Deng Better Than James

CDu said:
Hamilton is in Reggie Miller's category of tirelessly running off screens. He's one of the most fit players in the league, so in that way they're different.
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A magazine article I read a little while ago, touting Hamilton's fitness, said something like "Hamilton can run the same 5-minute mile he did in high school". which is indeed a very good mile time for a basketball player.

the funny thing is, roy williams claims half the carolina team is about that fit.
 
An Observation/Question About Rip

Hamilton shoots on an off beat, almost like regae dancing. Look at it carefully, his catch off the dribble, whether it is to pull up and shoot or take it to the basket seems to happen sooner than you'd expect. I have tried to see how he does it, whether he catches the ball lower off the bounce or something, but have never seen it. The fact remains, the ball is ready for release before defenders have settled their feet and elevated their hands. Uncanny. If anybody picks up on how he does it, I'd be interested. I do not think that quickness alone explains it.
 
Deng more like Durant (or vice versa)

The guy whose game is a lot like Luol's is Kevin Durant. Tall, thin, freakishly long arms, good rebounder, can score from anywhere on the court, doesn't typically have the ball in his hands. I don't think you can compare Luol to LeBron simply because Luol will never be the point forward type guy that LeBron is.

If Luol had been on a team like Durant's UT team his freshman year instead of a loaded Duke team, we may have seen the same hype surrounding him coming out that we say around Carmelo and now Durant. Funny how being at Duke kind of lowered a guy's expectations.
 
A-Tex Devil said:
The guy whose game is a lot like Luol's is Kevin Durant. Tall, thin, freakishly long arms, good rebounder, can score from anywhere on the court, doesn't typically have the ball in his hands. I don't think you can compare Luol to LeBron simply because Luol will never be the point forward type guy that LeBron is.

If Luol had been on a team like Durant's UT team his freshman year instead of a loaded Duke team, we may have seen the same hype surrounding him coming out that we say around Carmelo and now Durant. Funny how being at Duke kind of lowered a guy's expectations.
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Except that Durant probably has an all-around better offensive game that Deng. He can create his own mid-rage shot, take it to the hoop (against college competition), and can drain the outside shot out to 24+ feet. Deng has nowhere near the range that Durant has.
 
Clipsfan said:
Except that Durant probably has an all-around better offensive game that Deng. He can create his own mid-rage shot, take it to the hoop (against college competition), and can drain the outside shot out to 24+ feet. Deng has nowhere near the range that Durant has.
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Deng also doesn't have the postup game or the ballhandling ability of Durant.
 
greybeard said:
Hamilton is a nice player who gets his shot off on the half step. Much of his game is that little curl play running off several screens.

Deng don't need no stinkin screen. He's so long, graceful, quick to the ball, and strong. Oh, did I say how long he playes.

Choosing up sides, who do you take?
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I'd take Luol because of his height/length, and because of that, his versatility. He's a better rebounder, and plays the 2/3, and if you've been watching the heat series, the heat go small sometimes and skiles will move luol to the 4 to match up better. Rip only plays the 2, so i'd take luol for that reason. Both are great players, teammates, and just general good guys.
 
Okay Guys

Okay, I was being a little tongue in cheek when I said Deng is better than James. But I think we all know the Cavs were horrid before James and he has proven himself over and over again. But at the same time I think the Bulls may have actually gotten a better deal a year later in Deng. He cost them less and has meshed with the team better than throwing James in with Gordon. (At a cost of playing time to Duhon.) The Bulls REALLY screwed up trading Brand and I'd love to see what him added to the mix would look like. Ya gotta admit Deng has a huge upside we havent come close to seeing yet.
That being said I think the Cavs would be deadly if Boozer had stayed. I love seeing him score 41 points. But I wish the road to a championship for him wasn't paved with potholes and landmines. Since we are speculating I'll say this. If Boozer was still with the Cavs and Brand were still with the Bulls I see them battling it out for the eastern title.
 
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Still don't agree...

