Eric Bledsoe or Trey Burke

[takezor]

I don't get the Smart love. I haven't watched a lot of his games, but the little that I did watch, I just wasn't impressed at all. Can anyone sell me on him please? I know he fills up the stat sheet, but I'm afraid he won't be athletic enough to defend NBA PGs. His shooting % worries me as well.

I also think he's overrated. Yeah the guy has size and is strong, has good ball handling and can rebound, but he can't really shot from mid or long distance. You don't really know how that will translate to the NBA.

[UNO Gracias]

Give me Burke over Smart. Smart made zero impact in the Tourney, meanwhile Burke was a stud even when he did have had games. Burke played in the toughest conference, and was the player if the year. I like his game.

Smart is a good player, but nothing screams game changer. I mean, if there was something that screamed game changed he wouldn't have been bounced in the 1st round right?

[Silverfoxx]

I also think he's overrated. Yeah the guy has size and is strong, has good ball handling and can rebound, but he can't really shot from mid or long distance. You don't really know how that will translate to the NBA.

Klay Thompson

[Kumar]

Does anyone have the numbers on how Bledsoe performs against other starters? We know he is great against opposing benches, but how good is he against starters?

[UNO Gracias]

Does anyone have the numbers on how Bledsoe performs against other starters? We know he is great against opposing benches, but how good is he against starters?

I know that there is a law of diminishing returns with Bledsoe. When he gets over 30 min a game his game tends to sag or drop off.

[Eman5805]

I don't want the next CP3. I want the next TB3.

[UNO Gracias]

I don't want the next CP3. I want the next TB3.

You and I both hermano. He doesn't have to be all world to lead a team to an NBA title. Parker, Rondo, Billups, Fisher, Kidd none of the. We're all world. Get a solid team around Burke, Anderson, and Davis and you have a team ready to wreck havoc.

[djpaul89]

Burke won't have near the impact on the game Chris does/did for us.

I'm sure you've stated this before on other threads in the past but what is your overall assessment and Burke and how he would fit as a Pelican?

[nolaslim213]

Whoa now. 6'3 235 and strong, he will be an excellent defender under the right coach teaching him.

My question pertaining wasn't about size or strength. It was about athleticism. 6'3, 235 is pushing it IMO as a starting PG.

[Kumar]

Exactly. To compare, AD is 220, Robin Lopez is 255, Ryno is 240.

[Pelicans78]

Give me Burke over Smart. Smart made zero impact in the Tourney, meanwhile Burke was a stud even when he did have had games. Burke played in the toughest conference, and was the player if the year. I like his game.

Smart is a good player, but nothing screams game changer. I mean, if there was something that screamed game changed he wouldn't have been bounced in the 1st round right?

Not at all. One game doesn't define anything. Burke was on the much better team. Poor argument. Smart is a better prospect overall, and is a better suited on a team without much talent since he's a more talented prospect, but Burke is a better fit assuming Davis, Anderson, and Gordon are here long term.

[Pelicans78]

My question pertaining wasn't about size or strength. It was about athleticism. 6'3, 235 is pushing it IMO as a starting PG.

I agree too. I see him as more SG than PG. Body type reminds me of Wade.

[nolaslim213]

I agree too. I see him as more SG than PG. Body type reminds me of Wade.

If he is really 6'4, 235, then he is even bigger than Wade, who runs about 220. I just don't see him as a PG if that's true. How is Smart at getting into the lane? His shot worries me. Are his handles any good?

[nikkoewan]

I don't get the Smart love. I haven't watched a lot of his games, but the little that I did watch, I just wasn't impressed at all. Can anyone sell me on him please? I know he fills up the stat sheet, but I'm afraid he won't be athletic enough to defend NBA PGs. His shooting % worries me as well.

I'll answer this one. I've done a lot of research on him and this is what I got.

First the numbers -- yes he can fill up a stat sheet. 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals (3 turnovers too, lol)

Let's start with the cons
- He's very turnover prone. Although he's a willing passer, he isn't "elite" at it yet. He over and under passes a lot (hence the turnovers). His shooting motion is very inconsistent (which leads to a subpar jumper%. Currently, he's at 35% for 2PT jumpers and 29% for 3PT jumpers). Can't say for certain whether his passing can improve but I see a lot of good passes mixed with horrible ones. Judge for yourself. His pace is too fast and it'll feel like sometimes, he's playing the game on fast forward (probably why he mistimes passes).

His shot selection is HORRIBLE. Normally, you'd like the bulk of a perimeter player's shots to come either at the rim or from the 3PT line. Smart takes 39% of his shots from 2PT jumpers.


