LeBron is still in the running as well...he's playing as good as he has offensively at any point in his career. The Knicks are pretty much an embarrassment, being showered with heavy "Brooklyn" chants in MSG. ::
LeBron ISN'T Interested in the MVP...He's Already Got 4 of them, so it's Understandable...During the Regular Season, Bron's MORE Motivated by Games AGAINST MVP Candidates, than he Is w/the Award Itself...Like REED's Been Saying, Voters are Likely TIRED of Giving it to LeBron, so Someone Else will Get it This Year...Absolutely NO DOUBT as to Who THE BEST Player in the League Is, Though...
Did You See Embiid and Kansas Against REED's Boy, Marcus Smart & Oklahoma State???...Embiid has Now FIRMLY Asserted Himself as the TOP Freshman of the Kansas Jayhawks & a Top 3 Lottery Pick, in REED's Opinion...He Finished w/13pts, 11boards and 8blocks, on 5-6 from the Field...Simultaneously, Wiggins had his WORST Game of the Season (1-5 for 3pts) & Looks More & MORE like a Kid that Could REALLY Use an Extra Year of College, to Develop...
For what it's Worth, Smart SHOT Poorly (3-14, 0-6 on 3's), but Finished w/16pts, 10boards, 9dimes and 4steals...
Wiggins won't learn anything staying in college. And he's far too talented to be buried on the bench. The only players that "develop" in college, are point guards and big men who aren't talented enough to get by on anything but size and strength. The only players within the last decade who have actually made tangible improvements from staying in school vs bolting to the NBA where you are training 24/7 as opposed to being a student, where you are competing and practicing with the best, training with the best trainers, and adapting to real basketball rather than the walking abomination that is college hoops are minutely small. It's pretty much limited to a very select few coaches who tutor point guards to run an offense and slow the game down for them so they don't get overwhelmed which often happens to young point guards(Telfair, Livingston, etc)..
Wiggins' PLAY This Season DOES NOT Warrant a Lottery Pick...Even Toronto has to Be LEERY of Committing a HIGH 1st Round Pick on Wiggins, Despite the Ticket Sales he'd Generate...Right Now, Wiggins is a BOY Playing w/Men & that would Only WORSEN in the NBA...He's Physically WEAK & he Only Brings FULL Effort Every 2-3 Games...Another Year of MATURITY in College Would HELP him Tremendously, in REED's Opinion...Wiggins was THE Most Highly Touted Guy Coming Into the NCAA Season (Next LeBron, Allegedly) & he's by Faaaaaaaaaaar Playing THE WORST...He's Already LOST Any Chance of being the # 1 Pick & w/Each Game, his Lottery Hopes FADE...This is a Deeeeeeeeeep Draft, but it Damn Sure AIN'T Because of Andrew Wiggins, @ this Point...
Would Be a NICE Pickup...REED Thought they Should've Drafted Noel, but Embiid is the Same Guy, Basically...
Nah man, you usually aren't this far off base but that's crazy. There is absolutely no chance Wiggins slips out of the top 5 even in what could potentially be a loaded class if everyone declares. People are looking at his athleticism and potential and the fact that players like Paul George continue to show out this year does nothing to dispel the notion. He's not playing Andre Drummond bad..and look at how that worked out for Detroit by the way. There isn't a mock draft published to date that has him outside of the top 3.
Time will Tell, but Jabari Parker & Julius Randle are NO BRAINERS Ahead of Wiggins...In just 2 Games, Embiid has SKYROCKETED PAST Wiggins...Depending on what a Team Needs, Even Guys like Aaron Gordon, Marcus Smart, Dante Exum and Others Could Be Drafted Higher...If Andrew Wiggins Doesn't DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE his Play, the Remainder of this Season, he WILL NOT B a Top 3 Pick, Dude:nono:...He Can Exist off REPUTATION for Only Soooooooo Loooooooooong...
Toronto is so leery of taking Wiggins in the lottery that they have decided to avoid the lottery altogether and get the 3rd spot in the East
Curry? That's the first I've heard of him being in the mix. Since they like using new guys for the dunk contest I nominate OKC's Perry Jones. That kid has some major hops.
Jordan was the best player in the league since about the very late 80's, but that didn't stop Magic, Barkley, and Malone from winning MVP while MJ was still the best. Lebron is in fact the best player in the league, and will be until Father Time catches up, but as of right now, it's Durant's award to LOSE this season.
paul george looks like the best player right now, but probably more so because he's in the best team in the league.
I love George's game and hes one of my favourites but sharing the spotlight with Hibbert and the fact that he doesn't really put up those breathtaking lines like Durant can will probably prevent him from being a legitimate contender. It's just not his game to explode for 54 at any time like Durant can.
Curry's an EXTERIOR Candidate at the Moment, but he's ALREADY Put Up Durant Type Performances this Season...He's Performing @ an ALL-NBA 1st Team Level Thus Faaaaaaaaar, his Team is Gonna Factor HEAVILY in the Western Conference Championship Picture & we Still Have MORE than Half a Season Remaining...
...& REED Can't Say he's EVER Cared LESS about the Dunk Contest...The "Superstars" WON'T Enter It & w/Out TRICKING IT UP, just about Every Dunk has Been DONE Already...
Speaking of Which, they had a SOLID Win Over Golden State Last Night...DOMINATED them for Large Portions & Fended Off their Late Game Surge...
Well, Curry's without question IMO the best PG in the league right now. CP3 as the #1 PG is largely based on reputation at this point. Curry might not be the playmaker, and floor general that CP3 is, but his scoring can take over a game in a way that Paul's can't, which ultimately has more value, especially in the playoffs.
Paul George reminds me of Pippen/T-Mac hybrid. Well, he's not as talented as McGrady was, especially not the scorer T-Mac was. He's perhaps a better scoring version of Pippen.
Durant is playing some incredible basketball. His 4th quarters in this stretch have been absurd. He basically singlehandedly beat one of the best teams in the league tonight if they hold on to win.
At this rate Durant's going to run away with the MVP if he keeps this up and will challenge for the position of best in the game playoff time when Westbrook gets back.
The more of Embiid the more I think he goes #1 if he declares. For a guy who has only been playing basketball for like 5 years he has tremendous upside. Couldnt agree more about Wiggins. I dont want to say hes the next DeRozan, but he really needs to improve his j and decision making if he wants to be a force in the pros. Let alone a top 5 pick.
