The Big Blue Daily Mail -- UK News All Over the Place

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 9:25 AM EDT in News Comment 43 comments

Scott Skiles has reason to smile after getting Jennings and Jodie Meeks in the NBA Draft.

I am going to change the format of the Big Blue Daily Mail a bit (things around here are always a work in progress) to be a bit more link based than links at the end of commentary. I find myself taking so long to do the BBDM that I simply don't have time for anything else. The new format will have the lead story on the front page, and everything else below the fold.

Today I will be at Churchill Downs all day. It is the annual trip that I do with my wife to celebrate her birthday. She absolutely loves to gamble, and especially loves to bet the ponies. So that's were I'll be all day. You can look for a tweet or two if something particularly good or bad happens there. Perhaps I'll be betting on Coach Billy G.

Today's lead story is Jodie Meeks to the Milwaukee Bucks. I am not the world's greatest NBA fan although I do watch and keep up with it, so those of you who are experts in the NBA might want to chime in and add some value to my comments.

On it's face, this looks like a good pickup for the Bucks since they recently traded away star swingman Richard Jefferson. SLAM Online grades the Bucks draft as an A-:

Meeks gives Milwaukee a solid scoring option coming off the bench to help fill some of the void left by Jefferson. While he won’t be able to attack the rim and create a ton of offense as a slasher, Meeks is a big-time scorer who can light things up from the outside as he showed countless times at Kentucky this past season. With Jennings getting into the lane, Meeks can spot up and bury jumpers from the outside when he is on the floor. These two will take some time to develop, particularly Jennings, but the Bucks addressed two needs and they did it with quality picks.

I think Meeks will definitely be able to find backup minutes right away, and I am not 100% convinced that Meeks can't get his own shot -- he just didn't do so at UK very often. He is a better spot-up, catch-and-shoot guy, but I do believe that he has the tools necessary to improve his handle and get into the lane or pull up for a jumper. The question is, will Jodie see the value in putting in the work necessary to develop those skills if he sees good minutes as a spot-up shooter? J.J. Redick as definitely worked hard on the other aspects of his game, for example, but there are others who have come in as catch-and-shoot guys that never try to expand their role. Which one will Jodie be?

SB Nations' Bucks blog Brew Hoop likes the Meeks pick, although he was hoping for DeJuan Blair. The Bucks do need some front-court help, so this makes sense. For his part, Jodie Meeks can't wait to get to Milwaukee and join the team. Of course, he first has to make the team, but I am convinced he will. If he doesn't, he is likely going to have to take the Kelenna Azubuike route and that is a tough road.

A final note on Jodie -- did you know he will be playing with former Wildcat (and one of this blog's favorites) Keith Bogans? I didn't, but I suspect there will be a lot more Bucks fans among the Big BlueNation than previously.

Now, the rest of the news:

UK Basketball News

UK Recruiting Notebook: Kyrie Irving, interesting developments and lots of notes
Dustin Rumbaugh at KSR reports on Kyrie Irving.
John Calipairi won't be taking a back seat to Traitor Rick
Via John Clay comes this piece from Luke Winn at SI.com. Calipari and Pitino at two rival schools is just one of the many great things that bringing Calipari to Kentucky created.
Quincy Miller picks up UK offer ...
... Along with about 100 others.
UK offers 2012 prospect Perry Ellis
Per Jody Demling.

UK Football News

Wallace will play at UK
Big pickup by the football team.
DeQuin Evans is enrolled at UK in summer school

Other UK Sports News

None today.

NCAA Sports News

Who is next year's No. 1 NBA draft pick?
Most agree with UK fans that it is likely to be John Wall. But Ed Davis? Really?
Alabama reportedly working on Saban extension
The Saban-Calipari comparisons will just keep getting stronger.

Other News of Interest

CatsPause.com - Fab Frosh Camp
A report on the Fab Frosh camp held this weekend at Memorial Coliseum.
No U of L coach at Kentucky Football Coaches Association clinic
Can Kragthorpe's life get any more chaotic? This poor guy steps into a cowpile and sinks up to his neck. Man, I really do feel for him.

The Daily Schadenfreude

Swopshire's little brother is a bit of a Kentucky fan
Louisville forward Jared Swopshire's brother Jordan is a UK fan. Oh, schadenfreude!
Ex-Duke guard Williams lists UK among transfer destinations
I would just love to pick up this guy. He is a very good player, and taking one away from Duke would just tickle me pink.

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Comments

Meeks Has The 3rd Highest Scoring Average Of Any Player Drafted In 2009

He is probably the best outside shooter in the draft – 40% on 3-pt FG and 90% on FT.

I think he will make the Bucks and have a nice NBA career of 5+ years.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How did Henderson get drafted above Jodie?

Probably because Duke had a better season than UK. Looking at the individual stats, no comparison IMO.

by Blueobsessed on Jun 27, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meeks Is The Better Player

And FAR better shooter.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tend to believe Jodie's better, also.

But remember, the guys who draft these players have their jobs on the line, and they take who they think is best.

Who do you think knows better?
Executives/personnel guys who make millions of dollars a year to assess talent and improve their professional teams OR people who read blogs (us)? Point: Henderson must be better if he was taken, by the guys making the big $ to make these decisions, before Jodie.

To further cement this point, I believe DeJuan Blair was better than 20+ guys that were taken before him. The NBA guys running their teams disagree, and he was drafted later.

by mrmondaynite on Jun 27, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sometimes people who read blogs

some of these gm’s are dolts with no basketball background. Who in their right mind thinks you can play Rubio and Flynn in the backcourt together at the same time.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree and you can use the success rate of the data of first round draft choices from previous years to draw your own conclusions.

It seems to me that the most marketable names are the ones the GMs think will bring in the fans and therefore they are chosen. Unless you lead the nation in scoring, and your dad played professionally, a player from a small market school, like Davidson, doesn’t get much attention.

by Blueobsessed on Jun 27, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They Thought Tayshaun Prince Was 23rd Best In 2002

They were wrong.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: mrmondaynite

Never, ever overestimate the basketball intelligence of NBA GM’s :)

Take a look at the many, many first round busts over the years, or more to the point, look at the top 10 picks who busted out. There are quite a few … more than there should be.

Evaluating talent doesn’t take a Phd in BB, only some common sense, which seems to be lacking in that particular group of executives.

by Ken Howlett on Jun 28, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes ...

… but Henderson is a significantly better NBA athlete. Still, I think I would take Meeks first, if I were an NBA GM.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meeks Vs Reddick, Surely You Jest

Comparing J Meeks to JJ Reddick athletically is similar to comparing night to day. You are correct in that Reddick has obviously worked hard to improve himself with measurable results and, considering Meeks proven work habits (see injury rehab e.g.), one can be reasonably sure that we’ll see similar improvement but from a higher base. The knock on Meeks all along has been his ball handling and how that limits his slashing ability but considering his stature, strength and the aforementioned work ethic it would seem that the attack deficit is perhaps more of a mindset than physical limitation. Professional coaches and trainers have a history of favorably addressing such mental facets.

Meeks and Bogans being teammates for more than next season is problematic since Bogans will be a free agent — a positive for Meeks actually.

"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."

--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787

by Wild Weasel on Jun 27, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

… They are similar in that they both come out of college as spot-up shooters, neither able to get his own shot. That was the intent of my comparison. Redick had a far superior college career to Jodie. We’ll have to wait and see how it works in the Association, but I think they are similar players. Meeks is more athletic, but Redick is underrated as an athlete.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redick > Meeks In College

Not even close. JJ is #2 scorer in ACC history.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Redick had a better college career than Meeks.

That doesn’t mean he was a better college player. Meeks leaves early and lost one full season to injury. Stats would be a lot more comparable with no injury and four full years. Lot of “ifs” in that though.

by wklawdog on Jun 27, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Think He Was A Better College Player

Redick had a sterling career at Duke.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think ...

… Redick was a better college player. He was a much better shooter than Meeks, and I know that is saying a lot, but it is so.

And as I say above, Redick is underrated as an athlete. I was surprised to see how athletic he was in the playoffs this year, and he has a higher basketball IQ than Meeks has ever shown. I’m not saying Redick is going to be a better pro, but he was unquestionably a better college player.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ball handling aside

Meeks is a much better defender. He will see more court time than JJ simply because he can shoot and is also not a liability on the defensive end. JJ couldnt guard a seventh grade girl scout.

Forget whatever they did in college. It doesnt have much to do with what they will do in the NBA.

Meeks also gets his own shot more than anyone realizes. G ran hardly any screens for him and you dont average 23ppg by waiting on someone else to give you the ball. He doesnt take it to the hole as much as I would like but I really like the penetration with the pull up jumper that he has. Meeks will do fine in the NBA.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Steve Kerr Couldn't Guard Me

But he hit 45% of his NBA career 3-pt Fg after shooting 57% on college 3-pt Fg at Arizona.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kerr doesnt matter

Reddick hasnt yet proved he can shoot like that in the NBA.

