Post by Akomplice on Dec 1, 2010 19:16:48 GMT -5
Here in Chicago were the eliminated teams find themselves, the combine is starting to heat up. The point guard class is loaded this year and the individual battles have been impressive thus far. One on one matchups can really affect the way that General Managers view these players. In this article we take a closer look at the following point guards: Devin Harris, TJ Ford, Shaun Livingston, Raymond Felton, Jameer Nelson and Chris Duhon.
The first action of the day featured a three on three action with Harris leading his squad that had Lenny Cooke and Emeka Okafor up against Shaun Livingston, Josh Smith and Al Jefferson. The match up between Livingston got heated real quick because Harris was getting frustrated because he couldn't use his speed to get bye Livingston like he was doing defenders all year long. What really set the fireworks was a hard pick by Okafor on Livingston, trying to run through it Livingston hit the deck and Harris drained the shot. Livingston looked like he took exception by the pick, trying to answer on the other end he posted up Harris and was throwing his elbow as he backed down. Harris and Livingston could be seen verbally going at each other. As the play developed Livingston threw quite the impressive pass to Al Jefferson for the easy dunk but Okafor came out of nowhere to block him. Al Jefferson has really struggled against the likes of Okafor, we wouldn't be surprised if he goes to college to learn how to play the right way. Devin Harris college team eventually got the better of Livingston's high school squad, but some great play from both sides in this one.
The next three on three pitted TJ Ford against Raymond Felton. Allowing the two to pick their squad, Ford had the first pick and selected Dwight Howard, Felton picked Iggy and Eddy Curry and Ford selected JR Smith to round it out. The first thing that stood out to us was the fact that Ford is rail thin. Felton immediately backed him down, Ford was clearly struggling with Felton's size. Felton was confirming everything we thought about Ford, he is blazing quick and will come up with steals but will struggle on defense. TJ Ford not to be outshined displayed quickness, working the pick and roll with Howard to perfection. Felton was working great with Iggy, both running the courts with Curry being the trailer. Curry looks huge but he is quick and nimble, it's hard to believe it until you watch him play. JR Smith launched a brick from three, Felton got the rebound and ran the fast the break throwing a 30 foot alley oop for Iggy, one of the standout plays of the day. Ford and Felton were great in this game, but Ford's lack of defense might cause him to slide. Felton reaffirmed that he is a lottery pick in this draft.
The day was coming to an end when Chris Duhon engaged into a friendly shoot out with Jameer Nelson. This might have been the worse idea Chris could ever have. Nelson was draining shots from beyond the arc, it actually caught a lot of scouts by surprise. Duhon was struggling to hit the shots and was badly beaten by Nelson in the shoot off. Scouts started to question if Duhon can actually be an effective starting point guard or is he was just an ideal backup who can be a change of pace guard. Nelson probably slide up the rankings with this shooting, he has a lot of hype right now. St Joes was a great story and a lot of people are talking about Nelson right now.
The first action of the day featured a three on three action with Harris leading his squad that had Lenny Cooke and Emeka Okafor up against Shaun Livingston, Josh Smith and Al Jefferson. The match up between Livingston got heated real quick because Harris was getting frustrated because he couldn't use his speed to get bye Livingston like he was doing defenders all year long. What really set the fireworks was a hard pick by Okafor on Livingston, trying to run through it Livingston hit the deck and Harris drained the shot. Livingston looked like he took exception by the pick, trying to answer on the other end he posted up Harris and was throwing his elbow as he backed down. Harris and Livingston could be seen verbally going at each other. As the play developed Livingston threw quite the impressive pass to Al Jefferson for the easy dunk but Okafor came out of nowhere to block him. Al Jefferson has really struggled against the likes of Okafor, we wouldn't be surprised if he goes to college to learn how to play the right way. Devin Harris college team eventually got the better of Livingston's high school squad, but some great play from both sides in this one.
The next three on three pitted TJ Ford against Raymond Felton. Allowing the two to pick their squad, Ford had the first pick and selected Dwight Howard, Felton picked Iggy and Eddy Curry and Ford selected JR Smith to round it out. The first thing that stood out to us was the fact that Ford is rail thin. Felton immediately backed him down, Ford was clearly struggling with Felton's size. Felton was confirming everything we thought about Ford, he is blazing quick and will come up with steals but will struggle on defense. TJ Ford not to be outshined displayed quickness, working the pick and roll with Howard to perfection. Felton was working great with Iggy, both running the courts with Curry being the trailer. Curry looks huge but he is quick and nimble, it's hard to believe it until you watch him play. JR Smith launched a brick from three, Felton got the rebound and ran the fast the break throwing a 30 foot alley oop for Iggy, one of the standout plays of the day. Ford and Felton were great in this game, but Ford's lack of defense might cause him to slide. Felton reaffirmed that he is a lottery pick in this draft.
The day was coming to an end when Chris Duhon engaged into a friendly shoot out with Jameer Nelson. This might have been the worse idea Chris could ever have. Nelson was draining shots from beyond the arc, it actually caught a lot of scouts by surprise. Duhon was struggling to hit the shots and was badly beaten by Nelson in the shoot off. Scouts started to question if Duhon can actually be an effective starting point guard or is he was just an ideal backup who can be a change of pace guard. Nelson probably slide up the rankings with this shooting, he has a lot of hype right now. St Joes was a great story and a lot of people are talking about Nelson right now.
