Started By
Message

You can't go wrong with either Zion or Morant

Posted on 2/23/19 at 3:13 am
Posted by reo45
Member since Nov 2015
6362 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 3:13 am
Went binge watching games of both prospects and they both are elite prospects.

Morant has incredible quickness with the ball moving left to right and one of the fastest behind the back handles I've ever seen without losing speed. He has excellent control around the rim and finishes through contact. His vision is also very good for a player of his athletic prowess: he makes the right reads most of the time and even gets in on hockey assists knowing the offense. He rebounds in traffic as good as any PG you will find not named Westbrook. Crashes the boards hard. Defensively he has quick hands and plays tougher than his size. Knows passing lanes very well and gets at least one break away dunk a game.

Negatives... he isn't a jump shooter. Doesn't shoot off the dribble well or stop and pop from 10 feet out. An awkward shot also that needs work. Has zero post game to speak of and often faces up his opponent not even 5 feet from the rim. Turns the ball over needlessly too often making bad mistakes because he is out of control. Needs to learn to use his pivot foot more along with a spin move through traffic and one on one to protect the basketball. Relies on supreme athleticism too often. Defensively takes plays off and doesn't hustle enough. Allows players to get to the cup too easy for a kid so quick.

Needs to bulk up and gain about 20 lbs. If he can develop a shot he will be about unguardable. Iron out the wrinkles and he will be a top flight PG. Better version if Fox (Sacramento) with a purer PG mindset. Sky is the limit if he listens and learns once in the league and develops some strength.


Zion Williamson.

Freakish footspeed; quickness for a guy his size. Very good in the post and also from 20 feet in. Can face up his opponent and play in the box. Handles are very good for a player his size and height--surprisingly so. Soft touch around the basket and uses angles very well both left and right of the rim. Also powerful to the rim if need be, but under control when he is in the low post. Has nice touch oj his shot out to college 3 point line, when faced to his opponent outside the paint; also very sodt touch in the paint on quici turn arounder jumpers. Surprisingly quick first step that is difficult to defend in college game or pro because of his superior build.
Defensively he is very dedicated to his spot and excellent weak side defense as you will find in college. Because of his height it is shocking how good of a rim protector he actually is when coming over on help side. Plays defense like he us 7'0 instead of 6'7 around the rim. Permiter defense he matches up well against players his size able to push them out furather than theh wish due to his quickness and size. Stays in front of his guy when equal in size and quickness. He isn't a bull in a China shop but rather a bull with ballerina finesse.

Offensively, although not many flaws he has a tendency to be chaotic and out of control when attempting to play from outside in. Keeps his head down when barreling through the lane and loses control often times leading to turnover or foul. Not patient enough at times when catching the ball down low. That is about as much negative about his offense game I could find. If he gets out of his spot moving around the basket he has a tendency to become a Tanzanian Devil. Defensively when a leaner quicker guy happens to get isolated he has trouble staying in front, but he never quits.

Zion seems more polished and NBA ready than Morant as of right now. I don't see either being a bad first pick, but I'd take Zion although I'm sure Morant has a higher ceiling because of his still raw potential. Morant could become a triple double every night with better PG skills than Westbrook at the same time Westbrook came to the NBA.

If Zion can learn to play within himself from the perimeter (he will have to at 6'7) he can be as good as he wishes. I can't see him dominating from the post in the NBA because of his height, but his ability to shoot the 3 ball while putting the ball on the floor to the rim shows he is the most interesting prospect to come out since Lebron due to physical ability.


Just my breakdown. Nothing more.
Posted by VerlanderBEAST
Member since Dec 2011
18985 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 3:46 am to
The #1 most underrated aspect of Zions game is he"s an excellent finesse finisher. Which is why he should have no problem finishing against much taller longer defenders
Posted by VerlanderBEAST
Member since Dec 2011
18985 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 5:01 am to
The #1 most underrated aspect of Zions game is he"s an excellent finesse finisher. Which is why he should have no problem finishing against much taller longer defenders
Posted by MrLSU
Yellowstone, Val d'isere
Member since Jan 2004
25997 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 5:07 am to
I'm going to take Brandon Clarke to have the bigger NBA impact in his rookie year than both Zion or Morant.
Posted by Hamma1122
Member since Sep 2016
19830 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 5:10 am to
Morant is a project
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
8645 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 5:30 am to
quote:

