Help these untrained eyes understand

[Sooner Season]

Admittedly, I am just a fan. My basketball expertise consists of church league basketball, a little refereeing and watching almost every Sooners men's game since the Dave Bliss era. Yes, I'm ancient. So knowing that, I really need a knowledgeable basketball person to help me understand why Trae Young is a lottery pick. I don't say this to bash Trae at all. I appreciate him staying local and dreaming of and actually playing for the Sooners. I do know he has some unique and special skills. But I don't understand how he is ready to go against Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, etc. His defense alone would seem to keep him out of elite status when it comes to the NBA. If the Thunder were in line to make him their top choice, I would be very unsettled about that pick. So can somebody explain it to me...................

 

[BoulderSooner]

Admittedly, I am just a fan. My basketball expertise consists of church league basketball, a little refereeing and watching almost every Sooners men's game since the Dave Bliss era. Yes, I'm ancient. So knowing that, I really need a knowledgeable basketball person to help me understand why Trae Young is a lottery pick. I don't say this to bash Trae at all. I appreciate him staying local and dreaming of and actually playing for the Sooners. I do know he has some unique and special skills. But I don't understand how he is ready to go against Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, etc. His defense alone would seem to keep him out of elite status when it comes to the NBA. If the Thunder were in line to make him their top choice, I would be very unsettled about that pick. So can somebody explain it to me...................

a he is not ready to go against them but he has the potential to be very very good.

b he has elite ball handling skills range and passing ability

c the draft is about potential .. trae is better now than steph was as a true freshman

d this is not a deep draft after about 7 picks

e in the nba he will not get double teamed and he will have more space to operate

 

[allday92]

Admittedly, I am just a fan. My basketball expertise consists of church league basketball, a little refereeing and watching almost every Sooners men's game since the Dave Bliss era. Yes, I'm ancient. So knowing that, I really need a knowledgeable basketball person to help me understand why Trae Young is a lottery pick. I don't say this to bash Trae at all. I appreciate him staying local and dreaming of and actually playing for the Sooners. I do know he has some unique and special skills. But I don't understand how he is ready to go against Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, etc. His defense alone would seem to keep him out of elite status when it comes to the NBA. If the Thunder were in line to make him their top choice, I would be very unsettled about that pick. So can somebody explain it to me...................

What rookie goes into the league ready to compete against the elite players at his position?

For the three years you specifically mentioned, defense isn't keeping them in elite status, its their offense. Trae has had the best offensive season by a freshman in history. You draft based on what a player can become, not what they are now.

 

[hoopsaustin]

What rookie goes into the league ready to compete against the elite players at his position?

For the three years you specifically mentioned, defense isn't keeping them in elite status, its their offense. Trae has had the best offensive season by a freshman in history. You draft based on what a player can become, not what they are now.

Right? Here you go rook, lock down Westbrook, the first or second most explosive athlete in the nba ever.... lol

 

[sybarite]

It is quite possible that Trae may be better in the pros. Right now, if Trae doesn't do it, it doesn't get done. In the pros, he will be one of about eight to nine on a team that can do their job. Teams won't be able to focus on him. If you don't focus on him, he might kill you.

Generally, if you hit a big man with a pass in the pros, he will catch it and dunk it. If you get him the ball while open within six feet of the rim, he will likely score. Right now, the ball might sail right by, or the recipient might start double pumping and travel or give the defense time to recover. In general, the pros can catch passes. They have seen good passers. Currently, it might have been better if Trae had hit some people in the head with his passes. They might have learned to pay attention.

He'll probably sit at least half the game as a rookie. He won't be exhausted.

 

[oudna]

Generally, if you hit a big man with a pass in the pros, he will catch it and dunk it. If you get him the ball while open within six feet of the rim, he will likely score. Right now, the ball might sail right by, or the recipient might start double pumping and travel or give the defense time to recover. In general, the pros can catch passes.

It’s a huge issue. They have poor anticipation (McNeace exceptionally!), bad hands, and can’t finish

 

[sooner8]

Trae needs to get stronger & better on defense & he will get the attention to do that in the NBA.Trae makes mistakes but he is a freshman & the supporting cast around him this season doesn't do his skills justice.Would love to have him back,but that's not going to happen.OU doesn't get players like that very often & a special year seems to have been wasted.Go Sooners!

