- Orlando Magic - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
- Charlotte Bobcats - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
- Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
- Phoenix Suns - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
- New Orleans Hornets - JR Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
- Sacramento Kings - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
- Detroit Pistons - FR Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA
- Washington Wizards - SO Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
- Minnesota Timberwolves - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
- Portland Trailblazers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
- Philadelphia 76ers - JR Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga
- Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
- Dallas Mavericks - SO Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
- Utah Jazz - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
- Milwaukee Bucks - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, International
- Boston Celtics - 1994 Dario Saric, F, International
- Atlanta Hawks - 1992 Rudy Gobert, F/C, International
- Atlanta Hawks - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
- Cleveland Cavaliers - 1993 Livio Jean-Charles, F, International
- Chicago Bulls - JR Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State
- Utah Jazz - 1993 Dennis Schroeder, PG, International
- Brooklyn Nets - SR Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke
- Indiana Pacers - SR Erick Green, PG, Virginia Tech
- New York Knicks - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
- Los Angeles Clippers - 1994 Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, International
- Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
- Denver Nuggets - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
- San Antonio Spurs - SR Mike Muscala, F/C, Bucknell
- Oklahoma City Thunder - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas
- Phoenix Suns - Glen Rice Jr, SF, D-League
- Cleveland Cavaliers - 1994 Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, International
- Oklahoma City Thunder - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
- Cleveland Cavaliers - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, International
- Houston Rockets - SR Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois State
- Philadelphia 76ers - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
- Sacramento Kings - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
- Washington Wizards - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
- Detroit Pistons - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
- Portland Trailblazers - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
- Portland Trailblazers - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
- Memphis Grizzlies - SR Erik Murphy, F, Florida
- Philadelphia 76ers - SO Shane Larkin, PG, Miami
- Milwaukee Bucks - JR Tim Hardaway JR, SG, Michigan
- Dallas Mavericks - 1992 Lucas Noguiera, C, International
- Portland Trailblazers - FR Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
- Utah Jazz - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
- Atlanta Hawks - SR Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
- Los Angeles Lakers - JR Andre Roberson, F, Colorado
- Chicago Bulls - SR Brandon Paul, SG, Illinois
- Atlanta Hawks - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
- Orlando Magic - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
- Minnesota Timberwolves - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
- Indiana Pacers - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
- Washington Wizards - 1991 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, International
- Memphis Grizzlies - SR Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
- Detroit Pistons - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, PG, International
- Phoenix Suns - SR James Ennis, SF, Long Beach State
- San Antonio Spurs - SR Robert Covington, SF, Tennessee State
- Minnesota Timberwolves - JR Tony Snell, G/F, New Mexico
- Memphis Grizzlies - JR Lorenzo Brown, PG, North Carolina State
Showing posts with label nba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nba. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
2013 NBA Mock Draft - Post Declaration Deadline/Pre-Lottery
Monday, April 22, 2013
NBA Mock Draft - Post Draft Order Edition
Round 1
- Orlando Magic - FR Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky
- Charlotte Bobcats - FR Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas
- Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown
- Phoenix Suns - JR Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
- New Orleans Hornets - SO Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
- Sacramento Kings - FR Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV
- Detroit Pistons - 1993 Sergey Karasev, SF, International
- Washington Wizards - SO Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana
- Minnesota Timberwolves - FR Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UNLV
- Portland Trailblazers - SR CJ McCollom, G, Lehigh
- Philadelphia 76ers - SO Alex Len, C, Maryland
- Oklahoma City Thunder - FR Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh
- Dallas Mavericks - FR Isaiah Austin, PF, Baylor
- Utah Jazz - SO Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse
- Milwaukee Bucks - JR Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Gonzaga
- Boston Celtics - 1994 Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, International
- Atlanta Hawks - SO Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia
- Chicago Bulls - JR Allen Crabbe, SG, California
- Atlanta Hawks - SR Mason Plumlee, C, Duke
- Cleveland Cavaliers - 1992 Rudy Gobert, C, International
- Utah Jazz - SR Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech
- Brooklyn Nets - JR Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville
- Indiana Pacers - FR Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky
- New York Knicks - 1993 Dennis Schroeder, PG, International
