DJ Kennedy's Ceiling

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DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« on: June 17, 2010, 12:13:28 PM »
DJ is arguably our best player, talked about as this relentless worker and has improved every year while at St. John's.  How good can DJ be this upcoming year?  With all the media exposure Lavin is getting you can be sure that DJ's name will be getting thrown around a ton once the season starts.  Will he get drafted and how high?? Right now nbadraft.net doesn't have him up there but draftexpress.com has him as the 8th pick in the 2nd round.  All Big East?  How much will having guys around like Dunlap and Rico Hines help DJ's game?  I'm real excited to see what he can do with new coaches, new system and just an overall new environment.

SEASON    TEAM   MIN   PTS   REB   AST   TO   A/T   STL   BLK   PF   FG%   FT%   3P%   PPS
2007-2008 SJU    26.5  7.8    5.8    1.4    1.9  .77   1.2    .3     1.9  .446   .706   .333   1.32
2008-2009 SJU    34.6  13.0  6.6    3.0    2.1  1.38 1.5    .4     2.2  .402   .733   .333   1.32
2009-2010 SJU    31.4  15.1  6.1    3.1    2.5  1.24 1.2    .7     1.7  .450   .756   .383   1.42

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2010, 01:17:01 PM »
i love djs game, and overall i think hell have an improved year but i dont see his stats increasing very much if at all. i could see 16 pts 6 rebs and between 3 and 4 assists a game. on a good bigeast team that makes some noise that could be enough to get on first team all big east.

im thinking dj hardy and burrell all average more than 13 a game
*wipes ketchup from his eyes* - I guess Heinz sight isn’t 20/20.

Tha Kid

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2010, 01:19:06 PM »
I think you'll probably see the smallest leaps in DJ's game.  For whatever reason, he's been able to improve a lot under Norm and on his own.  I think its safe to expect him being somewhat better, and will be better bc his teammates are better, but individually I wouldn't expect anything drastic.  I'd imagine he's got a decent shot at being a 2nd round pick.

Justin Burrell, Dwight Hardy, and Justin Brownlee, IMO, have the best chance to become forces for us this year.  The 3 of them are all very skilled but they need refining.  I think the staff is able to help them the most in the short amt; of time they have with most of these players.
"I drink and I know things"

Wods317

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2010, 01:56:58 PM »
I think DJ will be better this year but his number maybe down because other players like Burrell, Hardy, etc are going to step up their scoring. I think if DJ makes himself a more consistent outside shooter he has a shot at the NBA otherwise hes just a really good college players that will end up in Europe.

Marillac

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2010, 10:25:40 PM »
I think DJ will be around the same statistically.  His game is so unique because he can play effectively inside or outside.  There were stretches last season where he'd bang on both ends inside and he looked so good going after offensive boards and he just looked like the best player down low regardless of size and position.

There were also stretches where nobody could keep him out of the lane.  Duke tried everyone from Nolan Smith and Scheyer to Singler to slow down Kennedy in the second half and nobody could stop him. 



Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2010, 11:07:24 PM »
I think the biggest aspect of DJ's game statistically that you'll see improve is his APG. I think we'll run more pick and roll with DJ dishing to Burrell for easy jumpers or alleyoops.
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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2010, 12:03:41 AM »
I agree with what everyone else is saying.  I don't think DJ will ever be great at creating his own shot but he can create for others like Dave said.  He stats might not go up drastically but hopefully he'll be more efficient.
When you're a kid from New York and you do it in New York, that lasts forever!

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2010, 02:05:45 PM »
I actually think DJ stats will decrease next year under our new coach as other players like Hardy, Burrell, Roberts,  and Brownlee will increase. I think those 4 players have a higher ceiling then DJ. DJ just statistically benifited from Norm offence. There were so many time last year where I felt DJ refused to pass the ball into the post to Burrell or dribble backwards on the pick & roll. I am not a big DJ fan and think Norm played favorites with DJ, Paris and Evans.

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2010, 03:09:34 PM »
DJ does most of his work without dominating the ball. I thought at times DJ was too passive and needed to dominate the ball more. At times he could have made passes on breaks but he also was good at getting to the FT line (well good for this team at least).

An aspect that was much improved last year from DJ was his 3 point shooting. He shot more and did it with confidence shooting fairly efficiently.

