The Case for Russell

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

The Serge Ibaka-Karl Towns comparison might be the worst I've seen this year.

Why

[TheFuture]

I take Roy as well. He was the best of those players by the time he was 25 or so. Who's knows how good he'd get without the injuries.

Here again though Roy was 2 inches taller and 15 lbs heavier coming out of college. He also sported a 40 inch vertical.

I love Russell, but the lack of elite size/athleticism puts a little doubt in my mind. I think he could still be a great player, but we are talking about the #1 pick here.

Totally agree Q. This tendency to look at the best of the best NBA players today and say Russell could be the next Harden is just too big of a leap for me. He definitely has physical limitations and he was very inconsistent in his one year at Ohio State. While I consider him a top 5 or 6 player in this draft, I think we need to slow down on the overly optimistic projections for him. For every one James Harden, there are a ton of Randy Foyes.

How is that any different than claiming Towns has superstar potential? It's the same thing.

Also, I see a Curry/Roy hybrid in Russell. His athleticism isn't elite, but it's enough. Tyreke Evans was more athletic than Curry, did he turn out better? Blake Griffin is more athletic, and a PF. Do you take him over Curry now, like they did in 09??

Not being able to rely solely on your athleticism throughout your life forces you to hone your skills. He is an elite scorer, elite passer, and elite rebounder for his position. I don't think you can say any other player in this draft is as good in 3 categories as Russell is.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If it's just three categories we're talking about, then Okafor's got scoring, offensive rebounding and 2P efficiency and Towns has blocked shots, rebounding and FT%.

None of that really matters, though, because you have to judge player A vs player B vs player C. At the end of the day, all three could very well be All-Star players (and I think they will), but only one can be a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. Only one has the best possible fit for what we currently have built. Karl-Anthony Towns needs to be the player the Timberwolves land on June 25th.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Russell only shot 35.7% in 7 games against ranked opponents. Here are the games: 3 for 19 against Arizona, 7 for 18 vs Wisconsin, 4 for 13 and 7 for 16 vs. Michigan State, 4 for 17 vs North Carolina, 10 for 20 vs VCU and 6 for 12 vs. Maryland.

I think its a red flag that he has a hard time shooting well against quality opponents and that he has great games against weaker opponents.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

After going thru each game Russell played in, I see a guy who disappears in big games. Folks, its a two man draft. Big drop off to number three. We need to keep our pick and draft Towns (preferably) or Okafor.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

After going thru each game Russell played in, I see a guy who disappears in big games. Folks, its a two man draft. Big drop off to number three. We need to keep our pick and draft Towns (preferably) or Okafor.

Russell carried that team by himself all year. Teams with quality depth are going to make life hard on a guy who has to do everything. Basketball is a team sport so actual teams were able to beat the Ohio St. Russell's this year. I don't think that's an indictment on him more than the guys around him not being particularly good themselves. You can take one guy out of a game fairly easily in college (see the amount of double-teams Okafor saw in the tourney that limited him) and he was able to put up really good numbers most of the year with that attention. His stats are almost identical to Harden's second year except Harden was a better finisher inside the arc and Russell was the better 3pt shooter. The potential for Russell to be the best guy to come out of this draft is very possible. I don't think we'll end up taking him, but I do think he belongs in the discussion.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

After going thru each game Russell played in, I see a guy who disappears in big games. Folks, its a two man draft. Big drop off to number three. We need to keep our pick and draft Towns (preferably) or Okafor.

Well going through each game I noticed Towns scored 4 or less points in 8 games.

Russell was Ohio State last year. He had to be on in order for them to win, don't go solely on numbers with these guys.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Harden LOL. Harden shot over 50% in college. Russell under 45% overall and under 36% against ranked teams. Russell is most overrated guy considered in the Top 5. Even Evan Turner shot around 50% in college and what a bust he turned out to be. Two great bigs to draft and Russell shouldn't even be considered since we have the top pick.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

After going thru each game Russell played in, I see a guy who disappears in big games. Folks, its a two man draft. Big drop off to number three. We need to keep our pick and draft Towns (preferably) or Okafor.

Well going through each game I noticed Towns scored 4 or less points in 8 games.

Russell was Ohio State last year. He had to be on in order for them to win, don't go solely on numbers with these guys.

Russell put up his best numbers against cupcakes. Ohio State was 1-6 against ranked teams with Russell shooting under 36%. No need to reach for a player like Russell when better players are available and those better players fill a team need more.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

After going thru each game Russell played in, I see a guy who disappears in big games. Folks, its a two man draft. Big drop off to number three. We need to keep our pick and draft Towns (preferably) or Okafor.

Well going through each game I noticed Towns scored 4 or less points in 8 games.

Russell was Ohio State last year. He had to be on in order for them to win, don't go solely on numbers with these guys.

Russell put up his best numbers against cupcakes. Ohio State was 1-6 against ranked teams with Russell shooting under 36%. No need to reach for a player like Russell when better players are available and those better players fill a team need more.

Maybe because he was the only thing on Ohio State that would beat them. Look at how many Kentucky and Duke guys will be drafted in the first round. How many other Ohio State guys.

Have you watched Russell play?