Last night, listening to the announcers, was the first time I can see the argument that Jae can play at the next level. Like Lazar/Wes/JFB, he can guard a whole bunch of positions on the floor. He can score inside and outside. My major concern is that he is not as good scoring off of the dribble as those 3. But from a defense/intangibles/hustle/inside-outside scoring standpoint, I finally see it.
Quote from: tower912 on February 07, 2012, 02:12:29 PM
Last night, listening to the announcers, was the first time I can see the argument that Jae can play at the next level. Like Lazar/Wes/JFB, he can guard a whole bunch of positions on the floor. He can score inside and outside. My major concern is that he is not as good scoring off of the dribble as those 3. But from a defense/intangibles/hustle/inside-outside scoring standpoint, I finally see it.
I am not going to compare Wes since he is a true guard but Lazar and JFB are pretty good ball handlers. And can drive inside. JFB even has a really good mid-range game off of the dribble (Lazar a little). Unfortunately, at this point Crowder does not have the ball handling, driving ability, or mid-range game. I pray I am wrong but I just don't see the comparison for a NBA first round pick.
I didn't say first round pick. I agree that he is not going to be a first round pick. And I think it more likely that he is undrafted. And finally, I can see him in Europe or the D-league for a year or two working on his ball handling. He needs to improve to the point that he can attack off of the dribble. But if he fixes that, I can see him playing in the league.
Crowder is an excellent college player but his lack of athleticism is going hurt his chances in the NBA. Unless he doubles in width, there aren't a lot of teams looking for 6'6" forwards with limited athletic ability (limited relative to NBA players, of course).
I hope I'm wrong and he has a stellar NBA career but he strikes me as a Euro league player, which is still a very good way to make a living.
He can guard bigger guys in college. He struggles with quicker guys however, and that will doom him in the NBA. Remember when JFB blanketed Tu Holloway in the NCAA game? Could you imagine Jae trying to do that?
And his athleticism is an issue. There was a point where he was given the ball on the block and had a clear path to the basket...and he barely touched the rim.
He can make a lot of money in Europe because he is smart and durable though.
I don't see a spot in the league for Crowder at any point in the future. Too short, no handle, and not a good enough three point shot. However, I didn't see JFB or Lazar being first round picks either...
I'd bet he plays in the NBA at some point. Ive been told that scouts have been keeping an eye on him.
He is incredibly efficient statistically and teams will be drawn to that. He's a poor man's Shane Battier.
It appears to me he is getting quicker. It may be just who he is playing against.
I love Jae as a college player, but I can't see him doing anything in the NBA. He lacks the necessary athleticism and burst to defend at the next level. He also is extremely undersized for a foreward, 6'6 (realistically he is probably closer to 6'4). He has great intangibles but unfortunately, it takes more than just intangibles to play in the pros. I look for him to go undrafted, play summer league, and eventually play in Europe.
I agree with most everything said here, however the amount of steals he has been picking up as of late has been incredible. But to add on to Avenue's comments, coming out he will most likely be one of the top statistically efficient players in the draft. If the right team values statistics over measurables, he might get a shot. Does anyone know of a PER like statistic for college players out there and how Jae ranks overall?
Quote from: dw3dw3dw3 on February 07, 2012, 09:12:33 PM
I agree with most everything said here, however the amount of steals he has been picking up as of late has been incredible. But to add on to Avenue's comments, coming out he will most likely be one of the top statistically efficient players in the draft. If the right team values statistics over measurables, he might get a shot. Does anyone know of a PER like statistic for college players out there and how Jae ranks overall?
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/marquette/2012.html (http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/marquette/2012.html)
It doesn't compare Jae to players on other teams but does show exactly how statistically dominant he has been for MU (PER of 27.3 compared to 20.7 for DJO).
Found it... He's 36th on this list, but out of BCS conferences, he's 11th I think.
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/hollinger/statistics?&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2fhollinger%2fstatistics
Not quick enough. Not athletic enough. Not tall enough.
Classic example of a very good college player who clearly isn't good enough for the NBA.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on February 07, 2012, 03:53:00 PM
He can guard bigger guys in college. He struggles with quicker guys however, and that will doom him in the NBA. Remember when JFB blanketed Tu Holloway in the NCAA game? Could you imagine Jae trying to do that?
And his athleticism is an issue. There was a point where he was given the ball on the block and had a clear path to the basket...and he barely touched the rim.
He can make a lot of money in Europe because he is smart and durable though.
All valid points, but I would also ask if Jae has ever looked as outmatched by a guard as when Ben Hansbrough went past Jimmy every time he wanted too. This isn't to criticize Jimmy, because as you said he rebounded from that to do a great job on Kemba and then blanket Tu, but my point is I've never seen a quicker guy go by Jae consistently like Hansbrough did to Jimmy that day, and yet Jimmy was good enough to guard guards.
For me the bigger concern for Jae is whether he really is a solid 6-foot-6, because if he is 6-5 in his official NBA measurements, then you would be hoping that he would become one of only two forwards in the league under 6-6, the other being Lazar - and the height has been a problem for Lazar at the next level.
On the bright side, scouts do take a hard look at blocks and steals to see if a player is athletic enough to play defense in the NBA, and darn if we don't have another front line player leading the conference in steals and once again one of the best shotblocking forwards in the country. I'm confident he is at least on a lot of "watch" lists right now, but can't go the next step to predict he will actually make it.