re: Does Olapido just not do it for anyone else?

I really think Dell/Monty are gonna go with 'Dipo over Burke regardless if that's what our choice comes down to.

Do you think Bennett can be a full time 3

Is it just me or has this franhise never been strong at the 2 or 3 since moving to N.O. ? Peja was streaky when he got here (I did like the guy) and was susceptible to being torched on D. Ariza was a terrific perimeter defender but could go for weeks without a decent offensive game.

And Jeez, other than Wesley, who was "decent", wtf have we had at the 2 who was consistent? MoPete and Rasual had there moments but really . . . And the jury is way the frick out on EG.

I did have a point somewhere. Oh yeah, let's find a complete small forward somewhere, somehow. TIA

I have no credible opinion on Olidip.

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He is a below average defender. Doesn't rotate well, doesn't pressure well. Doesn't play the pick n roll well. Guards in college exploited him quite a bit getting around him. Peyton Siva was proof of that in the championship game.

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Are you regurgitating McNamara's twitter now?

Guards exploited him to the tune of a 31-8 record and a trip to the finals. But hey, lets focus on his so called "deficiencies".

Assuming Rotation, pressure, pick and roll defense are his weak points... not easily taught to a 20 year old?

Burke oozes hustle and athleticism.

You do know that Michigan had one of the worst defenses right?

Those things are not necessarily able to be just taught and it could and probably would take years to teach. GV still can't play angles or play PnR defense correctly or rotate and he has been under Monty for two years. Actually, he hasn't even improved.

Obviously you're a Burke fanboy. If he oozed athleticism, the knock on him wouldn't be quickness. Anyways, just like you regurgitate Oladipo comparable to Bruce Bowen when he is miles ahead offensively than Bowen ever was. Can't Oladipo just practice his off the dribble shooting and handling which he has already proven to be able to improve?

Both have glaring weaknesses like everyone else in the draft. You like someone, I like someone else. Obviously, neither one of us will waiver on that. Agree to disagree.

Either way, I highly doubt we will see Burke in a Pelicans uniform anyway.

Do I think Burke will be a good pro? Sure I do. Do I think he fits with the Pelicans? No not really. Perimeter defense was trash. Don't see how he improves that. I think he fits the Magic or Pistons best with Afflalo and Knight

The knock on Burke isn't his quickness, it's that his quickness isn't elite. Because people compare every PG that comes out to John Wall, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, or Ty Lawson. Is Burke on that level? No.

But we all saw that block on Peyton Siva.



Burke is a good athlete. Not elite, not great. Good. Adequate. He's a far better athlete than Vasquez, which makes him an instant upgrade on that merit alone.


And about playing him with Gordon. It isn't like the idea is to get a 6'6" PG and have him guard the big guards while Gordon guards the PGs. Or is it? In that case, just go after Tyreke Evans or draft Michael Carter-Williams.

Anyway. Our perimter defense relies on lots of switching and our players being quick enough to rotate. Vasquez was ALWAYS late on rotations. Burke is far quicker. On the same rotations, he can get out to challenge.

I really like Burke. I really like Oladipo. I really like Otto Porter. All have things they could add to this team.

Which is why I said "I like one guy, you like the other".

The thing to me is in the NBA, if you are a great defender in college, it translates to the NBA. It means you will almost always be a really good defender in the NBA. But if you were susceptible before the NBA, almost always , you will be susceptible in the NBA.

If you have the physical tools and are an elite defender. You can work hard off the court on offense to get better.

Coming into the NBA and being offensively good before doesn't mean it'll translate right away. Takes time, especially for a shooter, of knowing when to shoot, when to try to take over, when not to try to take over etc.

We know that coming into the NBA, Oladipo will automatically be a damn good defender. And that he has shown the ability to have an offensive impact. Our perimeter defense needs serious help right away if we want to win more games.

Burke will come in and probably be decent on offense. But we don't know how efficient he can be in the NBA. And we do know he was a below average-poor defender and it will take quite some time for him to be a decent defender at the NBA level.

IMO

Burkes floor is probably somebody like Darren Collison, with his ceiling being Jrue/Conley

Oladipos floor is a smaller Aminu, ceiling being Tony Allen... Which is not a slight, Allen is a very valuable player in this league

With Gordon already locked into the SG spot for the next few years, I dont think it makes sense to take a guy like Dipo this year... How will he improve the backcourt defense if he cant get on the floor for extended minutes? He's too small to play the majority at SF... He would be abused by todays SFs

You could always trade Gordon, but then what would you do for offense? Is Davis, Vasquez and Anderson enough? Without Gordon you dont have a guy teams have to scheme for... As bad as Gordon has been in NO, hes still mostly seen as an elite offensive option in the league, and a guy teams have to account for

Burke may not be an elite athlete, or be a lock down defender... but hes smart with the ball, can hit open shots off the dribble, knows how to get to the rim and FT line, and also works the P&R very well.


But like Phelpsalot said, we all have our favorites and nobody will change the other sides opinions... so we'll all just agree to disagree and hope whoever the Pels take works out very, very well.

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But like Phelpsalot said, we all have our favorites and nobody will change the other sides opinions... so we'll all just agree to disagree and hope whoever the Pels take works out very, very well.

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Who is Phelpsalot?

Collison is a much better defender and athlete than Burke. Also, how can you play Burke next to Gordon? You'd have to get rid of Gordon ether way. A 5'11 PG and a 6'3 SG. Afflalo already gave Gordon fits. We would have to get longer and quicker on the wings if you get Burke.

Oladipo would get plenty of minutes because he is a lockdown defender and can guard the best guard on the floor right away and most SFs in the league.

In plus, you really think Gordon is a lock? Can't stay healthy, takes up cap space, doesn't want to be here. I'd give him until next season deadline before he is shipped out with the earliest being this summer. Because let's face it, he can opt out. If he plays well for next year, we'd have to ship him regardless because then he will most likely opt out for a bigger market like he wants. And this is coming from what use to be a big supporter of EJ.

Like I said, his offense will be good. It might not translate right away but he will be solid. But being below average on defense against college guards always means you will be susceptible on defense in the NBA.

I don't see how Burke helps the Pels stop 30+ point quarters. Jrue and Conley are elite athletes by the way.

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That's more of his floor. Nobody in the top 10 should have a ceiling as low as Allen.

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1-What do you think the ceiling is for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist??

2-Compare MKG and Oladipo's draft profiles and college stats.