- Los Angeles Clippers - JR Reggie Bullock, G/F, North Carolina
- Minnesota Timberwolves - 1994 Dario Saric, F, International
- Denver Nuggets - SO BJ Young, G, Arkansas
- San Antonio Spurs - 1994 Mouhammadou Jaiteh, C, International
- Oklahoma City Thunder - SR Jeff Withey, C, Kansas
- Phoenix Suns - JR Jamaal Franklin, G/F, San Diego State
Round 2
- Cleveland Cavaliers - JR Cory Jefferson, PF, Baylor
- Oklahoma City Thunder - 1993 Livio Jean-Charles, F, International
- Cleveland Cavaliers - SO Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas
- Houston Rockets - SR Nate Wolters, PG, South Dakota State
- Philadelphia 76ers - JR Tim Hardaway, SG, Michigan
- Sacramento Kings - SO Adonis Thomas, SF, Memphis
- Washington Wizards - 1993 Alex Abrines, SG, International
- Detroit Pistons - SO Tony Mitchell, F, North Texas
- Portland Trailblazers - SR Richard Howell, F/C, North Carolina State
- Portland Trailblazers - 1992 Lucas Nogueira, C, International
- Memphis Grizzlies - SR Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
- Philadelphia 76ers - SR Erik Murphy, F, Florida
- Milwaukee Bucks - 1991 Glen Rice, SF, NBDL
- Dallas Mavericks - SR Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State
- Portland Trailblazers - SR Brandon Paul, G, Illinois
- Utah Jazz - 1991 Nemanja Nedovic, G, International
- Atlanta Hawks - JR Doug McDermott, F, Creighton
- Los Angeles Lakers - JR Phil Pressey, PG, Missouri
- Chicago Bulls - 1992 Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence
- Atlanta Hawks - 1992 Bojan Dubljevic, F/C, International
- Orlando Magic - JR Ray McCallum, PG, Detroit
- Minnesota Timberwolves - SR Trevor Mbakwe, PF, Minnesota
- Indiana Pacers - JR Deshaun Thomas, F, Ohio State
- Washington Wizards - SR Carrick Felix, SF, Arizona State
- Memphis Grizzlies - SR Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers - SR Solomon Hill, SF, Arizona
- Phoenix Suns - JR CJ Leslie, PF, North Carolina State
- San Antonio Spurs - SR Matthew Dellavedova, PG, St. Mary's
- Minnesota Timberwolves - 1992 Marko Todorovic, C, International
- Memphis Grizzlies - SO Jarnell Stokes, PF, Memphis
Monday, March 25, 2013
Scouting Report: Anthony Bennett
Entering the season, Anthony Bennett wasn't among the projected one and done lottery picks despite being ranked as a top 10 incoming freshman by every reputable recruiting service. Bennett was seen as a stretch forward type, albeit one without idea size or body type. He quickly moved up however after a strong non-conference for UNLV, vaulting himself up from a mid-late first round pick to a guy who some scouts mentioned as the possible first overall pick. Now with UNLV's season complete and his upcoming announcement of entering the draft, Bennett finds himself as a surefire lottery selection.
Anthony Bennett has a very physically mature frame for a college freshman, weighing in at 240lbs even though he stands at just 6'7''. Despite a height that leaves something to be desired, the combination of his large frame and length (7'1'' wingspan) will allow him to play the power forward spot in the NBA. He can be a very good offensive option and a matchup nightmare in the future.
Bennett's current game revolves around his jumpshot, which has always been what his game has revolved around, even dating back to his sophomore year in high school at Mountain State Academy. He shot 38% from deep this season on roughly 3 attempts per game. Believe it or not, Bennett is far from the biggest chucker on the UNLV roster and among the top 6 scorers, he takes the lowest amount of 3-pt shots. 26% of his shots come from behind the arc, while Bennett is also very efficient hitting jumpers form the mid-range area and shots near the rim. His ability to score all over the court makes his offensive potential very high.
However, Bennett has a tendency to drift around on offense. As I said, his teammates also like to shoot a lot of 3s and neither Bennett or the guards seem to grasp how an inside-out game would get them better looks from deep. Instead, Bennett rarely receives the ball when he goes in the post - although he, himself, doesn't do a good job of establishing position. And he gives up trying to get the ball down low rather quickly. Bennett is much more likely to move around aimlessly on offense looking for an opening to take a jumper. It seems that everything he does on offense is an attempt to get an open look from 15+ feet out,
Which isn't the best way to use his outstanding, physical frame. Its part of Bennett's DNA perhaps - he shies away from contact at all levels. When posting up, he doesn't put a body into his man and does a terrible job sealing off a lane for entry passes. He never tries to post up and use his strength to get better position around the basket - he's content from hoisting a jumper from whereever he is. And at the first sign of the defender resisting his attempt to get post position, Bennett abandons the plan instead of fighting back.
Its why his post game is kind of a mystery and may be somewhat irrelevant if thats the way he will continue to play in the NBA. Bennett has acknowledge the need to play more in the post in the past, but that didn't happen at UNLV. Maybe with better coaching that will change, but Bennett needs to right buttons pushed in order for him to play more aggressive. That mysterious post game does seem to have a hook shot and a strong drop step in its arsenal, but those moves are few and far between.
As I said, Bennett's idea of offense is often standing around the arc preparing himself for an opportunity to take a shot. Bennett will cut to the basket, but with little conviction. He'll set screens, but ones solely for the purpose of quickly popping out for a jumper. He rarely gets a body on the man he is screening and rarely does anything afterwards besides drift out for a potential jumper. And Bennett does have good handles, but doesn't usually put the ball on the floor in the halfcourt. And in terms of making plays, Bennett lacks patient in the post to be a facilitator even if he did attempt to hold his position. His offensive game plan is pretty plain and obvious - shoot the ball.
Even so, Bennett does have some luck crashing the offensive boards and picking up points that way as well. He is remarkably explosive for his size and abuses rims with powerful putback slams. Even without the desired effort, Bennett can be a terrific rebounder and get any ball within his range. If he boxed out and wasn't as lazy going to the rim, Bennett could be one of those undersized power forwards who put up huge rebounding numbers. He has all the tools and natural instincts.
Bennett also does well in transition - in fact, this is where he will turn heads the most. Bennett is able to travel the length of the court after a rebound, make a shifty move, and finishing with excellent body control. Those sequences along are enough to have some NBA talent evaluators ready to make him a top 5 pick. The way he can handle and change directions in transition make some believe he can play small forward, but besides from the obvious defensive problems, he doesn't show the ability to play off the dribble in the halfcourt setting. These transition plays are just a look at how talented Bennett is and what he can potentially become in the future.
There are times when Bennett would be better off finding a guard in these situations, but once he gets going, don't expect him to pass it. He can handle it, but he dribbles with his head down and is the proud owner of a 1:2 assist to turnover ratio. Among the top 20 PF prospects in this draft, Bennett ranks as the third most prolific scorer, but his 1.3 assist per 40 minutes (pace adjusted) ranks him only 14th. It is safe to say that Bennett is a lot better making plays for himself than he is for others. He can be a bit of a blackhole.
Overall though, offense is the strength of his game and the most interesting part of his game moving forward. His ability to score on all three levels of the court is something he can really build on. In a more open NBA game, Bennett could easily start putting the ball on the floor more and taking big men off the dribble - preventing a matchup nightmare. And he should be able to hit jumpers from all over the court consistently as well as provide a efficient threat on the glass. There has to be a coach out there that can get him to play more with his back to the basket and play with more fire and if he gets put in the right situation- he can be an all-star scorer.
The biggest problems with Bennett's game, however, center around his performance defensively. Bennett has the same problem with contact on this end of the floor as he does on the offensive end, which makes it really hard for him to be a good post defender. He doesn't like to fight back against an aggressor for post position and struggles figure out which shoulder he should position himself on. His size makes it easy for him to shoot over and when he gives up post position without a fight, thats a terrible combination.
Its his understanding of defense that presents more concerns though. These are things that are correctable by a good coach, but its a red flag against his basketball IQ that he would even need to be told these things. Bennett is awful defending ball screens. Any capable pick and pop player can get wide open jumpshots time and time again against him. Bennett's problem, aside from laziness, is he "hedges" the screen on the side that his man is not on, thus creating a very big gap for him to close out on. And with his laziness, Bennett never has any shot at getting back in position before the shot is made.
Bennett doesn't really hedge on these screens though as much as he just stands stationary. He does the same thing with screens off the ball, resulting in plenty of buckets that can be traced back to his lack of help. In the NBA game with plenty of set plays and attacking mismatches, Bennett will be an easy target to attack.
Bennett also tends to be less than anxious to block shots from the helpside, preferring to be stationary in these situations as well. He'd rather get himself in position to rebound, even if there is no shot at a rebound when the offensive player gets a wide open lay-up. Somehow, Bennett still gets over a block per game which is a testament to his natural gifts and timing. His lack of gambling on defensive is also why he is a better defensive rebounder than offensive, despite the fact that he rarely blocks out with any force.
His laziness is another reason why you won't see him ever being an effective SF. There is no way Bennett will ever be able to chase his man through a obstacle of ball screens and close out to defend shots. That dream is already over. Bennett is a power forward at the next level on all accounts.
Undersized power forwards have enough time defending as it is, but an unmotivated one with a bad understanding of positioning is even worse. Its a recipe for a season long stint on the bench or a spot playing for one of the worst teams in the league.
In the end, a lot of Bennett's problem are correctable and coaches will certainly be willing to work with a player of his talent. He just recently turned 20 and is older than most freshman and will announce his intentions to enter the draft this week. Bennett played on a very talented UNLV team, but both his and his teams struggles in the nuances of the game kept them from reaching their potential. Perhaps all Bennett needs is a better coach to fix these problems which is why the situation Bennett ends up in at the next level could make all the difference. At this point, the lottery remains very weak and there is no doubt that Bennett should be among the top 14 picks. The talks of him going number one overall have faded though, and I don't even think he is worth a top 5 selection. Any pick after that though, and his reward should outweigh the risk.
Anthony Bennett has a very physically mature frame for a college freshman, weighing in at 240lbs even though he stands at just 6'7''. Despite a height that leaves something to be desired, the combination of his large frame and length (7'1'' wingspan) will allow him to play the power forward spot in the NBA. He can be a very good offensive option and a matchup nightmare in the future.
Bennett's current game revolves around his jumpshot, which has always been what his game has revolved around, even dating back to his sophomore year in high school at Mountain State Academy. He shot 38% from deep this season on roughly 3 attempts per game. Believe it or not, Bennett is far from the biggest chucker on the UNLV roster and among the top 6 scorers, he takes the lowest amount of 3-pt shots. 26% of his shots come from behind the arc, while Bennett is also very efficient hitting jumpers form the mid-range area and shots near the rim. His ability to score all over the court makes his offensive potential very high.
However, Bennett has a tendency to drift around on offense. As I said, his teammates also like to shoot a lot of 3s and neither Bennett or the guards seem to grasp how an inside-out game would get them better looks from deep. Instead, Bennett rarely receives the ball when he goes in the post - although he, himself, doesn't do a good job of establishing position. And he gives up trying to get the ball down low rather quickly. Bennett is much more likely to move around aimlessly on offense looking for an opening to take a jumper. It seems that everything he does on offense is an attempt to get an open look from 15+ feet out,
Which isn't the best way to use his outstanding, physical frame. Its part of Bennett's DNA perhaps - he shies away from contact at all levels. When posting up, he doesn't put a body into his man and does a terrible job sealing off a lane for entry passes. He never tries to post up and use his strength to get better position around the basket - he's content from hoisting a jumper from whereever he is. And at the first sign of the defender resisting his attempt to get post position, Bennett abandons the plan instead of fighting back.
Its why his post game is kind of a mystery and may be somewhat irrelevant if thats the way he will continue to play in the NBA. Bennett has acknowledge the need to play more in the post in the past, but that didn't happen at UNLV. Maybe with better coaching that will change, but Bennett needs to right buttons pushed in order for him to play more aggressive. That mysterious post game does seem to have a hook shot and a strong drop step in its arsenal, but those moves are few and far between.
As I said, Bennett's idea of offense is often standing around the arc preparing himself for an opportunity to take a shot. Bennett will cut to the basket, but with little conviction. He'll set screens, but ones solely for the purpose of quickly popping out for a jumper. He rarely gets a body on the man he is screening and rarely does anything afterwards besides drift out for a potential jumper. And Bennett does have good handles, but doesn't usually put the ball on the floor in the halfcourt. And in terms of making plays, Bennett lacks patient in the post to be a facilitator even if he did attempt to hold his position. His offensive game plan is pretty plain and obvious - shoot the ball.
Even so, Bennett does have some luck crashing the offensive boards and picking up points that way as well. He is remarkably explosive for his size and abuses rims with powerful putback slams. Even without the desired effort, Bennett can be a terrific rebounder and get any ball within his range. If he boxed out and wasn't as lazy going to the rim, Bennett could be one of those undersized power forwards who put up huge rebounding numbers. He has all the tools and natural instincts.
Bennett also does well in transition - in fact, this is where he will turn heads the most. Bennett is able to travel the length of the court after a rebound, make a shifty move, and finishing with excellent body control. Those sequences along are enough to have some NBA talent evaluators ready to make him a top 5 pick. The way he can handle and change directions in transition make some believe he can play small forward, but besides from the obvious defensive problems, he doesn't show the ability to play off the dribble in the halfcourt setting. These transition plays are just a look at how talented Bennett is and what he can potentially become in the future.
There are times when Bennett would be better off finding a guard in these situations, but once he gets going, don't expect him to pass it. He can handle it, but he dribbles with his head down and is the proud owner of a 1:2 assist to turnover ratio. Among the top 20 PF prospects in this draft, Bennett ranks as the third most prolific scorer, but his 1.3 assist per 40 minutes (pace adjusted) ranks him only 14th. It is safe to say that Bennett is a lot better making plays for himself than he is for others. He can be a bit of a blackhole.
Overall though, offense is the strength of his game and the most interesting part of his game moving forward. His ability to score on all three levels of the court is something he can really build on. In a more open NBA game, Bennett could easily start putting the ball on the floor more and taking big men off the dribble - preventing a matchup nightmare. And he should be able to hit jumpers from all over the court consistently as well as provide a efficient threat on the glass. There has to be a coach out there that can get him to play more with his back to the basket and play with more fire and if he gets put in the right situation- he can be an all-star scorer.
The biggest problems with Bennett's game, however, center around his performance defensively. Bennett has the same problem with contact on this end of the floor as he does on the offensive end, which makes it really hard for him to be a good post defender. He doesn't like to fight back against an aggressor for post position and struggles figure out which shoulder he should position himself on. His size makes it easy for him to shoot over and when he gives up post position without a fight, thats a terrible combination.
Its his understanding of defense that presents more concerns though. These are things that are correctable by a good coach, but its a red flag against his basketball IQ that he would even need to be told these things. Bennett is awful defending ball screens. Any capable pick and pop player can get wide open jumpshots time and time again against him. Bennett's problem, aside from laziness, is he "hedges" the screen on the side that his man is not on, thus creating a very big gap for him to close out on. And with his laziness, Bennett never has any shot at getting back in position before the shot is made.
Bennett doesn't really hedge on these screens though as much as he just stands stationary. He does the same thing with screens off the ball, resulting in plenty of buckets that can be traced back to his lack of help. In the NBA game with plenty of set plays and attacking mismatches, Bennett will be an easy target to attack.
