Chris Lofton leaves Russian team

#51
#51
hatvol96 said:
I'm no medical expert, but I've got to think a battle with cancer isn't good for one's longterm NBA future.
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I wouldn't guess it would. Lance Armstrong comes to mind as far as extending his career, but Lofton can't juice up to get through the year.
 
#52
#52
Lofton also got bigger and stronger as his college career progressed. Maybe that's the reason for him losing a step.
 
#53
#53
crusse10 said:
JJ is tall enough to get by at the 2. Lofton would need to grow about 3 inches to not have to play the 1.
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Ben Gordon? Monta Ellis? Stephen Curry? Jodie Meeks?

I know Monta and Curry play point also but they are listed an inch taller and play the 2 a lot. Granted they are also more athletic.

But is Jodie Meeks really that much more athletic than Chris Lofton?
 
#54
#54
Chris is one of my favorite Vols of all time due to his heart and work ethic. However, he is too short and slow to be an NBA player.
 
#55
#55
The_Orange_Pearl said:
Ben Gordon? Monta Ellis? Stephen Curry? Jodie Meeks?

I know Monta and Curry play point also but they are listed an inch taller and play the 2 a lot. Granted they are also more athletic.

But is Jodie Meeks really that much more athletic than Chris Lofton?
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They are all capable of handling the ball.
 
#57
#57
Here is as simple as I can put it.

Each roster is limited to 15 players (12 or 13 can dress for a game I believe). That means the NBA is made up of 450 players at a time....total. It's really not that many when you think truly about it.

Lofton has been out of college 3 years and has had ample opportunities to be scouted by NBA teams. Do you really think that in that time that if teams believed his pros outweighed his cons that he would not have been given a shot?

I love the guy, teared up on his Senior Day, and wish he had infinite eligibility at UT, but the fact is that he has too many questions that outweigh his shooting ability for the NBA. I truly think at times we take for granted how athletic and talented NBA (and all pro athletes) players are.
 
#58
#58
tigervol9802 said:
Here is as simple as I can put it.

Each roster is limited to 15 players (12 or 13 can dress for a game I believe). That means the NBA is made up of 450 players at a time....total. It's really not that many when you think truly about it.

Lofton has been out of college 3 years and has had ample opportunities to be scouted by NBA teams. Do you really think that in that time that if teams believed his pros outweighed his cons that he would not have been given a shot?

I love the guy, teared up on his Senior Day, and wish he had infinite eligibility at UT, but the fact is that he has too many questions that outweigh his shooting ability for the NBA. I truly think at times we take for granted how athletic and talented NBA (and all pro athletes) players are.
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There's group of our fans who act as if saying Lofton isn't NBA material is implying he's no good. That's crazy. I'm a pretty damn good lawyer. I wouldn't feel slighted if someone said I'm not Supreme Court justice material.
 
#59
#59
hatvol96 said:
There's group of our fans who act as if saying Lofton isn't NBA material is implying he's no good. That's crazy. I'm a pretty damn good lawyer. I wouldn't feel slighted if someone said I'm not Supreme Court justice material.
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Who knows. In the right spot? The league just won't allow a Paxon or Kerr anymore, it seems. I just look at some players in the league and think Lofton could do the same. Nothing more, nothing less. I mean, different position, but Jeff Foster? Dude is in a time warp. Looks the same every year and seems as has been playing for 20 years. No offensive game, but a great defender and rebounder. You mean there has been noone else out of college that can do what he does, and maybe add some offense?
 
#60
#60
pl3 said:
Who knows. In the right spot? The league just won't allow a Paxon or Kerr anymore, it seems. I just look at some players in the league and think Lofton could do the same. Nothing more, nothing less. I mean, different position, but Jeff Foster? Dude is in a time warp. Looks the same every year and seems as has been playing for 20 years. No offensive game, but a great defender and rebounder. You mean there has been noone else out of college that can do what he does, and maybe add some offense?
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Both were taller than Lofton. Paxson was far superior as a ball handler as well.
 
#61
#61
There isn't a single successful player in the NBA who has a skill set the same as Loften at this point. He's just flat out incabable of guarding any position in the NBA. That being said, he is one of my favorite vols of all time and, IMO should have the #5 retired for his part in starting the Outlive program along with how he gave his all for the orange and white while his life was in the balance. The 3pt record doesn't hurt his cause either...
 