 

[coolm]

Trae has amazing passing skills and court vision so he will be an assist machine. Like others mentioned with just NBA adequate teammates he is an immediate threat to be a double digit assist guy which is a big deal. Trae's the goods.

 

[inoref]

I still think the team is lost, bad hands for sure, slow slow reaction to miss shots, we can call it anyway we want now and be right..but coaching or lack of is the #1 issue. Even with avg talent which they are the fundamentals should be much better at this time of year..so back to the coaches

 

[DenverSooner]

What makes Trae special is his passing/vision combine with a pretty complete offensive game. He has great range. He has a really good floater. He can get to the rim. He has a good step back. He shows the ability to be s really smart player.

What makes your question reasonable is why do I care if you score 30 but give up 35. Additionally he shows the ability to play extremely selfish and make very immature decisions. If he didn’t do this, I would beastly get over the defense.

I have concerns. I assume the NBA guys think they can teach defense and maturity.

 

[DenverSooner]

I am no expert.

 

[Matthew G]

a he is not ready to go against them but he has the potential to be very very good.

b he has elite ball handling skills range and passing ability

c the draft is about potential .. trae is better now than steph was as a true freshman

d this is not a deep draft after about 7 picks

e in the nba he will not get double teamed and he will have more space to operate

Everything but E is correct. Buddy Hield gets face guarded in the NBA,and Buddy is a 6th man off the bench. So Trae, being better than Buddy, will see Paul George and other top defenders guarding him assuming he's a top 7 pick on a crappy team, and therefore, he will NOT have a ton of space to shoot. That's something a lot of people seem to not understand. If Trae is on the Magic, Suns, etc. he's going to see the best or 2nd best defender on him. They will key in on him and will take away his shooting, just like they do with Buddy Hield currently.

 

[DenverSooner]

Most people don’t understand that the defense is better in the NBA. The notion that they don’t play defense is silly. Ask Pop if he expects the Spurs to defend.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Everything but E is correct. Buddy Hield gets face guarded in the NBA,and Buddy is a 6th man off the bench. So Trae, being better than Buddy, will see Paul George and other top defenders guarding him assuming he's a top 7 pick on a crappy team, and therefore, he will NOT have a ton of space to shoot. That's something a lot of people seem to not understand. If Trae is on the Magic, Suns, etc. he's going to see the best or 2nd best defender on him. They will key in on him and will take away his shooting, just like they do with Buddy Hield currently.

where did i say "more space to shoot"

more space to operate is 100% true because spacing is much better and he won't get doubled ...

buddy has a hard time beating people off the dribble .. trae won't

 

[Sooner Season]

Sounds like most of you are saying potential although I'm a little surprised at Cool's comment that he would be a double digit assist guy immediately. If that's true, then I get it. I'm thinking he may be a Ricky Rubio kind of player, but maybe I'm underselling him. Two things nag at me about him, one is Steph Curry played 3 years in college and then it was another couple of years in the NBA before we saw the player we now see. Trae is going to be drafted after one year, that's a huge difference experience wise and physically. Second thing is, he hasn't elevated his teams with his play. Now maybe he just has the bad luck of not having teammates that can help him, but maybe its his style of play. Most of the successful lottery picks that make it big in the NBA seemed to have taken their college teams on their shoulders and taken them to success. Just seems a little odd Trae has to get to the NBA to have teammates that he can be successful with.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Sounds like most of you are saying potential although I'm a little surprised at Cool's comment that he would be a double digit assist guy immediately. If that's true, then I get it. I'm thinking he may be a Ricky Rubio kind of player, but maybe I'm underselling him. Two things nag at me about him, one is Steph Curry played 3 years in college and then it was another couple of years in the NBA before we saw the player we now see. Trae is going to be drafted after one year, that's a huge difference experience wise and physically. Second thing is, he hasn't elevated his teams with his play. Now maybe he just has the bad luck of not having teammates that can help him, but maybe its his style of play. Most of the successful lottery picks that make it big in the NBA seemed to have taken their college teams on their shoulders and taken them to success. Just seems a little odd Trae has to get to the NBA to have teammates that he can be successful with.

ben simmons #1 pick ncaa team missed the tourney

 

[chuckb]

ben simmons #1 pick ncaa team missed the tourney

Same with Markelle Fultz.

DeAndre Ayton's team is underachieving badly.