Bennett also tends to be less than anxious to block shots from the helpside, preferring to be stationary in these situations as well. He'd rather get himself in position to rebound, even if there is no shot at a rebound when the offensive player gets a wide open lay-up. Somehow, Bennett still gets over a block per game which is a testament to his natural gifts and timing. His lack of gambling on defensive is also why he is a better defensive rebounder than offensive, despite the fact that he rarely blocks out with any force.
His laziness is another reason why you won't see him ever being an effective SF. There is no way Bennett will ever be able to chase his man through a obstacle of ball screens and close out to defend shots. That dream is already over. Bennett is a power forward at the next level on all accounts.
Undersized power forwards have enough time defending as it is, but an unmotivated one with a bad understanding of positioning is even worse. Its a recipe for a season long stint on the bench or a spot playing for one of the worst teams in the league.
In the end, a lot of Bennett's problem are correctable and coaches will certainly be willing to work with a player of his talent. He just recently turned 20 and is older than most freshman and will announce his intentions to enter the draft this week. Bennett played on a very talented UNLV team, but both his and his teams struggles in the nuances of the game kept them from reaching their potential. Perhaps all Bennett needs is a better coach to fix these problems which is why the situation Bennett ends up in at the next level could make all the difference. At this point, the lottery remains very weak and there is no doubt that Bennett should be among the top 14 picks. The talks of him going number one overall have faded though, and I don't even think he is worth a top 5 selection. Any pick after that though, and his reward should outweigh the risk.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Scouting Report: Jackie Carmichael
Jackie Carmichael entered his senior season with very high expectations as his 21 win Illinois State squad returned mostly the same roster. He spent the summer impressing coaches and scouts alike at the LeBron James Camp with his toughness - leading to plenty of eyes watching him this year.
Illinois State looked poised to give Creighton all the could handle in the MVC, especially after a tough fought loss to Louisville and big early season wins on the road against Drexel and Dayton. Unfortunately for Carmichael and the Redbirds, they began their conference schedule with a 6 game losing streak - essentially eliminating all hopes of securing an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. As Carmichael's career winds down, it is a perfect time to look back and what he accomplished and assess how his game will translate to the next level.
While playing under first year head coach Dan Muller, Carmichael had his best statistical season yet on a team that looked to push the pace more than past Redbird squads. Carmichael had shown steady improvement year to year and made an especially big jump following his sophomore year, where he improved his numbers across the board as well as raised his field goal percentage from 45% to a 53%.
The reason for Carmichael's improvement last year was his newfound aggressiveness, something coaches had been eager to see out of him all along. Carmichael relegated himself to a jumpshooter in his sophomore year, rendering his solid 6-8 240lb frame almost useless. According to hoop-math.com, Carmichael took only 18% of his shots at the rim during the 2010-2011 season before bringing it up to 44% last year. Attacking the rim was a huge part in his raise in efficiency and he got to the line 8.4 times per 40 minutes.
This season, Carmichael picked up where he left off in his junior year, continuing to be aggressive, and imposing himself as one of the 4 senior leaders of the Redbird team. He raised his point per game up nearly 4 points, but when the pace is adjusted for Dan Muller's new tempo, its roughly closer to a 2 point per game improvement.
Muller's tempo allowed Carmichael to show his hustle more and capitalize on more easy buckets around the rim. Carmichael isn't the most athletically gifted, but runs the court well and with purpose each and every time. He also does a good job getting open and staying ready for a pass at all times. The new offense allowed this part of his game to show a bit more.
First and foremost though, Carmichael is a halfcourt scorer who fared very well in the halfcourt sets ran. After moving outside of his comfort zone in his sophomore year as a jumpshooter, Carmichael took on a more physical role and showed off his post game.
Carmichael does a good job establishing position in the post, moving his feet to keep defenders on his back, and keeping his hands up to call for the ball. He has very soft hands and is able to receive even the toughest passes cleanly. Carmichael's go-to moves in the post are a quick turnaround jumper from either shoulder as well as a little right handed hook shot. In terms of counter moves, Carmichael is still raw in that area although he does have the potential to continue to develop. After all, Carmichael hasn't been focused on playing with his back to the basket until the last two years and in many cases, he hasn't needed a counter move.
Carmichael's feel in the post is still developing as well and he struggles with the double teams that undersized MVC teams throw at him. With a turnover rate at less than a 1:2 ratio, it is easy to say Carmichael has to improve passing out of the post. More accurately, he needs to learn not to panic when double teams come. He can rush into mistakes and also has a problem having the ball swiped from him due to him holding the ball away from his body. At times, he has to learn to accept the double team and get rid of the ball. His turnovers are also high because of his poor ball-handling skills. Whenever Carmichael puts the ball on the floor for more than one dribble, its an adventure where things rarely turn out well.
While double teams have been able to slow Carmichael down, teams that have tried to stop him by fronting him in the post have paid dearly. He has no problem establishing position from that angle and his teammates also deserve credit for getting him the ball for easy lay-ups in these situations. Its very hard to front a guy like Carmichael who is constantly moving and battling for good position.
