Draft Prospect: Luke Babbitt

[ChuckD]

When was the article you quote written? It might have been before Babbitt tested so well in his athleticism measurements (2nd or 3rd best in the whole draft, I think).

His vertical jump and sprint numbers are good to very good, but none of that tests lateral mobility, and without that, you'll never be more than an average hustle type team defender in the NBA.

[DesignatedT]

Uh, no. Mike Miller is a guard with serious handle who can create for himself and for others off the dribble. Don't go imagining that isn't there.

Oh, and that 75% was uncontested. His contested number was about 25%.

Lol I never said he would be as good as Mike Miller but saying that it would be a more of an accurate comparison. Babbitt's athleticism blows Novak and Croshere's out of the water. Maybe a Mike Dunleavy or Linas Kleiza comparison would be more fair.

But his offensive game is pretty polished overall. Unlike Novak who could only shoot 3's, Babbitt is able to score in many different ways other than his 3 pt shot. His handle isn't bad and has the ability to put the ball on the floor and take the ball to the rim.

[ChuckD]

Oh, offensively, he's probably close to being ready to play in the NBA. This is the Spurs we are talking about, though. If you can't carry your water on defense, your floor time will be severely limited. Matt Bonner was as good a long ball shooting big man as there is in the league, but he couldn't stay in front of a Silver Dancer, and was relegated to less than 18 minutes per game as a result.

[TimDunkem]

Oh, offensively, he's probably close to being ready to play in the NBA. This is the Spurs we are talking about, though. If you can't carry your water on defense, your floor time will be severely limited. Matt Bonner was as good a long ball shooting big man as there is in the league, but he couldn't stay in front of a Silver Dancer, and was relegated to less than 18 minutes per game as a result.

Please. He never could, and everyone has known that for a long time. (Neither could Mason infact, but he still got playing time)

The Spurs were just deeper this year.

[SenorSpur]

Please. He never could, and everyone has known that for a long time. (Neither could Mason infact, but he still got playing time)
The Spurs were just deeper this year.

...and neither could Finley. He got too much playing time.

[mountainballer]

His vertical jump and sprint numbers are good to very good, but none of that tests lateral mobility, and without that, you'll never be more than an average hustle type team defender in the NBA.

the agility test tells about the lateral quickness and actually his time in this test (10.98) is very good, especially for a 6-9 guy. his sprint time is a bit below average at 3.40.

for explanation: the agility test consists of 8 lengths around cones on each corner of the paint, on each corner the direction and steps change.
you go (clockwise) lateral steps right, backsteps, lateral steps left, steps forward to starting point. (counterclockwise). backsteps, lateral steps right, steps forward, lateral steps left to starting point. (finished)

[pad300]

the agility test tells about the lateral quickness and actually his time in this test (10.98) is very good, especially for a 6-9 guy. his sprint time is a bit below average at 3.40.

for explanation: the agility test consists of 8 lengths around cones on each corner of the paint, on each corner the direction and steps change.
you go (clockwise) lateral steps right, backsteps, lateral steps left, steps forward to starting point. (counterclockwise). backsteps, lateral steps right, steps forward, lateral steps left to starting point. (finished)

Yep, that's how the agility test is done, however, it's a pretty poor measurement of actual agility on a basketball court. Given the pre-specified nature of the pattern, a couple of days of practice can really clean up your footwork for that pattern. However, on the court, the movements aren't predictable, and it becomes almost as much about your IQ and ability to anticipate and react to your opponents moves. This drill removes that spontaneity, and therefore a player who is not quick can still score fairly well if he drills it repeatedly...

[mountainballer]

Yep, that's how the agility test is done, however, it's a pretty poor measurement of actual agility on a basketball court. Given the pre-specified nature of the pattern, a couple of days of practice can really clean up your footwork for that pattern. However, on the court, the movements aren't predictable, and it becomes almost as much about your IQ and ability to anticipate and react to your opponents moves. This drill removes that spontaneity, and therefore a player who is not quick can still score fairly well if he drills it repeatedly...

absolutely right. it's far from an exact science to measure a players agility. just a try to get somehow comparable numbers.
on the other hand, if it didn't tell anything, they wouldn't do it at all. and one thing we can assume for sure: whoever goes to the camp and does the agility test, did also integrate this drill in his preparation program. however, you are right, no data that tells about the ability to anticipate and react. (you still hope to read a good time from a player you favor)

[mountainballer]

I see that the Babbitt thread has turned into a general draft discussion. let's switch questions about what position the Spurs should draft to there.

