Bleacher Report Rookie 1st Rounders Stat Prediction

[Monster]

The author is very high on Tyus.

[TAFKASP]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

Q, individual defense is one thing, but team defense is mostly about attitude and "want to". There is no reason they can't be decent collectively with the proper coaching and focus. A second unit doesn't have to be great defensively, especially if they bring some firepower.

[Monster]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

Q, individual defense is one thing, but team defense is mostly about attitude and "want to". There is no reason they can't be decent collectively with the proper coaching and focus. A second unit doesn't have to be great defensively, especially if they bring some firepower.

Lots of length on this team that may help some defensively. Tyus isn't big but the scouting reports I have read say he is a solid team defender.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

Q, individual defense is one thing, but team defense is mostly about attitude and "want to". There is no reason they can't be decent collectively with the proper coaching and focus. A second unit doesn't have to be great defensively, especially if they bring some firepower.

Lots of length on this team that may help some defensively. Tyus isn't big but the scouting reports I have read say he is a solid team defender.

By all accounts, Tyus doesn't have the length or athleticism to be a great defender, and also sometimes takes plays off. But at the introductory press conference, Flip said he was a very good team defender. I know he is selling to some degree at the PC, but you also can't ignore that his teams have won at every level. There's something to say for playing smart, team defense.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

Q, individual defense is one thing, but team defense is mostly about attitude and "want to". There is no reason they can't be decent collectively with the proper coaching and focus. A second unit doesn't have to be great defensively, especially if they bring some firepower.

Lots of length on this team that may help some defensively. Tyus isn't big but the scouting reports I have read say he is a solid team defender.

By all accounts, Tyus doesn't have the length or athleticism to be a great defender, and also sometimes takes plays off. But at the introductory press conference, Flip said he was a very good team defender. I know he is selling to some degree at the PC, but you also can't ignore that his teams have won at every level. There's something to say for playing smart, team defense.

Oh, c'mon! We all know that when a coach says someone is a very good team defender, it's a polite way of saying they suck as individual defenders. I'm not faulting Flip for what he said, as an introductory press conference is not the time or place for blunt critiques. But I would hardly cite that statement as an indicator of Tyus's potential on defense.

Cool, I don't disagree with your point about attitude and effort, but what has Flip and his staff demonstrated to show that they are capable of bringing the best out of players defensively? We saw some of the worst defense in the history of the league last year - literally! If we had Thibs, Clifford, or Joerger roaming the sidelines, I'd feel better about things.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I think he's smart enough and has a great PG mentality... and obviously isn't afraid in the clutch... but I think we'll be lucky to see 5 PPG and 3.5 assists in 15 minutes.

The teams bench could very well be loaded IF the team can stay relatively healthy. Yes, that's a big if, literally. If they have a very un-Timberwolves like healthy season those bench players could make some hay!

I like the offensive potential of the bench. LaVine, Shabazz, Dieng, Bjelica (assuming we sign him), and Jones could be fairly dynamic. I just don't know if they can stop anyone. We need Dieng, LaVine and Shabazz to step it up defensively.

Q, individual defense is one thing, but team defense is mostly about attitude and "want to". There is no reason they can't be decent collectively with the proper coaching and focus. A second unit doesn't have to be great defensively, especially if they bring some firepower.

Lots of length on this team that may help some defensively. Tyus isn't big but the scouting reports I have read say he is a solid team defender.

By all accounts, Tyus doesn't have the length or athleticism to be a great defender, and also sometimes takes plays off. But at the introductory press conference, Flip said he was a very good team defender. I know he is selling to some degree at the PC, but you also can't ignore that his teams have won at every level. There's something to say for playing smart, team defense.

Oh, c'mon! We all know that when a coach says someone is a very good team defender, it's a polite way of saying they suck as individual defenders. I'm not faulting Flip for what he said, as an introductory press conference is not the time or place for blunt critiques. But I would hardly cite that statement as an indicator of Tyus's potential on defense.

Cool, I don't disagree with your point about attitude and effort, but what has Flip and his staff demonstrated to show that they are capable of bringing the best out of players defensively? We saw some of the worst defense in the history of the league last year - literally! If we had Thibs, Clifford, or Joerger roaming the sidelines, I'd feel better about things.

True, but I would also argue that point guards don't win multiple state championships and a national championship as a freshman if they "suck" at defense. I watched a little Duke basketball this year, and while I agree that Tyus doesn't possess the physical tools to be a great defender, his defense didn't stand out to me as being poor. I also didn't notice the occasional lack of effort DX talks about...I suspect that might be because I didn't watch any blowout games. I suspect his effort was more consistent when it mattered. I like that his draft profile says he improved his defense during the year and that he will benefit from having a rim protector behind him, and I also like that he said his number one goal this summer is to get stronger. And his 1.5 steals per game as a freshman is heartening too. I don't expect Tyus to be Ricky Rubio on defense, but I also don't think he is going to be Mo Williams.

[Monster]

Q notice I said that in a couple s outing reports they gave Tyus good marks as a te defender so it wasn't just Flip. Now how much do I find that worthwhile? Idk but if you want to look at his defense optimistically remembering he was playing with Okafor behind him maybe he wasn't able to be as aggressive as he would like to on the perimeter. Also Duke really stepped up their defense to a string degree and Tyus (and Okafor) were on the floor for a lot of that so...

At least he has something positive said about him on the defensive end but like I have said in various other threads if we can get a guy that manages the team and can hit some jumpshots that's good enough for me at this point. Tyus is a young player but his strengths seem to be things that make me think he could be a reasonably effective guy right away as a bench player (for a rookie). If he sucks on defense that's obviously not a positive but a lot of backups suck at defense (especially if they have some sort of offensive game) that's why they are backups. Will Tyus play hard and work to become a smarter better defender? Idk it's possible. He may also improve his body too he is seriously still a kid to a certain extent. I like him not enamored with him but obviously hoping for the best.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

LST - Playing defense against high school and NCAA competition is just a tad different than the NBA. Plus almost every rookie, even the ones that were known as good defenders in college, struggle on that end of the floor in their first year. I would be shocked if he was anything close to neutral defensively as a rookie with clear physical limitations.

Monster - I like Tyus's PG mentality and ability to knock down an open jumper. If we had stronger defensive pieces on the wings or the interior, I probably wouldn't complain as much about the pick. But until Bazz, Dieng, and LaVine prove they know how to defend, Flip is simply adding to the problem by getting a one-way offensive player. I would have preferred to err on the other side of the equation by getting a one-way defensive prospect that can run an offense, but perhaps struggles with their shot.