Feb 28, 2022·edited Feb 28, 2022Liked by Rafael Barlowe
Agree wholeheartedly. While I would love any of about 6 players, Paolo is, I think, the guy I would pick first.
As you said, he's underrated now. I think that is largely because of how he is being used by Coach K. If you look at Duke players who come into the NBA, they generally show more of their talents at the pro level. Coach K has his little system and he takes 5 Star recruits and stuffs them into the little box the are supposed to occupy in his system.
Banchero is the latest victim of that rigidity, as we only see flashes of his total package at Duke. The player he most resembles in that respect is Grant Hill. No one knew Hill could be a primary ballhandler, that he could be what he was in his Pistons' years, until he got to the NBA and it became obvious that he'd been severely limited in his Duke career. Zion's career was similar.
I'm watching the Syracuse game right now and Paolo is torching Syracuse while still fitting into the big guy role that Coach K has stuffed him into. Flashing across the lane to find holes in that zone and making passes out of that spot or finding Williams on the low block or at the rim. Using his size and vision and passing ability, but, still, playing as a big man in the scheme.
Just imagine what he could do playing like Luka at the top of the key, scanning the entire floor.
Having the ability to gash defenses with his move to the hole or on a P&R or by getting deeper and running high/low action with another big man or passing out to the corner to a man who is bound to be open because everyone is collapsing to keep him from barreling to the basket.
Jabari Smith is a fantastic shooter. Maybe the best shooting big guy other than guys like Durant and Bob McAdoo. But the last couple of Auburn losses - in end of game situations - have highlighted his big weakness: he cannot really create and needs to be set up for his shot. It is hard to just give him the ball on an out of bounds play and expect that he's going to get his shot. He's a one/two dribble player, not someone who's going to be able to create his own shot. That ability to shoot like that is obviously a huge plus, but I would prefer a guy like Paolo, who can create his own shot in any number of ways.
Always love hearing/reading your thoughts. Like everyone I’ve gone back and forth with myself in the top three in this draft, but will be happy if my team (Rockets) get a chance to draft any one of them.
Admittedly I haven't watched as much college as I'd like this season cause I'm too damn busy working overtime shifts at the prison. That being said as of 2 hours ago I have seen every Duke game that was shown on cable this season. I literally just banged out 8 Duke games this weekend. Man..... I hope AJ Griffin can stay healthy cause that's my dude. That's where my eyes go when watching Duke not Paolo. The more I watch Paolo the less I like him. I wish him the best but I'm not a Banchero fan.
In my opinion the least valuable position in the NBA is PF and I don't even think it's close right now. No thanks as of right now I have Paolo around the 6 mark in this draft. This is all I gotta say about him translating in the NBA. Just ask yourself how valuable is a scoring PF in the league with OK defense? I see Paolo as the kind of player you hide on defense cause he's not a switchable defender so his real value will only be on the offensive end. He's not a horrible defender (I don't think he'll be a guy teams target specifically in the playoffs) but he's also not a guy that'll be taking on any tough assignments for any team either.
Here are your top 15 scoring PF's this season
Giannis- 29.4
Durant- 29.3 PF/SF
Tatum- 25.7 PF/SF
Anthony Davis- 23.1 (yeah I know he's more of a center)
Siakam- 21.1
Miles Bridges- 19.9 PF/SF
Julius Randle- 19.6
Kristaps- 19.2
Sabonis- 18.9 not a PF anymore but you get the point
Tobias Harris- 18.3
Harrison Barnes- 17.2 PF/SF
Kuzma- 17.0
John Collins- 16.8
Jaren Jackson Jr.- 16.5
Bobby Portis- 15.7
Look at that PF list around the league and see what kind of impact these kinds of players really have in the win column and I'm talking real PF's not those tweener SF's playing the 4 this season. Don't get me wrong I like the dude if this was 1990. In today's game I just don't think he has that much value even if he ends up scoring 26 a game. Me personally, I'll take Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Shaeden Sharpe, and Johnny Davis first. Hell, I'd even have AJ Griffin ahead of him if I trusted his health long term in the NBA but I don't sadly.
I guess my main point is it's not what Paolo projects to be statistically in the NBA it's what his actual value ends up being at PF for winning a title that I care about. (assuming he stays healthy and reaches his potential down the road)
Agree wholeheartedly. While I would love any of about 6 players, Paolo is, I think, the guy I would pick first.
