I was on nbadraft.net and they listed both james and mcneal going in the second round of the 2009 draft, and guess who they predict to go higher
http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2009 (http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2009)
49 other players?
lol yeah, 49 other players?
hey fellas,
he meant who would go higher between the two of them. obviously he is surprised McNeal is projected as being drafted earlier.
They also have Hansborough going 29th... I see him going higher than that
James xxxxxxxxx will never make it in the League.
He lacks the refined tools and headiness it takes to make it.
It's D-League or overseas for him.
wow. i agree, it might take james a couple years before he sticks in the league, but if darius washington can make it to the league (spurs) DJ can make it as well. and he most certainly does not "suck".
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on December 08, 2007, 12:18:12 PM
wow. i agree, it might take james a couple years before he sticks in the league, but if darius washington can make it to the league (spurs) DJ can make it as well. and he most certainly does not "suck".
It's pretty simple why he spent time with the Spurs: Washington can shoot. James cannot.
BTW, Darius is in the D-League now and is shooting 64% from the field. (Even better than Novak, 40%.)
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=darius_washington
hard to argue that james uhhh.. is.. uhhh.. all that terrible after the two back-to-back performances he's had now...
yeah all the DJ hate is a joke. the man is freakishly athletic, has great vision with excellent passing, and plays excellent defense for his size. He may not be TJ Ford, but hes definitely not shabby when he plays to his potential.
Also, DJ is a true point and is showing that these past few games. Mcneal, even though i love him as a college player, is an undersized 2.
That said, I agree with both as second rounders- DJ for his pg ability and freakish skill, Mcneal for his defense, but DJ a better chance than McNeal.
How bout something they can both share? a BE championship or a Final 4 run?
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Well at least we're all enjoying the win today. We don't win tonight without DJ...that simple.
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
quite honestly i could care less why you dislike DJ. Im not here to judge his character, which could be a reason for disliking him.
Basketball wise, he has done a ton for this program, and even with a subpar year last season is still the best player on this team. He may struggle, but who doesnt?
Bottom line is he has looked much better this year and we need him to be his old self to be successful - and for those that said we would be better without him, as the large man from the miller highlife commercial would say you must be out your mind
As for the NBA, he may not get drafted. If he doesnt, itll be because of his shooting ability and size, NOT because of his pg skills, passing ability, vision, shot selection, etc etc and especially not because you say so
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Why can't you accept the fact he's a junior now, so "as always" happened as a Freshman and Sophomore....kids do mature and get better. It's not like he's in his 13th year as a pro.
Why not believe in the kid?
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on December 09, 2007, 12:11:27 AM
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Why can't you accept the fact he's a junior now, so "as always" happened as a Freshman and Sophomore....kids do mature and get better. It's not like he's in his 13th year as a pro.
Why not believe in the kid?
Because when I believed in him, he didn't deliver.
And Dmitri...DJ won't get drafted because of those two major areas you identified. But that also explains why Diener got drafted: he was much more complete sans the athletic freakiness.
Oddly, that's why I can't stand both of my children either. :P
I actually don't have any children, but just pointing out the absurdity of your reasoning. Thought I would clarify before people started calling DCFS on me for not loving my fictional children.
I root for all the guys on our team, because I truly believe they're all quality individuals, give their best effort every time on the floor and represent the university well. I have a special fondness for the way McNeal, DJ and Wes came into MU as leaders and have put us in the top ranks of the BE. I'm not going to argue with your opinion - it's an opinion, afterall - but it just makes me kind of sad to hear logic like that.
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 09, 2007, 12:22:37 AM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on December 09, 2007, 12:11:27 AM
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Why can't you accept the fact he's a junior now, so "as always" happened as a Freshman and Sophomore....kids do mature and get better. It's not like he's in his 13th year as a pro.
Why not believe in the kid?
Because when I believed in him, he didn't deliver.
And Dmitri...DJ won't get drafted because of those two major areas you identified. But that also explains why Diener got drafted: he was much more complete sans the athletic freakiness.
