I tend to think Love is on the outside of the first round looking in, and he has quite a bit of work to do.
His efficiency numbers are not good, except for one year of decent three-point shooting this last season (35%). He still only shot 37% from the field last year, and put up just 3.6 assist per game to 2.9 turnovers. Before he made the decision to come back, there were some folks throwing around stats showing how draftees with similar shooting percentages fared in the NBA, and it wasn’t very inspiring.
All that is to say, I think a big part of why he came back was because of how far he could have fallen if he did go to the draft. If he gets his shooting sorted out - which he very well might - then he could definitely rocket upwards. But at this moment I think he’s lower than some folks might expect.
(This probably doesn’t actually contradict anything anyone said - just adding my rough agreement)
Fwiw, Sam’s writeup on Love:
“Love hasn’t been particularly efficient thus far in his career as a scorer, but he seemed to turn a corner later in his sophomore season on his way toward leading North Carolina to a Final Four. He has a real flair for the moment, and I uy his ability to create shots from behind the arc and from the midrange. He just needs to keep ironing out his shot, and there is every indication he’s going to be able to do that given the level he’s already at. He hit 36 percent from 3 and 86 percent from the line last season. I also have a bit of a soft spot for these post-hype guys who turn it around after not immediately reaching expectations. Love has real talent and a skill set the NBA is looking for as a shot creator. And now, he’s gone through all of the adversity and come out on the other side of it intact. Typically, that’s where growth tends to come from in players.”
He’s a horrible decision maker right now. The elite 8 and final four games were an anomaly that got a lot of eyes on them. If he improves as a decision maker he definitely has the talent to be a top 20 pick. I tend to be skeptical how much that will change though - how he plays now seems like part of his overall identity.
Love is a prime example of doing it at the right time can make up for a lot of shortcomings. He played well when the lights were the brightest and that’s what leaves an impression. KG had a similar experience and rode the wave into the draft. Love is working with a higher floor and a potential higher ceiling so he could afford to bank on himself and benefit from another year in college. My guess is if UNC has a solid year and bows out in the Sweet 16 or before Love in a late first rounder or early second depending on how things fall. If UNC makes another run, he’s likely a big part of that and will do enough to jump into the lottery.
I just find it a little funny to read things saying Love like turned a major corner in the tournament. I mean, I will give him credit - he was massive in the Duke tourney game and did show he could be a high impact player. But for the tournament overall he shot 37.7% from the field and 32.8% from three while putting up only 14 assists against 19 turnovers and 14 fouls. Like… to me that feels pretty in line with his overall season. Moments of greatness where you can see the potential, but mired in a lot of inefficiency.
Why is Smith at NC State projected so high in the draft? Stats from last year are very good, but not elite, and don’t remember thinking this player has tremendous upside the few times I saw him play. But obviously I missed something.
Smith showed he could fill it up in some pretty impressive scoring spurts, and I’m guessing folks into projections like that he put up 37% from three as a true freshman on decent volume. But yeah, will be interesting to see where he goes. His 69.8% free throw percentage could be a little red flag concerning his ability to build on his shooting stats last year.
For Smith, I think it’s basically good volume shooter and plus plus plus athlete. Sam again:
“in ACC play, he averaged 18.3 points and shot over 40 percent from 3 on nine attempts per game, many of which were of the pull-up variety. …he has real tools as a lightning athlete with real explosiveness in and out of his moves …”
Smith fits the preferred current metrics model. NBA teams see that and think he can fit into a role and not screw anything up while delivering general upside cause of his shooting.
Didn’t focus on Smith’s ACC stats, which are impressive, and show a Dre-like progression in his first season on the court. High draft projection for him makes more sense to me now. Smith is probably gonna have to be a superstar during the up-coming season for State to avoid a horrible season given all they’ve lost and Keatts’ coaching struggles there. Maybe Morsell will take another nice step forward this year too-- the opportunity is certainly there for him and he seems to fit their system better.
Sure, but I think there’s something qualitatively different between improving shooting and improving decision making. One is a bit more technical the other more adaptive and interpersonal.
There’s decision making about shooting, too. You can fix one and not the other.
In New Zealand’s win against India in the FIBA Asia Cup, Taine scored 13 off the bench in a blowout win. That said, it was on 5-16 shooting, including 3/11 from three.
I live in a building that is proly 1/2 Indian. Am trying to figure out how India fields a hoop team. They are born with racquets and cricket balls bats in their hands
There was one a few years ago first generation grew up in Georgia and went to prep school around here. Was like 3-4 star recruit but no chance I remember his name or where be played in college.
That lefty guard in highlights is kinda smooth though