Pros
- Was an impact defender and will probably be an instant impact isolation defender in the NBA. He moves his feet well and has great anticipation. That anticipation will be something that this team sorely needs. He blocks driving and passing lanes really well with that anticipation and long hands and generates a lot of "good" steals (those steals that come from 1-on-1 defense, quick hands and anticipation) but also has the burst to go for "gamble" or "bad" steals.


He can also work the post and has two or three moves that he likes to use a lot (a quick spin, a turnaround jumper and an occasional right hook). And for everybody that says he can't finish at the rim, he's shooting 64% from at the rim shots. For comparison, Mclemore is at 72%, Burke is at 63%, Oladipo is at 70% and Porter is at 66%. (according to hoop-math.com).

He's VERY physical and will use his extremely large frame to bump somebody out of the way (sometimes, even bigs). That's a big reason why he's one of the better rebounding guards in the tourney. I especially love his tenacity on the offensive glass -- where he gets a LOT of second chance scores. Big reason too why he goes to the line 7 times in the game.

His shooting motion (though inconsistent) has some solid foundations (i.e. shooting elbow is intact, ball placed right around eye level, feet is squared to shoulders, pushes his shot upwards instead of forward) but struggles with some key aspects of shooting (he occasionally does leg kicks or twists his body when pulling up). Probably a big reason why he's shooting at an above average rate of 77.7% from the FT line while being a horrible shooter everywhere else.

This last part is something you'll have to file as "conjecture": Apparently, he's a very vocal leader and is a very good locker room guy.

Seeing as how Monty was able to fully re-construct Austin Rivers and make him into a good (albeit inconsistent) defender, then I think Smart can and will succeed with us.

Best player comp I have is a slightly bigger, slightly slower Russell Westbrook in his young days. His ceiling and floor were similar to Russ as well: ceiling is "unlimited" while his floor was also pretty easy to see "athletic freak who'll never learn how to shoot".

Whether you were convinced or not is up to you but that's what I saw from watching a couple of games of him + highlights + combining what Jonathan Givony (a respected and highly informative NBA prospect guru) have said.

[nikkoewan]

If he is really 6'4, 235, then he is even bigger than Wade, who runs about 220. I just don't see him as a PG if that's true. How is Smart at getting into the lane? His shot worries me. Are his handles any good?

DX lists him as 6'4", 200 lbs although he definitely seems bigger than that. Whether he's a PG or a SG is not my concern. He can run a team though and he can bring the ball up the court.

In terms of getting into the lane, he possesses a solid first step that he doesn't like to use. His shot is solid but can be improved. His handles are good. His shot selection isn't. Settles for WAY too many 2 PT jumpers, especially coming of pick-and-rolls where he CAN (but often times, won't) blow by the 2nd defender.

[nolaslim213]

I'll answer this one. I've done a lot of research on him and this is what I got.

First the numbers -- yes he can fill up a stat sheet. 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals (3 turnovers too, lol)

Let's start with the cons
- He's very turnover prone. Although he's a willing passer, he isn't "elite" at it yet. He over and under passes a lot (hence the turnovers). His shooting motion is very inconsistent (which leads to a subpar jumper%. Currently, he's at 35% for 2PT jumpers and 29% for 3PT jumpers). Can't say for certain whether his passing can improve but I see a lot of good passes mixed with horrible ones. Judge for yourself. His pace is too fast and it'll feel like sometimes, he's playing the game on fast forward (probably why he mistimes passes).

His shot selection is HORRIBLE. Normally, you'd like the bulk of a perimeter player's shots to come either at the rim or from the 3PT line. Smart takes 39% of his shots from 2PT jumpers.


Pros
- Was an impact defender and will probably be an instant impact isolation defender in the NBA. He moves his feet well and has great anticipation. That anticipation will be something that this team sorely needs. He blocks driving and passing lanes really well with that anticipation and long hands and generates a lot of "good" steals (those steals that come from 1-on-1 defense, quick hands and anticipation) but also has the burst to go for "gamble" or "bad" steals.


He can also work the post and has two or three moves that he likes to use a lot (a quick spin, a turnaround jumper and an occasional right hook). And for everybody that says he can't finish at the rim, he's shooting 64% from at the rim shots. For comparison, Mclemore is at 72%, Burke is at 63%, Oladipo is at 70% and Porter is at 66%. (according to hoop-math.com).

He's VERY physical and will use his extremely large frame to bump somebody out of the way (sometimes, even bigs). That's a big reason why he's one of the better rebounding guards in the tourney. I especially love his tenacity on the offensive glass -- where he gets a LOT of second chance scores. Big reason too why he goes to the line 7 times in the game.