[Ditty]

lukeeeeeeeeeeeeee

paul george is my first choice

[Mr Bones]

Babbitt also weighs just 210, and will get busted up by most SFs nightly....His lat quickness is lacking which showed as he was a piss poor defender in college against sub-a caliber college players, what do you think is gonna happen when he trys to defend NBA 3s?

White guy has nothing to do with it.......Morrison was PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN COLLEGE......yet cant get on the court in the nba and struggled at both ends when he did. Morrison could shoot of the move while babbitt has not shown he can do that yet.

I am very leary of this guy and unless he gets in a system like the triangle I think he will struggle.

He just weighed in the combine at 218-- not 210-- and it's reasonable to expect he'll put on at least another 10 lbs at his age, which would put him close to 230.

I think you are cherry-picking the Morrison comparison because it benefits your argument. But a couple of years ago, Kevin Durant had mediocre scores in the combine tests and was extremely skinny...and it meant nothing. Same with Tayshaun Prince. Ed O'Bannon was PLAYER OF THE YEAR and led his team to a national championship and did nothing in the pros. Santa Clara's Steve Nash turned out to be much better than Kansas's Jacques Vaughn. There are a million different scenarios you can use for comparison. If Babbitt had the exact same skills and measurements but was black, no one would think to compare him to Morrison.

[5in10]

Much rather have Babbitt than singler.

[Mr Bones]

But still the point is this: most pre-draft scouting reports listed Babbitt as having below average athleticism and Xavier Henry as having above average athleticism... but when it came time for objective measurements, Babbitt slightly outperformed Henry. The perceptions of scouts are subject to preconceived notions just like anyone else... and clearly Babbitt is not a guy who can't jump and doesn't have agility in the lane-- the numbers show that that is not the case. Morrison's numbers did indicate that he wasn't much of a jumper and not especially athletic. A case could be made for someone like Joe Alexander, who wowed everyone at the combine but didn't show actual basketball skills at Milwaukee. But Alexander wasn't a 50%/40%/90% guy either.

[Mr Bones]

I get that you don't think the guy's gonna be a good pro, but how is 21.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, and 2.1 apg along with 40%/50%/90% not dominating? Keep in mind too, Babbitt was the tallest starter on his team, playing alonside 6'6" and (supposedly) 6'8" forwards.

[Bruno]

Stop spamming this Babbitt thread with posts that have nothing to do with him.

I have nothing against some off topic but it's too much.

I'm moving all these posts to the general Draft thread. You can continue to argue there.

[MaNu4Tres]

I really want the Spurs to try to trade up for this guy.

[lurker23]

I really want the Spurs to try to trade up for this guy.

I was thinking about this guy earlier today when I was looking at DX's latest mock draft:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2010/

They have him going to Chicago at #17. If something in that ballpark holds true, then he's likely the most talented player (at least based on needs and current abilities) that the Spurs will have access to with a relatively simple trade-up.

[TheProfessor]

If there's going to be a small trade-up for a player, Babbitt, for me, would be the guy. He's got the kind of pure shooting skill that translates, and excellent intangibles/character. I know he's not that defensively-oriented long SF that everyone covets, but the Spurs need someone who can stretch the floor and hustle their ass off.

[SenorSpur]

With the exception of probably 2-3 SFs in this draft, the rest of the bunch have major warts on one end of the court or the other. Personally, I've cooled a bit on Babbitt because I don't know who he can guard at the next level. I just see him as being a huge liability on the defensive end.

[ace3g]

WojYahooNBA

An executive with a team that's targeting Nevada's Luke Babbitt fears Utah will take him with the ninth pick.

[rayray2k8]

this guy will be taken by the Jazz if he there for them.

[angelbelow]

all this hype, i remmeber he was lioke 25th in most mock drafts now hes going lottery. those workout numbers must have really stood out to everyone else too. too bad i was very warm on him.

[bdictjames]

Reminds me of a buffier Tayshaun Prince. Might as well get this guy when he's still available.

[rascal]

Because you are so wise. I just watch a lot of college basketball. I never proclaimed myself to be an expert and I didn't make anything up. Just my opinion.

So are you a scout or what? You should be GM of the spurs, huh. You shouldn't have posted at all if I'm wasting your time.

I don't know how some of these guys got any votes at all.

[rascal]

http://www.examiner.com/x-46212-Neva...edraft-workout

Utah likes white players. He is likely going to Utah.