I think we could see DJ go for similar ppg, slightly more rpg, and about another 1-2 apg
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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2010, 03:29:41 PM »
I should also add I'd like to see DJ's %'s go up.

FG 47-49%
FT 85-88%
3PT 37-39%
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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2010, 03:36:48 PM »
Dj's numbers stay the same. Hardy and Brownlee's go up imo

crgreen

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #11 on: June 18, 2010, 10:42:07 PM »
i love djs game, and overall i think hell have an improved year but i dont see his stats increasing very much if at all. i could see 16 pts 6 rebs and between 3 and 4 assists a game.

FYI, playing for coach Lavin, Baron Davis's best scoring year was 15.9.  Jason Kapono, who finished as UCLA's 3rd greatest scorer EVER, was 16.0, 17.2, 16.0 and 16.8 his 4 years.  Earl Watsons best was 14.7 as a senior.  Matt Barnes best was 13.5.  Dan Gadzuric's best was 11.7.  Any of those guys could have dominated scoring at another school - but there was a reason Coach Lavin's Bruins finished in the top 25 six straight seasons....

He believe in balance - sharing the ball.  On most of Coach Lavin's 7 UCLA squads, no one scored more than 17, and at least 4 and usually all 5 starters were in double digits.   

Look for balanced scoring - even when there's a potential exceptional scorer. 

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #12 on: June 19, 2010, 10:58:03 AM »
Red2325 I think you are dead on. He definately benefitted from Norm's system and clearly he was a favorite. In his defense he was a favorite because he produced. But I see more balance with Lavin , Hardy will explode as will Burrell. Lavin is into shooters and superior athletes. Burrell and Hardy fit the bill.

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2010, 11:43:57 PM »
Looking at who got drafted this year how does DJ stack up in next year's draft?
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Wods317

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2010, 01:11:34 AM »
I see DJ as a mid to late 2nd round pick. I would love for him to move up but I think his numbers will be the same or down a bit from his numbers last year because our team as a whole will be better. I think if we make the NCAAs it will help him because players who play on national tv for good teams definitely benefit in the draft. He has the talent and if he improves his 3pt shooting he could go higher.

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #15 on: June 27, 2010, 11:58:33 AM »
a big problem with the nba is that seniors are not in the highest demand.  that'll work against kennedy, burrell, etc.

sjd8886

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #16 on: June 27, 2010, 04:20:18 PM »
when you see some of the players taken in the second round this year, in what was considered a weak year, its tough to say where our guys can go...JB at 6'8 is at a disadvantage come draft day...he cant play or defend the 3 in the nba...and hes gonna have a hard time at the 4...dejuan blair gets by at 6'8 because the kid is a beast...i dont feel like JB is close to that kids ability level or ferocity at this point...also, he is 22 yrs old, and gonna be 23 at next years draft...that cant help his stock...regarding DJ, i feel like he just needs a slight improvement in all areas, and a good season and he'll go 2nd round...but its kinda hard to say before we know whos going in and whos staying in school


Tha Kid

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Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #17 on: June 27, 2010, 09:23:14 PM »
I think if justin improves his offensive game and starts attacking the boards, he's got a good shot at being drafted or making a team.

There are plenty of lankier non-beast 4s in the nba like rashard lewis, though itd help if he measured at closer to 6'9 for sure.
"I drink and I know things"

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #18 on: June 27, 2010, 09:37:01 PM »
I think if justin improves his offensive game and starts attacking the boards, he's got a good shot at being drafted or making a team.

There are plenty of lankier non-beast 4s in the nba like rashard lewis, though itd help if he measured at closer to 6'9 for sure.

I don't see why Burrell can't go first round if he has a very good year.
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sjd8886

Re: DJ Kennedy's Ceiling
« Reply #19 on: June 27, 2010, 11:28:22 PM »
I think if justin improves his offensive game and starts attacking the boards, he's got a good shot at being drafted or making a team.

There are plenty of lankier non-beast 4s in the nba like rashard lewis, though itd help if he measured at closer to 6'9 for sure.

yea but rashard also has about 2 inches on JB and shoots 3's at a 39% clip for his career...i see what ur saying, its just JB needs a big improvement in ball handling and shooting