Diener was much more complete? He was a great player here for 4 yrs but he had no shot of NBA after 2, DJ would have had a legit shot. Besides that, Diener was clearly above and beyond DJ in shooting ability, he could shoot the lights out. He was also better at leadership in my opinion. Other than that, where is the more completeness? DJ is much quicker and can get to the lane with ease, travis was slower than our slowest guard this year. DJ is just as good a passer, if not better. DJ is also a much better defender, travis was a liability at that end.
I think both players are great in their own way, and if you could take DJ's athleticism and give it to travis or travis' shot and give it to DJ they would form a hell of a player. However, as we see with steve and travis, you have to not only be able to shoot but also be able to create your own shot. With improvement in his shooting ability DJ is the better NBA player because he can do so many other things
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
How did shopping with the lady go? Find any good deals? Was shopping with the lady worth missing the DJ SHOW :-\
I think both players are great in their own way, and if you could take DJ's athleticism and give it to travis or travis' shot and give it to DJ they would form a hell of a player. However, as we see with steve and travis, you have to not only be able to shoot but also be able to create your own shot. With improvement in his shooting ability DJ is the better NBA player because he can do so many other things
[/quote]
Interesting scenario you've pointed out here. So the argument in a nutshell can be restated - who is better suited for the NBA - athletic players, or shooters. Perhaps not really that simple, but if you look at how the NBA drafts - atleticism is huge. That's why, IMO, so many high school seniors were being drafted before the rule change. They may not yet have become "basketball players" but they were great athletes. BUT, after three years of college, is athleticism valued as highly? Perhaps after three years in college the pros expect the basketball skills to be more developed and aren't as likely to spend a top two pick on "potential"
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Anyone with functional eyes can see that James is head and shoulders above where he was last year.
The complaints last year and over the offseason were that he's selfish and takes ill-advised shots. His passing has been nothing short of outstanding this year, and his shot selection has vastly improved. He's the co-leader of this team and he just willed us to a huge win last night.
Did somebody neglect to change your diaper? What more do you want from him?
And I agree with you. He won't get drafted in the second round. He'll go in the first with a season full of performances like last night.
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 09, 2007, 12:22:37 AM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on December 09, 2007, 12:11:27 AM
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on December 08, 2007, 11:57:50 PM
I cannot stand DJ for many reasons, and mark my words (or bookmark this link), he will not get drafted in the second round.
Even with two performances like these he's going to struggle this year and disappear in games and chuck up shots...like always.
Why can't you accept the fact he's a junior now, so "as always" happened as a Freshman and Sophomore....kids do mature and get better. It's not like he's in his 13th year as a pro.
Why not believe in the kid?
Because when I believed in him, he didn't deliver.
He's a college basketball player... not your ex-girlfriend.
You sound so bitter.
DJ's a solid college PG. Who the hell cares where he gets drafted?
Bookmark this... DJ is a very, very good college PG. After that, it's doesn't matter. Getting a player to the NBA doesn't give MU anymore wins.
Just enjoy watching him play. Don't take it so personally.
I have no idea if he'll get drafted, but he's playing better than at any time since he got to Milwaukee. I believe it's because he's starting to trust his teammates. In the past, it wasn't only three pointers he forced, it was shots inside the paint when only a circus acrobat could get the ball in the hole. Yesterday and against UWM he trusted his teammates enough to dump it off or send it back outside. It didn't always result in a basket, but it didn't make me want to throw my remote through the television set.
He's playing great and seems interested in winning basketball games rather than winning plaudits. If he keeps it up, I could see his stock rising.
I'm starting to think that his experience at the NBA draft camp helped James pretty significantly. It may have been the first time in his basketball life he was told he wasn't good enough, and he seems to have come into this season with a different attitude.
The difference between his good play the last few games and bad play most of last conference season is a change in his approach, not a dramatic improvement in basketball skills. Vastly improved decision making and shot selection has led to his improved shooting percentage. It isn't that his shot is so much better. Remove those 3-4 bad shots per game and the percentage will increase.
BTW, I was one of the James 'haters' last season. This didn't mean I hated James or thought that MU would be better without him. It meant that I was disappointed that he was playing so far below his potential, which is the highest on the team. When he's playing well, MU is one of the best teams in the country. When he's playing poorly, he can single-handedly lose games for us.
I really hope that the last two games have been a preview of what we'll see from him the next 2 years. If that's the case, MU is going to go far and James will find himself as a first rounder.