Caris LeVert NBA potential...

He's shown, at times, an electrifying first step. In the tourney last year it seemed like he was getting to the basket at will. Add a pretty well rounded game, good size for a 2, he without question has nba potential.

This streak is rough though. His game today has to give scouts pause, and the lack of impact Michigan guys are having in the league may catch up sooner or later. I think theres a chance he comes back and gets his degree.

But he is the only on one the team right now, who will get drafted.  He is not lightning quick off the drive, But very good shooter, can penetrate and is solid defender.  The problem he has is absolutley no help.  Every team keys on him. Wallton is a really nice point guard, but his strength is transition.  He is not causing opposing teams head aches in a half court set.  Zak Irvin needs somebody to get him the ball on the wing, wide open. 

Imagine Trey without Tim and GRIII.  Not a great example, trey is far better, but he would have struggled without other guys who could score.

This team looks like an early Beilein team at M.  I really wonder if he thought GRIII would go.

He has a lot of potential. He had ONE bad game. Relax. Are we not remembering his 32 points the other day? He leads the team in points, rebounds, assists (I think) and steals. He has tons of potential. Sometimes, it amazes me how quick fanbases are to think a player is amazing, to thinking he's overrated. Relax. 

I've heard quite a bit how people have called him a "mini-Durant", just shorter and with long arms. Obviously the scoring isn't/likely won't get to superstar level, but Caris has shown flashes with his shot and putting scoring moves on defenders. He's got a decent ability to create his own shot and draw contact while doing so. He's also got potential on defense, he seems to get a fair amount of steals. Yes, people think the NBA has absolutely no defense, but guys who can't play defense at all won't play much at all until they figure it out (see: Stauskas, Nik).

I think this game highlighted the huge discrepancy between his nba outlook vs. the top prospects in the draft (ie arizona's stanley johnson).

But, he has lots of things going for him:  length, solid shoot. solid crossover. potential to be a good defender b/c of length and lateral quickness. those are things that get you drafted.

so, nba potential is definitely there. his likely outlook isn't nba star, but he could develop into quite a player (like that guy on milwaukee bucks with the crazy name).

Holy recency bias.   Dude still has potential oozing out of him and makes a lot of small plays that go unnoticed.  And a lot of heady plays - just go back through the last 10 games of 2013.

He is now the first guy on everyone's scouting report instead of 3rd or 4th.  It was just 2 years ago he was averaging 2.3 ppg. 

Despite all this attention his FG percentage is UP - yes up - from 43.9% to 45.3%.  His 3 pt shooting % is an absurb 48.9% this year.  It was 40.8% last year.  Anything in the 41-43% range is damn good. 

He is rebounding 5+ a game and assisting 4+ a game (more than our friggin PG).  83% FT.

If you want to compare to Nik last year, Caris is 1% behind him on overall FG % and 5% ahead on 3 pt shooting.  2% behind on FT % and killing Nik in rebounds (3.0) and assists (1.3).

Probably they lie about his height as they do every college kid (see Gary Harris) but a 6'5 6'6 SG who can do all this, has a decent first step, makes a lot of heady plays, is a very good shooter, and whose main weakness is "strength" (something that will change in 3 years) is a hell of an intriguing prospect.

Here are Gary Harri's stats last year for comparison and dude had Adrian Payne to take away attention unlike Caris.

• 45.6% FG, 41% 3 PT FG, 75.5% FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists.

That was a guy who was 6'2-6'3 who was projected to be a lottery pick.  Caris has him beat on every single stat (other than FG% which is flat) and is 3-4 inches taller.  And has no help from a true inside threat.

Stanley Johnson? Dude is 6'7 6'8 240 lber who plays a different position, apples to oranges.  Caris is going to be compared to guys like the Harrison brothers from Kentucky, not Stanley Johnson.

Think Doug Christie. I see some Brent Barry and Jeremy Lamb, too.

I read on UMhoops that he is scoring 1.32 ppp on isolations? Thats.........absurd. He also is lethal as a passer, streaking shooter, or finisher in transition. Knock down 3 pt shoots off the catch. Very shifty, changes gears off the dribble. Rebounds, gets steals and a solid PnR handler. Add the fact he is 6'7'' with a near 7 ft wingspan.......

He needds strength, avoids contact at the rim and his midrange game runs hot/cold but he does not have many holes.

If he had Morgan and GR3, he'd average WAYYY more apg than he does and he'd have more space to iso. As it stands, he has a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio and a 26% assist rate.

I think he projects as the best pro JB has had so far. Stauskas was elite at shooting and PnR and was subpar at everything else. The PnR does not translate because the ball is in superstar's hands. Levert has way more things he can do in a complimentary role.

I think some are unfair. Even Burke and Stauskas got to play off ball and get assisted points. Levert has to create 95% of his offense. This roster is a bad fit. 

I think it's more useful to look at things he doesn't do so well. The last two home games it was interesting seeing teams attack him repeatedly whenever they had him 1-on-1 on the perimiter. NJIT really hammered away at him with success, constantly able to penetrate (especially left). 

But the NBA will look at that first step and think they can translate that into lateral movement on D. That wouldn't scare scouts off.

He's very, very quick, with that aforementioned step, so his lack of strength going to the rim won't worry most. He looks much more consistent with his midrange this year, partially because it looks like he is pulling up way closer to the hoop (I'd love to see some sort of ExpressVu on this but it looks this way, can'y be sure). Going right he is killing it. He also has more body control and is getting better looks and finishes tighter in. 

Passing he might not look great, but the team is cold, uncertain, playing without much confidence. A lack of an athletic inside finisher is hurting. Plus he is the red flag, drawing lots of help on any sort of penetration. His job in this offense is definitely not to kick out or drive and dish: you want this guy shooting.

He has virtually no flaws in his outside shot. Irvin has a more 'textbook' form but Caris has the quick release, mentality, and results.

It's a different NBA now, raw potential and flaws don't bother them as much. Gone.

(-1, unnecessary ellipses)

How about the part that's a 6'7 SG shooting 43% from three over the last two years, with a really good first step, good ball-handling and a 7' wingspan? You probably need to explain how he doesnt make his teammates better too, he's leading the team in APG. He disappears sometimes, but dont act like CLV isn't an NBA player.

Who cares if he doesn't have mid range game? The way the game is played right now, that's actually a positive. These days in the NBA, you want a 2 guard who can shoot efficiently from three, be quick enough to penetrate and dish out or create contact, and be quick enough to get back on defense(and even this is optional... see: James Harden). If you're a shooting guard and getting a lot of your production from the mid range, you're probably not helping your team win. *cough* Kobe Bryant *cough cough*