#62
#62
DaDuRkEr said:
There isn't a single successful player in the NBA who has a skill set the same as Loften at this point. He's just flat out incabable of guarding any position in the NBA. That being said, he is one of my favorite vols of all time and, IMO should have the #5 retired for his part in starting the Outlive program along with how he gave his all for the orange and white while his life was in the balance. The 3pt record doesn't hurt his cause either...
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Agreed. He's probably my favorite BB player in UT history.
 
#63
#63
JZVOL said:
Both were taller than Lofton. Paxson was far superior as a ball handler as well.
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But Pax wasn't dribbling anywhere. He was a spot up shooter or he would come off a pick. Of course, playing with Pippen and Jordan allowed for some open areas. Regarding handles, I don't get the notion that Lofton couldn't or can't handle the ball. His hard 2 dribble then step back is a staple of great shooters and NBA players. He can handle it well enough for that. Again, I'm not saying he could or would thrive in the NBA, but there are at least 2 players on each team that I would trade for him in a heartbeat.
 
#65
#65
You have to be able to score the ball like Monte Ellis, Steph Curry, and Nick Young in order to see the court and not get grilled for giving up points to their counterpart. Lofton is an exceptional 3pt specialist and really improved other facets of his game while at UT. His physical/athletic ceiling just isn't there. I wish it were, and lord knows no one deserves a shot at the NBA more than Loften... it just isn't in the cards for him IMO
 
#66
#66
pl3 said:
But Pax wasn't dribbling anywhere. He was a spot up shooter or he would come off a pick. Of course, playing with Pippen and Jordan allowed for some open areas. Regarding handles, I don't get the notion that Lofton couldn't or can't handle the ball. His hard 2 dribble then step back is a staple of great shooters and NBA players. He can handle it well enough for that. Again, I'm not saying he could or would thrive in the NBA, but there are at least 2 players on each team that I would trade for him in a heartbeat.
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True.

Why would anyone in the NBA respect Lofton's hard two dribble when he wouldn't be able to drive on anyone?

There is also the problem that he wouldn't be able to guard anyone.
 
#67
#67
JZVOL said:
True.

Why would anyone in the NBA respect Lofton's hard two dribble when he wouldn't be able to drive on anyone?

There is also the problem that he wouldn't be able to guard anyone.
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This is the main issue. I strongly feel his offense has a niche in the NBA, it is the 5 on 4 matchup you have when the other team has the ball that is scary.
 
#68
#68
JZVOL said:
True.

Why would anyone in the NBA respect Lofton's hard two dribble when he wouldn't be able to drive on anyone?

There is also the problem that he wouldn't be able to guard anyone.
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Good question and D would be an issue if they go after him, but he may be guarding the other teams 2nd string spot up.

Just scanned some rosters and came up with some names with whom I would have Lofton switch with. Some of these handle the ball more and their type of game's vary, but I'm looking at buying minutes for Lofton and maybe he hits a couple of 3's to spark the team in a 3-5 minute spell. That's it. Most of these guys buy minutes, if they play, and are expected to do nothing else. Again, jmo.

Carlos Arroyo, Ben Uzoh, Toney Douglas, Andy Rautins, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ish Smith, Marcus Banks, Chris Quinn, Jannero Pargo, John Lucas, Keyon Dooling, Luke Ridnour, Royal Ivey, Ronnie Price, Jeremy Lin, Beno Udrih.
 
#69
#69
pl3 said:
Who knows. In the right spot? The league just won't allow a Paxon or Kerr anymore, it seems. I just look at some players in the league and think Lofton could do the same. Nothing more, nothing less. I mean, different position, but Jeff Foster? Dude is in a time warp. Looks the same every year and seems as has been playing for 20 years. No offensive game, but a great defender and rebounder. You mean there has been noone else out of college that can do what he does, and maybe add some offense?
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Both of the guys you mentioned played point guard. Lofton can't.
 
#70
#70
The guy Lofton needs to emulate is Trajan Langdon. He has a lot of the similar limitations as Lofton, yet was able to parlay his shooting ability into a very nice career with CSKA Moscow.

Lofton needs to look into the best leagues in Europe, like Spain, Turkey, Greece or Russia, maybe even some of the Slavic countries where basketball is huge. He should ditch the D-League dream for a realistic shot at a very nice Euroleague journey. Ask Marcus Haislip how that could work out for him. It's a pretty good deal.
 
#71
#71
pl3 said:
Good question and D would be an issue if they go after him, but he may be guarding the other teams 2nd string spot up.

Just scanned some rosters and came up with some names with whom I would have Lofton switch with. Some of these handle the ball more and their type of game's vary, but I'm looking at buying minutes for Lofton and maybe he hits a couple of 3's to spark the team in a 3-5 minute spell. That's it. Most of these guys buy minutes, if they play, and are expected to do nothing else. Again, jmo.

Carlos Arroyo, Ben Uzoh, Toney Douglas, Andy Rautins, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ish Smith, Marcus Banks, Chris Quinn, Jannero Pargo, John Lucas, Keyon Dooling, Luke Ridnour, Royal Ivey, Ronnie Price, Jeremy Lin, Beno Udrih.
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Arroyo, Beaubois, Quinn, Pargo, Lucas, Dooling, Ridnour, and Udrih are all PG's and when they are in the game(if they get in in some cases) are not relied upon to spot up for 3's. They are in the game to distribute and run offense. Out of these players, Lofton's game doesn't match up with any. He may be a better 3pt shooter than them, but thats it. Beaubois, Ridnour, Dooling, and Udrih are spot starters as well. Udrih started a lot of game with Tyreke Evans out most of the season, and Beaubois is the "next great PG" in Dallas, Dooling started several games before the Nets traded for D-Will, and Ridnour is a very servicable backup PG.

Rautins is a locker room glue type, and is a competent defender, not a spot up 3pt shooter. Uzoh, Douglas, and Price are very good defenders and of the 3, Douglas is the only one that is asked to give any offensive contribution.

Marcus Banks, Royal Ivey, and Jeremy Lin rarely even see the court and, again, have a different skill set than Lofton, and Lofton would find a hard time trying to fill the roles any of the players you mentioned give to their respective teams.

Beaubois, Ridnour, and Udrih are the only people on your list that I would be somewhat surprised to see out of the league in the next 2 years. Maybe add Toney Douglas into that mix, but I think he will be drafted over within 2 years as well.
 
#73
#73
DaDuRkEr said:
Arroyo, Beaubois, Quinn, Pargo, Lucas, Dooling, Ridnour, and Udrih are all PG's and when they are in the game(if they get in in some cases) are not relied upon to spot up for 3's. They are in the game to distribute and run offense. Out of these players, Lofton's game doesn't match up with any. He may be a better 3pt shooter than them, but thats it. Beaubois, Ridnour, Dooling, and Udrih are spot starters as well. Udrih started a lot of game with Tyreke Evans out most of the season, and Beaubois is the "next great PG" in Dallas, Dooling started several games before the Nets traded for D-Will, and Ridnour is a very servicable backup PG.

Rautins is a locker room glue type, and is a competent defender, not a spot up 3pt shooter. Uzoh, Douglas, and Price are very good defenders and of the 3, Douglas is the only one that is asked to give any offensive contribution.

Marcus Banks, Royal Ivey, and Jeremy Lin rarely even see the court and, again, have a different skill set than Lofton, and Lofton would find a hard time trying to fill the roles any of the players you mentioned give to their respective teams.

Beaubois, Ridnour, and Udrih are the only people on your list that I would be somewhat surprised to see out of the league in the next 2 years. Maybe add Toney Douglas into that mix, but I think he will be drafted over within 2 years as well.
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Good analysis, and I realize the different skill sets. My main point is if these guys are on NBA rosters, I think one could argue that Lofton could be. Like you said, most don't even play, and if they do their stat line is weak.
 
#74
#74
pl3 said:
Good analysis, and I realize the different skill sets. My main point is if these guys are on NBA rosters, I think one could argue that Lofton could be. Like you said, most don't even play, and if they do their stat line is weak.
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Like I said he's my favorite player and would love if he did make the NBA, I just don't see it happening.
 
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