Latta6970 said:
Okay, I was being a little tongue in cheek when I said Deng is better than James. But I think we all know the Cavs were horrid before James and he has proven himself over and over again. But at the same time I think the Bulls may have actually gotten a better deal a year later in Deng. He cost them less and has meshed with the team better than throwing James in with Gordon. (At a cost of playing time to Duhon.) The Bulls REALLY screwed up trading Brand and I'd love to see what him added to the mix would look like. Ya gotta admit Deng has a huge upside we havent come close to seeing yet.
That being said I think the Cavs would be deadly if Boozer had stayed. I love seeing him score 41 points. But I wish the road to a championship for him wasn't paved with potholes and landmines. Since we are speculating I'll say this. If Boozer was still with the Cavs and Brand were still with the Bulls I see them battling it out for the eastern title.
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James wouldn't be just thrown in with Gordon at the expense of Duhon. He'd play SF, just like Deng does, with Hinrich and Gordon in the backcourt. Deng hasn't affected Duhon's minutes, and neither would James. And I'm not sure what you mean about meshing with the team. LeBron's never had a problem meshing - he's just had a lack of talent around him. I actually think LeBron would be a BETTER fit with Gordon than Deng is, because James would command a double team, and his passing ability would get Gordon more open shots. Deng has a lot of upside, but his upside still isn't what James' level is NOW. As a Duke fan and Bulls fan, I'd take James over Deng in a heartbeat. With James, this year's Bulls team may be favorite for the title. With Deng, this year's team is just a team that will give Detroit fits but probably lose in 6 or 7.

As for Brand, yes, that was a terrible deal. As a Bulls fan, it still makes me angry to this day. Although, you don't know the long-term impact of the deal. With Brand and Curry, the team might not have been as bad for as long, and gotten the string of high draft picks that landed them Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, and Thomas and Sefalosha (the last two are rookie projects who appear to have a lot of potential). And in the long run, the Brand trade led to Krause getting fired and Paxson taking over, which is the best thing that has happened to the Bulls.
 
Deng / James

James wouldn't be just thrown in with Gordon at the expense of Duhon. He'd play SF, just like Deng does, with Hinrich and Gordon in the backcourt. Deng hasn't affected Duhon's minutes, and neither would James. And I'm not sure what you mean about meshing with the team. LeBron's never had a problem meshing - he's just had a lack of talent around him. I actually think LeBron would be a BETTER fit with Gordon than Deng is, because James would command a double team, and his passing ability would get Gordon more open shots. Deng has a lot of upside, but his upside still isn't what James' level is NOW. As a Duke fan and Bulls fan, I'd take James over Deng in a heartbeat. With James, this year's Bulls team may be favorite for the title. With Deng, this year's team is just a team that will give Detroit fits but probably lose in 6 or 7.

As for Brand, yes, that was a terrible deal. As a Bulls fan, it still makes me angry to this day. Although, you don't know the long-term impact of the deal. With Brand and Curry, the team might not have been as bad for as long, and gotten the string of high draft picks that landed them Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, and Thomas and Sefalosha (the last two are rookie projects who appear to have a lot of potential). And in the long run, the Brand trade led to Krause getting fired and Paxson taking over, which is the best thing that has happened to the Bulls.


Okay let me clarify, if I had the number one pick three years ago or in a couple months and James was available I'd pick him over any player in the NBA. (With the exception of MAYBE Kobe just knowing how good he is.) I like Lebron James a lot, I have autographed and game used jersey cards of his. The more he wins the more they are worth. So in a sense I have stock invested in his future.

As for Deng I have to say he has exceeded EVERY expectation I had for him to this point. Watching him play just the last two months I've seen moments where his game has just become scarey. He is at least five times as explosive as he ever was for Duke (unfortunately for we Duke fans) and his shot selection (laying off taking too many NBA 3's) has been phenominal. Unlike Football & Baseball I'm not a true fan of any NBA team, I base my loyalty on how many Duke players on the roster. (Go Clippers jk) If the Bulls had traded Deng for Gasol I'm not sure it wouldn't have been an even more stupid trade than the Brand trade.