Morant is a project


Though his 3PT shot could use work, Ja Morant is an explosive athlete that has great feel for the game. If Russ Westbrook, John Wall, Dame Lillard, and, to a lesser-extent, DSJ have shown us anything, Morant is the type of player that will make an immediate impact.
Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
42567 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 6:15 am to
quote:

If Russ Westbrook, John Wall, Dame Lillard, and, to a lesser-extent, DSJ


To a Way way way way way way lesser-extent
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
8645 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 6:40 am to
quote:

To a Way way way way way way lesser-extent


Didn’t think I needed to emphasize it that much, since it’s so obvious, but... yes.
This post was edited on 2/23/19 at 6:41 am
Posted by ReauxlTide222
St. Petersburg
Member since Nov 2010
83483 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 6:52 am to
quote:

To a Way way way way way way lesser-extent
Posted by sunnydaze
Member since Jan 2010
30027 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 7:34 am to
I see a lot of elfrid Peyton in Morant
Posted by Open Your Eyes
Member since Nov 2012
9252 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 8:15 am to
quote:

Went binge watching games of both prospects and they both are elite prospects


But are either of them worthy of tying deandre ayton’s shoes? Let’s not forget he was the best prospect in ages...
Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 9:50 am to
Thank you. Very nice work

quote:

Defensively takes plays off and doesn't hustle enough. 


He usually plays every second of games.

If he is getting 25 or 30 minutes in pros he will be stalwart.

Agree on turnovers (coaching) and shooting (again, needs time with someone not on Murray staff. He's the same guy as freshman year only he's starting now.)
I would have started him last year at the 2 but they had pg guy last year who could actually shoot so..
He looked even more frail last year.
..
This post was edited on 2/23/19 at 9:52 am
Posted by TigerStripes06
SWLA
Member since Sep 2006
30032 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 9:52 am to
quote:

You can't go wrong with either Zion or Morant


Unless you have the number one pick and take morant over Zion. That would, in fact, be wrong.
Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 9:58 am to
quote:

Unless you have the number one pick and take morant over Zion. That would, in fact, be wrong.






Fact? Your opinion.

If Arizona picks they take Morant.
Knicks Zion.
Bulls Morant
Cleveland probably go Barrett just to be Cleveland.
Posted by slackster
Houston
Member since Mar 2009
85010 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 9:59 am to
A) I can't decide if this is the most clichéd post I've ever read or the most detailed. It's like an amalgamation of hundreds of scouting report one liners put together into a coherent thought.

B)
quote:

Negatives... he isn't a jump shooter. Doesn't shoot off the dribble well or stop and pop from 10 feet out. An awkward shot also that needs work. Has zero post game to speak of and often faces up his opponent not even 5 feet from the rim. Turns the ball over needlessly too often making bad mistakes because he is out of control. Needs to learn to use his pivot foot more along with a spin move through traffic and one on one to protect the basketball. Relies on supreme athleticism too often. Defensively takes plays off and doesn't hustle enough. Allows players to get to the cup too easy for a kid so quick. 

All those negatives for Morant and no dedicated negative section for Zion makes me think you absolutely can go wrong with either Zion or Morant.
Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 10:04 am to
quote:

All those negatives for Morant and no dedicated negative section for Zion makes me think you absolutely can go wrong with either Zion or Morant.





Please restate using only positives. Did you leave out the word NOT between can and go?
Posted by CelticDog
Member since Apr 2015
42867 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 10:04 am to
I'm ready to pick Barrett after this thread.
This post was edited on 2/23/19 at 10:06 am
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
99092 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 10:14 am to
quote:

I'm ready to pick Barrett after this thread.



Barrett is flying under the radar for a lot of people (not necessarily NBA people, but casual fans). He's incredibly talented.

Obvious Zion upsides aside, I really like Morant. Especially after watching him play in person.
Posted by Kingpenm3
Xanadu
Member since Aug 2011
8967 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 10:18 am to
quote:

Zion


Dude needs to sue Nike, shoe just fell apart on him.
Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
42567 posts
Posted on 2/23/19 at 11:21 am to
quote:

Didn’t think I needed to emphasize it that much, since it’s so obvious, but... yes


Well his impact might not even be positive at this point so I thought I needed to emphasize it
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram