but as far as running the offense, he's got a very long way to go. However, his attacking the rim will only get better as he puts on weight.

From what he's shown being a 2 has less ?? than him running an NBA offense effectively.

[GESWhoseBack]

Yes I've seen that quote already. Just because he says that doesn't make it reality. He got better attacking the rim before his injury, but as far as running the offense, he's got a very long way to go. However, his attacking the rim will only get better as he puts on weight.

From what he's shown being a 2 has less ?? than him running an NBA offense effectively.

Actually the offense ran smoother with him at pg cause he kept the ball moving and there was less ball pounding. He runs the pick and roll adequately and obviously he can break down his man for the drive and kick without the screen.

[Snarly]

Yes I've seen that quote already. Just because he says that doesn't make it reality. He got better attacking the rim before his injury, but as far as running the offense, he's got a very long way to go. However, his attacking the rim will only get better as he puts on weight.

From what he's shown being a 2 has less ?? than him running an NBA offense effectively.

Every indication from the staff to the player has pointed to him developing as a PG. Until they come out and say that they're going in a different direction, We shouldn't assume otherwise. You can ignore the signs but they are there.

[HornetGuru]

if we dont take burke id let him develop at PG if we do id give him the majority of the backup minutes at the PG and SG and one day u could either trade him, keep him as ur 6th man, or if gordon is gone and after a few years rivers puts on some weight and can play the SG u leave him at SG. i see a ton of potential and versatility in Rivers.

Rivers and burke on the floor at the same time will open up a lot of things for the offense, same as burke and gordon, all three of them can shoot, break their man down, create for themselves and pass.

[BLT23]

maybe he could develop into a non-traditional pg like George Hill, if he worked on his shooting and bulked up a bit, but honestly i dont hate the guy i just dont see much there.

[donato]

Maybe he'll magically grow 3-4 inches, then voila! We have our SF!

[luckyman]

Actually the offense ran smoother with him at pg cause he kept the ball moving and there was less ball pounding. He runs the pick and roll adequately and obviously he can break down his man for the drive and kick without the screen.

I don't think you really watched enough games. There were games I went to personally when Monty had to yank him out of frustration and went with Mason running the point. There were multiple games where he had back-to-back-to-back turnovers and couldnt get the offense going. Those moments occured more than the good ones. Running point in the NBA is a steep learning curve if you are not used to playing the position.

Since the off-season began, can you pick even one quote from Dell or Monty on the prospects of Rivers at point going forward? It's not like they haven't had the opportunity to talk about it, and when they have, it's been about surrounding GV with more talent if anything at all. No mentions of Rivers running that spot full time.

His best projection right now is as a combo guard but not as a full time traditional point man.

[GESWhoseBack]

I don't think you really watched enough games. There were games I went to personally when Monty had to yank him out of frustration and went with Mason running the point. There were multiple games where he had back-to-back-to-back turnovers and couldnt get the offense going. Those moments occured more than the good ones. Running point in the NBA is a steep learning curve if you are not used to playing the position.

Since the off-season began, can you pick even one quote from Dell or Monty on the prospects of Rivers at point going forward? It's not like they haven't had the opportunity to talk about it, and when they have, it's been about surrounding GV with more talent if anything at all. No mentions of Rivers running that spot full time.

His best projection right now is as a combo guard but not as a full time traditional point man.

I watched a lot and Monty pulled everybody out of frustration this year it's not just Austin. And I can remember watching many games and saying the offense ran more smoother and ball movement was improved with him out there at 1. Maybe because he wasn't always running up to people to take the ball out their hands like GV. I'm not saying he is a finished product but he is learning and needs more reps to get better. We don't know what his best projection is till he is given consistent time at pg. But what is very obvious is that his aggressiveness is not the same when he is at 2.

[spacejesus]

The more I watched Rivers, the more I came to believe he is best suited to be a PG. He gets to the basket and slices through the lane extremely well, he just needs to be a better finisher. I honestly want us to trade GV and start Rivers. Who cares if we lose for one more year? A parker or Wiggins would make up for it, and Rivers would gain a lot more experience.

[GESWhoseBack]

The more I watched Rivers, the more I came to believe he is best suited to be a PG. He gets to the basket and slices through the lane extremely well, he just needs to be a better finisher. I honestly want us to trade GV and start Rivers. Who cares if we lose for one more year? A parker or Wiggins would make up for it, and Rivers would gain a lot more experience.

I wanted that this year. But I guess they figured he wasn't ready for that. Hopefully they feel differently now.

[HornetGuru]

The more I watched Rivers, the more I came to believe he is best suited to be a PG. He gets to the basket and slices through the lane extremely well, he just needs to be a better finisher. I honestly want us to trade GV and start Rivers. Who cares if we lose for one more year? A parker or Wiggins would make up for it, and Rivers would gain a lot more experience.

agree

[Mythrol]

I still think rivers is one year out from starting, especially at a position he only has 1/2 a season experience with. My concern is if we start Rivers too early people are not going to realize we are developing him and just think, "omgez he sucks. Draft the next hot ticket PG from this year's draft."

Basically, I wouldn't be against him starting, but I think it would do ore harm with the fanvase then help.

[GESWhoseBack]

I still think rivers is one year out from starting, especially at a position he only has 1/2 a season experience with. My concern is if we start Rivers too early people are not going to realize we are developing him and just think, "omgez he sucks. Draft the next hot ticket PG from this year's draft."

Basically, I wouldn't be against him starting, but I think it would do ore harm with the fanvase then help.

This may be true, but what is also true is Monty don't give a damn about the fanbase thinks.

[HornetGuru]

This may be true, but what is also true is Monty don't give a damn about the fanbase thinks.

Agreed, i think after a year of rivers learning the NBA and an entire offseason of training we should make him the starter and let him take his lumps, who cares about the fan base, i think if he starts this season and next season by his 4th season he will be pretty darn good, plus having a healthy gordon will make things a lot easier on him.

[luckyman]

I wanted that this year. But I guess they figured he wasn't ready for that. Hopefully they feel differently now.

They figured he wasn't ready for it because his actual play at the spot said so. I was one of the folks on here who was hoping Rivers would show enough last summer to start at point, but that was only becuase I knew what we were in for with GV starting there. It became obvious why GV was our best option at PG last season when Rivers had to run the show. There were flashes here and there, but if you had your eyes open, those flashes were buried by constant mistakes and TOs. There is also a court savvy field generalship you need at that spot that Rivers never showed, and the reasons for that is obvious. He was never groomed to play that spot until last year.

[HornetGuru]

I can pretty much guarantee that Rivers is gonna blow people back with how good his performance is this year, he learned the game at the end of the season, it finally slowed down to him, he was a great scorer and defender, he has all off season to work on his left hand and get stronger, this year dude is gonna be much improved, i can see him averaging 13-3-3

[GESWhoseBack]

I can pretty much guarantee that Rivers is gonna blow people back with how good his performance is this year, he learned the game at the end of the season, it finally slowed down to him, he was a great scorer and defender, he has all off season to work on his left hand and get stronger, this year dude is gonna be much improved, i can see him averaging 13-3-3

That must be off the bench.