As far as Duhon and playing time is concerned I have to admit I was shocked he made the team, yet alone the fact he is still getting minutes. That being said he plays smart (go figure a Duke player playing "smart") and he fills a role on the team to the best of his ability. At this point in their careers Deng is in a much better situation than James. If all I had to pass to was Gooden and Ilga....Illgau; the tall foreign guy, like James does I'd be pressuring the front office to get some good free agents. Making the playoffs with little or no success doesn't usually bode well when it comes to the draft.

One last thing, I think the Pistons will take the Bulls as well, but with Wallace in the mix and Deng playing at his present level I wouldn't bet $20 on it.
 
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Latta6970 said:
Okay let me clarify, if I had the number one pick three years ago or in a couple months and James was available I'd pick him over any player in the NBA. (With the exception of MAYBE Kobe just knowing how good he is.) I like Lebron James a lot, I have autographed and game used jersey cards of his. The more he wins the more they are worth. So in a sense I have stock invested in his future.

As for Deng I have to say he has exceeded EVERY expectation I had for him to this point. Watching him play just the last two months I've seen moments where his game has just become scarey. He is at least five times as explosive as he ever was for Duke (unfortunately for we Duke fans) and his shot selection (laying off taking too many NBA 3's) has been phenominal. Unlike Football & Baseball I'm not a true fan of any NBA team, I base my loyalty on how many Duke players on the roster. (Go Clippers jk) If the Bulls had traded Deng for Gasol I'm not sure it wouldn't have been an even more stupid trade than the brand trade.

As far as Duhon and playing time is concerned I have to admit I was shocked he made the team, yet alone the fact he is still getting minutes. That being said he plays smart (go figure a Duke player playing "smart") and he fills a role on the team to the best of his ability. At this point in their careers Deng is in a much better situation than James. If all I had to pass to was Gooden and Ilga....Illgau; the tall foreign guy, like James does I'd be pressuring the front office to get some good free agents. Making the playoffs with little or no success doesn't usually bode well when it comes to the draft.

One last thing, I think the Pistons will take the Bulls as well, but with Wallace in the mix and Deng playing at his present level I wouldn't bet $20 on it.
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Yes, Deng has done very well at the pro level. What has been most impressive about his game is his jumpshot. He has become one of the best in the league at the 15-20 foot jumper. If he ever develops the rest of his offensive game (post-up, driving, passing) he will join the NBA's elite. I have very high hopes for him, because he's so young, works hard, and has developed quite a bit despite injuries limiting his first offseason (when you develop your game).

And I agree that Deng is in a much better situation than James in terms of team competitiveness. My beef was only with the idea that the Bulls are better off with Deng than James.

As for the Bulls/Pistons series. I agree it will be close. The Bulls have played well against the Pistons this year, but Detroit seems to play better when it matters. I'd expect Detroit in 6/7, but wouldn't be surprised at all by Chicago in 6/7. Anything short of 6 games would surprise me.
 
The Pistons on paper seem to match up really well with the Bulls with Billups and Prince, two very good defenders, perhaps being assigned to guard Gordon and Deng, respectively, and with that tandem being relied on so heavily by Chicago for points. Plus, Sheed/Webber are flat out just better scorers than Brown/Wallace that you have to give the overall edge to Detroit, unfortunately. The Pistons don't play with maximum effort every game, though, so I agree with CDu that the series should go 6 or 7. The Bulls should cause Detroit some problems with their defense as well.
 
Deng better than James?

Tough call, but I'd take Nate.

He gave everything he had to Duke basketball, his heart and soul, and did whatever it took for his team to become NCAA Champions. You can't ask for more than that. I still have to fight from getting teary when seeing that picture of Nate sitting alone in the championship postgame lockerroom in 2001. He used all of his eligibility and went out as a winner. Legendary.

That other guy? Hardly an afterthought in my remembrances of Duke glory... or worse, Duke glory unrealized.

(Almost tongue-in-cheek, but not quite)
 
You can tell it's the offseason in Duke basketball when the top thread right now that has stayed up for days is debating which of two NBA players is better. SHEESSHH!!! When does practice start again??? ;)
 
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