His shooting motion (though inconsistent) has some solid foundations (i.e. shooting elbow is intact, ball placed right around eye level, feet is squared to shoulders, pushes his shot upwards instead of forward) but struggles with some key aspects of shooting (he occasionally does leg kicks or twists his body when pulling up). Probably a big reason why he's shooting at an above average rate of 77.7% from the FT line while being a horrible shooter everywhere else.

This last part is something you'll have to file as "conjecture": Apparently, he's a very vocal leader and is a very good locker room guy.

Seeing as how Monty was able to fully re-construct Austin Rivers and make him into a good (albeit inconsistent) defender, then I think Smart can and will succeed with us.

Best player comp I have is a slightly bigger, slightly slower Russell Westbrook in his young days. His ceiling and floor were similar to Russ as well: ceiling is "unlimited" while his floor was also pretty easy to see "athletic freak who'll never learn how to shoot".

Whether you were convinced or not is up to you but that's what I saw from watching a couple of games of him + highlights + combining what Jonathan Givony (a respected and highly informative NBA prospect guru) have said.

Great stuff man. I appreciate the write-up. So you would categorize him as an "elite" athlete?

[nikkoewan]

Great stuff man. I appreciate the write-up. So you would categorize him as an "elite" athlete?

in terms of his physical profile (which includes: upper and lower body strength, foot speed, first step, jumping ability), yes. He doesn't like using them though. He's a very below the rim player in that he doesn't like dunking or contorting layups. His first step isn't SUPER DUPER elite but it's good enough in the NBA (me thinks).

You might be wondering where I notice his "elite" athleticism -- watch him rebound and post up. He pushes big men for rebounds. YES BIG MEN. and he smothers guards (even what people would classify as "SG"). Big men BUMP right off him when they get in contact in mid-air. Plus, he can blow by his initial defender on ISOs (only to settle for a stupid jumper).

[HornetGuru]

in terms of his physical profile (which includes: upper and lower body strength, foot speed, first step, jumping ability), yes. He doesn't like using them though. He's a very below the rim player in that he doesn't like dunking or contorting layups. His first step isn't SUPER DUPER elite but it's good enough in the NBA (me thinks).

You might be wondering where I notice his "elite" athleticism -- watch him rebound and post up. He pushes big men for rebounds. YES BIG MEN. and he smothers guards (even what people would classify as "SG"). Big men BUMP right off him when they get in contact in mid-air. Plus, he can blow by his initial defender on ISOs (only to settle for a stupid jumper).

he reminds me of a shorter james harden honestly, good passer, defender, and scores with body strength, not athleticism

[HornetGuru]

also burke was not a good 3pt shooter his freshmen year and improved his 2nd year, Smart has very good shooting mechanics and his shot will come, i have no doubt about it.

[HornetGuru]

Like ive said before it depends on the players u have on ur team, burke would be a better with with gordon ryno AD and so on, if we lose gordon i think smart would be a good fit then.

[nikkoewan]

he reminds me of a shorter james harden honestly, good passer, defender, and scores with body strength, not athleticism

Eh.. James Harden always placed at a good pace -- big reason why he was successful and comfortable in ball screens. And Harden's is NOT a good defender. LOL.

Plus, Harden's always been a shooter. Burke's had that part of his game in question (apparently) since his HS days.

To be completely honest, I'm praying that Burke's hype gets so big that he gets drafted before Smart. I'd prefer it if the draft order went something like:

1. CHA - Noel
2. PHX - McLemore
3. ORL - Burke
4. CLE - Oladipo/Porter
5. NOP - SMART! LOL

[da ThRONe]

Like ive said before it depends on the players u have on ur team, burke would be a better with with gordon ryno AD and so on, if we lose gordon i think smart would be a good fit then.

That's funny because I think Gordon and Burke are an poor pairing. They would be a very under sized backcourt and both guys are better when they dominate the ball.

[nikkoewan]

That's funny because I think Gordon and Burke are an poor pairing. They would be a very under sized backcourt and both guys are better when they dominate the ball.

I was going to type the same exact thing.

But either way, you draft BPA (Best Prospect Available). As a prospect, I'm more inclined towards Smart over Burke.

[nolaslim213]

Yeah, I'm still rolling with Burke.

[da ThRONe]

Not at all. One game doesn't define anything. Burke was on the much better team. Poor argument. Smart is a better prospect overall, and is a better suited on a team without much talent since he's a more talented prospect, but Burke is a better fit assuming Davis, Anderson, and Gordon are here long term.

I think Burke team was overrated honestly. Robinson III was inconsistent, Hardaway usually forced his offense and was mostly ineffective doing so, Stauskas was streaky all season, and McGray rarely played before the tourney. They pick the right time to start showing up, but that huge boost came mostly from McGray. All season long it was Burke carrying that team.