Carmichael is best used in the pick and roll game, something that both of his coaches at Illinois State took full advantage of. As mentioned, Carmichael is very good in a set offense and has a strong understanding of timing and spacing. He will have no problem adjusting to the playbooks of the NBA and will thrive in the league where pick and roll action is king.
Carmichael understands how valuable the pick and roll can be to free him up on offense - whether it be used to help him establish post position, open jumpers, or shots at the rim. He is constantly moving around on offense screening defenders for his teammates and then floating into open areas looking for the ball. His best attributes in these situations including his feel/awareness/timing/patience, his hands, footwork, and versatile offensive game. He does a fantastic job of always making himself an available target and getting open.
His feel/awareness/timing/patience can be lumped into one category, but it is a huge part of what he is as a player. Carmichael plays like an NBA veteran already in terms of his pace of the game. He glides to spots after setting ball screens, finding weak spots in the defense for jumpers or searching for an undersized defender to put a body on and establish post position. The revelation of the latter, has enabled him to get much deeper post position than in previous season and take advantage of his strong finishing ability inside of ten feet.
His hands are another big asset that allow him to catch balls on the move when rolling towards the basket. He has large hands and a soft touch. He can release the ball rather quick near the rim and also gets of the floor quick given his size. Carmichael loves to go up strong with both hands on the ball, although he is primarly a right-handed dominant finisher. Despite his shortcomings with his left hand, Carmichael still ranks as a good finisher thanks to his strength, touch, and solid explosiveness.
Carmichael's versatility is big and includes his post up game, pick and roll game, and his ability to knock down jumpers. I mentioned his turnaround already. His turnaround right now is best used inside of 10-15 feet. He shoots it better over his left shoulder, but has shown more and more the ability to shoot it in the other direction. He isn't the type of turnaround jumpshooter who takes multiple dribbles, battles for position, and can fake one way or another. Instead, his game is pretty basic that just involves making a quick one dribble move off either shoulder - anything more is asking too much from him.
Carmichael has always had the makings of a solid jumper, but has fallen in love with it too much at times. Obviously during his sophomore year, he shot it way too much. Even now, Carmichael will take contested jumpers just inside the 3-pt line that appear to be slightly out of his range. He is a much more consistent knock down shooter inside of 15-18 feet. Further consistency and expansion of his range will go a long way in his dreams of being a NBA player.
His ability to settle for shots has been frustrating to watch at times, as he has such an imposing physical frame in the MVC. Even his turnaround jumpers in the post leave you instead wanting to see him take it into his man's body strong for a tough finish inside. Nevertheless, his offensive skills are notable.
As I said, Carmichael isn't a good ball handler, but is able to face up for a quick "gather himself" dribble while on his way to the rim for an explosive finish. He uses a convincing pump fake to get his man off balance. That dribble is key for Carmichael who is a much better jumper when he has both feet underneath him than coming off one foot. He isn't the high-flying forward that comes out from the perimeter for tip slams that you see a lot in today's NBA.
From a rebounding standpoint though, that hardly hurts him. Carmichael is a great rebounder who does a good job using his frame to carve out an large area in which every ball within reach seems to be his. His strength, ability to get off the floor, and toughness are all on display here. Carmichael relishes opportunities to do the dirty work and work harder than his opponents. In an interview with Sports Illustrated prior to this season, he was quote saying, "I am the guy who is going to bring his hard hat and lunch pail every single day and just work hard. I feel like thats what gets basketball players to that next level and where they want to be in life. I live by the quote that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".
Obviously, Jackie Carmichael has a great head on his shoulders and will be a joy in any lockerroom. His work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work will be welcomed by all coaches and he should be able to pack on more muscle on his broad frame.
Defensively, Carmichael will never be a great player, but he can be a solid NBA defender right off the bat. He understands how to move his feet, plays solid pick and roll defense, works hard to deny post position, and has posted an interesting combination of rebounds and steals this year.
A fair amount of those steals have came from either denying post entry passes or aggressive attacking the ball handler in pick and rolls - forcing them to make a rash decision. Carmichael doesn't take defense off, instead constantly battling to deny post position and never falling asleep when he is asked to defend in the pick and roll. His low center of gravity is useful in the post and his upper body should only get stronger. Carmichael is also a team first defender who generally knows when to offer help and when to stay inside to protect the paint.
His aggressive hedges on screens are aided by his solid footwork, although sometimes he is a little slow to get back to his original man. Carmichael has a solid 7 foot wingspan, but doesn't project as a impact shot deterer and only uses his right hand to contest shots. What he does offer is the ability to slide over in front of defenders and draw charges and Carmichael has already proven himself to be a believable actor in the eyes of refs.
A large amount of Carmichael's fouls on defense come from being to aggressive in battles down low, especially when trying to go over the back for tough rebounds.
