hoopsaustin
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I wouldn't say that, but I'm highly biased in favor of shooting..
Darryn Peterson
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Yes, but that's irrelevant for this conversation, as all the best prospects play forward or center. There's absolutely no way he gets drafted above Flagg or Wemby, and perhaps not even Dybantsa. Also depends on how you define generation.
The guy's draft comps were Magic and Lebron. Obviously that didn't work out, but his shot was the only question mark about his game.
WichitaSooner
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You just said he wasn't a better prospect than Ben Simmons in the post I was responding to. Last I checked, Ben Simmons was a guard, so I'm not sure how my response is irrelevant.
As far as generation, the names people have mentioned as far as the most recent guard who was this good a prospect are D Rose and Kobe. So 18 years for Rose and three decades for Kobe. I think either would count as a generation. I think that term gets overused and misused, but it fits here going off what the people who do this stuff for a living have said.
MJSooner
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As a Sixers fan, it wasn't the FT thing only. It was shooting. Period. He refused to take a clutch shot. Or any shot. Teams would lay off of him and double Joel, or stick with Reddick, daring him to shoot. He made 5 3s in 4 years with the Sixers. Never shot a 3 with any other team after he left. Great on the break, and as your awards show, great on D. But he was SOFT. Hated criticism. And he was playing in the wrong city to be soft, and for the wrong coach. All of that, along with FTs did get in his head.
His ultimate collapse was mostly due to the FT issue. He was never the same after G7 against Atlanta, when he passed up on a bunny or dunk because he thought he MIGHT get fouled by Trae. Sounds funny now. He never recovered mentally, and IMO, didn't want to play basketball anymore and used injuries as a reason.
In that way, not having a strong passion for the game and being a little mentally soft, I can see the comparison to Peterson. But Simmons never dreamed of the offensive game that Peterson has. On the flipside, Peterson will never have the defensive skills and rebounding ability Simmons had. Could put up a triple double without a shot.
Peterson has the ability to be as good as anyone on the court RN and as good as he wants to be. So far, that is the question- how much does he want it.
He was listed as a forward. Not a 6'10, 240 lb guard.
Kobe wasn't even considered the best prospect in his own class. He was like the 5th guard taken, behind Kerry Kittles. Truly bizarre to pretend he was the best prospect of the last 30 years.
Kobe is obviously a great comp to have, but that's not as good as Magic and Lebron. Peterson has also been comped to Brandon Roy and Devin Booker, which is clearly not generational.
Peterson is a great prospect, but there's a good chance he doesn't even go number 1. And he's not even close to multiple guys drafted in the past 3 years (Flagg, Wemby).
Sooner04
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I readily admit that I don't know the intricacies of scouting for NBA talent. There are red flags galore surrounding Peterson if you care to look. I feel like there are 2-3 guards like him coming out every year. It's what's the between the ears that separates the dudes at that level.
On the other hand, I was inside the Maravich Center when the top-ranked Sooners traveled to Baton Rouge in 2016. Ben Simmons was a man among boys. I thought I was watching a transcendent player. We were the #1 team in the country, had been solidly in the top 5 for months, and he was light years ahead of every player we had, including the eventual Wooden Award winner who was wearing crimson and cream (no anthracite in sight). The dude drove baseline right in front of me, continued under the basket, and then threw down a dunk from underneath while never bothering to turn his body toward the hoop. Just a single fluid motion right back over his head. Words do not do it justice. Again.....the space between the ears told the tale.
On the other hand, I was inside the Maravich Center when the top-ranked Sooners traveled to Baton Rouge in 2016. Ben Simmons was a man among boys. I thought I was watching a transcendent player. We were the #1 team in the country, had been solidly in the top 5 for months, and he was light years ahead of every player we had, including the eventual Wooden Award winner who was wearing crimson and cream (no anthracite in sight). The dude drove baseline right in front of me, continued under the basket, and then threw down a dunk from underneath while never bothering to turn his body toward the hoop. Just a single fluid motion right back over his head. Words do not do it justice. Again.....the space between the ears told the tale.
WichitaSooner
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I respectfully disagree on the first point. Every coach, scout, and exec has said there hasn’t been a guard like him in ages, let alone two or three guys per year. If you can think of any examples, I’d be interested in hearing them. He has everything in his game, plus size and strength.
You’re absolutely right that the mental aspect plays a huge role, and maybe the people doubting Peterson will be proven right. I’m not saying that’s out of the realm of possibility. I just think it’s too early to assume that he doesn’t love the sport, etc. No doubt he could play through some of the cramping. But I’m sure in the back of his mind, he is aware that he has tens of millions of guaranteed money coming his way if he doesn’t get hurt. That’s not the best mindset, but it’s also somewhat understandable.
Ben was really impressive. Completely controlled the game alongside a bunch of bums. Had us down by double digits the majority of the game, but thankfully Buddy and Cousins caught fire late. If they'd had an average night shooting, we would have been toast.
Great opportunity for a Dante Buford shoutout, even if he didn't score!
I think Peterson is great, and I'd pick him one or two. Most years we don't get a guard as talented, but it's wild to pretend he's generational when we had two guys in the past three years in a completely different tier. It seems basketball folks want to label somebody as generational every year, while football fans are completely averse to it.