As you said, he's underrated now. I think that is largely because of how he is being used by Coach K. If you look at Duke players who come into the NBA, they generally show more of their talents at the pro level. Coach K has his little system and he takes 5 Star recruits and stuffs them into the little box the are supposed to occupy in his system.
Banchero is the latest victim of that rigidity, as we only see flashes of his total package at Duke. The player he most resembles in that respect is Grant Hill. No one knew Hill could be a primary ballhandler, that he could be what he was in his Pistons' years, until he got to the NBA and it became obvious that he'd been severely limited in his Duke career. Zion's career was similar.
I'm watching the Syracuse game right now and Paolo is torching Syracuse while still fitting into the big guy role that Coach K has stuffed him into. Flashing across the lane to find holes in that zone and making passes out of that spot or finding Williams on the low block or at the rim. Using his size and vision and passing ability, but, still, playing as a big man in the scheme.
Just imagine what he could do playing like Luka at the top of the key, scanning the entire floor.
Having the ability to gash defenses with his move to the hole or on a P&R or by getting deeper and running high/low action with another big man or passing out to the corner to a man who is bound to be open because everyone is collapsing to keep him from barreling to the basket.
Jabari Smith is a fantastic shooter. Maybe the best shooting big guy other than guys like Durant and Bob McAdoo. But the last couple of Auburn losses - in end of game situations - have highlighted his big weakness: he cannot really create and needs to be set up for his shot. It is hard to just give him the ball on an out of bounds play and expect that he's going to get his shot. He's a one/two dribble player, not someone who's going to be able to create his own shot. That ability to shoot like that is obviously a huge plus, but I would prefer a guy like Paolo, who can create his own shot in any number of ways.
Always love hearing/reading your thoughts. Like everyone I’ve gone back and forth with myself in the top three in this draft, but will be happy if my team (Rockets) get a chance to draft any one of them.
Admittedly I haven't watched as much college as I'd like this season cause I'm too damn busy working overtime shifts at the prison. That being said as of 2 hours ago I have seen every Duke game that was shown on cable this season. I literally just banged out 8 Duke games this weekend. Man..... I hope AJ Griffin can stay healthy cause that's my dude. That's where my eyes go when watching Duke not Paolo. The more I watch Paolo the less I like him. I wish him the best but I'm not a Banchero fan.
Acts 16:31, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Revelation 22:18-19
In my opinion the least valuable position in the NBA is PF and I don't even think it's close right now. No thanks as of right now I have Paolo around the 6 mark in this draft. This is all I gotta say about him translating in the NBA. Just ask yourself how valuable is a scoring PF in the league with OK defense? I see Paolo as the kind of player you hide on defense cause he's not a switchable defender so his real value will only be on the offensive end. He's not a horrible defender (I don't think he'll be a guy teams target specifically in the playoffs) but he's also not a guy that'll be taking on any tough assignments for any team either.
Here are your top 15 scoring PF's this season
Giannis- 29.4
Durant- 29.3 PF/SF
Tatum- 25.7 PF/SF
Anthony Davis- 23.1 (yeah I know he's more of a center)
Siakam- 21.1
Miles Bridges- 19.9 PF/SF
Julius Randle- 19.6
Kristaps- 19.2
Sabonis- 18.9 not a PF anymore but you get the point
Tobias Harris- 18.3
Harrison Barnes- 17.2 PF/SF
Kuzma- 17.0
John Collins- 16.8
Jaren Jackson Jr.- 16.5
Bobby Portis- 15.7
Look at that PF list around the league and see what kind of impact these kinds of players really have in the win column and I'm talking real PF's not those tweener SF's playing the 4 this season. Don't get me wrong I like the dude if this was 1990. In today's game I just don't think he has that much value even if he ends up scoring 26 a game. Me personally, I'll take Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Shaeden Sharpe, and Johnny Davis first. Hell, I'd even have AJ Griffin ahead of him if I trusted his health long term in the NBA but I don't sadly.
I guess my main point is it's not what Paolo projects to be statistically in the NBA it's what his actual value ends up being at PF for winning a title that I care about. (assuming he stays healthy and reaches his potential down the road)