It is the second installment from “The Draft” so this time I figured that we’ll start off with the projected number one overall pick Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards is a 6’5 shooting guard with good athleticism. Athleticism is great but I like to know what a player can do for me without relying on athleticism because some players in the NBA rely on their athleticism. Some players can out run and jump guys like Blake Griffin. Now granted Blake developed more skill as he got deeper into his career but when he first got into the league all anyone could ever talk about was how fast he runs and how high he could jump and how he had so many cool dunks. Then he got hurt. Then he started relying on his handles and a decent mid range jump shot.
I’ll say it once again this draft is not something that I am sold on. There is no clear cut number one overall pick. I’m not saying that no one will be transcendent, and if they are no one would have seen it coming. Edwards is more of driving to a basket kind of player. He’s a solid prospect that I believe could contribute right away, but I also don’t want to draft him with the first overall pick.
The Good
Edwards has the potential to score like Isiah Rider who was a really great scorer in the league a generation ago. I believe he’s got the potential to be able to handle himself, He’d be an interesting fit with RJ Barrett if he were to drop that low. They’re both similar in play. They’d be an interesting pair. They are both team players and can get to the rim. The only problem I could see is shooting. Both players need to improve their shooting to take their game to the next level. He’s a top 5 pick in this draft class.
Has the ability to change direction will help him as well as his solid footwork. The footwork will improve in the future. Strength is also in his game, or else he would have a hard time getting to the basket. If he has you in a one on one situation, chances are he can blow by you and just dunk on your head. Plus, he’s not too bad on defense.
The Draft: The Bad
He relies a little too much on his athleticism and needs a bit more work on his fundamentals. He shot 50% on two-point field goals. But how did he end up shooting 40% overall for the season? Well… he is not a very good three-point shooter. To put it in perspective, at UCLA Russell Westbrook in his last year as a sophomore year shot 33% from the three-point line. Edwards shot 7 more threes a game than Westbrook but Edwards shot 29% from beyond the arc. It also doesn’t help that Georgia also finished second to last in the SEC.
He had his best game of the year against Michigan State. Shooting 11 for 26, 7 of 16 from the three-point line, and put up 37 in a loss. The day before that game he got outplayed by another draft prospect. Obi Toppin. Edwards went 2-10 that game for only 6 points. Meanwhile, Toppin went 9-11 for 25 points. Other than Edwards there wasn’t really a reason to watch Georgia basketball unless you probably lived in Georgia or were on the team or family and friends on the team.
Continued…
Georgia did not play well against good, non-SEC teams, outside of Michigan State. When it came to conference play they didn’t get better. Let me rephrase that. They didn’t get much better for playing good teams in their conference. Especially Anthony Edwards. The team went 5-13. They got blown out by Auburn (Edwards 6/15), Mississippi State (5/16), Kentucky (5/15), South Carolina (4/13), Florida (3/10),, and LSU (6/22). I would post his other stats for the other games, but to be honest with the exception of South Carolina, those were the top 5 teams in the SEC and Edwards did not play well at all. The SEC is not known for its basketball. Georgia hasn’t made the final four since Michael Jackson dropped Beat It.
The Draft: If the Knicks Got Him
He’d be an interesting fit with RJ Barrett, they’re both kind of similar in play. They’d be an interesting pair. They are both team players and can get to the rim. The only problem I could see is shooting. Both players need to improve their shooting to take their game to the next level. Now if the Knicks, (by the ghost of David Stern and the grace of God) get the number one pick. Would I draft him at number one?
I would not because he does not play well against good teams (except that ONE GAME, every pro basketball player has a good game in their lifetime). Two, his game is not a transcending player and would not change a franchise. Three he is not a good defender. Anthony Edwards is a good product. He also benefits from a star studded-less draft class. It’s not weak but it’s not star-studded either. I just wouldn’t take him number one. He’s a top 5 pick in this draft class. But I don’t see him as the number one pick.
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