[wvuauthor]

Did anybody happen to catch the UNC vs. Duke game last night in Chapel Hill. J.J. Redick was absolutely unbelievable! Does everyone agree that he is the best player in the nation? After dropping 35 on the defending NCAA champs I feel that he is easily the best player in college this year.

Adam Morrison of Gonzaga might be close, but does anyone else feel that he only gets his stats because of the conference he plays in??

[Joshua Kaufman]

J.J. Redick is a fantastic college basketball player. I emphasize the word fantastic because he has NBA bust written all over him. How many times have we seen tremendous college marksmen turn into first round nightmares in the NBA? All too often - and so many come from Duke.

Redick will be on a team that is far superior to the competition when he enters the NBA. I realize everyone is getting so hyped on this kid cause he fills it up night in and night out, but let's try to be a bit realistic. The kid can shoot - what else can he do?

I would much rather have Adam Morrison on my team. Morrison plays with a weak supporting cast and takes control of games. Redick had horses on the bench that could start for Gonzaga. When you think of Redick as a pro do not factor his college stats into the equation. NBA and NCAA fans have seen players like J.J. way too often. He's pyrite - fools gold.

[wvuauthor]

I have to disagree with that assessment of Redicks game. He did a tremendous job this off season in making sure that his game was more than just his ability to shoot. He has improved his defense, and more importantly his ability to score on the move. He is no longer just a stand still three point shooter. It is evident by the way that Redick has been taking the ball to the hoop this year that he worked on that part of this game.

I will agree that he needs to work on his overall ball handling skills to become very effective at the next level. He will be facing some great defenders next year, and he will need to be able to take care of the ball. Some night he may also have to step over and carry the load at the pg position.

Morrison has all the tools to make a great NBA players. One thing he has over Redick is size, something that every NBA GM is always looking for. Plus he can shoot the ball. But again, there has to be some worry in the GMs minds about the competition he plays night in and night out. More than half of his games come against mid major competition.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out..I would love to see Redick and Morrison square off in the NCAA tournament.

[Joshua Kaufman]

I think you are mistaken - but a healthy debate on the matter is always good. The point is this: Morrison will be a much better pro than J.J. In my opinion the though that Morrison plays inferior competition is cancelled out by the fact that Redick has a bench-full of all stars. Teams cannot single out Redick and triple-team him. The reason is simple: Duke has a menagerie of all-americans waiting to get on the court. Who does Morrison have to back him up? Nobody. He's practically the whole team. If Redick went down, Duke would still be in the top-ten. If Morrison went down, Gonzaga would go tumbling down the rabbit hole.

Redick is going to bust in the pros. Mark my words. He's not quick enough to defend anyone at the next level and he's not explosive enough to blow by anyone in the NBA - except other overrated Duke players. If Adam Morrison was as open as Redick is all the time, he'd probably put up way more points.

I don't think Morrison is going to be an elite superstar - but he'll be a quality pro. Redick will be a three-point specialist and a defensive liability. He won't start unless a terrible team picks him - and that won't happen cause he wont make the lottery!

[wvuauthor]

I agree that Morrison will make a good pro player, he has the size to play defense and rebound, as well as the ability to make shots, but I still disagree that Redick will be a bust. Comparing him to other Duke players like Trajdon Langdon who busted is not a good comparison in my opinion. Langdon never put up the same numbers as Redick.

The fact that Duke has a better bench than Gonzaga is irrelevant, I am trying to look at straight facts. Redick faces his opponents number one defender night in and night out. In the NBA this will not be the case. There are plenty of guys in the NBA that make a living out of scoring the ball when needed and playing adequate defense at best. Guys like Fred Hoiberg, and even Wally Szczerbiak.

Lets keep in mind that when Redick gets to the League he will gain muscle from the work he will put in. Every one does, its the nature of the league.

Anyway, I think you present some excellent points and it will be interesting to see where JJ and Adam end up!

[mcclainbabygirl]

JJ is a good player for Duke. But what will happen if he goes to the NBA? Hes not going to be that stand out guy. You probably won't here anything about him. Most teams don't need him on there team. Yes he is a good college bball player but pro he will just not be as good.

