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#36: Rakeem Christmas - PF/C - Syracuse

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Are there plans for this guy to actually be on the team? Or is he purely trade bait?
 
First of all, it's 'pump the brakes', not 'pump the breaks'. The metaphor is slowing down your car, not dancing to a 1980s rap lyric.

Second, the question isn't whether Christmas is better than TT. It's whether he's better than whatever random-ass insurance big we could scrounge up at this point to provide insurance against AV going down. (Or to be the 4th big if we package AV with the Haywood contract). There is an OK chance of that I'd say, unless we need a true center. I don't think he is strong enough to either defend or post up true NBA centers that well, and he doesn't yet have the offensive versatility to pull them away from the basket. But he can certainly be a big playing against a smaller lineup.

Third, Christmas was picked in the 35 slot. Draymond Green was also picked in the 35 slot of the second round. I think the conclusion is clear: Christmas is the next Draymond Green.

Finally, where the fuck did Christmas get a jump shot? I didn't see that at Syracuse.

You try typing out all of your messages on a phone while escaping the wrath that is autocorrect. Pump the breaks...
 
Completely off-topic, but because I've seen Boozer's name thrown around a bit here I figured it's as ideal a spot as any other: my friend fervently believes that we would have won a title if Boozer had remained in Cleveland. What do y'all think?
 
Are there plans for this guy to actually be on the team? Or is he purely trade bait?

The biggest knock on him is he really developed his Sr year after 3 subpar years at Syracuse until Boheim made him a focal point of the offense. He beat up guys younger than him, which won't translate to the NBA.

However, he's always been a really good rim protector (if you attack a 2-3 zone properly, it's very difficult to block shots). He has an insane wingspan, can run the floor, good on pick and fades (his ability to hit open 12-15 footers will make or break his career).

Overall, kid worked hard and has turned into a pretty decent prospect. Ability to protect the rim and hit open pick n pops/fades will determine if he sticks or not. Good shooter and seems like a capable passer
 
Completely off-topic, but because I've seen Boozer's name thrown around a bit here I figured it's as ideal a spot as any other: my friend fervently believes that we would have won a title if Boozer had remained in Cleveland. What do y'all think?

Boozer never challenged shots or protected the rim. He would put Big Z in a bad position to stop penetration without help from the 4, getting Z lower minutes due to foul trouble and Boozer more touches. That drove me crazy. Other than that, he was the second banana LeBron was supposed to develop with his first three or four years in the league. It would have sped LeBron's development. I don't know if retaining Boozer would have meant a championship, but he was much better as a scorer than anyone else the Cavaliers brought in during that run.
 
Boozer never challenged shots or protected the rim. He would put Big Z in a bad position to stop penetration without help from the 4, getting Z lower minutes due to foul trouble and Boozer more touches. That drove me crazy. Other than that, he was the second banana LeBron was supposed to develop with his first three or four years in the league. It would have sped LeBron's development. I don't know if retaining Boozer would have meant a championship, but he was much better as a scorer than anyone else the Cavaliers brought in during that run.

Thing that pisses me off the most about Boozer is that if he stays, we most likely never have to experience the Larry Hughes years. Though it would also mean no Andy as a Cav, which would have sucked.
 
From watching the videos, Christmas is natural and fluid when he's taking mid-range shots. The videos show mostly dunks, but he is very graceful for a guy who is 6'9" 240-250. Christmas, should be ready to bang, he's not 210 pound 18 year old. Can't wait for tonight!
 
Thing that pisses me off the most about Boozer is that if he stays, we most likely never have to experience the Larry Hughes years. Though it would also mean no Andy as a Cav, which would have sucked.

As I remember it, the Gooden trade started out as a minor deal for Varejao. It's hard to discuss fictional reality and what would have happened...
 
As I remember it, the Gooden trade started out as a minor deal for Varejao. It's hard to discuss fictional reality and what would have happened...
The there were the Gooden/Varejao battles..Gooden would play then sit when his brain imploded, then AV would play and hustle ...on and on that episode went.
 
Gooden is really talented. You have to be to be that dumb and stick in the league that long. If he had a different personality he could have been an all-star caliber player.
 
Gooden is really talented. You have to be to be that dumb and stick in the league that long. If he had a different personality he could have been an all-star caliber player.

Wasn't gooden really quite able as a student? Shame he had no bball iq. My personal preference was early as a rookie wherr he convinced the grizz he could play the 3 and he jacked up triples all game
 
Wasn't gooden really quite able as a student? Shame he had no bball iq. My personal preference was early as a rookie wherr he convinced the grizz he could play the 3 and he jacked up triples all game

He has been shooting about 40% from 3 the last two years in DC...don't know if it's a fluke based on limited minutes but if he had developed that earlier in his career he would have done a lot better. He always had a solid midrange jumper.
 
Gooden was just always a minus defender. great offensive player initially.
 
This guy is garbage. I don't care if it's only one game. Some guys you can just tell whether they have it or not. He put up 6 points (1-9 FG), 1 rebound, and 1 block in 17 minutes. Plus, you have to keep in mind he's one of the oldest guys out there at 23.
 
He yelled "And one!" a lot... Is that something they teach at Syracuse?
 

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