<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/katz_andy/1380514.html" target="_blank">Andy Katz piece at ESPN.com about Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter.</a>

I wish Juan and Lonny well ... although this is a good piece, it seems like too much of a cold water splash.

--soonerterp.

<small>[ May 09, 2002, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: soonerterp ]</small>

Nice article. I really think Juan has a chance to be a good NBA player. I think if he plays on a team that has a point-forward situation (Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippin in the 90's) type deal, he could really excel. Then he could be on the court and be used against the other team's outside shooter. He'd never let them get the ball. And on the other end of the court, he run them into the ground. I think Lonny is going to struggle a lot more. Many of his shots were very close to the basket. He definitely has some good moves, but when playing against talented 7 footers, that stuff wont work. I hope I'm wrong. I think Byron has a good shot to get drafted. He was the fourth option on a team with 2 3-year starters and an NBA lottery pick. He'd have been an 18 point scorer on 98% of the teams in the country.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> I really think Juan has a chance to be a good NBA player. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

If Juan/Lonny were drafted in the second round, i'd say screw the NBA, and go play somewhere else. The NBA is funny about what talent it will accept, and if you love Basketball, then go play somewhere where you're appreciated.

I don't see why the NBA wouldn't accept someone of Juan's ablity. He's not a point guard. OK....so what? Greg Buckner is not a point guard either and he gets minutes for one of the NBA's best teams (Dallas). Greg Buckner is no where near as good as Juan. They are about the same height and have the same tweener problem. Juan will be fine and could in fact be a very good NBA player.....possibly a starter.

The NBA's problem with Juan is not his height but his weight or lack there of. NBA scouts feel that he is too fraile to play a whole NBA season. Personally I think Juan will be fine in the NBA, if he isnt starting he will definitley be a valuable sixth man off the bench. His will and determination is far too strong for him to be a failure in the NBA.

Yeah, Juan definately has the height. He is taller than advertised at 6'3".

I think one think the scouts will knock him on, other than weight, is his lack of ball handling skills. He would be comparable to Iverson if he had better handles.

His height is a problem if he wants to play shooting guard in the NBA, but he has good height for a point guard. Like nate said, the problem there is that he needs to show that he can handle the ball well enough to be a shooting guard.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by nate jonesacc:
Yeah, Juan definately has the height. He is taller than advertised at 6'3".

I think one think the scouts will knock him on, other than weight, is his lack of ball handling skills. He would be comparable to Iverson if he had better handles.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Agreed. He doesn't have point guard-like ball handling skills. And at 6'3'', he's shorter than most NBA shooting guards. Therein lies the problem for Juan. But....I find it hard to believe that he wont be able to play in the NBA. He creates his own shot just fine. He can drive and pull up and nail it. He's been doing it for 3 years on the college level. Will it be harder at the NBA level? Yes. Will he all of the sudden not be able to do that anymore? No. Juan is going to find a niche.

The proper military reply to your title is F^*k it!!!!

(Damn I can spell sometimes) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad-flaming.gif" />

<small>[ May 13, 2002, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: NavyDoc69 ]</small>