Overall, Carmichael has an all-around solid game and is ready to contribute sooner rather than later to the NBA. As a 23 year old, his stock is hurt a bit by his lack of perceived upside, although he does present some intrigue with coming out of a mid-major conference and his offensive ability. Also, the disappointing years of power forwards like James McAdoo and Tony Mitchell have made this PF class rather barren in terms of first round talent that can contribute right away. With those two and Isaiah Austin and Anthony Bennett, you have 4 great talents but none of them appear to have the maturity to contribute to a team right away. Carmichael can. So can guys like Richard Howell and Trevor Mbakwe, but with Carmichael's offensive ability - he presents more of an upside - even if he does turn out to be just a rotational big who rebounds and defends like Howell and Mbakwe project to be.
Carmichael looks to be a solid bet for the late first round at this point, although he doesn't have much room to move much higher on boards. A down year for Illinois State has shifted a lot of potential hype away from him and its unlikely they get a berth in the NCAAs or NIT. Still, look for him to be one of the first seniors called on draft night.
Illinois State looked poised to give Creighton all the could handle in the MVC, especially after a tough fought loss to Louisville and big early season wins on the road against Drexel and Dayton. Unfortunately for Carmichael and the Redbirds, they began their conference schedule with a 6 game losing streak - essentially eliminating all hopes of securing an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. As Carmichael's career winds down, it is a perfect time to look back and what he accomplished and assess how his game will translate to the next level.
While playing under first year head coach Dan Muller, Carmichael had his best statistical season yet on a team that looked to push the pace more than past Redbird squads. Carmichael had shown steady improvement year to year and made an especially big jump following his sophomore year, where he improved his numbers across the board as well as raised his field goal percentage from 45% to a 53%.
The reason for Carmichael's improvement last year was his newfound aggressiveness, something coaches had been eager to see out of him all along. Carmichael relegated himself to a jumpshooter in his sophomore year, rendering his solid 6-8 240lb frame almost useless. According to hoop-math.com, Carmichael took only 18% of his shots at the rim during the 2010-2011 season before bringing it up to 44% last year. Attacking the rim was a huge part in his raise in efficiency and he got to the line 8.4 times per 40 minutes.
This season, Carmichael picked up where he left off in his junior year, continuing to be aggressive, and imposing himself as one of the 4 senior leaders of the Redbird team. He raised his point per game up nearly 4 points, but when the pace is adjusted for Dan Muller's new tempo, its roughly closer to a 2 point per game improvement.
Muller's tempo allowed Carmichael to show his hustle more and capitalize on more easy buckets around the rim. Carmichael isn't the most athletically gifted, but runs the court well and with purpose each and every time. He also does a good job getting open and staying ready for a pass at all times. The new offense allowed this part of his game to show a bit more.
First and foremost though, Carmichael is a halfcourt scorer who fared very well in the halfcourt sets ran. After moving outside of his comfort zone in his sophomore year as a jumpshooter, Carmichael took on a more physical role and showed off his post game.
Carmichael does a good job establishing position in the post, moving his feet to keep defenders on his back, and keeping his hands up to call for the ball. He has very soft hands and is able to receive even the toughest passes cleanly. Carmichael's go-to moves in the post are a quick turnaround jumper from either shoulder as well as a little right handed hook shot. In terms of counter moves, Carmichael is still raw in that area although he does have the potential to continue to develop. After all, Carmichael hasn't been focused on playing with his back to the basket until the last two years and in many cases, he hasn't needed a counter move.
Carmichael's feel in the post is still developing as well and he struggles with the double teams that undersized MVC teams throw at him. With a turnover rate at less than a 1:2 ratio, it is easy to say Carmichael has to improve passing out of the post. More accurately, he needs to learn not to panic when double teams come. He can rush into mistakes and also has a problem having the ball swiped from him due to him holding the ball away from his body. At times, he has to learn to accept the double team and get rid of the ball. His turnovers are also high because of his poor ball-handling skills. Whenever Carmichael puts the ball on the floor for more than one dribble, its an adventure where things rarely turn out well.
While double teams have been able to slow Carmichael down, teams that have tried to stop him by fronting him in the post have paid dearly. He has no problem establishing position from that angle and his teammates also deserve credit for getting him the ball for easy lay-ups in these situations. Its very hard to front a guy like Carmichael who is constantly moving and battling for good position.
Carmichael is best used in the pick and roll game, something that both of his coaches at Illinois State took full advantage of. As mentioned, Carmichael is very good in a set offense and has a strong understanding of timing and spacing. He will have no problem adjusting to the playbooks of the NBA and will thrive in the league where pick and roll action is king.
Carmichael understands how valuable the pick and roll can be to free him up on offense - whether it be used to help him establish post position, open jumpers, or shots at the rim. He is constantly moving around on offense screening defenders for his teammates and then floating into open areas looking for the ball. His best attributes in these situations including his feel/awareness/timing/patience, his hands, footwork, and versatile offensive game. He does a fantastic job of always making himself an available target and getting open.