[wedge]

Originally Posted by wvuauthor

I agree that Morrison will make a good pro player, he has the size to play defense and rebound, as well as the ability to make shots, but I still disagree that Redick will be a bust. Comparing him to other Duke players like Trajdon Langdon who busted is not a good comparison in my opinion. Langdon never put up the same numbers as Redick.

The fact that Duke has a better bench than Gonzaga is irrelevant, I am trying to look at straight facts. Redick faces his opponents number one defender night in and night out. In the NBA this will not be the case. There are plenty of guys in the NBA that make a living out of scoring the ball when needed and playing adequate defense at best. Guys like Fred Hoiberg, and even Wally Szczerbiak.

Lets keep in mind that when Redick gets to the League he will gain muscle from the work he will put in. Every one does, its the nature of the league.

Anyway, I think you present some excellent points and it will be interesting to see where JJ and Adam end up!

The obvious comparison is Langdon, but Redick is much better working around screens and creating his own shot then Langdon. I think a better comparison for Redick is Jeff Hornacek though I think Redick is a better shooter. Both players did a great job getting open without the ball. Redick does a great job coming off the screens and not just settling for jumpers. He also gets to the line.

He won't be a superstar, but in the right system I think he can be an all-star from time to time.

[mcclainbabygirl]

I just don't see JJ making it that far no doubt he is an exellent bball player in college with duke. In the NBA I just don't see it, he needs more than just him. He needs other players to make him a good player. Thats why he does so well at Duke.

[wedge]

Originally Posted by mcclainbabygirl

I just don't see JJ making it that far no doubt he is an exellent bball player in college with duke. In the NBA I just don't see it, he needs more than just him. He needs other players to make him a good player. Thats why he does so well at Duke.

The guy is more than just a shooter. If you watch his games, he does an excellent job of moving without the ball AND most importantly scoring inside and out. Most great shooters in college, like Alford and Langdon come to mind, were just that: shooters. But Redick is a little different.

That being said, I still think he needs a particular system to maximize his talents. Probably will fit better in the Western Conference then the Eastern.

[wvuauthor]

Wedge,

That is my point exactly. This guy worked very hard to get better in the offseason. He moves with the ball better than anybody in the country, and that will serve him well at the next level.

If he gets in the right NBA system there is no reason that he will not be able to be a solid player.

[mcclainbabygirl]

I'm not saying he isn't a good player on both ends of the court. I just don't see him doing well in the NBA. Duke has made him a great player but it depends on what the NBA wants. Most teams don't want this kind of shooter they want someone more built. I'm look at the young men in the NBA.

[wvuauthor]

I agree that a lot of the guys in the NBA are "built." But Redick is not one of these guys, nor will he ever be. There are guys like Richard Hamilton who are not the biggest in the league, but he knows how to get open and score the ball.

If Redick can prove he can handle the ball and defend at the NBA level he can be a solid player for many years to come.

[mcclainbabygirl]

I just don't think he will be the dominating player that everyone sees now. He is good yes, but the NBA is so different than college, he won't be having 40 pts a night you know?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I am with Wedge and wvuauthor on this one...Redick will make it in the right system...might be a role player at first, but the boy can play...

Besides, I know Wedge...and like a modern day Bo Jackson, Wedge knows college basketball...you go Wedge...tell them haters about my man J.J....

[cjg11582]

This guy needs to be selected for The USA team. He would be absolutely lethal from that three point line and would have an obscene amount of open looks with the caliber of pro he would play with. Him and Michael Redd standing in the two corners on offense would be virtually unstoppable.
There are a litany of NBA teams (Kings, Bobcats, Rockets come to mind) that could use a guy like this and I think he will be at worst moderately successful in the league. But, I saw him on Sportscenter as they were doing a profile on him. And he was saying something along the lines of writing poetry is very cathartic for him, the interviewer actually coerced him into reading one of his poems. Needless to say it probably helps explain the aversion many people have to him.I hate to make any sweeping generalizations but the sportsworld and the artworld are essentially two different species.