Gilchrist成名相當的早，早在他15歲，剛上高一的時候（天阿，大家15歲的時候都在幹嘛？)，推廣美國高中/大學籃球不遺餘力的SLAM Magazine就有專文介紹他。許多關於他是“The Next Big Thing“的文章和影片，也在網路上如雨後春筍一般，一個一個冒了出來。也是從那時後開始，他就被視為Class 11'的No.1。即使後來Austin Rivers（Celtics教練Doc Rivers的兒子）和Anthony Davis急起直追，他的實力和天賦依舊是毋庸置疑的。關於Gilchrist最為人稱道之處，就是他防守的能力積極度和能力，還有他多元的進攻技巧。只不過，長時間身為同梯中的No.1，一些缺點就免不了被放大檢視。最值得注意的是他的外線投射能力，其實還有很大的進步空間。不管是姿勢的穩定度（最被詬病的是他的姿勢，見下圖）還是準度，都需要多多琢磨，未來才能以小前鋒，甚至得分後衛的角色在NBA發光發熱。
2011 NBA Draft is only one day away. Before it officially gets going, let me write something about it.
Ok, this is, in relative term, a weak draft. Domestically or internationally, it lacks great talents like Tim Duncan in 1997 or LeBron James in 2003 (Or Dirk Nowitzki in 1999), who can single-handedly carry a team to promise land.(Ok, I know LeBron hasn't done it yet, but he indeed took the Cavs to final once and "single-handedly" transform the organization from pretender to "true contender".) But if you take one step further and look closer at the line-up, you might be amazed by how deep the talent-pool is and how great some good teams might benefit from this draft.
In a draft like this year's, nothing is concrete after the first 3~5 pick. We're now expecting Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams to be picked no.1 and 2, while the following 3 picks will be nothing other than Brandan Knight, Enes Kanter, and Kemba Walker, with Draft Day trade or not. What comes next will be a bunch of mysterious, international, second coming of Nowitzki or Ibaka (By the way, anyone who talks about Biyombo being the next Hakeem Olajuwon is MAD!!) and a group of college overachievers/underachiever who get looks in the lottery simply because a lack of talent in this year's draft. Since I'm only a watcher like you and do not have any inside information, I'm not going to make any bold estimation in this column. A few pieces on the players that interest me is what you about to read in following paragraphs:
The reason why I write about this UCLA product first is two-fold: one, he is a big possibility for my team Chicago Bulls at the end of 1st round; two, he's nice-looking. If he doesn't get drafted, "Entourage" could use his talent as well. When I first saw Honeycutt, I was reminded of another UCLA product, now New Orleans Hornet forward Trevor Ariza. Both posses good length as a wing, great athletic ability, long wingspan, versatility, ability to defend multiple positions, to name a few. The only difference between them is that Honeycutt chose to spend another year in the academically and athletically prestigious school, which is a smart decision as we see it now, and to develop his game (and probably get more education). His game evolved in Sophomore year, especially offensively, as he had more looks and opportunity to show off his arsenal. Plus, his rebounding number is impressive for a college wing. We can expect him to take this number with him as the rebounding ability best translate to next level. However, his thin frame raises concerns at the next level: will he able to take the contact and finish at the rim? Will he be able to absorb the body contact and penetrate? Will his shot fall consistently? I put a big question mark to these questions. But in a draft this caliber, expect his talent to be off the board in first round.
Another UCLA product. A Originally recruited by Ben Howland as a point guard out of high school. Didn't live up to the expectation (A top-40 recruit by Scout. com) during his freshmen campaign due to limited action with Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday taking over the position, nor did he perform well while he finally have the chance to show off as a sophomore. In sum, an experiment having him at the pg spot was a failure. Luckily for him, transition from floor leader to offense finisher in his junior season help demonstrate his athleticism and his occasional outside shooting stroke (which kinda reminds me of then-Chicago Bull: Thabo Sefolosha). With a few impressive workouts, in which he showed off his lock-down D and athleticism, as well as a history of "UCLA guards struggled in Ben Howland's system but flourish in NBA" now he's seen as a bubble first-rounder. Don't be surprised if you see his name called in the first round.
I don't know what's wrong with Selby, he's too talent to fall to where he is right now...
Or it's just because he's too talent?
Widely regarded as the No.1 recruit of class 2010, the former McDonald's All-American(and Slam Dunk Champion) committed to Kansas Jayhawk out of high school. However, his career was soon derailed by a sequence of controversy, suspension and injuries. Like Kyrie Irving, he would never have the chance to show the world how big a impact he could have on college basketball with a full season, only Mr. Irving seized the opportunity, maximized the 11 games and showcased his lottery, if not No.1 pick, talent while all Mr. Selby did was wasting it.
No matter what, if you put those negatives aside and forget about the number he posed in those 26 games, you will find a uber-talented combo guard poised to thrive in current NBA. Remember Russell Westbrook? This might be a reach for Selby, but there's no doubt his talent could take him there.
(Personally, I wish he falls to the hand of Chicago Bulls...a explosive guard with range out to the arc is worth the risk!!)
There are a lot more worth a look, but these 3 guards are the first bunch came to my mind. So I drop my words on them. I hope you enjoy it...
p.s. Talking about draft, I can't help but look back at each and every player's high school ranking. The correlation is quite interesting, similar to our education system: a seat in "star high school" doesn't guarantee a top university, and a those in small school aren't doomed to failure...
Before I drop the article on NBA Draft, let me stop by at the cars, which is another favorite of mine.
The car industry is on the rise- at least in Taiwan- in recent year or 2. Carmakers, domestic or international, are introducing new cars and exploring new opportunity in new segments like Colombus did to the Americas few centuries ago. Honestly, as a car fans, I won't say I hate to see this happening. But so many new offering also trigger my curiosity: Why the hell do we need so many "compact car"?
I can't tell the beginning of this, all I remember is the launch of X5 in 1999 and its big success in luxury SUV, despite its true identiy a "SAV". Then, all of a sudden, "Crossover" became meaningful in somewhere other than on basketball court. You'd see BMW X3, X6, X1; Audi Q7, Q5, Q5, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, R Class all coming out in the efforts to gain ground in the trend of "Crossover". --Please be noted, all I'm mentioning here is merely the collection of crossover SUV, it's gonna take me a few more lines to list you all other crossover sedan, crossover coupé...
I'm not saying to developing new opportunity is a bad thing. It's understandable that everyone is trying to be the first to somewhere so he/she can take the advantage. We witness this throughout human history: the aforementioned Colombus discover the Americas and claim the continent theirs; gold diggers worked their life off trying to find the fortune in Gold Rush and to be the next rags-to-riches legend; even in modern days, silly Korean is trying so hard to claim every great findings, every phenomenon, or even outstanding athletes is by, from, or is Korean.
However, modern-day car industry is not the Americas, nor is it 19th-century gold mine in San Francisco. They are identical in some ways- like they are fiercely competitive, but, down to the basics, this is a business of feeding consumers' needs. So why the hell those masterminds come up with all this different, confusing car segments and try to convince us that those differences matter? How big a difference would lie between the owners of BMW X5 and X6? Audi A4 and A5? If it's not that I'm too dumb to distinguish, then it must be something wrong with carmakers..., and their research house.
It's ok to build your product portfolio, but look at BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo (I call it the Fran"kar"stein), what a disaster!!
Have never thought about I will someday start blogging. The chances are-like Shaq start making consecutive free-throws or Alex Smith start throwing TD without interception-rare, but not impossible. Why now? Probably because I have nothing else to do at this moment and I try to prove to myself that I'm pragmatic. Ok, so what now? There are thousands of bloggers out there, what the hell I think I can stand out from those who found this an easy profession early enough to hold their own ground in this competitive business? Dunno, I can probably blame myself for not being smart to join this business earlier first and then scratch my head to come up with something "popular" to intrigue whoever might be interested. But that's terrible, I won't force myself into that kinda situation.
So this is what I'm going to write about in following months: basketball and music, or be more specific, hip-hop/R&B music--the love of my life(excluding my family and my girlfriend, I have to say this, otherwise I'll be too dead to continue my just-getting-started blog)
What you read in this blob is going to be generally my point of view and my thoughts on many things, objects, or phenomenon. Love it or hate it.