His feel/awareness/timing/patience can be lumped into one category, but it is a huge part of what he is as a player. Carmichael plays like an NBA veteran already in terms of his pace of the game. He glides to spots after setting ball screens, finding weak spots in the defense for jumpers or searching for an undersized defender to put a body on and establish post position. The revelation of the latter, has enabled him to get much deeper post position than in previous season and take advantage of his strong finishing ability inside of ten feet.
His hands are another big asset that allow him to catch balls on the move when rolling towards the basket. He has large hands and a soft touch. He can release the ball rather quick near the rim and also gets of the floor quick given his size. Carmichael loves to go up strong with both hands on the ball, although he is primarly a right-handed dominant finisher. Despite his shortcomings with his left hand, Carmichael still ranks as a good finisher thanks to his strength, touch, and solid explosiveness.
Carmichael's versatility is big and includes his post up game, pick and roll game, and his ability to knock down jumpers. I mentioned his turnaround already. His turnaround right now is best used inside of 10-15 feet. He shoots it better over his left shoulder, but has shown more and more the ability to shoot it in the other direction. He isn't the type of turnaround jumpshooter who takes multiple dribbles, battles for position, and can fake one way or another. Instead, his game is pretty basic that just involves making a quick one dribble move off either shoulder - anything more is asking too much from him.
Carmichael has always had the makings of a solid jumper, but has fallen in love with it too much at times. Obviously during his sophomore year, he shot it way too much. Even now, Carmichael will take contested jumpers just inside the 3-pt line that appear to be slightly out of his range. He is a much more consistent knock down shooter inside of 15-18 feet. Further consistency and expansion of his range will go a long way in his dreams of being a NBA player.
His ability to settle for shots has been frustrating to watch at times, as he has such an imposing physical frame in the MVC. Even his turnaround jumpers in the post leave you instead wanting to see him take it into his man's body strong for a tough finish inside. Nevertheless, his offensive skills are notable.
As I said, Carmichael isn't a good ball handler, but is able to face up for a quick "gather himself" dribble while on his way to the rim for an explosive finish. He uses a convincing pump fake to get his man off balance. That dribble is key for Carmichael who is a much better jumper when he has both feet underneath him than coming off one foot. He isn't the high-flying forward that comes out from the perimeter for tip slams that you see a lot in today's NBA.
From a rebounding standpoint though, that hardly hurts him. Carmichael is a great rebounder who does a good job using his frame to carve out an large area in which every ball within reach seems to be his. His strength, ability to get off the floor, and toughness are all on display here. Carmichael relishes opportunities to do the dirty work and work harder than his opponents. In an interview with Sports Illustrated prior to this season, he was quote saying, "I am the guy who is going to bring his hard hat and lunch pail every single day and just work hard. I feel like thats what gets basketball players to that next level and where they want to be in life. I live by the quote that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".
Obviously, Jackie Carmichael has a great head on his shoulders and will be a joy in any lockerroom. His work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work will be welcomed by all coaches and he should be able to pack on more muscle on his broad frame.
Defensively, Carmichael will never be a great player, but he can be a solid NBA defender right off the bat. He understands how to move his feet, plays solid pick and roll defense, works hard to deny post position, and has posted an interesting combination of rebounds and steals this year.
A fair amount of those steals have came from either denying post entry passes or aggressive attacking the ball handler in pick and rolls - forcing them to make a rash decision. Carmichael doesn't take defense off, instead constantly battling to deny post position and never falling asleep when he is asked to defend in the pick and roll. His low center of gravity is useful in the post and his upper body should only get stronger. Carmichael is also a team first defender who generally knows when to offer help and when to stay inside to protect the paint.
His aggressive hedges on screens are aided by his solid footwork, although sometimes he is a little slow to get back to his original man. Carmichael has a solid 7 foot wingspan, but doesn't project as a impact shot deterer and only uses his right hand to contest shots. What he does offer is the ability to slide over in front of defenders and draw charges and Carmichael has already proven himself to be a believable actor in the eyes of refs.
A large amount of Carmichael's fouls on defense come from being to aggressive in battles down low, especially when trying to go over the back for tough rebounds.
Overall, Carmichael has an all-around solid game and is ready to contribute sooner rather than later to the NBA. As a 23 year old, his stock is hurt a bit by his lack of perceived upside, although he does present some intrigue with coming out of a mid-major conference and his offensive ability. Also, the disappointing years of power forwards like James McAdoo and Tony Mitchell have made this PF class rather barren in terms of first round talent that can contribute right away. With those two and Isaiah Austin and Anthony Bennett, you have 4 great talents but none of them appear to have the maturity to contribute to a team right away. Carmichael can. So can guys like Richard Howell and Trevor Mbakwe, but with Carmichael's offensive ability - he presents more of an upside - even if he does turn out to be just a rotational big who rebounds and defends like Howell and Mbakwe project to be.
Carmichael looks to be a solid bet for the late first round at this point, although he doesn't have much room to move much higher on boards. A down year for Illinois State has shifted a lot of potential hype away from him and its unlikely they get a berth in the NCAAs or NIT. Still, look for him to be one of the first seniors called on draft night.
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