Reddick doesnt see the floor becuase he is a liability on the defensive end of the floor. Jodie will not be and regardless of their college past I expect Jodie to have a much better pro career than reddick.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redick Can Shoot Like Kerr

So he’ll get PT when he finds a team that utilizes him.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kerr

As Tru aptly points out and as I said above he has not yet shown that in the NBA.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redick ...

… has not shot the ball that well in the Association. He routinely made NBA-range threes in college, but his shooting is definitely suboptimal in the NBA. But he has developed his game a lot — he handles better, he makes good decisions with the ball and I he defends about as well as anyone in the NBA possessing a similar level of athletic talent. He is always going to be a bit out-athleted, but he has done a good job of developing his game.

Jodie has more physical skills, but Redick has a better basketball IQ right now, hands down. We’ll see if Meeks develops his considerable talent or settles. I’m not convinced Jodie didn’t settle a bit at UK, even though he showed great determination fighting through injury.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urban (BBN) Legend

I’ve read here and other places that there were few screens run for Meeks; that is a fallacious reading of the offense and there are numerous videos to prove it including the game winning shot versus Gators: Patterson sets a screen of sorts — as many ineffective UK screening attempts it wasn’t of sufficient duration — and gives Meeks an extra split-second and a couple of feet. It wasn’t so much the lack of screens in UK offense rather it was their ineffectiveness due to poor technique.

--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787

by Wild Weasel on Jun 27, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lack of screens

it’s easy to go back and find a few but there were long stretches of games where none occured.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're both right, WW and davw,

few screens and the ones that were set were awful. Plus, the few good ones I saw set sometimes resulted in the dribbler going the OTHER FREAKING WAY. That is a cardinal sin, punishable by immediate bench time, IMO. IF your teammate sets a pick, then dammit, work off it!!!

Of course, I’m old school and it doesn’t sound like we’ll see many picks this year, either, so there you go.

No moral victories--it's all about Ws and Ls!!!

by oldcat'69 on Jun 27, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

working off the pick

I think the vast majority of the time you have to work off of it but going the other way occasionally is a good thing as the defender who is screened isnt expecting it.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jun 27, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scott Skiles---------

should absolutely love Meeks, a kid to whom “defense” is NOT a foreign concept.
That point alone should ensure him a spot on the Bucks roster.
Whether or not he can create and “get to the rim” is an overworked point. There are countless SG’s in the NBA who rarely step inside the three point line and are very successful at what they do—-Ben Gordon of the Bulls come to mind.
I was a little disappointed in the fact that is was an NBA “backwater team” (IMO) that drafted Jodi. The last really good team that played in Milwaukee had Abdul-Jabaar as a center.
On the other hand Meeks may be the guy who changes my perceptions of the Bucks.

by Blujean on Jun 27, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tidbit

Most UK players in NBA during 1990’s or 2000’s have been “journeymen” playing for 5 or 6 different teams. Even Mashburn played for 3 different NBA teams.

Tayshaun Prince is an exception – playing 7 years with the Pistons.

by FortyYearCatFan on Jun 27, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jennings

I don’t think the Bucks will come to regret Meeks at #41, but Brandon Jennings at #10? All he has proven he can do is talk smack.

Remember when Rick and Tubby did those commercials together? It was for a charity, I believe. What are the odds of getting Rick and Calipari in the same ad? There would have to be an equal number of words spoken by each man, and they’d have to film two versions of the ad; one with Rick speaking first, the other with Cal starting things off. I look forward to seeing how this childish (by both coaches) rivalry plays out.

by don'tshootmei'macard on Jun 27, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jennings ...

… is in the same universe as John Wall and Derrick Rose as far as speed goes with the ball in his hand. His attitude is definitely a question mark, but there is no denying his amazing, off-the-charts athleticism. His shooting is also suspect, but with the ball in his hands, he is a blur.

If they can get him to work hard, he will be a real asset, I think.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, ED DAVIS IS AMAZING.

by mrmondaynite on Jun 27, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh ...

… Not so far, he isn’t. He will be an NBA player, sure, but he isn’t “amazing” in my book. I am not sure his upper body development is ever going to be good enough for him to be a star in the NBA. Probably he will eventually start for someone, but I’m skeptical of Davis.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 27, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs