Austin Rivers finally over the hump
Wow his career high was what 15 points? And goes and gets 27 lol. Actually surprised he's shot that much and only has two assists. If you've been watching him at the Hornets (Pelicans) he defers almost to a fault.
But again it is just one game. I'm hoping for him to be more consistent in the future. Not 27 ppg consistent but I'd say he'd have to at least start averaging around 15 ppg for me to say "he's over the hump".
Still rooting for him though, especially since all he does is get bashed by so many NBA fans as well as pundits.
Yeah he might as well get some praise after one good performance, since everyone just bashes him after a bad performance. This game showed his versatility on the offensive end. Outside, driving, cuts. He just needs to be more consistent and mix his attacking with his passing. As a Hornets(Pelicans) fan I sure hope he does it.
Wow that is a huge game for him. Yes, I believe his career high was 15 points before this. And here he goes out and gets 27 points on 14 shots. That is a huge night shooting. Good for him. I'd like to see more in rebounds, assists, steals and block than just two total. But this was a nice shooting night.
I said in another post that it would take time. I honestly did not expect anything like that this soon. I figured it would click around the all Star break for him. I am glad that he is playing well because once Davis gets back into starting, NOH will be a tough team. Next year with a few moves they could be a young and upcoming team like the Rockets.
Did he play more of the 2 position? If so, I think this cements his future at the 2. With that said, he needs playing time to continue improving. Do you guys agree? Would they move Gordon once he's healthy so Rivers can start or move Rivers to 6th man role?
If you say deal, what deal comes to mind? Obvious one since last Summer was Gordon for Granger swap.
He played much smarter in this game,then i've seen him play since he became a pro...For someone that grew up in a nba enviroment and has a dad thats a coach,Austin hadnt shown that he has a very High Basketball IQ.....I believe if he keeps playing smart he'll become 1 of the top 5 shooting guards in the league in a few years......
In a few years the guy who still can't hit his free throws is going to be a top five SG? These are the kind of statements that makes other people look like Rivers haters. People seem so delusional about this guys ability to play basketball at this level that we end up making Rivers "suxx" threads just because we want to introduce a dose of sanity. There is no rational world in which Rivers is going to be mentioned in the same breath as Kobe, Wade, Harden, Manu, or the next generation of SGs. The guy needs to play much much better to still be in the league three years from now.
I watched a majority of the game and saw Luke Ridnour guarding him. He was able to shoot over the top of him a lot on shots he would otherwise be unable to get off with a regular sized defender playing him. Saw a lot of wide open looks where no one on MInn. attempted to rotate or contest his slow releasing shot. Still not a fan.
He's a good three point shooter, but still struggles to finish over anyone. He reminds me of a less talented, less athletic JR Smith with how he plays, probing, driving, crossing over. I just wonder how long itll be until hes an efficient basketball player. Or better question, can he every efficient?
Over last 5 games 14.0 points on 49%FG, 53%3PT 62%FT, with 2.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, and only 1.2 TOpg
Not amazing but definitely an improvement in his performance from the first month of his career. His free throw shooting is still horrible for a physical guard in the NBA.
horrible so far. Plus its not just his production, its that he didn't show skills and consistency in the skills he does have that don't project well. In general I think most people wanted Doc's son to be good if not great. I'm not so enamored with him being successful but I'm happy for him. I didn't see the game but the box score had Grevias Vasquez with 15 and 17 assists. So I imagine Rivers did most of his work at the 2. He has a chance to be a okay shooting guard as his body develops but at the point he will never be a natural.
One thing I noticed and kinda like about him is he will relentlessly attack a weak defender but be shut down and become passive by a good one. Its sort of a good attribute because it means he recognizes when he is over matched. He also recognizes with a guy can't guard him and he has a AAU moment and brings his crossover out.
He needed this though because he is a confident guy and probably believes the only reason people are questioning his ability is because they are haters.
I don't understand why everyone is already writing this guy off. I think he can be a decent scorer in this league. Far from a great player, but he has the tools to be a good scorer. And judging a guy after 15 games when half the rookies are getting little to no opportunity yet is just foolish.
No one is judging him just based on these 15 games. He played a whole season in college and he didn't hit shots consistently then (and he couldn't hit FTs) and he didn't do anything else besides shoot. There is a reason he was considered a huge risk on draft day. Because if he can't hit shots and score, there is no reason to think he will bring anything else to the table.
Although majority of the posters on the forum thinks he is horrible I'm still rooting for him to turn around his rookie slump. Tonight against the T'Wolves he posted the best numbers in his career so far with 27pts going 9-14 from the field 5-6 from 3 and 4-4 from the line with 2 assist and 2 turnovers